John - Week 46

The Spirit of Truth 

READ 

John 15:26-27 

26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.” 

Here again Jesus refers to the Advocate He will send. In John 14:16 the disciples were told He would never leave them, and in 14:26 He is referred to as Jesus’ representative. Here He is called “the Spirit of truth.” This reminds one of what Jesus said in 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Notice the Holy Spirit does not testify about Himself but all about Jesus. And the disciples were to do the same. The “beginning” of His ministry would refer to His baptism by John the Baptist (see Acts 1:21-22). 

REFLECT 

Are you testifying, or telling others, about Jesus? You did not travel with Jesus on earth as the disciples did, but you have an asset they did not have: you have the complete Bible. The four Gospels record what He did and taught. 

RESPOND 

Make a list of those you have recently talked to about Jesus. Also make a list of those you want to pray about talking to in the future. 

A Warning 

READ 

John 16:1-4 

1 “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. 3 This is because they have never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.” 

As He was preparing to leave them, Jesus told the disciples what they could expect in the future as they told others about Him. Some would even think they were serving God by killing the disciples. History records that all of them were martyred except John. Today some are being persecuted and even giving their lives for even naming the name of Christ. Jesus wanted the disciples to remember He warned them of this when it came to pass.  

REFLECT 

Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted and tortured for their faith.  

RESPOND 

Saul of Tarsus persecuted believers and thought he was serving God by doing so. His life was changed after he met the Savior on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:1-19). After that he commonly used his Gentile name “Paul” as he ministered to non-Jewish people. 

Unexpected Blessings 

READ 

John 16:5-7 

5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 

His statement about no one asking where He was going, indicates Jesus did not think they were specific in their questions and were worried more about themselves than Him. They were thinking about the reality of what would happen to them after He left. Notice that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, would not be able to come unless Jesus left. Jesus was trying to make them understand that His hour had come but the Holy Spirit would be with them to help them carry on. 

REFLECT 

Think of the times when you were expecting one thing, and then Jesus provided something else that was a surprise to you. Consider when you’ve been late for something but it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened because you were spared from an accident.  

RESPOND 

Make a list of things you have been grateful for that were unexpected. Perhaps you were not even praying for something, but God blessed you with something else that was even better. Work with your disciple on this project. Share your list with each other. 

Work of the Advocate 

READ 

John 16:8-11 

8 “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.” 

Jesus tells His disciples what the Holy Spirit will do when He comes. He will convict the world of sin. Have you ever met someone who didn’t intuitively know they were not all they should be? The Spirit will convict them of God’s righteousness. Regardless of how they refer to God they have knowledge that He is much better than they. The Spirit will also convict the world of coming judgment. Even unbelievers are aware that things cannot keep going on as they are now. The greatest sin is rejecting Christ as Savior as only He is righteous. And judgment will come on those who reject Him. The “ruler of this world” refers to Satan. His judgment was so certain it was spoken of in the past tense. Although he has been judged, Satan’s sentence has not yet been carried out. 

REFLECT 

Think of ways in your witnessing how you can talk along the same paths that the Holy Spirit uses to convince others of sin, righteousness and judgment. 

RESPOND 

Make a list of people you know that seem to be especially lacking in believing in sin, righteousness and judgment. Ponder what area a particular person is deficient in and ways you can graciously point out evidences that would help convince the individual of what the Bible says. 

More to Say 

READ 

John 16:12-15 

12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’” 

Jesus could have told them more, but they were unable to understand the significance then. Notice what the Holy Spirit would do for them after Jesus leaves. He would guide them into “all truth” and would tell them about the future. The apostle John is a good example of the Holy Spirit inspiring him to write the Gospel of John, the epistles 1, 2, 3 John, and finally, Revelation. Especially notice that the Holy Spirit’s desire is to glorify the Lord Jesus rather than Himself. And the Holy Spirit would only tell them what He had received from Jesus. 

REFLECT 

Be thankful that you have a Bible in which you can find what the Holy Spirit revealed to the apostles. Think also about the fact the Holy Spirit is most pleased when you focus on the Lord Jesus because that is the One the Spirit wanted to glorify. 

RESPOND 

Examine Jude 1:3-4 that urges believers to defend the faith “once-for-all” given to His people. Jude was not expecting extra revelation. And he was concerned that this faith be defended. In other words, it was not enough to believe it; it needed to be defended. When you hear or read negative comments about this faith, what are you doing to defend it? Do you speak up, write notes, or discuss it with your friends?