The Holy Spirit and the Disciples (John 16:12-15)

In verse 12, Jesus points out that there were many teachings that the disciples needed to hear, but they could not appreciate them at that time. If this were all he had said, then they would be disappointed because it would mean that they would never learn what these teachings were. The reason for this inability was probably not their then low spiritual state; more likely it was due to the time in which they lived, the period before the Spirit came. While they had the Spirit in the sense of conversion, they did not have him as they would do after the Day of Pentecost when he came in a special manner on the church. But Jesus goes on to say that this was only a temporary situation that would be remedied when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. Therefore the Spirit would complete the teaching that Jesus began.

The title of the Spirit (v. 13)

Jesus, in his teaching in this section, refers for the third time to the Holy Spirit as ‘the Spirit of truth’ (14:17; 15:26). The repeated use of this title in connection with the Spirit’s work as the Comforter indicates that truth is an essential feature of the way he will work. It is a reference to his character, a reminder that he is totally righteous, incapable of either a wrong motive or a wrong statement or a wrong action. In the same way as Jesus was the truth when he taught his disciples, so the Holy Spirit will be truth when instructing them in the future. The content of his wonderful instruction, some of which will be far above human conception, will always be truth.

The Spirit will also be truth in his contact with the disciples. When he highlights their sins to them, he will do so accurately; when he brings divine promises of forgiveness to their minds, he will be speaking the truth; when he counsels them in spiritual matters, he will give correct direction. The same will be the case with all future disciples.

The guidance of the Spirit

Jesus points out that the Holy Spirit will function as a guide. This means he will lead these disciples into new spiritual territory. This territory is described by Jesus as ‘all truth’. Jesus does not mean that they are going to discover all geographic truth or all historical details. The range of truth is limited to his teachings. Although he was going away, he was not going to cease to be the teacher of his people. He would continue to teach them by the Holy Spirit. This is a reminder that he remains the prophet of his church.

The disciples needed such a guide. In the territory of ‘all truth’ they were to come across great mountains, deep valleys, wide plains and broad seas of doctrines and experiences that they would have to explain to other believers. When we think of these disciples, we must remember that they are both like us and yet different from us. They are different in the fact that they were the apostles.

As Jesus speaks to them here, he is describing a twofold activity of the Spirit. As disciples, they needed illumination by the Spirit just as we do; as apostles, they would receive inspiration from the Spirit to record infallibly the ‘all truth’ that the Spirit would teach them. This truth would be doctrines that the church should believe and practices that she should obey. Jesus is therefore revealing to these men that they would responsible for the completion of the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit would guide them and the other writers of the New Testament as they composed the various books that would be written.

The guidelines for the Spirit

Jesus then tells the disciples what will be the origin of this new revelation. He says that the Holy Spirit will not speak independently of the other members of the Trinity: ‘he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak.’ This is an illustration of what each person of the Trinity speaks about to the others. Within the communion of the Trinity, which is far beyond the ability of human minds to probe, there is an ongoing discussion of their eternal purpose. This is what fills their infinite minds with satisfaction and their infinite hearts with joy; every action of each person of the Trinity within the history of the universe is according to this eternal purpose.

Obviously when Jesus spoke these words, many of the future details of that purpose had not been revealed. This is why he says to the disciples that the Holy Spirit will reveal to them the things that are to come. The Holy Spirit will give them understanding concerning the future.

The goal of the Spirit

In verse 14, Jesus states what will be the goal of the Spirit. It is to bring glory to Jesus. He will achieve this by revealing to the disciples things that belong to Jesus Christ. In a sense, this is the range of the ‘all truth’ that the Spirit is to reveal. He is going to inform the disciples concerning the future activities of Jesus Christ. The ‘things that are to come’ refer to what would happen to Jesus – his cross, his resurrection, his exaltation, his return.

Since the Spirit would bring glory to Jesus by revealing these details, it means that his disciples are meant to think about them and live in the light of them. Of course, the knowledge of these details is not merely intellectual; nevertheless it does involve our minds. The apostles needed illumination by the Spirit in order to appreciate these details, and so do we. But illumination usually comes to disciples as they prayerfully think about the details recorded in the New Testament. In addition to illumination, we need igniting, we need our hearts to be set on fire. Thinking about Jesus and what has been promised to him should fill our hearts with joy. When we have illumined minds and ignited hearts, we will discover that we have eager wills to follow him in paths of obedience.

It is not possible for us to think in one sermon of all the things that would happen to Jesus. Obviously when Jesus spoke these words, all these events were still future. As we think of these events, some have taken place, others are taking place, and some have yet to take place. I want to follow that threefold division as we think of some of these glories that belong to Jesus.

The glories of the past

First, the Spirit gave to the disciples an understanding of what took place on the cross that they did not possess when Jesus died on the cross. At that time they imagined that it was the end of their hopes when, in reality, it was the foundation of their hopes. Through the illumination of the Spirit they would come to realise that the work of Jesus was a redemption in which he purchased them from slavery to sin. They also would realise that his death was an atoning one when he paid the penalty due by them for their sins. Further they would understand that the cross was a battlefield on which Jesus defeated the powers of darkness. As they would think later about the significance of the cross, they would be filled with wonder and joy, and have a desire to serve such a Saviour.

They would also be instructed by the Holy Spirit concerning the significance of the exaltation of Jesus. It began with his resurrection and it was followed by his ascension to heaven. Although unseen to human eyes, they would later realise that the ascended Jesus was welcomed by the Father and invited to sit on the divine throne. This was Christ’s reward and as the disciples would think about it, they would be filled with wonder and joy and desire to serve such a King.

The glories of the present

There are many features of Christ’s work in the present about which the Spirit will teach disciples. But I will mention two. First, Jesus is the representative of his people in heaven. This representation ensures that they will receive what God has unconditionally promised to them. There are some promises of God that are conditional upon our obedience; other promises are conditional according to God’s will (the promise of safety, long life). But some promises are totally unconditional for Christians: the receiving of the inheritance is such a promise. But it is unconditional because Jesus has won it for them. Linked to his representation is the intercession of Jesus whereby his presence in heaven ensures that they will receive the precise spiritual input that they need at any given moment. Thinking of these aspects of Christ’s representation should fill them with wonder and joy and give them a desire to serve such a Saviour.

Another activity of Christ’s about which the Spirit instructs the church is the Jesus’ ongoing pursuit of converts from all the nations. From every people on earth he is drawing sinners to himself. Because he possesses all power, he is able to use every event to cause people to trust in him for mercy. Many events will take place over the world today, some of them big and others of them small. We will read about them in the newspapers tomorrow. But the most important events of today will not be reported, which is that many thousands will have been forgiven by Jesus. This divinely-given awareness of what Jesus is doing in order to receive glory should fill his disciples with wonder and joy and give them a desire to serve such a Saviour.

Glories in the future

As with the past and the present, there are many events still to come in which Jesus will be glorified. This is a brief description of some of them. The first I would mention is the future conversion of Israel, which Paul describes in Romans 11. You may have seen references to a future conversion of Israel on Christian television (with charts detailing each event) or read about it in books. This conversion is said to happen after Jesus returns. This is not what we believe. Rather the conversion of the Jews, which will be an event that will bring great glory to Jesus, will come about through the preaching of the gospel. When the time comes for the Jewish race, wherever they live, to embrace the Messiah it will bring spiritual revival to the rest of the world. The fact that the Spirit has revealed that this is going to happen should fill his disciples with wonder and joy and give them a desire to serve such a Saviour.

Another event that will bring great glory to Christ will be the resurrection of the human race from the dead. On that awesome day, every person who has died will hear his voice and return to life. For some, it will be a resurrection to judgement, for others it will be a resurrection to salvation. What glory Jesus will have when every knee will bow before him and receive his decision on that great day.

Then there is yet to come the glorious activity of Jesus in bringing into existence the new heavens and new earth in which all his people will dwell with him for ever. As God’s people observe its creation and enter into its environment, they will be filled with wonder and joy and have a desire to serve such a Saviour for ever.

This is one way by which the Spirit functions as a Comforter. Through his truthful word he reveals to our souls the glories that belong to Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us search the scriptures so that we can know as much about them as possible.