Jesus sends the Holy Spirit

Many times I hear two people tell about the same incident, but the stories are not exactly the same. Neither person is fabricating; they just have a difference of opinion on what is most important.

One example is an account of a fishing trip. The husband tells me of the trip to the fishing hole, the bait they used and the size of the catch. The wife put more emphasis on the fun they had, the scenery they saw and the people they met.

Critics ignore this principle and attack the first four books of the Bible because they are not exactly the same. For instance, someone determined that 92 percent of the material in John was unique and consequently only 8 percent was material held in common with the Synoptic Gospels. These critics say that these books cannot be relied on for that reason.

However, I’ve read them all many times and there is no conflict, just differences in priorities and perspectives. John’s unique perspective includes a private meeting Jesus had with His disciples. It is called the Upper Room Discourse where Jesus told them that His departure was near and they could not come with Him, but He would return and receive them into His Father’s house.

He also told them the Holy Spirit was coming to be with them. They would not be alone . . .

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:18–20)

Whatever they might have understood about the Holy Spirit, Jesus did give them a thorough description. This Spirit would be far more that a mysterious power. He would be another “helper” — a word with a wide range of meaning such as advocate, mediator, comforter, suggesting this helper would be all they needed.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17)

Not only would the Holy Spirit be with them and meet their needs, He would teach them and remind them of all that Jesus had taught them. The Spirit would also be their source of peace and the One who would enable them to witness to the world what they knew about Him.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:26–27)

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26–27)

Perhaps the most important work of the Holy Spirit would be guiding them in truth, speaking the things of God to them and glorifying Christ through them.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13–15)

Reading this fills me with confidence. God gave the disciples all that they needed to do all that He wanted them to do. This is also His promise to me. Without God’s Spirit, I cannot even know the things of God, never mind carry out His will for my life. I’m humbled by my lack and astonished with gratitude at His provision.

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Lord Jesus, You know what lies before me this day. You know all the times I will need the power of the Holy Spirit to talk, to respond to others, or act in line with Your plans. Fill me up that I might please and glorify You.

The Shepherd’s Staff . . .

“ . . . You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

Just as a shepherd uses a staff to touch and comfort his sheep, so the Lord Jesus Christ uses the Holy Spirit to touch and comfort me. Of course, He is also the rod of correction and guidance, but the Greek name for the Spirit is a word that means “to call alongside” – very fitting for what the Holy Spirit does.

These verses remind me of my Shepherd’s care using the Spirit as His staff. . .

The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:26–27)

What a comfort to be reminded of truth that my scattered mind would otherwise forget. And there is nothing like the peace that my Shepherd gives through this Comforter. It is a peace that goes beyond human understanding for it does not depend on circumstances and is a great comfort when all else goes wrong. But this is not all that this ‘Staff’ does.

After Jesus ascended, the Spirit gave Peter a perplexing vision. “And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.’ And Peter went down to the men and said, ‘I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?’” (Acts 10:19–21)

What a comfort to have a ‘translator’ for the puzzling things of life. While He does not explain everything (like what the men wanted), the Spirit gave Peter enough information so he could obey and move forward.

Speaking of obedience, the Comforter also gives orders. In the early church, leaders were gathered together in prayer. “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:2–3)

In this situation, the Comforter told them what to do, even naming names. In a later situation, He also gave them very specific directions . . .

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6–10)

First the Holy Spirit prevented action, then He urged them to go another way. While I realize this was vital in building the church, the Spirit has not changed. When I don’t know what to do, He comforts me with specific instructions about the action He wants.

Elizabeth Elliot was asked how she organized her day. She said, “Do the next thing; you always know what it is . . .”

The Shepherd’s staff is so like the Holy Spirit. Through Him, God directs each of His sheep. He lays this Staff alongside me and directs me in the best course of action. My part is simple; don’t resist the Staff but let it be my comfort and my guide.