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‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf.You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. ‘I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15)
Dear Friend, here's trusting you had a great weekend and you're about ready to face the work week filled with God's Holy Spirit. This coming Sunday is yet another big Sunday in the life of the Church; Pentecost! May these scriptures prepare us for that celebration, and for the work that Pentecost calls for us to do!
Jesus prepared His disciples for the coming and the work of the Holy Spirit. In this gospel, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit, Advocate. The Message version has Jesus calling the Holy Spirit, Friend. Both sound good to me; an advocate speaks on your behalf in a positive way, and a friend does as well. As Jesus was sharing this, He knew His time was coming and there was still much the disciples did not know, and the coming of the Holy Spirit would equip them for the work still needed to be done. Keep in mind that Jesus also calls the Spirit, "the Spirit of Truth," sent by the Father to continue the testimony about Jesus. The disciples were to continue their work as witnesses to what they had seen in Jesus, and to continue the work Jesus outlines: Teach the world the truth about sin, righteousness, and judgement. In truth, the world still has these three all wrong: Sin is no big deal, according to the world. Our pulpits, for the most part, are silent about sin; and judgement is something no one worries about because we're too busy. Jesus says the biggest sin is the lack of faith in Him. Righteousness because the world cares more about appearance and success and not about Jesus; and judgement because the one in charge of the world has messed up the first two, but his time is almost over. The devil has had his day; it's God's turn now.
We are not now, or ever, alone. We have the presence and power of the Holy Spirit with us. The Spirit helps us know, if we ask, the truth about all things. He is ready to instruct and guide those who ask. He is ready to equip and strengthen us for the work the Lord expects from us. Together, we must glorify the Lord in ways that bring others to knowing Him.
PRAYER: Loving God, fill me with your Holy Spirit. May the Spirit guide me to Thy way and Thy work. Help me to glorify You in all things that I do, say, and think today. This I ask in Christ Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great day in the Lord! Be led by the Holy Spirit!
Eradio Valverde
