Words Have Meaning

The Mission of The Spirit – John 14-17

This describes what the Holy Spirit has been sent to earth to accomplish in the lives of those who, by the Spirit’s power, have embraced God as their Father and Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity, whose identity and work are revealed especially by Jesus in his farewell discourses to his disciples (John 14–17). Jesus said that after his departure he would send his followers the Holy Spirit, another “Comforter” who would be with them always and lead them into all truth (John 15:26). The Holy Spirit would come to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment – in other words, to proclaim the gospel of Christ and its fulfillment (John 16:8).

The fulfillment of the sending of the Spirit took place fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection and ten days after his ascension into heaven. The Spirit came in the form of “tongues of fire” that rested on the heads of the disciples who had assembled in Jerusalem in order to wait for him, as Jesus had instructed them to do. Once they were filled with the indwelling Spirit, the disciples were able to go out and preach boldly the message of salvation that they had received in Christ, and the Spirit enabled them to win thousands of converts to the new faith.

[ Bray, G. (2018). The Mission of the Spirit. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Lexham Press.]

Opening Observations – John 14-17

• These chapters comprise the “Farewell Address” of Jesus to His Disciples.
• A cursory review of chapters 14-16 reveals the plural use of the word “You” was used 107x. Chapter 17 shows a transition from the plural to the singular form of “you”.
  • Jesus is preparing to leave His Disciples. He stretches himself to them with the use of terms of endearment. He is comforting them!
  • The shift in chapter 17, Jesus is now endearing himself to the Father as He prays for the Disciples and the coming of the Holy Spirit Comforter.
  • KEY PASSAGE: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if  do not go away, the Helper (“paraclete” – Advocate, Encourager) will not come. But if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…” Jn 16:7-8 ESV.

Take your study deeper. What observations do you see regarding the Holy Spirit?