1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.”
This is a most interesting thing for Jesus to say. Hasn’t he been telling us over and over that those whom he has called will never fall away? Since we can’t accuse Jesus of lying, then what is he talking about? He has been talking about the Apostles being persecuted for their faith in Jesus. He will continue to tell them even more about this. He is warning them, and us, that if we are not prepared to suffer for our faith, we are likely to do something in this present age, fall away, but that will not affect our salvation. Now that sounds like a contradiction because Jesus clearly told us that anyone who disowns him will be disowned by the Father (Matt 10:33). We can really dig ourselves in theological holes if we take verses out of context.
The mistake we make is that we look at what Jesus said about being disowned as a final unforgivable sin. However, falling away is not something permanent for a true believer in Jesus Christ. We can look ahead to Peter’s denial of Jesus and his restoration. Jesus even knew in advance that though Peter would “fall away” under some very minor discomfort when confronted that he knew Jesus, he would return (Luke 22:32).
Unfortunately, there are still some people who express their faith in Jesus and fall away permanently. They never turn back and that is because there was something wrong with their faith. Like Judas, who had hoped that Jesus was the conquering-Messiah. When he realized that his faith was misplaced, he fell away. He didn’t understand who Jesus really is. The same is true of many people who claim they believe in Jesus. When things go sideways in their lives and they don’t get what they think they should be getting out of their faith, then they leave. John explains that when this happens, they didn’t really belong. “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us” (1 John 2:17 NIV).
This also the reason why the Book of Hebrews was written. Too many of the early Jewish Christians were denying their faith in the face of persecution. The author warns that those who hold on to their faith to the end are the ones who truly are saved. “We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first” (Heb 3:10 NIV). It is healthy for us to stop every once in a while, and think about our salvation. When we do, we should acknowledge that we are capable of falling, but we must also consider that if we truly know Jesus, then he will never let anyone snatch us out of his hand (John 10:28). That is a confidence we can have that will keep us until the end.
2 “They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.”
This prophecy came true all too soon after Jesus left and the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost. For a while, the first Christians were respected and lived in relative peace. Then came Saul and oversaw Steven’s martyrdom. He firmly believed that he was doing what God wanted. I’m fairly sure that any Jewish person who confesses Jesus as their Messiah will be put out of their synagogue as well. Certainly, those who persecute Christians in Muslim nations and bring it to the point of killing believers and think they are serving their god. While the specifics of Jesus’ prophecy have been fulfilled in the first century, the general fulfilment continues today.
3 “And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.”
This is the bottom line for all persecution of Christians. The opposition simply does not know Jesus and they don’t know the Father. Yes, many of them claim to know God. Sometimes, they even call themselves Christians. History is full of instances of martyrs who have been killed by other Christians to keep heresy out of the church. We must ask if these persecutors are truly Christians. It should also make us ponder the way we treat people of other denominations. This doesn’t mean we should cease to evaluate doctrines and call error, error. But we should be very careful about what we do when we find the error.
4 “But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.”
What would our faith in Christ be like if Jesus hadn’t told the Apostles these things? How would we face persecutions if Jesus hadn’t warned us about them. Would the Apostles have folded and given up? That seems to be the message Jesus is telling them. I think this is a good message that we must remember and inform any new Christian. When persecutions come, even just insults or threats but nothing violent, they shouldn’t be a surprise. We already know that when a person is truly saved, he won’t fall out of salvation, but persecution of a person who has been promised that all their problems will go away may very well be stunted in their growth and end up hiding their faith in Christ. I can hear you asking if that person is really saved based on the parable of soil that don’t bear fruit (Matt 13:18-22). That is not for me to determine, but it is a solid warning that we must not lead people astray with promises contrary to Jesus’ word.
Jesus didn’t tell the disciples this when they first joined him. Why not? Since he was with them, he was protecting them. Any accusations fell directly on Jesus. Any persecutions had to come through him. Just as he was able to walk away when threated with being stoned or pushed off a cliff, he was protecting the Apostles. That physical protection was about to end. That is something we should consider for ourselves. Jesus doesn’t promise us protection form physical harm.
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
Indeed, Peter had asked Jesus where he was going in John 13:36 and Thomas had also asked in 14:5. So why does Jesus say they have not asked? The answer is that when he had previously told them, they were quickly diverted and asked other questions, questions that were more about themselves than about where Jesus was going. “Why can’t I follow you?” and “Show us the Father.” Though they didn’t understand and follow up on the question, Jesus recognized that his statements about leaving have caused them sorrow.
Perhaps they did understand that going back to the Father meant death for Jesus. But it wasn’t something they wanted to pursue. Many people, whether saved or not, don’t want to talk about death. Those who have no hope for an afterlife certain don’t. However, many Christians also have a fear of death and would rather not talk about it. That is why Jesus must continue to teach them in the last hours before he goes to the cross.
7 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
The question has been asked, who would you rather have, Jesus in person teaching you or the Holy Spirit living in you? Jesus is obviously telling us that it is better to have the Helper, the Holy Spirit. While Jesus was here, he had a limited ministry. If he had never returned to the Father and were here today, his ministry would still be limited even if he was using TV and the internet to broadcast his teaching. But that would not be the same as having the Holy Spirit living in us and giving us the power to overcome sin. If Jesus were hear and had written volumes, we would read his writings but not have the Holy Spirit to enlighten us. Very bluntly, we would still be dead in our sins because Jesus wouldn’t have died for us.
The word translated Helper is parakletos. It can be translated as advocate, comforter, or helper. The use of the title Helper here is appropriate because he does help us to overcome sin. Yet it is more than help, it is enablement. In context, Comforter is also significant because of the distress that the Apostles were feeling. Advocate doesn’t seem to fit with the immediate context but when including the persecutions mentioned earlier, it would stand to reason. Whichever title we choose, we can always depend on Jesus sending him (by the way it is him not it) when we come to salvation.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
We are like the Apostles when they only wanted to understand where Jesus was going as it affected them. The same applies to the Holy Spirit coming. How is it to my advantage? Jesus provides some answers to what the Holy Spirit will be doing when he comes and at first glance, they don’t look anything like being to our advantage.
He will convict the world of sin. How does that help us? In some ways it doesn’t because when the world understands what sin is and that we have been forgiven, persecution starts. On the other hand, if the Holy Spirit didn’t convict anyone of sin, then who would come to Christ?
He will convict the world of righteousness. Jesus connects this with his resurrection and ascension. The world knows that Jesus was a righteous person. Even those who deny him generally call him a great person, a good teacher, and many other accolades even if they deny he is God and Savior. That means they know what a righteous person looks like and they instinctively understand that they are not. The world cannot deny they know what a good person is because the Holy Spirit will point them to Jesus.
He will convict the world that there is a judgment. This is the climax of the conviction. Once a person knows the difference between his sinful self and the righteousness of Jesus, he will have no other option than to understand there will be a judgment for his sinful life. The ruler of this world, who is Satan, will be judged because he is the one who has been keeping everyone in the dark. The Holy Spirit will shed the light of Jesus upon all Satan’s lies and people will have no excuse.
The good news in all this is that when the Holy Spirit does this in the life of someone chosen by God, they will willingly, thankfully, and joyously turn to Jesus for salvation. The rest of the world will fight it to the very bitter end.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”
God is very gracious to us. He only gives us what we can handle. Whether it is temptations as Paul described in 1 Corinthians 10:13, or it is even knowledge of himself as Moses explained in Deuteronomy 29:29. If Jesus had laid everything that Paul explained in Romans upon them, their heads would have been spinning so hard that they would not have been able to grasp any of it. It is true for most of us as well. We come to Christ and we think we have God figured out. Then as we study the Bible and begin to understand more, we realize we weren’t as smart as we thought.
13 “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.”
The Helper is now called the Spirit of truth. When you stop to think of it, since God cannot lie, this is an appropriate title for the Holy Spirit. It is important to understand that this is what he must do to make sure that everything we have in the Bible is God’s word. He speaks into the Apostles and other New Testament authors to make sure that what has been decreed by the Father and Jesus has said is faithfully given to us.
When it comes to truth, the Holy Spirit is also the one who makes sure that prophecy of the future is revealed to us as well. That doesn’t mean that all of us are prophets. In light of this, it is interesting that we see very little of future events explained to us in the New Testament other than what Jesus told us and the Book of Revelation. Paul mentioned a few things but most of what he told the Thessalonians is not recorded for us. Jesus’ statement here may refer only to things that the Apostles need to know in their own lifetime and Johns’ Revelation. Peter’s prophies are also very sketchy without significant details.
14 “He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
What the Holy Spirit reveals will bring glory to Jesus. That is the main point of this statement. Whatever the Holy Spirit does must of first importance bring glory to Jesus. That is one of his main jobs. The second most important job of the Holy Spirit is to bring people to Christ. According to Jesus in John 3:5-7, the Holy Spirit is the One who causes us to be born again. As Jesus has already said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37 ESV). The Holy Spirit declares to each of us that we belong to the Father and to Jesus Christ. It is this inner testimony that occurs once we are born again. As John later testifies, “And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us” (1 John 3:24 ESV).
