Bible Speaks by Rev. L. Althouse 

 

March 15, 2015

Background Scripture: John 16:4b-15

Devotional Reading: 1Samuel 3:1-10

To the casual reader, John’s Gospel might seem to be a collection of bits and portions pieced together in a casual framework.

Actually, when you read John’s Gospel there are usually several main themes interwoven in the underlying structure.

The Gospel begins with a Prologue (1:1-18) and ends with an Epilogue (21:1-25). The main portion of John, 1:19-20:31, is a drama of the conflict between the light and darkness, a theme introduced in the prologue: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The public ministry of Jesus is covered in chapters 5-12.

Then, the whole of chapters 13-17 are set in the Upper Room with the Last Supper (13:1-30), followed by two Farewell Discourses (13:31-41 and 15:1-16:33).

In both of them, Jesus is attempting to prepare his disciples for their separation from him: his betrayal, arrest, imprisonment and death.

It is in these two discourses that he delivers five Paraclete sayings: five pronouncements about the mission and ministry of the Paraclete, or Holy Spirit. Today’s scripture contains the Fourth and Fifth Paraclete sayings (16:5-11 and 16:12-15).

Obviously, the disciples are still in a state of shock and awe, and Jesus acknowledges their emotions: “I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away” (16:1). The dangers confronting them are real and cannot be discounted: “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.

“And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them” (16:3,4).

To your advantage

Further: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor (Paraclete/Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

When the Paraclete comes, he will do the following wonderful things: “he will convince the world of sin and of righteousness, and of judgment.” In English this appears as an awkward sentence, but its meaning is clear.

The “sin” is the dependence of the Jews on their assumed “righteousness” in keeping of the law. The “righteousness” will be displayed in the victory over the cross.

As Wilbert F. Howard puts it: “The Resurrection cancels the shame of the cross and vindicates the righteousness of Jesus.” Finally, the conviction of “judgment” is revealed when the evil world woefully erred in crucifying the Lord Christ. And this is an advantage for us.

John doesn’t tell us how the disciples responded to his message, but the words of Jesus probably reflect their unspoken response. I can probably understand how they felt.

I have been to the Holy Land seven times and each time I make my way to the Mount of the Beatitudes. It is really not much of a “mount,” but it is a beautiful place situated 330 feet above the Sea of Galilee. At the top there is a hospice kept by an Italian Order of Franciscan nuns and a round chapel that looks down over the gently rolling lawn to the Galilean sea.

Traditionally, it has been designated as the place where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. Whether or not it is really the place, I’ve always felt it was where the sermon should have been delivered.

Another tradition holds that it was on the Mount of the Beatitudes that Jesus chose his 12 apostles. Sometimes I have let myself imagine being present on this great occasion, seeing and hearing Jesus Christ in person, as the disciples did when Jesus spoke to them about the Paraclete.

So why did Jesus tell them his going to the Father would be to their “advantage” – and by extension, to ours as well? How could there be any “advantage” that did not include the physical presence of Jesus?

Each time I have explored that question I eventually realize it is to our “advantage” because Christians everywhere over 2,000 years can experience the Christ because, although he is no longer present, he spans the centuries by virtue of the Paraclete, the Comforter, the Advocate, the Counselor – the Holy Spirit. Jesus lives on with us because he is no longer limited to a physical body in the Holy Land, but a spiritual presence throughout the world.

Jesus’ ongoing presence

This is vital. Otherwise we would have to assume that when the incarnation ends – Jesus dying on the cross – God can no longer speak to the world.

Professor Gail R. O’Day asks: “Was the revelation of God in Jesus available only for those who had firsthand experiences of the historical Jesus and his ministry. Is Jesus’ revelation of God limited to one moment in history, or does it have a future beyond its particular historical moment? The Farewell Discourse positions the Paraclete as the link between the historical ministry of Jesus and the future life of the church after Jesus’ death.”

So, the Paraclete provides the “ongoing presence of Jesus” in the Church.

In 16:11, when Jesus proclaims: “The ruler of this world has been condemned,” there are two possible meanings. “The ruler of this world” may be a reference to Satan, who has suffered a thundering defeat on Calvary; the tomb could not hold Jesus, who really died, but was brought back to a resurrected life by God. Some believe, instead, “the ruler of the world” is a reference to Jesus, the real ruler of the world.

Either way, the passion, death and resurrection establish the true world ruler: Jesus.

William Barclay puts it starkly but truly: “It is amazing that men and women should put their trust for all eternity in a crucified Jewish criminal!”

It is important to realize this is not just the climax and end of a historical event, but a reality for each and every one of us about the most important facts: God won at Calvary, Jesus was triumphant over the cross and we can – and must – share in that victory – as a reality in our lives, our world and our time.

Jesus said farewell, but in the Spirit he says again: Hello!

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.