'Look, they're going to drag you out of church, kill you, and think they're doing God a favor by doing it. And I would have told you this earlier, but decided to wait until now, when they are about to do it to me. Now, when it happens to you, I want you to remember this moment as you take your dying breath. Oh, and one more thing: I'm leaving and it's for your own good because I'll send my replacement after I leave.'
This is not exactly the pastoral comfort we hope to get in a moment like this! I can only imagine the thousand questions that Jesus' first hearers of these words must have had.
- Counselor? You think I need a Counselor?
- Execution I can handle, but they're going to think they're doing God a favor?
- They're going to HATE me? I'd prefer if everyone LIKED me!
John gives us a hint of a few of the questions they ask in v.17. Clearly, they just didn't understand. I can relate.
His final words are some of my favorite, they give me hope: In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.
What kind of trouble, persecution, or challenges have come to you because you follow Jesus? I can think of some for me, but I'd like to hear from you.
Jesus is explaining about the Holy Spirit in the middle of the chapter, and in verses 8 - 11, he seems to be saying that the Holy Spirit will convict "the world" (v 8)of guilt and be their moral compass. I guess to me that's a feeling or knowing. What was going on with people before the Holy Spirit came? Was this conviction just done by the Pharisees and other religious leaders in comparison to the Law? Did people(Jew and Gentile???)not "feel" this conviction within themselves before the arrival of the Holy Spirit?
ReplyDeleteExcellent question Ginger. I equate the Holy Spirit to my conscience. It's that little voice in my head that tells me what I should be doing. What about the people living before Jesus. Did they not have consciences?
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that Jesus is trying to prepare his deciples for his death by saying I'll always be with you, and I'm going to a better place so don't mourn for me. He says many of the same things we say today when we're trying to comfort the relatives of a recently deceased person.
Romans 1:18-20 may help here with the question.
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