November 27, 2020 -- John 15:16-17 -- The Spirit, the Helper, the Truth

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 14:16-17 English Standard Version

How did Jesus hold it all together? When He faced the great betrayals in His life? His mother and brothers wanted to take him home. Even His family was saying “He is out of His mind” (Mark 3:21). His disciples could not understand what He was teaching them, or the miracles which accompanied His teaching. Jesus rebuked them “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” People around Him constantly sought glory for themselves not for God (John 5:45).

Jesus endured in His humanity, in His flesh because He had the Holy Spirit in Him. The Spirit was given to Jesus without measure (John 3:34).

Jesus lived for the glory of His Father. His heart and mind, obedience and life were fixed on that one goal that God should be glorified (John 17). It was the Spirit Who enable Jesus, in His flesh to accomplish this.

Jesus knew His purpose—to go and preach to other towns also (Luke 4:43)—even when it would have been easiest to stay in one place where His teaching was applauded and welcomed.

Jesus knows our failures and our weaknesses. He came to us not because we are basically good and can take care of ourselves. Jesus came to this world because we are in desperate need of His Spirit, the Helper, Who sustains believers.

Jesus knows we seek our own glory and when we are credited with this or that, we can barely hear the adulation, because immediately we wonder if we are good enough, if we can handle the next task. The Spirit of God, our Helper, makes our life valuable because we finally understand our purpose—to glorify God—not ourselves, but God and the result of this is enjoying Him (!!) forever.

Jesus knows people flop from one thing to the next, never quite satisfied—the longing is better than having. This is true for all things except one. When we are filled with the knowledge of the love of God shown to us in Christ, then our life’s purpose is transformed—we know we are to serve God with all we have and all we are. And it is the only worthy goal of our living The Spirit, the Helper sent from the Father at Jesus’ request, fills us with the knowledge of our life’s purpose—to declare the glory of God.

Jesus, we hold up to You the promise You gave Your disciples, we ask You send Your Spirit of Truth. Send to us this Helper so that in the light of this rich salvation which You have shown us in Christ, we will live for You when things are easy or times are tough. Send Your Spirit to overcome our weaknesses and failures as the Spirit testifies to our Spirit we belong to Father in heaven on the basis of Jesus’ glorious work. Send Your Spirit so that we will not seek our own glory, but shine the radiant glory of Jesus in all we say and do. As the angels proclaimed it, let our lives declare: “Glory to God in the highest!” Jesus, send Your Spirit so that our ordinary lives, working or jobless, married or single, marriage, raising children or cultivating friendship dear as family, sickness or healthy times, riches or poverty, we will in all circumstances honour our Creator, Redeemer and Helper. Amen.