The Holy Spirit, our teacher

April 28, 2021

14:1 – 15:17 Being in Jesus, just as Jesus is in the Father

Read John 14:25-27

Jesus knew that his remaining time with the disciples was now very short so, while he still could, he took this opportunity to impress these profound truths on his disciples (25). But his departure would not mean that they would no longer be able to learn from him. Once again, he assured them that after he was gone, the Father would send “the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit” to them “in my name” (26) i.e. as the representative of Jesus. The Spirit will be “another Counsellor” to them, a Helper just like himself (14:16).

In particular, Jesus emphasised here the Spirit’s work as a teacher who will cause the disciples both to remember and to understand the things that Jesus had taught them. It was only after Jesus was glorified – after his death and resurrection – that everything began to make sense to them (12:16), initially through what Jesus explained to them until his ascension (Luke 24:27,44-46; Acts 1:2-3) and then, after Pentecost, through his Spirit (16:13-14; Eph.1:17). This is why, at the conclusion of this final evening before his death, Jesus was able to pray, “I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known” (17:26).

So the disciples did not need to be troubled (27; 14:1), because in Jesus they would know his very own peace. Peace, the Hebrew word shalom, was (and is) the standard Jewish greeting, referring to fullness of life in God, which is what Jesus came to bring (10:10). Nothing in this world can give such peace, for, along with love, it is the fruit of the Spirit (26; Gal.5:22) who the world cannot know (14:17) but who is given to all who believe in Jesus. “I have told you these things, “ he said, “so that in me you may have peace” (16:33; Phil.4:7).