John 14:15-27 The Work and the Role of the Holy Spirit
Good morning, everyone! Happy 6th week of the Easter Season, and happy Memorial Day weekend. Next week will be the 7th week of the Easter Season then Pentecost—the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection. So, it is good to start thinking about who is the Holy Spirit and the role of the Holy Spirit. This passage follows the famous verse of Jesus in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” This was in response to the disciples who were worried and confused because they didn’t know where Jesus was going. Last week, in chapter 13, we learned how distressed the disciples were when Jesus had told him one of them was going to betray him. Then in chapter 14, he told them that he was going away. It seemed like the world around the disciples was crumbling before their eyes. Their human dreams of an earthly kingdom were being shattered. But in this passage, we see that though Jesus was going to leave them, he would not leave them alone. He promised to send them the Holy Spirit, also called the Advocate or Counselor. He would be with them and help them. So, it is imperative for believers to know more about who is the Holy Spirit and the role of the Holy Spirit. My title is:
The Person and Role of the Holy Spirit
(6th Week of the Easter Season)
John 14:15-27
Key Verse: 26:
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Look at verse 15. “15 If you love me, keep my commands.” Jesus had taught his disciples many commands. We learned from Jesus last week the new command, “Love one another, as I have loved you.” Of course, we cannot love one another with Jesus’ love unless we first have a love relationship with him. Nowadays, it seems like many people have a wrong conception on what it means to be a Christian. Some may think it’s a matter of works, like going to church, reading the Bible, and celebrating Easter and Christmas. It’s not a matter of saying the right Christian cliches or singing the right songs. But being a believer means much more than that. According to Jesus’ own words, true Christianity is a matter of obedience to him. It’s not just giving lip service to Jesus. Once a man was asked by his beautiful wife if he loved him. She was expecting him to say, “Of course, my dear I love you with all my heart.” But instead, he answered, “I married you didn’t I.” It was not quite the answer she was looking for. In the same way, we just can’t say, “I love Jesus because I’m going to church aren’t I” or “I’m praying every day aren’t I” or “I’m giving offering aren’t I.” We need to look more deeply what it means to love Jesus.
Love for Christ will result in a life of obedience to him. If you claim to love him, but do not keep his commandments, you’re either lying or self-deceived. All who love Jesus seek constantly, daily, to obey Jesus. For example, who prayed this morning? Then you are obeying Jesus who taught us to pray. If you are here live or online then you are obeying Jesus, who taught us to worship God. Who we obey determines who we worship. Who is leading my life? Who is in the driver’s seat? Me or Jesus? But as Dr. Ben always taught us, it’s not a matter of imperative that we must love Jesus, but indicative, that we want to love Jesus and obey him willingly. If young children say they love their parents, but their parents have to always discipline them or punish them in order for them to obey—is that real love? Ideally, children ought to obey their parents because they know that they love them. As a parent and grand-parent I know the reality of children not obeying a hundred percent. Because real love takes a lot of work and self-sacrifice. For example, Maria and I have given pre-marriage counseling to about 12 young couples. All the couples seemed to really love one another and made their vows at the wedding. But after a few years a few couples have called us for post-marriage counseling because maintaining a love relationship requires a lot of effort and self-sacrifice. For example, why did Jesus have to command his disciples to love one another? Didn’t they love each other before? We can say that their love was self-love because they were following Jesus to see what Jesus could do for them. For example, there was Judas Iscariot who followed Jesus more than three years until he could not find anything more beneficial. So, he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. They all wanted Jesus to establish the glorious nation of Israel, with each of them as Jesus’ cabinet members. They wanted power and authority; this is why they competed to see who was the greatest among them. People should not come to Jesus with a pragmatic point of view. We obey because we want to be useful to God and show unbelievers what it means to be an obedient child of God.
What are Jesus’ commands he wants us to obey? Let’s think of a few in the last two chapters. In chapter 13, Jesus commanded his disciples to wash one another’s feet. This means that love is not just words, but action as well. We need to bear with each other’s weaknesses and pray for each other’s spiritual growth. First Peter 4:8 reads, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Love doesn’t mean ignoring others’ sins, but it is understanding the weaknesses of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and be prayerful in helping them. Other commands we learned were also, “Love one another as I have loved you,” and “Believe in me (Jesus) and in the Father.” Of course, there are many more commands of Jesus. But the point is to have a life of obedience, rather than a life of disobedience. It’s not a matter of perfection, but a matter of direction. Anyone can say they are a Christian, but in their daily life live like disobedient unbelievers. The vital part of Christianity is obedience to Jesus. But the problem is that people don’t want Jesus’ teachings to be the principles of their daily lives. It seems to be too hard to obey Jesus in everything. Do I really have to love my annoying and loud neighbors? Do I really have to give everything to the poor? Do I have to really leave my country as a missionary? Maria and I heard about one pastor in Ukraine from Maria’s Bible student, who told his congregation not to pray for Russians, which is a direct contrast to Jesus’ command to pray for your enemies. Then we start questioning Jesus’ words and misunderstand Jesus’ intentions and the context in which he told them in. Actually, failure to obey Jesus is directly connected with the type of love relationship we have with him. If we have a superficial love relationship with Jesus, then we’ll most likely obey his commands superficially as well. Our love relationship with Jesus is not like a one-night stand, but a lifelong commitment. That’s why it’s important that we have a love relationship with Jesus based on the indicatives rather than the imperatives. The religious Pharisees wanted to obey the law perfectly, but not out of love for God but pride as the chosen people of God. Then they only became legalistic, political, and indifferent to their suffering people. We must always remember and meditate on God’s love and grace upon us first and foremost. We can love Jesus more because he loved us. First John 4:19 reads, “19 We love because he first loved us.” We grow in our love for Jesus when we meditate, and set our hearts and minds on the greatness of his love for sinners such as ourselves. We must also know that when we become believers, by the power and mercy of God, we receive the Holy Spirit. According to God’s word, love is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the souls of believers. Galatians 5:22 reads, “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” So, we must pray and rely on the life changing power of the Holy Spirit to work in us. Jesus promised the disciples and all believers that he will send the Holy Spirit to help us.
Look at verses 16-17. “16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.” The disciples were afraid if Jesus left them, they would be alone and no one to guide them. But Jesus promised to send them an advocate to help them. The Holy Spirit would not just help them one time and leave, but be with them forever. Depending on the Bible version, the Holy Spirit is called the “Helper” or “Counselor” or “Comforter,” which is in Greek Paraklete. Interestingly, Jesus said that the Father would send them another helper. Who was the first helper? Jesus was the first helper and the second helper is the Holy Spirit. It means that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are of the same essence. I liked the illustration that one pastor used. Since its Memorial Day weekend let’s take a hamburger example. Let’s say you are at a picnic and you finished eating your hamburger. Your nice friend asks you, “Do you want me to bring you another?” You say “yes” with the understanding that he is going to bring you another hamburger. But he comes back with an onion, it’s not another, but something totally different. As Jesus, the Son of God, is the second person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, of the same essence, is the third person of the Trinity. That is why he is another helper or comforter.
In verse 17, Jesus also called the Holy Spirit “the Spirit of truth.” As we know, a lawyer or counselor is supposed to fight for truth. The Holy Spirit exists, even if the people of the world do not recognize him, God’s people knows that he exists because he lives in them. In an anti-Christian culture, it seems like people believe more in demons and evil spirits than the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit exists and he gives God’s people wisdom and strength in their time of need. Another reason the people of the world do not recognize him is because the Holy Spirit seeks to guide God’s people to holy and pure things of God. Many people who live according to the American culture are not interested in holy and pure things. Someone once described the American culture by the 3 S’s—sports, sex, and speed. Many people, not all, who are engaged in these activities cannot be described as holy and pure people. So, why would a culture that engages in unholy and impure things be interested in seeking the Holy Spirit? Many in our culture also, just watch the news, are more interested in telling lies than the truth. Those who are liars are not interested in the Spirit of truth. So, it’s important for the church and God’s people to follow the truth rather than cultural norms. One preacher, David Gudzik, said this, “When a church tries to be like the world the church also cannot receive the Holy Spirit.” We should not be afraid from being different from the world. We should be afraid when we are not following God’s truth. Our goal is not to be liked by the world. Our goal is to please the Holy Spirit living within us. Again, in the next few verses Jesus reassures his disciples that he will not leave them alone as orphans.
Look at verses 18-21. “18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” Jesus coming to the disciples can have a double meaning. It could have meant that Jesus would come to them again because he was one with the Holy Spirit or that he would come to them again after his resurrection. In either way, Jesus would not be leaving them alone because he would always be with them. Jesus promised, “Because I live, you will live also.” His resurrection guarantees our eternal life. It secured both the continuance of our spiritual life in that it obtained our forgiveness of sins once for all; and the certainty of our future resurrection on the last day. Right before his ascension, the Risen Jesus promised his disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit that would give them power to evangelize the world. On that day, they would understand that though Jesus was sitting on the right hand of God in heaven, he was with them and in them through the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus emphasized again the importance of keeping his commands, for it was a sign that they were daily maintaining a love relationship with him. As mentioned, we cannot obey Jesus’ command by our own strength, but we can do so with the help of our loving heavenly Father, who will write his laws and commands on our hearts. The Spirit would reveal what the disciples still didn’t yet seem to know that Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Him. There were still many things the disciples didn’t know.
Look at verse 22. “22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’” One of Jesus’ disciples also known as Judas was Thaddeus, asked Jesus to show himself to the world. Perhaps he wanted to have a quick, easy, and mass evangelistic work done by Jesus. This reminds us of Jesus’ brothers who wanted him to go to a certain Feast, do miracles there, and show himself to the world. Jesus seemingly ignores Judas’ question and repeats pretty much what he has just said in verse 21, that he will not reveal himself to the rebellious world, but only to those who obey him. Jesus did not come to the world to have a superficial relationship with believers. He came to have a personal love relationship with each believer. Look at verses 23-24. “23 Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.’” As Jesus made a clear correlation between love and obedience; he made one also for those who do not love him and do not obey him. Disobedience is not only a person’s choice but rebellion towards God because Jesus said his teachings were not his own, but from the Father. His final warning in verse 24, “These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me,” underscores the enormity of the world’s sin in rejecting Christ. They are not only rejecting him, but also God himself. How could the living God make his home with such rebels? On the other hand, obedient believers enjoy a relationship with God that the world cannot know. There may also be a hint in Jesus’ answer that he will reveal himself to the world through those who obey him. As people see Christ in us, many will be drawn to our Savior. The fact is, we’re the only Bible that many people read. If we joyfully obey Christ and enjoy his abiding presence, we will be his channel for revealing himself to this disobedient world. Speaking of the Bible, there was another purpose for sending the Holy Spirit to a special group of men, who were the Apostles.
Look at verses 25-26. “25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” Jesus was teaching his disciples the truth to the end of his earthly life—how would he communicate with them when he is gone. Jesus said that God would send the Holy Spirit to teach them and remind them of everything. Jesus was not saying he was going to send them a substitute teacher, but the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. “In my name” means the Holy Spirit is equal to Jesus and has the same authority as him. This is why we also understand that the Bible, though written by men, was really authored by God who inspired these men to write exactly what he wanted. But God respected each author’s writing style, different backgrounds, and personalities and worked through them to have the finished product—the Bible. This is why how Peter writes his letters are going to sound different than how Paul writes his letters. But they are all Scripture nevertheless. This is why Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God-breathed means written by the help of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, when we read the Bible, especially the gospels, we can wonder how the writers could quote every word that Jesus had spoken since they didn’t have a stenograph to type every word or a recorder. Also, some of Jesus’ words were spoken in private, like his prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. This is why they needed the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit to remind them everything Jesus had spoken and needed to be written in the Bible. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:21, “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The authors did not come up with their human ideas or some imaginative folklore, but they were led and “carried along by the Holy Spirit.” This is why also the authority of the New Testament is verified by the prophecies of the Old Testament. The Bible has been written by more than 40 authors and covers a span of approximately 1,500 to its canonization. These authors came from various backgrounds and wrote in different styles, but the unity and coherence of the Bible as a whole is considered by many to be divinely inspired. The unity from the beginning of the OT to the end of the NT cannot be explained by mere human reason alone. The Holy Spirit was planting in each of their minds the pictures, illustrations, stories, and details from God himself. Besides holy inspiration for the Apostles, the Holy Spirit would give a special gift to all believers.
Look at verse 27. “27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Here we learn that the peace Jesus gives is not the same peace that the world gives. The world can give us some kind of peace so people may go on vacations to get away from all the hustle and bustle of life. They may even do meditation or relax in the sauna. Once, I saw a sign, “Don’t worry. Do yoga.” Once, Maria tried yoga but in didn’t work. In extreme cases, people may take pills or drugs hoping to find even one day of peace. But Jesus’ peace is different because it is an inner peace given by the Holy Spirit, which the world cannot understand as Jesus said in verse 27, “I do not give as the world gives.” Philippians 4:7 reads, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This peace only comes to those who first have peace with God through faith in Christ. And, obtaining it is not automatic or effortless. Even Jesus, the Son of God, struggled with real human emotions in the Garden of Gethsemane, when faced with the cross ahead of him. But through wrestling in prayer and receiving the confirmation that he was doing the Father’s will, he had inner peace as he faced horrific suffering and death for our sins. Although it sounds contradictory, you have to fight spiritually for this inner peace that comes from God. Instead of letting your emotions control you, you have to take control over your emotions. Of course, this is easily said than done. Especially, we live in a world full of troubles and many things to be afraid of. It seems like after solving one trouble, two more troubles show up. We must believe in Jesus’ promise to receive this peace. Also, a lot of our troubles comes from problems we have with other people. But in Jesus this can be resolved also. Ephesians 2:14 reads, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” When I had read this verse initially, it really touched my heart because I had hostility and anger towards a group of people when I was younger, before meeting Jesus. So, I could not have peace when I thought about this group of people. But after accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior I could forgive them from my heart. Then the peace of God that is beyond human understanding came to my soul. So, I have a question for you now. Do you want John’s peace or Jesus’ peace? Amen. Then pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the peace that is beyond human understanding. We all need Jesus’ peace.
In conclusion, we learned about the person and role of the Holy Spirit. As we pray and communicate with our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus, we ought to also communicate and have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He is the third person of the Trinity and we cannot neglect him in our daily lives. Whenever we are in a time lacking comfort or in need or in trouble, we can call out to the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom, strength, and peace. Sadly, this morning I heard the news of my friend’s wife, Pauline Park, passed away because of cancer. But he wrote, “Pauline fell asleep peacefully in her sleep. I believe that her soul entered our Father’s house only through her faith in Jesus’ name.” Though his wonderful wife passed on, my friend Henry received the peace of God and assurance that she is now with her Father God. This kind of peace can only come from the Holy Spirit. I really liked the old hymn, “Holy Spirit, be my guide,” because it helps us to understand how the Holy Spirit helps us in this fallen and sinful world. We must be humble and know that we need, as believers, an Advocate, a Comforter, a Helper, a guide, while we make our pilgrimage from this world to the kingdom of God. May God help us to call upon our heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in our daily walk with God. Amen.
Let’s pray: Dear heavenly Father, we thank you for our Lord Jesus, who taught us through today’s word the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. Help us to acknowledge and recognize the third person of the Holy Spirit and the role he has in our daily walk with you. Comfort Dr. Henry and his children at the loss of his wife and their mother. We know that she is with you now being comforted and in peace. Please, Holy Spirit, be our daily guide as walk in holiness and righteousness before our Holy God. I thank for blessing our worship service today and I pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Footnotes
- John 14:17Some early manuscripts and is
Bible Study Questions
The Person and the Role of the Holy Spirit
John 14:15-31
Key Verse: 26:
“26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
1.What does Jesus expect from those who love him (15)? What “commands” has Jesus given? How is a person motivated and empowered to love Jesus (1Jn. 4:19; Gal. 5:22)?
2.What does Jesus promise to those who love him (16-17)? What do we learn about the Holy Spirit in these verses?
3.How did Jesus comfort them (18-21)? What do we learn about the relationship between the Triune God and the disciples from these verses? How does this apply to us?
4.What did Judas ask and why (22)? What did Jesus say in reply (23-24)? Why is loving Jesus and obeying him inseparable?
5.Who is the Advocate and what will he do (25-26)? What other blessing did Jesus’ promise and why (27)?
6.Why should the disciples be glad (28)? Why did Jesus tell them these things (29)? Why did the prince of this world have no hold over Jesus (30-31)? What have you learned about the Holy Spirit and about loving Jesus?
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
