The Spirit of Truth

[Read John 16:4-15]

A lot is communicated not just through the words we say, but through the way we say those words—the tone we use or the emphasis we use on particular words. Imagine you’re sitting at a restaurant with a friend, they look up and see someone walking by the table and say, “What are you doing here?” They could say that statement in a variety of different ways, emphasizing different words. What are YOU doing here? What are you doing HERE? We all recognize that there’s a difference between those statements. They could also say it with disdain in their voice—‘what are you doing here…’—OR they could say it with complete excitement “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?”. It’s the same words, but each means something a little bit differently.

One of the commentators this week gave the example of a little boy getting ready to go on a fishing trip with his father. He’s been excited for this trip all week, but then the father gets called away for an emergency. The little boy says, “Aw, Dad, where are you going?” We recognize that the little boy really doesn’t care about where the Dad is going, the little boy is only concerned with the fact THAT the father is going. The where doesn’t matter to him.

That’s what we’re seeing happen in this morning’s passage. We hear Jesus say, “But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’” (John 16:5, ESV). Some people have wondered why Jesus says this because the disciples HAVE asked where he was going. Earlier in this gospel we read, “Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?”” (John 13:36, ESV). So, why does Jesus say that they’re not asking where he’s going when they HAVE asked where he’s going? There are different ways to answer this question. Some have answered it by saying that Jesus is talking only about this particular moment—they aren’t asking where he’s going right now.

However, I think this is much closer to the scenario with the young boy and his father that I just described. Listen to the way Jesus frames this: “But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.” (John 16:5–6, ESV). Notice what Jesus is saying? He’s saying that they’re not asking him where he’s going because they’re too focused on the fact that he is going. They’re too sorrowful and sad about the fact that he keeps on talking about going that they’ve haven’t asked WHERE he’s going. If they would have asked where Jesus was going, it would change things dramatically.

That’s why Jesus continues to tell them: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7, ESV). Here the disciples are filled with sorrow over something that is actually better for them. It’s almost like they’re sitting there sorrowful over the fact that they have to give up their McDonald’s cheeseburger for a beautifully cooked steak. They haven’t even asked what they will get for giving up their cheeseburger, they’re just sad about having to give it up. Yet, the steak is waiting for them on the other side. It’s much better for them.

It’s much better for the disciples for Jesus to go away because it means they will receive the Holy Spirit—and that’s much better. Every time I preach on this verse—or others like it—I feel the need to emphasize that point. It’s better that we are filled with the Holy Spirit than if Jesus was still walking around on earth. Do you believe that?  I think many people actually believe it would be better if they could see and touch and experience Jesus on earth. But Jesus says it’s better for us that he goes away and sends us the Holy Spirit.

Jesus has already hinted at this earlier in the Gospel. He said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12, ESV). Why will his followers be able to do greater works? BECAUSE he goes to be with the Father, which means he will send us the Holy Spirit to do those greater works. It’s better that Jesus goes away and sends us the Holy Spirit.

It’s also important to recognize the role of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is going to continue the work of Jesus in the world. That’s his job. That’s the greater works Jesus was talking about. This is also the point of the book of Acts. Luke writes his first gospel to show us the life of Jesus on this earth and he writes the book of Acts to show us the work of Jesus through the Holy Spirit—which is why the first couple chapters are all focused on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is sent to continue the work of Jesus Christ in the world.

To build on that, it’s important not to forget what we talked about last week. Last week the focus was on the fact that the world hated Jesus and will hate us too. Why did the world hate Jesus? Because he revealed their sin and took away their excuses. So, when the Holy Spirit comes, what should we expect Him to do? He’s going to continue the work of Jesus by revealing sin and taking away excuses. And how is he going to do that work? He’s going to do that work THROUGH the disciples and followers of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit isn’t going to work apart from God’s people but through them to continue Jesus’ work in the world. That’s why God’s people will also be hated by the world.

We see all of these connections made in this morning’s passage. Jesus says, “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8–11, ESV). What’s the Holy Spirit going to do when He comes? Convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Isn’t that the continuation of Jesus’ ministry of revealing sin and taking away excuses? It is.

Now, I think it’s important to explain a part that is a little confusing. I think we understand what it looks like for the Holy Spirit to convict the world of its sin. I also think we understand what it looks like for the Holy Spirit to convict the world concerning judgment. But what in the world does it mean—or look like—for the Holy Spirit to convict the world concerning righteousness? How do you convict someone of doing something good—of righteousness? The best way I’ve been able to understand this passage is that righteousness should be in quotes. The Holy Spirit is convicting the world of it’s false righteousness—its excuses to cover up sin, its pretended holiness. The Holy Spirit comes—just like Jesus—and removes their excuses and coverups and convicts the world of its sin and points out its need for the Savior Jesus Christ. This is the role of the Holy Spirit.

Notice what happened in the Book of Acts when the Holy Spirit was poured out. Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they are filled with the Holy Spirit. When they are filled with the Holy Spirit, what happens? They preach to a massive crowd of people and do what? They convict the crowd of their sins, their false righteousness, and the judgment as a result. We read, “Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…“And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” (Acts 2:37–38, 40–41; ESV).

This is a perfect picture of what we’ve been talking about. When the Holy Spirit comes, He continues the work of Jesus convicting the world of their sin and unbelief, removing their excuses and revealing their false righteousness, showing them the impending judgment to come and their need for a Savior.

But, also notice that the Holy Spirit does this through the disciples—through God’s people—not apart from them. This is important. When the Holy Spirit convicts the world of their sin and unbelief, He does that through us. When the Holy Spirit convicts the world of their false righteousness and removes their excuses, he does that through us. When the Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning the current and coming judgment, he does that through us. When the Holy Spirit tells the world that they need to repent and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, he does that through us. These are the greater works that Jesus was talking about.

Jesus also says this about the Holy Spirit: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:12–13, ESV). There’s a lot to talk about in these couple verses. Jesus knows that the disciples aren’t ready to hear and understand everything they need to know. They won’t actually be ready to understand these things until AFTER the resurrection from the dead. So, he hasn’t told them everything yet. They still have more to learn. So, he comforts them, and prepares them, by telling them that the Holy Spirit will continue his work and lead them into all truth. Another way of saying that is that the Holy Spirit will continue to disciple the disciples to become the followers Jesus wanted them to be.

Notice something else that’s really important in this passage. Jesus says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak… (John 16:13, ESV). The Holy Spirit will never say or teach something that is contrary to Jesus’ teaching or to the Father’s teaching. The Spirit only says what the Father and the Son say. This is important to understand because it’s a reminder that the Holy Spirit will never teach anything that is contradictory to any other portion of God’s Word. This is why scripture repeatedly says that everything needs to be tested according to the Word of God. The Spirit will never contradict the Father or the Son.

I think it’s also important to realize that the Apostles—the initial disciples of Jesus—had a special role in all of this. Of course there are aspects of this passage that apply to us, but Jesus was speaking explicitly and directly to his first disciples—eventually called the Apostles. These men were given a special role in laying the groundwork for God’s people following the resurrection of Jesus, helping God’s people understand what happened, what’s happening, and what will happen. I think this is why Jesus says, “…and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13, ESV). I think this is referring directly to the Apostles—that the Holy Spirit will help them understand what is going to happen after Jesus’ death and resurrection—the things to come.

I also think it’s important to understand what Jesus means when he says to the Apostles that “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…” (John 16:13, ESV). What is the “all truth” that he’s talking about? Here’s a hint from the Apostle Peter: “…no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20–21, ESV). Peter says that every portion of scripture was written by men who were carried by the Holy Spirit—including his own. You could re-word that to say that every portion of scripture was written as men were guided by the Spirit into all the truth.

The “all truth” that Jesus is speaking about here is what we call the New Testament. As the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles into “all the truth” helping them understand what happened with Jesus and how that was working itself out in the church, they wrote that truth down for the churches. This is why we have the certain books of the New Testament that we have. The requirement of a New Testament book was that it must have been written by, or by the assistance of, one of the Apostles. Why? Because Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit would help the Apostles remember everything he said and did and that the Holy Spirit would guide the Apostles into all the truth.

This looks a little different for us. As the Holy Spirit guides us into all the truth, he’s guiding us into the truth that has already been written down by the Apostles. He’s not guiding us into new truths. He’s not guiding us into new revelations. When the Holy Spirit works in us to guide us into the truth, he’s bringing us back to the Word that he inspired, making sure we clearly understand and live according to that Word.

There’s something else that I think is really important to understand about what this passage is teaching us about the Holy Spirit. The giving of the Holy Spirit is missional. The Holy Spirit is given to the apostles to convince the world of their sin and their need for Jesus Christ, not to give them secret revelations and visions. This is especially relevant when we connect this with last week’s sermon. Don’t forget, we’re sent out to preach a message that the world will hate. How in the world will anyone believe the message? They will believe through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. Just like on Pentecost, when we speak to the world in the power of the Holy Spirit, convicting them of their sin and need for Jesus Christ as their Savior, the Holy Spirit can break even the hardest of hearts and draw people to himself. That’s the hope and the comfort we have as we bring the gospel to a lost world. That’s also where we have courage and boldness to speak to a world that will hate our message. We speak to them in the power of the Holy Spirit, trusting Him to do the work in their hearts.

Every single Christian has been filled with the Holy Spirit. He is living inside you right now. He hasn’t been given to you simply for your sake, like your personal assistant. Rather, he’s been given to you to work through you to convict the world of its sin and need of Jesus Christ. That work begins in your own heart, as the Holy Spirit convicts you of your sin and need for Jesus Christ and empowers you to repent and believe and receive forgiveness. Then the Spirit works through you in your church as we talk to each other about sin and forgiveness and our need for Jesus Christ and as we call each other to repentance. Then the Spirit works through us as we go out into the world, convicting the world of its sin, of its false righteousness, of the impending judgment to come, and of their need to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. That’s why we’ve been given the Holy Spirit to continue the work of Jesus in the world.