The Work of the Holy Spirit
January 5, 2020
Commentary
At the beginning of this chapter, Jesus warned that persecution would strike the church and some Christians would fall away (vv. 1-4). Jesus did not want his disciples to stumble, but He knew that the events of the next 24 hours would shake their faith greatly. He spoke these things to them because He knew that they would remember his words and understand them better after some time had passed (v. 4). Jesus spoke of two ways in which his followers would be persecuted. (v. 1) They would be excommunicated from the synagogue (v. 2a), and men would kill them, believing that they were serving God in doing so (v. 2a). Tertullian said, “While it is true the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, it is also true that their blood is the stain on the pages of history.”
Jesus then explained the need for the Holy Spirit (vv. 5-11). The disciples were bewildered and grief-stricken men. All they knew was that they were going to lose Jesus. They wanted Jesus to stay with them on earth. When our earthly desires fail to align with God’s perfect plan, we can become grieved (and even upset with God). Jesus told them that in the end this was all for the best. When He went away, the Holy Spirit, would come (v. 7). When He was in the body, He could not be everywhere with them. Now everywhere a man goes the Holy Spirit is with him.
1. The Holy Spirit would convict men of sin.
2. The Holy Spirit would convince men of righteousness.
3. The Holy Spirit would convince men of judgment.
People are condemned to hell because of unbelief in Jesus (v. 9). A man might try to clean up his life, but without faith in Christ, his efforts will be in vain. Christ’s righteousness is the standard by which all our deeds will be measured (v. 10). We must stop comparing ourselves to others. The Jews rejected their Messiah. They foolishly passed judgment on the “judge” himself (v. 11). The Cross was a death sentence for Satan and for all who fail to believe in Jesus Christ.
Application
The nearer I live to Jesus, the better I will know Him. The more I listen to the Holy Spirit, the more He will be able to guide me. To enjoy His revelation, I must accept His teaching.
John 16:1– 11 (NET)
1 “I have told you all these things so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.
5 But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I have said these things to you. 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment— 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.