"The Great Convictor"

Jesus told his Apostles that "the world" could not accept the Counselor he would send because "it neither sees him nor knows him" (John 14:17). A little later he said -

"I tell you the truth; it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he  comes he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment; in regard to sin because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness because I am going to the Father where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment because the prince of this world now stands condemned." John 16:7-11

 For a long time I have pondered v:7 trying to understand why the Spirit would not come unless Jesus went away. The Holy Spirit had been a key presence in his ministry from Jesus' conception and birth all the way to his resurrection. So, what would be different after his ascension?

I have come to think the "difference" for them would be linked to Jesus' impending absence and the Spirit taking up the mantle of leadership from him. Jesus was about to complete his part in the Father's mission to reach out to all the human family in a very personal way, and the Holy Spirit would step into his own "personal ministry". Up to now, Jesus had been the focus of both Old Testament prophecy and presenting himself to the Jews and his own disciples as the one who came in the Father's name to "make him (the Father) known" (John 1:18). But, that was about to change in a significant way.

The first real public announcement of the "good news" at Acts 2, links the Spirit to God's promise as Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32. Then he makes this statement, "Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."

Jesus' ministry was virtually limited to the people of Israel, but after his resurrection and ascension, the plan of God which reaches back thousands of years to Genesis 12, was finally complete. Now, the time had come to make it known to all men, everywhere. That part of God's eternal purpose was, and still is, the ministry of the Holy Spirit first through Jesus' Apostles, then through all of us who honor Jesus as our King and High Priest, taking their testimony to the whole world.

Convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment was no small challenge in the first century, nor has that changed from then til now. God's eternal plan is still active and the ministry of the Counselor is still as much needed as then, although in a slightly different way. Ultimately, the success of God's plan for all his human family requires confronting two huge hurdles; (1) Convincing men to embrace the truth about Jesus Christ, including his resurrection, and (2) Helping them to learn to see each other in a very different, new way, as part of a single family.

This enormous challenge has no possibility of success without the ministry of the Spirit of God because we must factor into the process the absolute commitment of Satan to its failure. Only the Spirit of God can give Jesus' disciples the ability, the knowledge and the pure courage to stand up to our already defeated enemy. Every Christian should take some time to read Revelation 12 and be encouraged to realize that we are victorious over the devil because of Jesus' love and Spirit power. HALLELUJAH!