Bible Reading: John 16:5-16
Tonight’s Bible reading gives us a clear understanding of our true spiritual being and the work of the Holy Spirit within us. It invites us not simply to hear the words of Scripture, but to consider their message and how we can put that message into practice within our own lives.
The Gospel of John tells us about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and, importantly, explores the relationship between Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit. As Jesus prepared His disciples for the time when He would no longer be physically present with them, He promised that they would not be left alone. He would send them the Advocate, also described as the Spirit of Truth.
This is the setting for our reading from John 16:5-16, sometimes described as Jesus’ teaching on the work of the Holy Spirit.
What Do We Mean by Spirit?
Much is said about Spirit throughout the Scriptures and within our churches, but what do we actually mean by the word?
Spirit can have more than one interpretation, and I cannot tell you exactly what Spirit must mean to you. That is something we each need to discover for ourselves. I can only explain how I have come to understand it.
I see myself as having two aspects: the physical and the spiritual. There is the physical body through which I experience this earthly life, and there is also my spiritual being, the divine essence within me.
When I eventually come to the end of this cycle of physical life, my body will die, but I believe that my spiritual self will return to its spiritual home.
Understanding ourselves in this way also raises some important questions. Our physical lives come with free will, desires and temptations. Human beings can be influenced by greed, power and other selfish desires. Yet our spiritual nature calls us towards something very different: love, brotherhood, unity and our relationship with the Divine.
I believe that divine essence is within each of us. It can help us to recognise right from wrong, although our own desires and exercise of free will can sometimes get in the way.
Jesus as Our Spiritual Example
Jesus Christ came to us as a living example of how we should seek to live.
I see the Bible as a great history of humanity’s spiritual journey, and Jesus Christ as the great spiritual master at the heart of the New Testament. Some passages in the New Testament are not always easy to interpret, and tonight’s passage needs to be understood in the context of Jesus speaking directly to His disciples.
They had travelled with Jesus, listened to Him and received His guidance. Now Jesus was explaining that He was going away.
He recognised that His disciples would need another helper when He was no longer physically beside them. He therefore spoke of the coming of the Advocate, the Comforter and the Spirit of Truth.
Jesus tells them:
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”
John 16:7
The physical presence of Jesus would leave them, but the spiritual presence and guidance of God would remain.
The Spirit of Truth
Jesus goes on to make a remarkable promise:
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”
John 16:13
For me, this is one of the most important messages in the passage.
The disciples were grieving because Jesus had told them He was leaving. They could understand and see the physical Jesus standing before them, but He was preparing them for a different relationship with the Divine – one based upon the continuing presence and guidance of Spirit.
Jesus explains that the Spirit would not speak independently, but would make known what comes from Him:
“He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.”
John 16:14
Jesus then brings together the relationship between the Father, Himself and the Spirit:
“All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
John 16:15
Here we see a powerful picture of spiritual unity: God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Spirit of Truth working together.
The Holy Spirit Within Our Lives
The message was given to the disciples, but I believe it continues to speak to us today.
Jesus’ promise reminds us that spiritual guidance is not confined to the physical presence of one person or to one moment in history. The disciples were being prepared to continue their spiritual lives after Jesus had departed from them physically.
In the same way, we must learn to recognise the Divine Spirit working within our own lives.
For me, this connects with the spiritual truth of our oneness with God through Christ. Divine Spirit is the essence of God revealed through Jesus Christ, calling us towards truth, love, brotherhood and a deeper understanding of our spiritual nature.
We each have free will. We each experience the desires and difficulties of physical life. But we also have the opportunity to listen for something deeper.
The Spirit of Truth calls us beyond purely material concerns and reminds us of who we really are as spiritual beings.
Guided Into Truth
Towards the end of the passage, Jesus tells His disciples:
“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
John 16:16
For the disciples, these words pointed towards what was about to happen to Jesus. For us, they can also encourage reflection upon the distinction between physical presence and spiritual reality.
Our physical lives are temporary, but our spiritual journey reaches beyond the physical.
That is why I believe the message of John 16 remains so important. We are encouraged to recognise the Spirit of Truth, to seek divine guidance and to allow that spiritual understanding to influence the choices we make in our everyday lives.
The question is not simply whether we believe in Spirit. It is whether we are prepared to listen to Spirit and allow that divine influence to shape the way we live.
God bless.
