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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).
Let’s imagine that you’ve followed Jesus for years, having been given a personal invitation by Jesus to walk with Him, experiencing incredible healings, teachings, walking on water, feeding 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, and being a part of a movement that you thought would establish Israel to rule the world.
Then Jesus says that He’s leaving and it’s best He goes. What would you think and feel?
And Jesus keeps talking, “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” You would probably respond as the Apostles did when they said, “What does He mean by a ‘little while’? We do not know what he is talking about” (John 16:16, 18, ESV).
Shocking statements from Jesus, but — besides the need of a death, burial, and resurrection for our sin — why did Jesus need to leave this world physically? And why was it important for the Spirit to replace Him?
Below are a few comments from people that I respect…
Charles Spurgeon (considered the best preacher ever in Christendom) often taught that the Spirit applies the work of Jesus directly to the human heart.
Warren Wiersbe, in his B Commentary Series, notes that while the disciples had the privilege of walking with Jesus, the New Covenant promised something better — God dwelling within.
J.I. Packer taught that the Holy Spirit had a “floodlight” ministry. Just as a landscape floodlight illumines a building at night, the Spirit continually illumines the words of Jesus within our soul.
For those living today, it’s definitely better that Jesus is not present on earth today, having left the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. I’m glad Jesus left, and I’m encouraged by the following two verses…
The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26, ESV, emphasis added).
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us (Romans 8:34, ESV, emphasis added).
The two words translated as “intercedes” and “interceding” are two different words in the Greek, and both shed light on the Spirit’s purpose today along with the continuing role of Jesus today.
In Romans 8:26, the original Greek word for the Spirit’s “intercedes” indicates the Spirit praying for us in every aspect and at every point in our lives. In Romans 8:34, “interceding” means that Jesus consults with the Father about all the Spirit’s requests for us.
Wow! The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working together — for us. I’m grateful that Jesus went home to be with the Father. And with Jesus, the Spirit, and the Father working for us, what a great salvation!