Christ was talking to his disciples the night before He was crucified. Here are the questions that came to my mind during this reading:
How do you get others that feel so close to you to understand that you have to die?
How do you explain that there will be no salvation unless you die?
How do you convince them that your death is necessary to defeat Death?
How do you get them to understand that you as the Christ has to return to the Father in heaven so that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will come to them and the world?
How do you get them to understand that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will guide them and us into all truth (John 16:13)?
The disciples did not want to hear it. They were heartbroken, confused, disoriented, scared, and baffled that Jesus was leaving. THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND.
They eventually understood all that Christ had been telling them. The Holy Spirit (the Comforter) was not only with them as Jesus had been but was in them as well. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity who exercises the power of the Father and the Son in Creation. When Christ left the earth, He sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells within everyone who believes. The Spirit would comfort them, GUIDE them to know the truth, remind them of Jesus' words, give them the right words to say, and fill them with power (John 14-16).
In reading John 16:1-15, I knew the feeling the disciples were having. I had been there like maybe so many of you have. It is very painful when the heart is filled with too much sorrow. A sample of this happened to us over 25 years ago. Let me try to take you there...
Our daughter, Regina Bernadine, was born prematurely on December 9, 1986. She stayed in the hospital for over two months until she was strong enough to come home in the last week of February 1987. We really enjoyed being with her and being a part of her. We were all very close to each other. After about a week, she had to go in for a regular check up and shots on February 27, 1987. Regina went home to be with the Lord early the next morning in what they called SIDS.
We did not want to hear it. We were angry, heartbroken, confused, disoriented, scared, and baffled. WE DID NOT UNDERSTAND. We eventually understood what Christ had been telling His disciples. We know that the Spirit continues to comfort and GUIDE.
Jesus, in His last moments with His disciples, warned them about further persecution. He also told them where, when, and why He was going away. He assured them that they would not be left alone, and that the Comforter (Holy Spirit) would come and GUIDE them. Many of us blindly stumble our way through the Christian life under our own strength. Seemingly we are unaware that God has provided a supernatural Guide to lead us.
Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit continues to guide us as we continue to reach out to others in Charlotte and the world.
- Otis Bernard Gaither
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