seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
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I googled it. Look at verse 23. That's Thaddeus... also known as Judas Lebbaeus... also known as the author of the Book of Jude in the Bible.
Here's the link to the commentary I read. I implore you, use the link to read the rest of the commentary. I left a whole lot of preaching out.
l pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper: This was the second in this series of three assurances. The disciples feared, “Jesus is abandoning us. When He leaves we won’t know what to do.” They wouldn’t have less help; they would have more help because the Father would send another Helper.
He will give you another Helper: The word Helper translates the ancient Greek word parakletos. This word has the idea of someone called to help someone else, and it could refer to an advisor, a legal defender, a mediator, or to an intercessor.
Whom the world cannot receive: The world cannot understand or receive the Spirit, because He is Holy and true. The Spirit of truth is not popular in an age of lies, and the world cannot perceive the Spirit and does not know Him.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you: Jesus began His third assurance. The disciples feared, “When Jesus leaves, then our discipleship program is over and it has barely started.” Their discipleship program wasn’t finished; it was only just beginning.
Because I live, you will live also: The disciples would not only see Jesus by the Spirit, they would also continue to live in Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. Their dependence on the life of Jesus would not end when He departed; it would continue in greater measure through the Holy Spirit.
How is it that You will manifest Yourself to us: Judas asked an excellent question. The idea of manifest is to reveal, to make plain. It wasn’t immediately apparent how in His departure Jesus could reveal Himself to His disciples and not to the world at large.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you: In one sense this was a common thing to say at a departure in that culture, to wish peace (shalom) to others as you left them. Jesus took this normal good-bye and filled it with deep strength and meaning.
If you loved Me, you would rejoice: The disciples were troubled at the news of Jesus’ departure. In faith, they should instead rejoice, for the sake of Jesus, for their own sake, and for the sake of the world. The work of Jesus through the sent Holy Spirit would be greater than His work during the years of His earthly ministry.
The ruler of this world is coming: Jesus knew that Satan was coming for Him. At that moment Judas Iscariot was arranging the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The loving, others-centered calm of Jesus in such circumstances is remarkable.
He has nothing in Me: Jesus could confidently and truthfully say that Satan had absolutely no hook, no foothold, no toehold of deception in Him. Satan could not push Jesus to the cross; Jesus went in loving obedience to God the Father and out of love for the world (that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so do I).
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I don't know how preachers can teach the "Spirit" or the "Comforter". It's pretty hard to explain for the ordinary old woman with an On-Line Bible and some On-Line Commentary.
When we Believe and Confess something changes inside of us. I've heard there is a God gene and I figure that God gene is activated by the attempted drowning. Yes, I know that the preacher isn't trying to drown us.... but when a man has control of how long you stay under water.... the thought of being drowned does go through the mind. I think that's when the "Spirit" is activated. I wonder if the preachers and priests of the world are taught, in Seminary, that the most effective Baptism is a near drowning. Maybe that's why some "spritz" and some "dunk". Maybe the preacher figures if he "spritzes" he won't be moved to drown someone.
Can you imagine what would happen if a human was drowned by a preacher during a public Baptismal Service?! The press would go wild. I bet some politician or deacon would move to change the law or the policy to prohibit Baptism! Baptists would be in peril!
But, relax... you don't have to be nearly drowned to be a Christian. Baptism is just a "sign". The confession... the true Confession of Faith is what counts.
Anyway.... when you participate in a Baptismal Service it changes you. You have confessed that you Believe the human named Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Mary of Nazareth, is indeed the Son of God. You have confessed that you Believe Jesus walked on water, brought a human back from the dead, and gave His Life on the Cross for you. You have confessed that one day you expect to see Him return. You have confessed that one day you will go with Him to His Father's House in Heaven, and you will become an Adopted Child of God.
It takes a lot of courage to confess something like that. In some cultures, it could get you jailed or murdered. Keeping the faith... that's the "Spirit".
Way back when... I took a Bible Study called "Knowing God". I've lost the book through the years, but I remember what happened quite clearly. One "exercise" we were given, was to ask God to wake us at a certain hour. I asked God to wake me at 2AM so I would have time to do my Bible Study before I went to work.
At 2AM the following morning... I woke up.... sat straight up in the bed... wide awake... as if I had already brewed and drank my morning caffeine. That's the "Spriit"!
Just recently, I found out that a woman I know was suffering from something. She needed someone with her while she got over the worst of it. Her hubby was scheduled to go out of town for 3 days [fancy that...3 days] .... Anyway, I asked God to help. A freak snowstorm hit the area and they were snowed in for 3 days [fancy that... 3 days]. That's the "Spirit"!
I don't know how it happens or why God would be so wonderful to humans. I only know...
When you become a Christian. A Believer... something changes. The "Spirit" enjoys helping us. The "Spirit" will wrap around us like a warm "Comforter" and help us through whatever it is. It's almost unbelievable. ..... I mean come on wide awake at 2AM? I've tried it again... it worked again. It's almost unbelievable 3 days? A freak snowstorm hits a town that was supposed to be sunny and cool... and snows them in for 3 days? Isn't that just a tad bit unbelievable???? But it's true... it happened and I'm so happy it did. That woman is fine now... 3 days was all she needed to get back on track! 3 days... fancy that.
In these verses, Jesus told His disciples that He was going to send the "Spirit" to "Comfort" them while He was gone. He might have even called the "Spirit" a "Helper". They might have understood that term better. The point is....
Even though they didn't have Him managing the Mission in person... they would know what to do or say because the "Helper" or "Spirit" or "Comforter" or "Angel on my shoulder" would let them know.
Listen to the Angel on your Shoulder... it's the Spirit! Tell the devil on the other shoulder to shut up! The "Spirit" will take care of the devil for you!
Confess... publicly... Jesus will make sure the preacher doesn't drown you. And... if the preacher does drown you... well, you'll go to Heaven anyway...so what have you got to lose?
Listen to the Angel on your Shoulder!
