Goodbye, and Hello
(Pentecost) John 15:26-16:15 (RCL 15:26-27, 16:4b-15)
Tony’s Overview Video
How to Use
Preparing to teach
- Read the Bible Lesson by Tony Cartledge in this month’s issue of the Nurturing Faith Journal
- Watch Tony’s Video for this session
- Select either the Adult or Youth teaching guide and follow the directions
Click to read the Bible Lesson by Tony Cartledge
Key Verse: John 16:7 –
Nevertheless I tell you the truth:
it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away,
the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away,
the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
Have you ever moved away from friends that you really loved? Whether as parent or child, it can be hard. In earlier days, people promised to write letters to each other. When the telephone came along, they promised to call. Today we can stay in constant touch through text, email, or video applications on our digital devices.
Our text for today finds Jesus and his disciples in the process of saying goodbye at a time when none of our modern communications options were available. [DD]
The setting is their last supper together, and the mood is somber. Whereas the synoptic gospels devote only a few descriptive verses to this last meal shared by Jesus and his closest disciples, John devotes five lengthy chapters to it (13-17), focusing on Jesus’ final words and instructions to his followers, and his compassionate prayer for them.
In 14:15-31, Jesus promised his heartbroken friends that he would not leave them comfortless and alone; but would send the Holy Spirit to live in their hearts and lives. He referred to the Spirit as the “Advocate,” (NRSV, NEB, JB) though other translations use terms like “Comforter” (KJV), “Counselor” (NIV), or “Helper” (NASB, Williams).
These are all attempts to translate the Greek term paraklētos – sometimes transliterated as “Paraclete.” The word could be used to describe a defense counselor or legal advocate, but more commonly referred to a helper or intercessor. Literally, the Greek term describes “one who is called alongside,” with the assumption being that the purpose of calling is to provide assistance.
Jesus promised his friends that they would not be alone or out of communication with him. He did not promise to write them letters, or to call them on the phone, or to organize a Google Hangout. He promised them something better, but also something they could not begin to understand. He promised that his Spirit would come to dwell in them, help them, empower them, teach them, and guide them.
The Spirit’s witness (15:26-16:4a)
Emphasizing Jesus’ promise of the Spirit is appropriate for Pentecost Sunday. After introducing the Spirit (14:15-31), Jesus went on to describe his relationship with believers through the metaphor of the vine and the branches (15:1-17), and to discuss the world’s mutual hatred for him and those who follow him (15:18-25). In the light of this frightening prospect, Jesus returned to the subject of the Spirit. His disciples would be sent out to work in an unfriendly world, but they would not be alone.
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning” (15:26-27). In both 14:17 and 15:26, the “Advocate” is also called the “Spirit of truth.” The Spirit would speak God’s truth to the disciples, and through them, to the world. [DD]
The Spirit would testify to the disciples on Jesus’ behalf, but the disciples were then to testify to the world. They had a special role to play because only they had been with Jesus from the beginning. Their words would carry special power. Their testimony was irreplaceable. The Spirit could reveal truths to others, but only those first followers could say “I saw it with my own eyes,” “I heard Jesus say this with my own ears.” “I was with him from the start.”
As they went forth to preach God’s truth and build the church, they would encounter one danger after another. According to the author of the Fourth Gospel, Jesus predicted that they would be thrown out of synagogues that once welcomed them. Religious leaders, threatened by the change they were preaching, would seek to have them killed – and think they were doing God’s work by purging the world of heresy (16:1-4a). Perhaps Jesus wanted them to know these things ahead of time, so they would never think that he had forsaken them. He did not promise to protect them from all suffering, but through the presence of his Spirit, Jesus promised to be with them in the midst of their coming ordeals. [DD]
The Spirit’s purpose (16:4b-7)
“I did not tell you these things at the beginning,” Jesus said, “because I was with you.” When Jesus was present in the flesh, the twelve were not in need of the Spirit. But now Jesus was leaving the physical world, and they would need to understand how he would continue to be present through the Spirit.
A curious line in 16:5 has Jesus saying: “But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’” This seems odd because, earlier in the conversation, Peter had pointedlly asked “Where are you going?” (13:36), and Thomas had implied the same question (14:5). Jesus had said he was going to the Father, but with little explanation. Now, however, the disciples were too overcome with sadness to ask any more (16:6). Jesus appeared concerned that they were too distressed to grasp the Spirit’s promised role.
Jesus argued that it was actually to the disciple’s advantage for him to go away. In the flesh, he could only be present in one place at a time, but the Spirit could be at work among all believers. Jesus had to depart physically before he could return spiritually: “. . . if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (16:7).
The Spirit’s work (16:8-11)
One aspect of the Spirit’s work would be focused on the world. “And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned” (16:8-11).
What this means is not self-evident, but here is one attempt to understand it. First of all, the people of the world who do not believe in Christ do not accept the seriousness of their wicked ways, but the Spirit would convict them of their sin.
Secondly, those who ridiculed Christ on the cross considered him to be a sinner, believing that no righteous man would be crucified like that. But, Jesus could not “go to the Father” unless he was indeed righteous, and his Spirit would convict the world of this truth. Thus, the world would come to know true righteousness.
Finally, many people in the world have no concern about eternal judgment. They either think it will not happen, or they feel confident that their good works outweigh the bad, so that they will pass muster. But Jesus insisted that judgment has already begun: “the ruler of this world has been condemned.” In Jesus’ death and resurrection, the power of evil was broken, and Jesus emerged victorious (12:31-32). The Spirit would demonstrate this truth to the world.
The Spirit’s truth (16:12-15)
The Spirit would reveal many other truths, as well: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth . . .” (16:12-13a). This is a powerful and important verse. The word and the teaching of Christ did not cease when Christ ascended. The work of the Spirit is not only external, in the world, but also internal, in the believer.
One way to think of this is that we regard the New Testament writers as being inspired by the Spirit of God, and thus incorporating the teaching of Christ. But Christ’s teaching goes beyond this. As long as the Spirit lives in the hearts and minds of God’s people, Christ will continue to speak. Revelation is not static: God can still speak.
Jesus had revealed much, but also acknowledged that there were things the disciples could not yet bear, or didn’t need to know at that moment. They could be confident that the Spirit would reveal God’s truth and guidance at the appropriate time. This teaching of the Spirit is at one with Jesus’ own teaching and that of the Father: “for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come . . . he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you” (vv. 13b-15).
Trying to comprehend the concept of one God as Father, Son, and Spirit is difficult under any circumstances. Texts such as this emphasize the basic truth: even though God’s nature is revealed to us as Creator, Christ, and Spirit, there is a basic unity. The Father’s word is Christ’s word, and Christ’s word is the Spirit’s word. God relates to us and speaks to us now through the Spirit who lives in us.
Jesus did not leave the disciples without comfort, and the same promises apply to us. The Spirit has come. We often teach children of faith that “Jesus lives in their heart,” and they accept it without even trying to understand it. Adults can also believe that through the presence, the power, and the guiding force of the Spirit, Christ lives in us. [DD]
Adult Teaching Resources
Download the PDF of teaching resources for this lesson.
This PDF contains the Teaching Guide, Digging Deeper, and Hardest Question pages.
Read Scripture online: John 15:26-16:15
Youth Teaching Resources
Parent Prep
It is always fun to try and figure out who a new child resembles. Certain features will look the mother or father. They may look like different parents as they laugh and cry or pout or smile. But our children also begin to take on our mannerisms and personalities as well. We resemble our parents because we are around them at such pivotal points in our lives. The same should be with our faith. Who do we resemble in accordance to our faith? When things get tough, do we turn on who we are or who God is? What attributes come out? Parents are still have the biggest impact on their children when it comes to faith development, so who are you modeling your faith after?
Additional Links/Resources
Read Scripture online: John 15:26-16:15
Download the PDF for youth teaching resources using the button below. This PDF contains the Teaching Guide for this lesson:
Video
Encourage youth to check out this video ahead of the lesson.
“I Thought We Were Negotiating Here” from Erin Brockovich
Via www.youtube.com
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