Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will
send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the
Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you
have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26–27
Jesus informs His disciples that “the Spirit of truth” will come
and that the Spirit, as well as the disciples, will “testify” to
Him. When Jesus first spoke these words to His disciples, they
would not have comprehended what He meant. Since these words are
prophetic in nature, they are words spoken that were to come to
fulfillment and, then, once fulfilled, the words would be
understood. So what does Jesus mean?
When we look at the Acts of the Apostles and read about the early
Church, it is clear that something incredibly transforming took
place after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Up until that time, the
disciples and other followers of Jesus had faith, but they were
also fearful. They communicated with those others who believed, but
did so in secret and with fear. But as soon as Pentecost came and
the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, descended upon
them, the Apostles began to be used by God to powerfully proclaim
the Gospel without fear and with great effect upon many. It was
this experience of the disciples of our Lord, being filled with the
Holy Spirit, to which Jesus was referring.
After Jesus died, and perhaps even more so after Jesus ascended
into Heaven, it is likely that some of His disciples immediately
concluded that the new movement Jesus started was now over. They
could have never conceived of the idea that what Jesus started was
only beginning. They could have never conceived of the fact that
soon they would share in the beginning of the Church, proclaim the
Gospel with courage and power, see the conversion of countless
lives, witness the ongoing forgiveness of sins, and ultimately give
their lives in imitation of our Lord. These disciples had no idea
just what awaited them with the coming of the Advocate, the Spirit
of Truth. What was awaiting them was their sharing in the ability
to “testify” to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. They soon
realized that Jesus was actually more alive than ever and that He
was now going forth to convert souls by the power of the Holy
Spirit and through the instrumentality of all of His new
disciples.
The same is true in our lives today. It is far too common for
Christians to simply believe in Jesus personally, but then fail to
wholeheartedly give testimony to Him by the transforming power of
the Holy Spirit. It is far too common for followers of Christ to
act more like the disciples prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Too often, Christians keep the Gospel to themselves, fearful of
giving testimony by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Reflect, today, upon these prophetic words of Jesus. Though these
words were initially spoken to the Twelve, Jesus also speaks these
words to you today. He wants you, too, to be a witness to Him,
giving testimony to others so that they will come to believe.
Reflect upon how well you fulfill this prophetic calling. Where you
are lacking, pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your
life so that God can reach many hearts through you.
Most glorious Jesus, You promised to send upon Your disciples
and also upon me the Holy Spirit, the Advocate and Spirit of Truth.
Holy Spirit, I welcome You into my life and offer myself to You
without reserve to be used to give testimony to the Truth. Please
do use me, my God, and touch many lives through me. Jesus, I trust
in You.
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Featured images above: The Descent of the Holy Ghost By
Titian, via Wikimedia Commons
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