I am in the middle of teaching the Gospel of John to a group of ladies, the Soul Sisters, at the church we attend almost 30 minutes from our home. I was originally asked to address the group close to ten years ago when I was there to explain a theological concept (progressive sanctification) during one of their studies.) I guess it was helpful as I was asked to return for another discussion and soon thereafter, I was a made an honorary “Soul Sister.” The rest, as they say, is history.
Since that time, I have had the honor, and the pleasure, to teach the Soul Sisters books of the Bible each spring and fall. As the ladies have come to realize, I really enjoy teaching what I refer to as “nuggets” – those things that we may gloss over but really have some significant importance when read the Scripture with intention and a nod to the original Greek language.
Last week, we talked about one such example. It occurs in the 16th chapter of John. Jesus is speaking about returning to His Father in heaven and affirms that after that, the Father will send another in the place of Jesus. What is so interesting is that there are at least two different words in the Greek that can be used for the word “another.” One of them means to simply send someone or something else, without restriction. However, the Greek word used in this passage means “to send another of the same kind.”
Now this may seem like a small thing, but it isn’t. There are examples in the Scripture when Jesus speaks to His disciples or others and makes reference to the same thing – another of the same kind. For example, maybe the reference is to His own followers, those who are believers, and is not meant for those who don’t share a belief in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
So what Jesus seems to be saying here is that when he returns to the Father in heaven, His Father will send another (of the same kind) to be with believers. In other words, God the Father will send another part of the Godhead to be with His people. Jesus seems to be declaring that the Counselor, or Holy Spirit, is definitely part of the Trinity. This is great news for us that it isn’t just some random angel or human who will be with us – it is part of the Godhead – of the same “DNA” as Jesus and God the Father.
Our verse for tonight is this particular verse where Jesus is speaking to His disciples. John recounts the words of Jesus in John 14:16, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever…”
My encouragement this evening is that God has revealed more of Himself to us throughout the ages. First, God was above us, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, across the sea and eventually into the Promised Land. Then, with the birth of Jesus, fully human yet fully divine, God chose to be among us and give us a model of behavior that God wanted for us. Then, after the ascension, at Pentecost, God chose to send the Holy Spirit, who lives IN each believer. As I like to say, God above us, God among us, God in us! My prayer is that we will ever remember that we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, an equal part of the Godhead, and that we are never without the presence of God in our lives – We are in constant communion with Him – including eternity. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…