Tuesday, March 6, 2007
John 16:7-11 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged."
OUR ADVANTAGE (Part I)
There is much about good Friday that is somber and sad. We well might consider the awful load of sin which He bore. We might talk about the suffering and agony, and often do. But first and foremost the Lord attempts to put into the minds of His disciples that which is good for them about this coming event. Even though the disciples still do not understand what is about to happen, yet they soon will be faced with the stark reality of that death and the Lord would prepare them, prepare them with words of comfort which should be to them joy in a dark situation. Not just in the few days between calvary and Easter, but indeed throughout the rest of their lives, they were never again to gain the privilege of walking with Jesus in the way in which up to now they had enjoyed so much.
But Jesus would have them and us understand it is better for us that He depart, for without that departure it is impossible that the Holy Spirit come to us. Indeed, if Jesus had not finished the work he had come to do, it would be impossible for any of us to receive the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. For if Jesus had not finished the work we would still be unrighteous and no unrighteous man can receive the Spirit of God. If the Lord remained on this Earth, He would be a part of this Earth, His kingdom would be a part of this Earth, He would not be over all things in on the right hand of the Father, all our hopes and dreams would be dreams of this Earth, and we would not have an intercessor before the Father. Therefore none could receive the Spirit of God. Therefore we rejoice that He left so that we might be made righteous and be given the Holy Spirit.
