A Not So Final Farewell (Par 4: Paraclete Passages)
4TH and 1
The Paraclete
Passages
The
4th Gospel has previously referred to the Spirit (1:32-33, 3:5-8,
3:34, 4:23-24, 7:37-39) and will soon record the reception of the Spirit by the
Disciples (20:22), but in the Farewell Discourse the term ‘Paraclete’ is used
and provides us with much information about the nature and role of the Spirit.
Name/Description
Him/He
(14:17, 15:26, 16:7-8, 16:13-14)
The
Paraclete (14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7)
The
Spirit of Truth (14:17, 15:26, 16:13)
The
Holy Spirit (14:26)
Relationship to God
Sent
from Jesus (14:16, 15:26, 16:7)
Sent
from the Father (14:16, 14:26, 15:26)
Speaks
only what He hears (16:13)
Brings
glory to Jesus (16:14)
Relationship to the Disciples
Will
be with them forever (14:16)
Will
Teach them all things (14:26, 16:13)
Will
remind them of Jesus words (14:26, 16:14)
Will
tell them what is yet to come (16:13)
Relationship to the World
Testifies
to them about Jesus (15:26)
Convict
them of sin/righteousness/judgment (16:8)
Not
accepted by them (14:17)
Not
seen or known by them (14:17)
From Grief to Joy (16:16-24)
Having
spoken of the Spirit, Jesus makes a somewhat cryptic statement about His soon
coming departure (death) and return (resurrection). As the Disciples remain
confused (they are still so focused on the departure that they haven’t really
grasped the promise of return), Jesus compares what is coming to a woman giving
birth (a painful experience giving way to joy). The disciples will soon
experience great joy through a new sort of relationship with the Father.
From Figurative to Plain
Language (16:25-31)
Jesus
knows that the Disciples can’t yet comprehend all that He is telling them. Even
as the Disciples claim to understand, Jesus warns of the inadequacy of their
present faith. Only after the resurrection and through Pentecost will they
truly understand.
From Flight to Fight
(16:32-33)
Jesus
knew that the Disciples would abandon Him, but He took comfort in the fact that
the Father would not. His words in this discourse were meant not to shame them,
but to prepare them and comfort them in the good news that, through Jesus, true
victory was at hand!
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Over
the course of the Farewell Discourse so far (John 13:31-16:33), we have seen
Jesus give some final directions, comforts, warnings, and promises to His
Disciples. As a finale to the section (17:1-26), He simply prays. Next week we
will look intensely at this prayer.
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