The Counselor

Introduction

There are those who work best behind the scenes. In order for a play to be successful, there are lots of people working on everything from scenery to lights to sound to costumes. Most of these people receive little recognition for their work. The audience applauds the performers on stage rarely realizing that without those who are unseen the performers would fail miserably.

Imagine some venture that doesn’t require someone working behind the scenes. Even the person is appears to be a solo act has someone who is behind the scenes encouraging. Only a foolish person would declare that they do not need anyone to assist in some way. We have a lot of behind the scenes people at Park. The visible ones receive honor. But what about those who are behind the scenes? Let me quickly add that behind the scenes people understand that their role is to work to allow another to be in the limelight while not wanting the limelight for themselves. The sound guy goes unappreciated, but he takes great delight in knowing that his work allowed the performer to do his job well.

While I have used the example of a performance to make the point, we could say the same thing about a team of athletes who are able to perform at their maximum because of dedicated coaches, trainers, conditioners, sales people filling seats, etc. Most of these behind the scenes people are unknown and are okay with being unknown. They do not desire to have attention but are glad when the one who is to receive attention gets it. This is what Jesus says about the Holy Spirit—the Counselor. Let’s learn.

The Spirit’s Work

This is a very concentrated text helping us to see the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus reminded his disciples that the Spirit’s work was vital for them and he begins this section by reminding them that the Spirit cannot come until Jesus leaves. The Spirit’s work is to point to Jesus. The physical presence of Jesus did not demand reminders. Jesus’ very presence provided explanation. It is when Jesus left, that the Spirit’s work was required.

In verses 8-11, Jesus says that the Spirit’s work will be one of conviction. He will convict people about sin, righteousness and judgment. The Spirit convicts people of the sin of unbelief in order to bring them to faith (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). The Spirit convicts people about his testimony about Jesus, a testimony given through Scripture. The Spirit will convict people concerning the judgment. The Spirit is active in the process of salvation as he convinces people of their sin, that righteousness is found only in Christ, and of the coming judgment. The Spirit’s important work of conviction comes because Jesus has gone.

Verses 12-13 point to the Spirit’s work specifically with the disciples. The Spirit guided the disciples into all truth. It was the Spirit who helped the disciples put things together and guided the process of preaching those sermons so that people would hear the truth about Jesus. There are several texts which tell us that the disciples did not understand what was going on until later. These texts remind us that the Spirit was at work in the hearts of the disciples bringing the events of Jesus’ ministry into clearer focus.

How does Jesus summarize the Spirit’s work? Look at verses 14-15. “He will bring glory to me…” The emphasis of the sentence is on the word “me.” The pronoun is placed before the verb which means that this is the word which receives the emphasis. “It is I whom the Spirit will glorify.” The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ. The Spirit does not cause one to focus on some exciting experience or inner prompting. The Holy Spirit causes one to focus only on Jesus. The center of attention is to be Jesus not the Spirit. He is the behind the scenes divine one. Jesus is the Word. The Spirit’s role is to glorify the Word just as Jesus glorified the Father. The Spirit finds great joy in fulfilling his role without bringing attention to himself.

So What?

What do these words have to say to us? Turn to Acts 2. No one will deny the presence of the Spirit in Acts 2. In fact, Luke records with great clarity that the Spirit is present and is present in great power. What did Peter preach about? The audience wants attention to be on the revelation of great power in the speaking of tongues (v. 12), but Peter and the other apostles do not dwell on this new power, but instead bring the focus to Jesus (v. 22). The purpose of the sermon was to bring the hearers to conviction that Jesus is Lord and Christ. According to verse 37 the sermon did what it was supposed to do. In this sermon did Peter testify of Christ? Did he convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgment? Did he bring men to faith in Christ? Did he glorify Christ? Did the Spirit have any part in this day? Absolutely. The Spirit inspired the sermon. Now through scripture the Spirit works to convict people of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

The same message exalts Christ and demonstrates the Spirit’s work of conviction. Some try to speak of the Spirit and his work as some great mystery and that the mystery is revealed in different ways with different people. This leaves the Spirit’s work in the realm of the subjective. Jesus did not leave the Spirit’s work to what one thought or felt. He was quite clear. The Spirit’s work is to convict and to point to Jesus. To make the Spirit’s work based on what one feels or experiences means that each person then decides the Spirit’s work and chaos soon ensues. The Spirit points to Jesus and never to himself.

The bottom line. This life is to be lived revealing that Jesus is the most important person to us. Being filled with the Spirit means that we point to Jesus because the Spirit points to Jesus. It means that instead of thinking of ourselves first, we think of Jesus first. It means that people matter to us because people mattered to Jesus. It means that we sacrifice for the sake of others. It means that we are victorious. It means that we don’t hide in the shadows. It means we want others to know Jesus as we know him. You do know him, don’t you? Jesus took our place. He is worthy of our honor, praise, and conviction. Invitation.

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