The Counselor

Introduction

Human nature is concerned about self. We spend a lifetime working on trying to be less selfish. We teach our children from young days to share and the initial response is usually to cry, scream, and reach out for the shared object. So it is with us. We learn how to be more discreet at times about our crying, screaming, and reaching out, but it is a constant battle.

Organizations which must depend on the raising of funds have to make their pitch in personal terms in order to receive money. They must present that helping will affect the donor in some way. Why? So they will get money. Without this personal connection, the reaction is either “so what?” or “what do you want me to do about this?” We often ignore events and circumstances until there is a personal edge to it. We ignore homelessness and unemployment until we or one of our family members loses a house or a job, then we get concerned. I am not cynical. It is the human condition—we think first in terms of how things affect self before we think of others. It is a constant battle.

Notice verses 5–6. Jesus experienced the reality of human nature. He has announced that he is going away, but the disciples filled with grief can only think about themselves rather than their friend. Their thoughts are “what is going to happen to us” or “this is terrible for us.” Hemmed in by their thoughts about what all of this means to them, Jesus is trying to give them a new perspective about his work and the work of the Counselor who is to come. Let’s be encouraged that our Christ has not left us alone.

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.

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, but Peter and the other apostles do not dwell on this new power, but instead bring the focus to Jesus. 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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