Afterward

In these weeks following Easter I have been pondering some of the words Jesus spoke about the “afterward” of His death and resurrection. 

• “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.”  John 16:7
• “…The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”  John 14:17-18
• “…and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.” John 16:20b
• “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…”  John 16:12-13a
• “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God…. we have the mind of Christ.” I Corinthians 2:12 & 16b

These ponderings have filled me anew with awe at the incredible gift He has given us—His own Spirit!  We are not left alone to walk the maze of this world wondering which way to go and what is really true.  Years ago, I often thought about what it would have been like to walk and talk with the man Jesus.  I supposed, wrongly, that it would have been easier.  My goodness, look at how many times the disciples had no clue as to what Jesus was talking about!  For now, we may not have the pleasure of physically looking into His eyes and beholding His face, but we have the profound privilege of looking into and knowing His heart—actually experiencing His feelings through the Holy Spirit.  We can truly know His heart toward us and toward others.

Recently, our small group was talking about the many denominations of Christianity, and even differences within denominations. (I personally am not troubled by some of the differences as long as the foundation is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  Look at the vast array of flowers that give Him glory; surely there can be a beautiful array of human expressions to glorify Him.)  My point is, however, that with so many telling us that their way should be our way, how is one to know the truth?  Thanks be to God, He has given us His very own Spirit to counsel and guide us!  Where would we be without the beautiful Spirit of God?  Lost in the maze, I’m sure.

Jesus also said the Holy Spirit would take what is His and declare it to us (John 16:14).  Imagine, all the beauty and goodness and power and love of Jesus are available to us through the Spirit.  No wonder He said it was to our advantage that He go away!

Jesus is Risen!  Come, Holy Spirit!  We need You to be poured out anew in our hearts and in our world!  Amen.