But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away … John 16:5-7 NLT
“For your own good.” Ugh. What a hard phrase to hear, right? We’ve all had a parent, friend, doctor, or someone tell us those words before, and there’s almost a universal reaction. We tense up, ready for the worst. Those words signal that something is coming we most likely don’t want to hear.
Having plenty of experience with hearing that something is good for me, I can only imagine the emotions and rushing thoughts of the disciples. “What? He’s going away? The One we follow? The One we’ve built our lives around? And He’s saying this is going to be best for us? Not possible!”
As Jesus told them, they were so fully focused on the fact that He was leaving they couldn’t hear anything past that. But time and experience eventually showed them that once they got past the shock and pain, everything Jesus had said was true. Why was it better for them (and US) that He go away?
When Jesus was here on Earth in physical presence, He could only be in one place at one time. By returning to the Father and taking up His place there, Jesus could be supernaturally present and never leave those who follow Him, then and now. That is why He could say, “I will never leave or forsake you.” When He left, the Holy Spirit, “better Helper,” could come. When Jesus was physically here, God walked beside them. Through the Holy Spirit, God is within us. When the Holy Spirit came, He empowered and empowers the church to fulfill the mission of Jesus around the world throughout all of time. Jesus came for the whole world in every time. The Holy Spirit makes us able to bring this to fulfillment. When Jesus returned to the Father, He began to pray for us and make intercession for us through the Spirit. In fact, it doesn’t matter how many people are trying to talk to God at the same time, they are all heard and understood. We are assured that at this very time the Holy Spirit is carrying our needs to God, even when we don’t know the words to say. He understands perfectly.
- The difference between having Jesus here in the flesh or having the Holy Spirit within is a little bit like the difference between having a map on the seat beside you as you drive and having a GPS in the car that speaks to you, recalculates when you drift, and guides you step by step. That’s what the Holy Spirit does. Better for us.