Slices
Prepare
How do you feel about the future? Are you a planner, looking ahead and writing in details in your diary, or do you prefer to go with the flow?
Bible passage
The work of the Holy Spirit
26 ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
16 ‘All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, “Where are you going?” 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 ‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’
Explore
The disciples had the profoundly unique privilege and responsibility of being those who walked with Jesus during his time of ministry on earth. Now, as he prepares for his death and glory, Jesus is calling them to be his witnesses (15:27), in partnership with the Spirit. We are all called to be witnesses to Jesus and his work in our lives, but as eyewitnesses and friends of the incarnated Jesus, the disciples were given a particular commission: to be the first ones, paving the way for others.
But why is Jesus telling them about the adversity that will come (16:1,4)? The disciples can hardly bear to look beyond the moment they are in (16:5). They are ‘filled with grief’ (16:6) – how can they possibly go on without him? What would it even mean to follow Jesus if they could no longer see him or walk with him? What comfort does Jesus offer (16:7,13)? How does this apply to you and to the church, 2,000 years after Jesus spoke these words and the text of John was written?
Jesus can see that the disciples are at their limits (16:12), but he needs to prepare their hearts (see also 13:19; 14:29; 15:11; 16:4) because of what is coming: both suffering and glory.
Respond
Bring any particular upcoming challenges to God, reminding yourself of his presence with you.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Lamentations 3–5; John 20
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Mission Partner Farne Churches Youth and Family Outreach as they work closely with Ignite (Mission Partner in Alnwick). Pray for the team as they develop links with schools and seek to offer a range of engaging ways for the children to find out more about Jesus.