Need for Departure

Need for Departure
John 16:12-15

12 I have [echo] yet [eti] many things [polus] to say [lego] unto you [humin] , but [alla] ye cannot [ou] [dunamai] bear them [bastazo] now [arti] .
13 Howbeit [de] when [hotan] he [ekeinos] , the Spirit [pneuma] of truth [aletheia] , is come [erchomai] , he will guide [hodegeo] you [humas] into [eis] all [pas] truth [aletheia] : for [gar] he shall [laleo] not [ou] speak [laleo] of [apo] himself [heautou] ; but [alla] whatsoever [hosos] [an] he shall hear [akouo] , that shall he speak [laleo] : and [kai] he will shew [anaggello] you [humin] things to come [erchomai] .
14 He [ekeinos] shall glorify [doxazo] me [eme] : for [hoti] he shall receive [lambano] of [ek] mine [emos] , and [kai] shall shew [anaggello] it unto you [humin] .
15 All things [pas] that [hosos] the Father [pater] hath [echo] are [esti] mine [emos] : therefore [touto] [dia] said I [epo] , that [hoti] he shall take [lambano] of [ek] mine [emos] , and [kai] shall shew [anaggello] it unto you [humin] . KJV-Interlinear

12 'I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 'But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 'He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. 15 'All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you. NASB

Jesus has gone about as far as He could in teaching the apostles the principles of life and truth. He has much more to teach, but their hearts were hardened (stubborn), their concern was for their own preeminence in an earthly kingdom. They had just a few minutes or hours earlier been arguing over who among them would be the greater in the 'kingdom.' So they saw no need for Jesus' death. Their sorrow over His departure and dismay over the disclosure of a traitor among them, along with the prediction of their own desertion before the morning dawn would break, rendered them virtually insensitive to more spiritual truth.

They were in no danger of any kind themselves, yet the apostles were insensitive towards the situation Jesus was facing. Here He was just hours away from being arrested and then hung on the cross as a common criminal, and the apostles were thinking of themselves, their own anticipation's, their own loss.

And Jesus though less than a day away from His death had their interest, their welfare in mind. He was even preparing for them a replacement instructor, a replacement comforter to care for them in His absence. Thinking nothing for Himself or of His own needs. Jesus is the Christ. He is God, and He has a plan and a mission, which is to provide a means for saving the human race.

He is even still teaching them of the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, as He does within these verses. That no matter what anyone's situation might be, He, Christ, is the answer to all of mans needs. He is God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit.

He is sending the Spirit. Meaning that the Holy Spirit is coming to us freely of His own choosing. The Spirit has no alternate motive or plan, but is bringing with Him the message of the Father, which is the original plan of God.

The Father originated a plan. The Father represents the ultimate essence of the deity in all of its perfection, power, and glory. The Son possesses all that the Father has and is. The Spirit teaches from the source of all that the Father says and wills.

Unlike Satan who came along with his own version of history, and with his own agenda. Unlike many human beliefs, religions, and philosophies which humanity has invented for their own ignorant purpose, God is one in essence, one in their policy, and one in His plan and purpose for all of creation.

Our lives will swirl around us because we live in this devils world. We can try to invent our own desirable future, but often and unless we are really hit between the eyes with some horrible disaster, too many people just won't wake up to their responsibilities and purpose, and options in life.

The apostles had lived with Jesus for over three years now. They had seen His work, and heard His words on a daily basis for over three years, yet they were stubborn in their souls. How do you suppose it is, for those of us who have not had this extensive exposure with Christ. If they were stubborn with the exposure they had, do you not suppose it is much easier for you and I to ignore God and His word?

Of course we have the total written word and we have the lessons of their lives, to learn from. The question is, 'Will we learn sooner, or later, or never?' Or, will we just coast along in life from one high to a low, to the next high and then to another low, like a roller coaster in our life.

There is only one God, one truth, one message, one plan. Everything else in life is irrelevant if you ignore God and leave Him out of your life. Sure for many, times are tough, but then you are still breathing, so you have hope. You can look around you and see those who have less than you and they too have hope, and are cared for by God.

Should we get shaken up a little bit by the possible terror that life can dump on us? Probably should be scared somewhat, just so you will be scared enough to turn back to God and the only solution for whatever comes along in your life. Remember that there are no excuses in life. Stick with your Bible study on a daily basis for the rest of your life and you will come out a winner. Don't get it in your head that this Bible stuff doesn't work and then justify withdrawing from your studies. What would you do in its place that would be better?

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