HE WILL SPEAK
John 16:12-13 NKJV
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
John chapters 12-17 are some of the most meaningful discourses from Jesus to His disciples. These are the words He shared with them right before the cross. And these are important words for us as well. These words did not end when the last of the twelve died and went to heaven. These truths are for all of those who believe in Jesus.
Some have argued that once we had the Bible, God no longer speaks to His people. I am not sure what scriptures they consider as the basis of that belief. I will not argue with anyone about God speaking to His people. If someone chooses to believe He no longer speaks, that will ultimately be between them and God. I am of the belief that God is still speaking and still guiding His people, and our verses for today are part of the belief structure.
Jesus told His disciples, in verse 12, that He had many things to say to them. However, they were unable to handle that truth at this point in their lives. The line from the classic movie A Few Good Men comes to mind, “you can’t handle the truth.” Evidently, the disciples could not handle the truth He had for them, but Jesus did not stop there.
However, Jesus knew who was coming. The disciples could not handle the truth at that time, but the Spirit of Truth was coming into their lives. Jesus was referring to the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. And then Jesus reveals what the Holy Spirit will do in the lives of believers.
He, the Holy Spirit, will guide you into all the truth. The Holy Spirit does not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He speaks. Whatever the Holy Spirit hears from Jesus, He speaks to us. So even though Jesus is no longer present on earth, the Holy Spirit, the Helper, has come and will take up the role of teaching and guiding believers into the truth.
And He, the Holy Spirit, will tell us things to come. It sounds as if communication is still taking place between the Lord and those who follow Him. For the God who created us for relationships and the inherent need to engage in relationships, the idea that He suddenly stopped speaking seems out of character for Him. It was God who created mankind for fellowship. We were made in His image. We were made with the need and the ability to communicate on a level that no other living creature can attain to.
So, I am going to continue to live with the practice of praying and fellowshipping with a Father who cares and a Lord who understands. This is not taking anything away from the Scriptures. God’s Word is the first place where I go to hear His voice. And His Word is the foundation from which I judge and discern all His communication to me. But I continue to relish the fact that Jesus has sent me a helper who is there to teach and guide me into all truth. And He tells me things that are coming. What an amazing promise. What an amazing advantage. What a comfort knowing He will speak.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for speaking to me, showing me things to come, and guiding me into the truth. Thank You that the Holy Spirit still speaks today!