◄ What Does John 16:15 Mean? ►

Although the disciples had acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of the living God and hailed Him as their Messiah and Lord, there was so much that they did not know... and so much that they had yet to learn.

He told them He was going away to be with the Father and would return for them at the right time - but they expected Him to come back soon. They even expected Him to return and set up the kingdom in their lifetime.

He had taught them He was the Light of the world, the good Shepherd of the sheep, the living Bread, and the life-giving water. He also comforted them with an amazing truth when He confessed, "I Am the resurrection and the life." He explained to them that He was the one and only Way to the Father, the singular Truth of Almighty God, the true Vine Who would produce much fruit through them, and He was the Word made flesh - God incarnate. His disciples knew that in Him was eternal life and everlasting light - but they did not fully understand.

Instead of being joyful about His departure and recognising the amazing privilege they had as His chosen apostles, they became dismayed and discouraged, confused and fearful. Rather than rejoicing that the Spirit of Truth would not only be with them but would one day dwell within their bodies and guide them into all truth - they became depressed and miserable about His departure. They seemed more interested in arguing among themselves about their own personal position in Christ's kingdom, than fulfilling His will for their lives.

The little group of disciples became obsessed by their perceived loss of His physical Person, instead of seeing that they were to participate in the eternal plans and purposes of the Almighty God... as His chosen witnesses on earth. They were to be the founders of the Church. They were to lay the foundations of Christianity as they penned the New Testament Scriptures. They had been chosen to be Christ's personal ambassadors and the tools through whom the world would hear the wonderful news of salvation by grace through faith... in Christ.

His disciples had to come to a fuller understanding that Christ is the incarnate God. He is the final revelation of the Father to mankind. He is the exact image of the immortal, invisible God and the exact representation of the Father in heaven. He was given by the Father to bring the human race back into relationship with Himself, so that they might become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

All that the Father had was His and all that He had was to be given to those that trust in Him as their Sacrifice for sin. Yet they did not understand what Christ meant when He said, "ALL things that the Father has are Mine." Christ told them that the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father would one day send to them, would guide them into all truth and disclose to them these precious secrets.

"All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore, I said.. that He will take what is Mine and will disclose it to you." At this time however, they only saw through a glass darkly, but the day would come when they would be baptised by the Spirit of Truth into the Body of Christ and have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God unfold to them the mysteries of the kingdom... and the privileges of the dispensation of the grace of God.

We who are saved by grace, are privileged to have both the inspired Word of God to instruct us in truth and righteousness and the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and conform us into the image and likeness of Christ - as we abide in Him and HE in us. When we start to consider all that God has done for us in Christ, our whole being should be filled with awe and wonder.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Lord Jesus to be the full and final sacrifice for sin, so that by faith in Him I have the forgiveness of sins, life everlasting, and have been united together with Christ forever. Thank You that by faith I have the privilege of knowing wonderful things from Your Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide me into a greater knowledge of the things of God - to Whom be all praise and glory. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.