“But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks
me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow
has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your
advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to
you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:5–7, ESV)
Jesus had spoken of His leaving before. His disciples had
even been told where He was going and His disciples had expressed their desire
to go with Him. In response He told them that they could not at this time, but
that later they would be together. The discussion must have been getting quite
intense, and His disciples were likely quite shaken by what He was telling
them, especially in telling them that there would even be those who would take
their lives. Apparently they were so overwhelmed or self-focused on their own
futures that they lost sight of what was about to happen to Jesus himself. They
were so absorbed by their sorrow that they did not see the pain or even the
glory that laid ahead for Jesus.
Jesus responded to them by drawing their attention back to
the fact that what was about to happen was a good thing. He had come from the
Father and He was soon to return for the Father. But in their misery they did
not see the joy that laid ahead for Him nor the blessing that would even result
for themselves. They did not stop to inquire about where He was going, what was
to happen, and how wonderful it was that God was completing in Jesus the very
purpose for which He was sent. Rather, their focus was on their own loss and
the potential threats that lie ahead.
At the heart of this is likely one of the greatest struggles
that man knows, the struggle between seeing a loved one leave them for the
presence of God against having them remain and benefiting from their presence,
their love, their help, and so much more. It is the tension between carrying on
without the individual even knowing that the individual has left for the
greatest gift that man could know. In separation there is a hole left in our
hearts as well as countless life adjustments that must be made. It may even
mean increased hardship as a result, especially if the one leaving was the
source of provision and protection or encouragement and stability. We rely on
those we love and when they leave we no longer have them there to rely upon. It
truly is a difficult time and oftentimes there is little that can be done to
change the physical consequences.
Knowing their reliance on Him and the future of persecution
that lie ahead for His disciples, Jesus pointed out to them that they had let
their sorrow cloud their hope. Sure, He was going to leave, but He was going to
leave to return to the presence of the Father who had sent Him. The work of
salvation was to be completed and Jesus was to return with His mission
accomplished. And in His returning He was going to enjoy the Father in a way
that was limited in His taking on the form of man. Though He could have had
this at any time, He knew that there was going to be a time—the right time,
when this work was going to be completed and He would return. It was now that
time. This was a very good thing. It was the perfect plan of God to redeem man
from His sins and to draw him back into the relationship for which he was
created.
And with His return the work of God was not to be completed.
Jesus may have finished the work of salvation on the cross, but not everyone
was yet saved nor was everyone safely ushered into the presence of God. The
disciples were left for this work. It was them who were chosen, selected, and
charged to remain after Jesus’ return to do even greater works which result in
the salvation of countless (from our side) numbers of people. Sure, they would
endure persecution and even death, but as a result of them being left people
were going to be saved. Through them the good news of salvation in Christ was
going to be spread. Through them the Word of God was going to be completed so
that even today we can hold it in our hands and know its truth. And, through
them God’s plan would continue to unfold until such time that He brings it to
completion in the return of Christ and the final judgment of sin and Satan.
This was a huge task, and in order to accomplish
it Jesus had to return to the Father and the Father was to send another
Helper—the third person of the Trinity—the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit comes,
He told them, they would get what they needed to do this incredible work. And
even for us today, knowing that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the
Father interceding on our behalf and that the Spirit permanently indwells,
enables, and empowers believers today, we are strengthened in difficult times
to continue until we also are fully joyed to enter His presence. He makes us to
stand and even to withstand.
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