John 16:12-15 - Homiletics

The Spirit's office is not confined to the convection of the world.

It has relation to the needs of the Church as well as the world.

I. OUR LORD 'S CONSIDERATION FOR THE SPIRITUAL INCAPACITY OF HIS DISCIPLES . "I have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear them now."

1. He had already told them many things which they could hardly understand . The communications of his truth were the marks of his loving confidence ( John 15:15 ).

2. Other truths were yet to be imparted , which , in the present stage of their spiritual growth , would be quite unintelligible . They were the truths concerning his incarnation and death, the relation of grace to the Law, the inclusion of the Gentiles in the kingdom of God, the final apostasy, the destiny of the Church till its end.

3. It is a mark of our Lord ' s wisdom and tenderness to adapt his lessons to the growing capacity of his disciples.

II. THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT .

1. His personal guidance . "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all the truth."

2. The test of his true guidance . "For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he shall announce to you things to come."

(a) The things to come are the destiny of the Church till its final consummation.

(b) The Holy Spirit thus declares beforehand the inspiration of the Epistles and the Apocalypse.

III. THE GLORIFICATION OF CHRIST THE DEFINITE WORK OF THE SPIRIT . "He shall glorify me: for he shall take of what is mine, and shall show it unto you."

1. Mark the interrelation of the Divine Persons . The Son glorifies the Father; the Spirit glorifies the Son.

2. The method of glorification was by the manifestation of the truth .

3. Our Lord has a full consciousness of the greatness of his Person and his truth . "All that the Father hath is mine: therefore said I, he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you." It has been well said, "There is nothing Christian that is not Divine, nothing Divine which is not Christian."

4. The personality of the Holy Spirit is set forth in the use of ἐκεῖνος in relation to one described by a neuter noun all through this discourse.