John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 (NRSV)
Read John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 on biblegateway.com
Verse 26"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. Verse 27You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. Verse 4But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. Verse 5But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' Verse 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.
Verse 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Verse 8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: Verse 9about sin, because they do not believe in me; Verse 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; Verse 11about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. Verse 12"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. Verse 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. Verse 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Verse 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Devotion
Our son, Oliver, was born missing part of his brain. My wife and I were floored. We had so many questions. We embarked on an unexpected journey to find answers. Our lives became inundated with doctor visits. We expected each doctor to enlighten us.
I’m certain the doctors were just as stumped. One neurologist, sensing that our neurotic quest wasn’t providing us the clarity we needed, gave us the talk. “You can keep going at this pace hoping for answers,” he said. “But the truth is, your son will be severely disabled.” Nobody had laid it out so bluntly. It’s exactly what we needed to hear.
Jesus says, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Oliver is now a teenager. I’ve learned so much from him, over time, that I could never have expected when I first had to bear the news about him. Christ continues to reveal what I need to know when I need to know it and I’m grateful for all the medical advocates who’ve been messengers of the Spirit for us along the way.
Prayer
Spirit of truth, reveal to us as we are able to receive. Lead us forward as bearers of your good news to this world. Amen.