Pastor Pat Edwards 3/12/2006
Grace Baptist Church in Bountiful, Utah

Does it help to know what's coming? My answer would be, "Yeah, I want to know in a general way but don't get too specific." When I go to the dentist for a filling or some other dental work it's alright for Dr. Lawson to tell me he's going to give me a shot to numb the area and he'll be doing some drilling and I'll hear a high pitch whine and it will take about fifteen minutes. But don't tell me exactly how many times he's going to push that needle into my gum and cheek. Don't tell me how far the drill will penetrate into the tooth or many nerves it might touch. I don't need all that information. I just need enough so I'm prepared for a few minutes of unpleasantness. At the same time I don't want to know all that's coming even if it's all positive. I was appreciative the congregation planned a 25th anniversary party for me last year but glad that much of it was a surprise. It wouldn't have been as much fun had I known every last detail of the evening. And from what we read in today's passage I'm guessing Jesus thinks the way I do. He tells the disciples about what's going to happen without going into detail.

1"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.

"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. Jesus is talking about persecution and suffering but also the commands he has given them. He's both advised them of what's coming and told them how to be prepared for what's coming. And we know from the historical accounts that what he predicted happened to those who heard him speak those words. The apostle Paul tells us he was one of those who called for the death of Christians because of his "service to God."

And it's happening today. I heard several news reports this week showing that. The imam who converted 9/11 planner, Zaccarious Moussoui, to radical Islam taught that killing an infidel was an act of righteousness. Another news story talked about the persecution of Christians in the Middle East especially since the war on terrorism began. All over the world Christians are still suffering two-thousand years later and often their persecutors think they are serving God.

Notice that Jesus doesn't offer a way of escape. He expects we'll be prepared for it, remain faithful and in his words "not go astray." Persecution or suffering shouldn't be a cause for doubt or worry. It should not diminish our love or obedience. 18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. We need to be proud of our identity, our calling, despite the opposition we face. And this shouldn't be hard for many of us who are Americans because we love to identify ourselves with various products and causes. We wear the labels on the outside so everyone will know we wear Nike shoes, original Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger shirts, Ralph Lauren sun glasses and drive Hummers and drink Starbucks coffee. Eventually I think manufacturers will also provide little plastic tags where we can put the original receipt so everyone will also know we didn't get this stuff at some discount store but we paid full price at Nordstrum's or some other high-end store. That really lets people know all about the person and what they value. But Jesus smiles at our silliness, loves us anyway and calls us away from wasting too much time identifying with things that don't last. "Identify with me," he says "and be prepared to take the knocks that will come when you tell the world system that you've found a way of living infinitely more wonderful than the best they have to offer. But they aren't going to like what you have to say!"

But there's even more good news. Not only does Jesus want us to wear the team logo and colors but he's sending a special player/coach to be with us when he leaves. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

The first thing Jesus describes is the Holy Spirit's role as a player for our team. He really goes after the opposing team. It would be like having Mia Hamm play soccer for us or Michael Jordan on our basketball team. He goes before us to prepare the way for the message of good news that we bring as we seek to make disciples who follow Jesus. He really gets into the action against the world and brings conviction on all levels, really softening them up so we can score.

Counselor who will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me. The sin that keeps us from God is not believing in Jesus. Jesus himself says, Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." John 6.27-29 Every other sin can be forgiven and removed but nothing can be done when people refuse to listen to the Holy Spirit or attribute his work to the devil. The Spirit convicts me and I feel guilt but I can deny his accusations and harden my heart so his voice doesn't penetrate. If I do this often enough I can build up callouses nothing will penetrate. Or when I feel guilt for my wrong doing and wrong belief I can tell myself I'm not really in the wrong and that voice of conviction I'm hearing is actually the voice of Satan. People do that all the time. They insist a loving God wouldn't be so demanding or judgmental so the inner voice they hear couldn't be the voice of God because it's telling them they're wrong.

The Holy Spirit will also convict the world 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer. Jesus' reasoning is both simple and obvious. If I'm unrighteous then I will not be allowed to enter into the presence of the heavenly Father. But since I will soon be going to the Father that fact declares I am the righteous one and what I teach is true and good.

Finally the Holy Spirit convicts the world in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. At the cross it is not Jesus who is judged but Satan, the prince of this world. The sacrificial death of Jesus that offers new life to all who believe is the knockout punch to Satan's hopes. Oh he may stagger around the ring for a few moments and look like he's going to recover but just watch - his knees will eventually buckle and he'll go crashing to the canvass. The ministry of the Holy Spirt in the world is, in the words of one commentator, convicting people that "Sin is rejecting Jesus; justice is what God has done for Jesus; judgment is what Jesus has accomplished already by his death." That's what the Spirit does as a player on our team. But he's also our coach.

13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

As our coach he guides us into all truth; he tells us how to understand what is coming and he brings glory to Jesus by making everything important about Jesus abundantly obvious. And because Jesus reveals the Father, the Father is also made known to us.

I'm grateful that for the most part I've gotten through the "I can do it myself" stage of life. I'm not often bothered admitting to someone, "I don't know the answer" or "I need your help." I don't have it all together but at least now I know I never will until heaven and I can accept that fact. Even when I don't sin I still make glaring errors of judgment but today's passage gives me confidence because I'm not alone. The Holy Spirit is out there ahead of me preparing the way and at the same time he is with me providing me with all I need to walk in obedience, to remain faithful, to have hope. He is constantly talking to me about Jesus and how much Jesus loves me and the plans Jesus has for me and the inheritance I'll share with Jesus. Wherever I go and whatever I do the Spirit has been there before me preparing people to hear about Jesus. My biggest problem - and maybe your's - is remembering that. I just need to keep thanking Jesus for giving me all I need in order to do all that he asks.