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A Spiritual Re-Awakening…? Day 30 Lenten Readings & Reflections through John’s Gospel

by | Apr 9, 2019 | 2019 Lenten Series | 0 comments

Day 30 (Tuesday, April 9, 2019)

Read

John 15:26-27


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. 27 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

Reflect

We read here (John 14:26) of Jesus’ specific promises to his disciples concerning the coming of the Advocate or Comforter – the Holy Spirit. Significantly, he promises that the Spirit of truth would not only come into the disciples lives, but would also enable them to have accurate recall and right interpretation of all that he had done and taught. Jesus develops this by setting out more clearly the functional relationship within the Trinity. The Spirit’s work is to implement the will and the purpose of both God the Father and God the Son.

So Jesus explains God’s larger plan. The Father, having sent his eternal Son, the Word of God, into the world, now reinstates him in heaven in a new way, enthroned in glory. The Spirit of God, the Advocate, or Comforter, is now sent to replace him in the lives of his people.

Jesus here brings us one of the clearest statements about the true nature of God: He is One, existing in three persons, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Son chooses to do the will of the Father and the Spirit chooses to do the will of both the Father and the Son.

The Spirit who came to Christ’s disciples, now comes to bring us a ministry of comfort and encouragement in the place of Christ. In the same way that the ministry of Christ as Comforter was important to the first disciples, so also was the ministry of the Holy Spirit as their Comforter. In the same way, as the work of Christ is essential for us, so too is the work of the Spirit – teaching us the truth and trustworthiness of God’s Word that was preached and written down, prompting and motivating us to walk with Jesus in the light of it.

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and by your divine power to worship you as One: we pray that you would keep us steadfast in this faith and evermore defend us from all adversities; through Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, Trinity Sunday)

Daily Reading Plan