There is so much that can be said about Pentecost and the Coming of the Holy Spirit. (In fact, many things have been said- some sublime, some ridiculous.) This year, my focus is on two verses from today's Gospel. In John 15:26-27, Christ says, "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning." (ESV)
In these two verses, we see something about the nature and work of the Holy Spirit and about the appropriate response of Christ's disciples. First, we see that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father, sent by the Son. Secondly, we see that the Spirit is the Helper (also Advocate, Counselor, Comforter). He is the Spirit of divine truth. In general, He reveals the divine truth of the Scriptures, and in particular, He bears witness to the culminating divine revelation in Jesus Christ. For Christians, the work of the Holy Spirit must never be separated from Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Thirdly, the work of the Holy Spirit among Christ's disciples is intended to produce results. There are numerous possible results or fruits, but in broad terms, all are ways of bearing witness to Christ. When the Holy Spirit comes to us, He witnesses to Christ, engenders faith, and empowers believers to witness to Christ in thought, word, and deed.
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