7 I assure you that it is better for you that I go away. If I don’t go away, the Companion won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will show the world it was wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment. 9 He will show the world it was wrong about sin because they don’t believe in me. 10 He will show the world it was wrong about righteousness because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore. 11 He will show the world it was wrong about judgment because this world’s ruler stands condemned.
Reflection
Have you ever heard those jokes about secret identities? For example, if I were to say, “Well, you’ve never seen me and Meryl Streep in the same room now have you? Just saying.” Here, Jesus kind of makes a statement like this about Christ’s-self and the Holy Spirit, except this one is true (no, I’m not secretly Meryl Streep. Unfortunately.) It’s an interesting insight into better understanding The Holy Spirit as full and complete in the Trinity, just as Jesus and God are. The Holy Spirit is not just a “part” of it.
Three in One. The ultimate paradox. God being in-and-of-Godself relational. God is relationship.
In today’s text, Jesus seems to need to leave the premises in order for The Holy Spirit to enter. Strange. Maybe Jesus likes showmanship and theatrics, I do too. And we can make funny modern comparison’s; like Clark Kent taking off his glasses or something but that doesn’t really quite cut it, now does it? When Clark Kent is a nerdy, clumsy journalist for the Daily Planet, he’s playing a specific and separate role then when he is in a cape flying across Metropolis. What does this tell us then?
First, it tells me I watch too much televison.
Second, it tells me that it not feeling like an apt comparison is a good reaction. The Holy Spirit is not fulfilling a different role then Jesus or God. They are one. I remember the first time childhood me was asked by a classmate if my religion believed in the Trinity. I didn’t know what to say and got laughed at. But I think the reason I didn’t know what to say was because I was used to hearing the words used so interchangeably: God. Jesus. Spirit. It’s all the same.
But in this phenomenal sermon Jesus is giving, Jesus is talking about the many ways the the Spirit will show us the world. Guess who else has shown us the world? God. Jesus. It’s the same task! In this Trinitarian relationship, there is completeness.
By Rachel Callender
For Pondering & Prayer
In what ways has God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit “shown” you the world? Do you ever assign that recognition to maybe, just the Spirit? Why do you think that is? Can you put into words how the Trinity shows you the world?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, show us! Show us where we have been “wrong about sin, righteousness and judgement.” Show us the world through your mysterious nature. Amen.
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