01 Feb 2008             
A Prayer
of Jesus
I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will

 
THE QUESTION (#75)
What did Jesus mean when he was talking about the Holy Spirit 'showing you things to come'? Some would say (though I wouldn't) that it meant that Paul was to come along with fresh revelation later on.  We know it didn't mean that, so what did Jesus mean? 

THE ANSWER

It seems you are referencing John 16:12-13.  Here we list in in full up to verse 16:

Jn.16:12 I have yet many [things] to be telling you, but you are not now able to be bearing [them]. 13 But when that [one] comes, the spirit of truth, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself, but as much as he hears will he speak, and the coming [things] will he disclose to you.14 That [one] will glorify me, because he will receive from me and will disclose to you. 15 All as much as the father has is mine. Because of this I said that he receives from me and he discloses to you. 16 [A] little [while] and you no longer behold me, and again [a] little [while] and you will see me.

The Words of Jesus are sufficient and complete.  We do not require others to come along as teachers to make up for what they think is lacking.  There is nothing lacking in the Words of Jesus.  He is Truth.  He is our only Teacher.  The Holy Spirit receives the Truth from Jesus, who receives it directly from the Father.  The Holy Spirit does not require an intermediary.  The only thing required is an open heart that is repentant and willing to hear and obey the Word.

We suggest the "coming things" that the Spirit would disclose to the disciples had to do with the purpose of Jesus' crucifixion, that is, his adherence to the Great Principle of hating his life in this world.  Verse 12 reminds the disciples that they are not able to bear the things he wants them to understand.  It will require his giving up of his life in this world followed by his resurrection for the disciples to understand.  

Did Jesus only intend to lay down what was true in principle and defer to Paul to lay down what was necessary in practice?  No, for Jesus clearly indicated that he had revealed “all that I have heard from my Father” (John 15:15) and that his word would endure though heaven and earth pass away (Matthew 24:35).  If his word endures though all else passes away, it must be the last and enduring word, requiring no additions or corrections.  Again, Jesus once told his disciples,

I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth . . . (John 16: 12,13).

Remember that Paul came teaching "the free gift of grace"which was, and is, much easier to bear than what Jesus, with his Great Principle, left us.  Furthermore, Jesus indicated that it is the Spirit of truth who would “guide you into all the truth”, without any suggestion that the Spirit would require an intermediary such as Paul.

Everything that Jesus spoke to them, he brought back to the minds of the first disciples, and most specifically to the apostles, through the Holy Spirit.  The testimony of the Holy Spirit is to Jesus (the Word).  He speaks nothing original (from himself), but speaks only what he hears, or receives from Jesus, and so discloses to the disciples.  Fulfilling the immediate function of teaching, it is not the Holy Spirit that is the teacher.  It is the Lord that is the Teacher, for it is only his Word that the Holy Spirit teaches.  The Holy Spirit fulfills the function of a public address system relaying the Words of the Teacher to those that can hear.
 
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