John 16:7, commentary and pictures

It was true and for their good that Jesus go away from them, for unless He went away the Comforter would not come to them, but having departed He Himself would send Him so they would not be left helpless or orphaned.
While present in human form He could not be personally in every place, but after returning to the Father and ascending to heaven He sends the Holy Spirit as His successor and representative, equally available to all by faith and nearer than if He had not ascended.
The Comforter so sent is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, coming with no modified energy but in the fullness of divine power to remain with followers, teach them, and make real what Christ's death made possible.
He reproves the world of sin because men believe not on Christ, of righteousness because Christ goes to the Father, and of judgment because the prince of this world is judged, and as the Spirit of truth He guides followers into all truth, shows things to come, and glorifies Christ.
The promise was fulfilled after Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and glorification when the Comforter came at Pentecost with power, and the lapse of time has wrought no change so that it belongs as much to believers now as to the disciples then.

Setting and Audience

The saying belongs to the final instruction given to the disciples before the departure, part of the words of comfort, counsel and prayer concerning the approaching separation found in John 15-17. It stands within the mission to glorify the Father, whose work could succeed only through divine power working through human agents in partnership with God. Its lessons about the future were meant to keep the disciples from blindness and ignorance, to reveal purposes and plans, and to strengthen them for coming trials and temptations as an expression of love.

It was spoken near the close of the earthly ministry, while standing in view of the cross with full realization of the load of guilt to be borne as sin-bearer. It was uttered as trial, rejection, condemnation and crucifixion drew near, yet with greatest anxiety to give solace and to commit a wonderful trust to the disciples. Knowing every phase of experience and every conflict they would meet, and grieved that they must pass through manifold afflictions, hatred and temptation to lose faith, the dark troubled future was met by mingling bright hopeful lines with the dark. Every provision was thus made through faith so they should not fail nor be discouraged, with the great source of strength and changeless consolation, hope and courage ever within reach in the coming of the Comforter, a farewell teaching of highest value for every consecrated life.

It was told beforehand so that when the time came they would remember the words and not be offended, but would endure severe trials with courage and assurance. That forewarning concerned being put out of the synagogues and killed by those who had known neither the Father nor Christ, and more broadly being hated, afflicted and tempted. Remembering was to keep them from failing or discouragement and to sustain hope and strength.

It was spoken in the upper chamber after Judas withdrew, to the faithful disciples alone, because the multitude could not understand sacred truth. Even the disciples did not fully understand it until after the resurrection. In disappointment and trial they repeated these words again and again to stay their sinking hearts, afterward recognizing the value of the promise and looking to the Comforter's work. After death and ascension they felt their need of guidance and valued the promise that the Comforter would teach them and bring words back to their minds. The truth in the saying has spread over all lands and through all ages to comfort the desponding and give peace and hope to believers in sorrow and trial.

Necessity of Departure

It is the truth that it was necessary, expedient and for the disciples' good that Christ go away, for if He did not go away the Comforter would not come to them, but if He departed He Himself would send the Comforter to them. The promise was that they would not be left helpless or orphaned, for Christ pledged to send the Spirit so that every person might be worked by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has thus been given as Guide and Comforter, so aid and guidance are to be sought from Christ and not from man, and God's will plainly outlined in these words is to be believed and lived out. The Spirit is Christ's gift, received by those who empty themselves of self and depend wholly on Him.

While present in human form and burdened with humanity He could not be personally present in every place, but after returning to the Father and ascending to heaven He would send the Holy Spirit as His successor and representative on earth. Through the Spirit Christ is present everywhere, independent of and not limited by His human personality, and therefore accessible to all, so that no one has advantage because of location or personal contact with Him. In this sense He is nearer to His followers than if He had not ascended, dwelling continually in His children's hearts with a union closer than when He was visibly present, and His light, love and power shine through them. The Spirit teaches His followers and reminds them of His words, and access to Christ does not depend on being near Him in person or in one particular place but is equally available to all by faith. At Pentecost the Comforter came as promised, and only when deprived of Christ's visible presence did the disciples feel their need of this Helper, beholding by faith His goodness, grace, forbearance, courtesy and love until changed into His likeness.

The ascension was the event appointed in the arrangement and order of the divine government to mark the descent of the Holy Spirit and to perfect the work, carrying on a vital work by which the Redeemer shows His followers on earth His union with the Father and with man. Going away places Him in the heavenly sanctuary and in the presence of God where there is fullness of joy forevermore, where prayers can go up to the Father, where He intercedes for His followers, and whence He sends the Comforter as His own representative to attend them in their work, enabling greater works. The Comforter does not come in human form but is seen and recognized by faith by all who believe in Christ. When the Holy Spirit is possessed everything is possessed, knowledge, wisdom, power and connection with the God of wisdom, qualifying believers in and through the glorification of their Head with every endowment necessary for their mission, for the Lifegiver holds not only the keys of death but a whole heaven of rich blessings and all power in heaven and earth to dispense from the heavenly courts. The outpouring upon the church was the evidence of Christ's enthronement in His mediatorial kingdom, by which God testified to Christ's great reconciling work and continuing atonement.

The Comforter could not come in full measure while Christ remained on earth, for the Spirit had already been in the world from the very beginning of the work of redemption, moving upon men's hearts, yet while Christ was on earth the disciples desired no other helper. Not until they were deprived of His presence would they feel their need of the Spirit, and then He would come as the impartation of the very life of Christ to qualify the disciples for their mission and for the official duties connected with the church, without which their work could not be accomplished. The glory of the ascension was veiled from their sight so they could value the Comforter and receive strength to endure reproach, imprisonment and even death while carrying out their commission.

Christ Himself promises to come to His followers as the Comforter to bless them. Receiving that blessing requires turning from reliance on human judgment to God's wisdom and power and allowing the Spirit to renew the mind.

Identity of Comforter

The Comforter promised to be sent after the departure is the Holy Spirit, who comes to remain with followers as Christ's representative and successor on earth. He continues Christ's instruction, teaching them and bringing His words back to their minds, and He makes real in hearts and lives what Christ made possible through His death on the cross. Through the Spirit Christ's presence and power reach believers to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and the Spirit gives spiritual gifts as He sees fit and equips the bereaved church to become powerful messengers and living witnesses reflecting His character.

He is the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, coming with no modified energy but in the fullness of divine power. He comes in all the fullness of the Godhead to make manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit — in whose name those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and who cooperate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.

Through the Spirit Christ imparts His very life to qualify disciples for mission and official duties, and sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin. The Spirit is the soul of Christ's life, the efficacy of His church, and the light and life of the world. The Spirit is Christ present everywhere, independent of His human personality and not limited by it, and through that agency Christ dwells continually in His children's hearts to impart power and grace and great salvation to draw souls from sin to righteousness. This indwelling makes union with Christ closer than when He was physically present, so that His light, love, and power shine through believers, and the gift is to be valued highly, sought in its fullness, and never resisted even by a first presumptuous step.

The Spirit had already been in the world from the very beginning of the work of redemption, moving upon men's hearts. Yet the verse points forward to His coming in mighty power as Christ's representative to do a mighty work. The evil that had been accumulating for centuries was to be resisted and restrained by His divine power, to meet another spirit, the essence of evil and satanic captivity holding men in submission.

Work of Spirit

The Comforter reproves the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Reproof of sin is because people do not believe on Christ, reproof of righteousness is because Christ goes to the Father and is seen no more, and reproof of judgment is because the prince or ruler of this world is judged. This convicting agency was purchased by Christ's death, and its coming brings condemnation to the world. It is spiritual eyesalve upon heart and conscience, convicting of unbelief on Christ in a practical way and exposing sins men do not call sin, such as selfishness and covetousness lying at the foundation of all sins. So exposed, sinners are led to repentance toward God and faith in Christ, while faithful workers receive a message of reproof for sin and of encouragement for all who forsake their sins and are converted, which each must awake to carry to others.

As the Spirit of truth He guides followers into all truth, does not speak of Himself but speaks whatever He hears, shows things to come, and glorifies Christ by making known what belongs to Him and what He receives from Him. Spirit-filled teaching thus continues Christ's own instruction. He enlightens minds to distinguish the truth of God's Word from false theories and to give the word of life. In this way He establishes God's kingdom in the soul with freedom, light and joy, and strengthens and encourages disciples to obey His teachings as a light for their steps.

The Spirit qualifies believers in and through the glorification of their Head with every endowment necessary for mission. Coming to the bereaved church, He rested on the apostles and made them powerful messengers. They are made one with Christ, becoming living witnesses who reflect His character and testify of communion with Him, receiving power to carry Christ's work to others and to continue His work of love and healing. The church, baptized with His power, was fitted to proclaim Christ first in Jerusalem where the rightful King had been dishonored and then to the uttermost parts of the earth, with power shown in mighty signs and wonders.

He changes character into Christ's image, which human power or effort cannot do. Through His work people become partakers of the divine nature and reflect the Lord's glory. He breaks old habits and inherited or cultivated traits, shaping them into vessels fit for God's service, while those who resist His reproof and refuse to yield self-will are left in darkness. He restores God's moral image in people, brings their thoughts into harmony with God's will, and joins earth and heaven in living connection. By faith all may behold Christ's goodness, grace, forbearance, courtesy, patience and love without advantage of nearness in person or place, and beholding Him they are gradually turned from their own ways and will toward His until they reflect Him.

The Comforter is help in trial, bringing comfort when sickness, sorrow or death exposes the weakness of relying on earthly things, so that union with Christ brings light, peace and comfort to the soul. He comforts believers as well as reproving them. He reproves of sin, warns when they have fallen into apostasy or turned from God, and rebukes backsliding; when they gratefully recognize and value God's love, He gives comfort and joy. Heavenly angels are sent to aid those fighting the good fight of faith, while Jesus watches over each person, understands character, and guides the willing, surrounding them with influences for good so they can do His will, know Him by faith, continue in His love, obey His commandments, bear living testimony and carry forward His work as His representatives.

Fulfillment at Pentecost

The ascension to heaven was the signal that the promised blessing was to be received, for which waiting was required before entering upon the work. When Christ passed within the heavenly gates He was enthroned amidst the adoration of angels, and as soon as that ceremony was completed the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents. That outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished and that Christ was indeed glorified with the glory He had with the Father from all eternity. According to promise He sent the Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth and was the Anointed One over His people. It was the evidence of His enthronement in His mediatorial kingdom, by which God testified to His great work in reconciling the world to God and to His continuing atonement, qualifying those who love and receive Him, in and through the glorification of their Head, with every endowment necessary for mission to proclaim Him first in Jerusalem where the rightful King had been dishonored and then to the uttermost parts of the earth.

The promise made as Christ faced trial, condemnation and crucifixion was fulfilled after His crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and glorification. Then the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit as Christ's representative and the assurance of His love, came at Pentecost. The church was baptized with power, the apostles were enlightened to give the word of life, and hundreds were brought to the faith of the gospel. Through the Spirit Christ thereafter dwells continually in His children's hearts, making union closer than when He was physically present, with His light, love and power shining through them, and His power shown in mighty signs and wonders to empower witness.

After the ascension Christ sends the Spirit to the church as heaven's crowning gift and highest good to take His place. The Spirit is the church's life and power, its efficacy, its soul, the light and life of the world. With His Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin and provides power to contend successfully with evil. The gift lifts thoughts and enlarges expectations to grasp the highest conception of excellence, so it is to be valued highly, sought in its fullness, and never resisted even by a first presumptuous step.

The lapse of time has wrought no change in the parting promise. It belongs as much to believers now as it did to the disciples then, and the Comforter can still come upon people now as He came on the day of Pentecost. His coming opens eyes now blinded so that scales fall from them. The gift is for the church now, not only for some future time of need, and when claimed by faith it brings all other blessings in its train and is given liberally, with the riches of grace offered in infinite plenitude and no restriction on God's part. If fulfillment is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be; if all were willing all would be filled, but wherever need of the Spirit is little thought of and minor matters occupy attention there is spiritual drought, darkness, declension and death, and the divine power necessary for growth and prosperity is lacking, while silence on this most important theme leaves it less known by practical fulfillment than any other though it gives efficiency to all spiritual labor.

Receiving the Promise

The Spirit is the appointed agency through whom Christ is represented everywhere and at all times, and His work alone can carry out the saving of the world when grace is accepted. He convicts the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and He brings light and transforms lives by working through human agents. This belongs to Christ's final instruction before leaving, when He would no longer be a visible counselor, for the work could succeed only through divine power, with God supplying its efficiency and power while workers must seek that power and use the means He provides. Ministry therefore depends on partnership with God, the Spirit reproving the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment through the heart and conscience of the human agent.

That endowment is necessary for all who speak and write the truths of God, for without it they will make great mistakes that confuse minds and sow unbelief. Its coming calls for a clear, decided testimony in behalf of righteousness and truth, convicting of unbelief in Christ in a practical way and of sins men do not call sin, such as selfishness and covetousness lying at the foundation of all sins. For the receiver it gives the mind of Christ and makes him a faithful worker, bringing self into subjection, repressing evil inclination, and cutting away evil through faith and prayer. So equipped, believers are made one with Christ as living witnesses reflecting His character and testifying of communion with Him, with Christ present to help in every true purpose and in battle so they do not struggle alone for the mastery. The endowment compensates for the loss of Christ's personal presence, increasing capabilities and enabling believers to serve as the Lord's messengers.

The Holy Spirit is Christ's gift, received by those who empty themselves of self and depend wholly on Him. Aid and guidance are therefore to be sought from Christ, not from man, for He Himself sends the Comforter as Guide and Comforter for the good of the disciples. He comes in power as soon as believers have faith to embrace and recognize Him. He is appointed to meet human need in proportion to earnest, humble supplications that grasp God's rich promises, so believers should pray and then praise God for the answer, and if God is sought with all the heart He is found and the promise fulfilled. His grace is given in large measure to those who are active agents in imparting it to the world to convict the mind of truth and convert the soul to Christ. His departure brings help because the Lord loves to help, pouring rich currents of grace upon all who believe, and those diligent in prayer who cast helpless souls on God and confess sins find peace and joy in believing. The Comforter is a wonderful gift of highest excellence, of great value to be understood and appreciated and its fullness to be sought, whose working must very carefully not be resisted even by a first presumptuous step.

If fulfillment is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be, though its riches are offered in infinite plenitude with no restriction on God's part, and if all were willing all would be filled. Wherever need of the Spirit is little thought of there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, declension and death, and whenever minor matters occupy attention the divine power necessary for growth and prosperity, which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking. The promise belongs as much to believers now as to the disciples then, and it is to be presented before the people with its reception spoken of in the church. Silence on this most important theme leaves it less known by practical fulfillment than any other, though it gives efficiency to all spiritual labor, and it is for the church now, not only for some future time of need, bringing all other blessings in its train when claimed by faith and given liberally. Christ made the Spirit's coming an especially important subject of teaching and promised great things through it, yet it is often neglected and fulfilled only in limited measure when given merely occasional attention. It brings every blessing as the greatest comfort with help joined to human effort, but when its influence is neglected spiritual drought follows, so members should claim the privilege and recognize need rather than remain content with meager spiritual life.

The instruction in John 6 and John 13-17 plainly expresses God's will to be believed and lived out in practical life, together with Christ's prayer before betrayal and crucifixion. Lived out it cures dissension and gives unity with one another and with Christ and strength to withstand Satan, while neglect leaves weakness instead of strength. In its context the gospel wins converts by transforming effects, showing God's commandment-keeping people as a distinct people. Christ impressed these things to keep disciples learning from Him, lifting thoughts, enlarging expectations, and forming loftiest conceptions of His excellence and grace.

The value of the gift is proportionate to its adaptability to the needs of perishing souls, and in giving Himself He opened a spiritual fountain of divine influence by which fallen man through faith might partake of the divine nature. It is the gift of gifts, the most priceless treasure, given in proportion to Christ's humiliation and suffering as Sacrifice and Redeemer who magnified the law to save the world from ruin. When possessed, everything is possessed: knowledge, wisdom, power, and connection with the God of wisdom, the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. The Lifegiver holds not only the keys of death but a whole heaven of rich blessings and all power in heaven and earth to dispense from the heavenly courts, qualifying believers in and through the glorification of their Head with every endowment necessary for mission. Those controlled by the Spirit communicate to others the energy with which they are imbued until an invisible chord is touched that electrifies the whole, revealing how boundless are the divine resources.

While on earth Christ carefully taught the disciples the words they were to use and handle after He was taken away. His public proclamation was limited to a three-year ministry, because going openly into the synagogues or even going up with members of His own family would have distinguished Him and led men to take away His liberty and life. Though He was the Majesty of heaven and King of glory on earth, He was opposed with everything that could make suffering ridiculous and painful, and His example leaves followers no room to complain of trials.