It Is Good That Jesus Goes Away

Rev. David Vandercook, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in North Little Rock, AR and Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Maumelle, AR, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 16:4b-15.

Jesus speaks as He does in the Upper Room on Maundy Thursday because He know He is about to go to the Father who sent Him. Though the disciples have sorrow over what Jesus has been saying, He reassures them that it is to their advantage that He goes away. That is true in the sense that He will go away to His cross and win salvation for sinners; that is true in the sense that He will go away in His ascension, reign for the good of His Church, and send His Spirit to the disciples. The Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, and He will guide the disciples into the truth of Jesus’ Words.

“The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name.