#DailyDevotion The Holy Spirit Glorifies Jesus
John 16:12-15 12“I have much more to tell you, but it would be too much for you now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you into the whole truth. What He will say will not come from Himself, but He’ll speak what He hears and tell you what is coming. 14He will glorify Me, because He’ll take from what is Mine and tell it to you. 15Everything the Father has is Mine. That is why I said, ‘He takes from what is Mine and will tell it to you.’
Indeed, everything Jesus could and wanted tell them before his rejection, betrayal, suffering, death and resurrection might be a little too much at this time. The disciples can’t even handle that much truth before it happens.
Jesus though is going to send and has sent the Holy Spirit to remind the disciples of everything Jesus had taught them and what it means. We see on Pentecost Day, the day they are arrested, and when they speak before kings and rulers, the Holy Spirit guides them into what to say. We see that as they too pen to paper to leave behind a witness all that Jesus did and taught. The Holy Spirit would then use that to proclaim Christ to a fallen world as 2 Peter 1 says, “19And we have, as something more sure, the prophetic Word. Please look to it as to a light shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts. 20Understand this first, that no prophecy of Scripture came as some private explanation. 21For no prophecy was ever spoken because a man decided to prophecy, but men said what God gave them to say as they were directed by the Holy Spirit.” Paul also writes in 2 Tim. 3, “ 16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, showing what is wrong, correcting and training in right living.”
Just as Jesus the Son of the Father only spoke and did what the Father gave him to do, so likewise the Holy Spirit will only speak and do what the Son has given him. Everything the Father had, the Son also has. Now we see the Holy Spirit also has. The Father is the source of all. Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and equal to and with the Father. They hold all things in common. It is a fine revealing of the Trinity here in Jesus’ mouth. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one but they are also distinct. Not one holds back from the other. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit calls us into that oneness with them.
Now one final thing, I think is important. Jesus says, “He will glorify Me.” This indeed is how you will know who is speaking and working in those you learn from. Who are they glorifying in their teaching? Are they glorifying Jesus, themselves, or you? Are they glorifying the Holy Spirit instead of Jesus? The Spirit wants to talk about Jesus and proclaim him as the only, sole, source of salvation to the world. The Spirit glorifies Jesus by pointing faith in Jesus alone and his work. Other spirits try to glorify you and your works for Jesus or God. Some will say the good works you do give glory to Jesus and merit salvation. Well that is half true. When we do good works in Jesus’ name we do glorify Jesus but they are not meritorious towards our salvation. They are the natural growth of those who trust solely in Jesus to save them by his life, death and resurrection. There are those who try to have us return to the stipulations of the Old Covenant. Pay no attention to them. Jesus has accomplished everything and fulfilled everything for you in the New Covenant he made with his blood.
Heavenly Father, as you sent your Son Jesus into the world, now send your Holy Spirit to every place to glorify Jesus so men may repent and turn to Jesus for salvation through faith in him. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.