This same culpable refusal-to-discern of those who would shortly put Jesus to death is of no surprise to Jesus. Indeed, those endorsing the plan to remove him from their sight and their lives needed to know something. It’s that their unjustified rejection of him had been foretold in their own Scriptures – the Scriptures on which they based their religion and their rejection of him.
This Jesus – and his father - knew that this hate would take place, without any cause or reason, and recorded it all beforehand in writing.
“When the attorney may come, the one I myself will send to you from the Father—the spirit of the truth, who departs out from the father—that one will testify concerning me. In fact, you also are testifying because, from the beginning, you are with me.”
The spirit of a human being is the complete living person as a whole minus the body which remains when the person dies. Each living body+spirit alive with Jesus that evening - Jesus’ disciples - is promised this new additional “spirit of truth” who would be in each one of them. Jesus had earlier spoken of this “advocate” whom he would send to them upon returning to his father.
“Advocate” is a suitable translation of the Greek word parakletos for those who live in Jersey. A Jersey advocate is more than a barrister, Not only does a Jersey advocate plead the cause of a person in court but also advises, helps, informs and provides assurance to that person. This new-life-giving advocate, even the spirit of the LORD God above, will testify in and to them.
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