John50 – the advocate’s role

Above and below, John, the first century eye-witness biographer of Jesus of Nazareth continues to recall what Jesus said to his disciples the night before his AD 30 crucifixion in Jerusalem. He has already said new things to them, things that they didn’t need to know while he was physically among them.

He is particularly aware that none of them have asked for his destination. He knows his ultimate destination – after the cross. They haven’t even asked.

Clearly, their heart is at rock bottom over his departure. None of them want to remain in existence without him. But he tells them an encouraging truth. He will be replaced by another – by the advocate from above. A Jersey advocate is a lawyer who looks after all the interests of his client, knows and imparts all the client needs to know, and pleads on behalf of his client in every situation.

But this advocate will have an additional major role among the people in the world in which Jesus’ disciples will be living after he has returned to his father above. A reproving role with three facets.

 

This advocate from heaven above – the holy spirit of the LORD God - will reprove the people of this world of their sin. The key, incriminating sin about which they need conviction is the fact that “they do not believe into” Jesus.

The second reproof of the people of this world by the coming advocate, Jesus tells his disciples, is “concerning righteousness”. There can have been no doubt whatsoever in the conviction of these disciples that Jesus was totally sinless when he was sentenced to death for criminality by two separate courts in Jerusalem within the next few hours. The advocate comes after Jesus  will have been raised from that imposed death, confirming to the world its sinfulness in attempting to rid themselves of him – and his father.

The third reproof which the coming advocate will deliver to this world has to do with “judgment.” The advocate, the invisible holy spirit of the LORD God, dispatched by Jesus as soon as he returns to his father above, will only arrive after Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus identifies “the ruler of this world” as the moving force behind the actions of all human beings, including their rejection and crucifixion of him. The advocate will reprove human beings in this world of the judgment and ultimate defeat of their and its ruler at the cross.

 

Jesus is well aware that his disciples are in no fit state, at that time, to “lift” certain additional truth. This advocate will do just that as well as guide them into all the truth of the LORD God above and of the “coming things”.

The purpose, the objective, of the advocate sent from above to the disciples and through them to all the people of this world, is a singularity. It is to glorify Jesus by making him known and proclaiming him and all he is and has - to all.