Reflections on Pentecost

Reflections on Pentecost

27 May 2009

“But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away”

I remember being confused the first time I read that verse. It’s John 16:7 and Jesus was telling his disciples it was for their benefit that he was leaving them to die. How was it for their good that he was leaving them? I don’t know about you, but I have always felt slightly miffed that God didn’t grant me the privilege of being alive at the same time that Jesus was. Imagine if he were alive today – you could hear him teach, witness him perform miracles, pray with him, ask him advice and receive his guidance. What an incredible honour to have our Lord physically with us so we could see him, hear him and touch him - can you think of anything better?

So, if I had been one of Jesus’ disciples that night I am not sure I would have been convinced that it was for my good that he was leaving. But Jesus explained why it was for their good (and ours!) in the rest of the verse … Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. The Counselor in that verse is the Holy Spirit and so Jesus says that it is good for his disciples that he goes away because once he has gone he will send the Spirit to them.

I think sometimes we can forget the joy and wonder those words contain. They speak of Pentecost when Jesus did, indeed, keep his word - he left and then sent the Spirit to us.

And that is actually better for us, although we don’t usually think that way. See, imagine again if Jesus were alive today. Jesus, the man, could only be in one place at a time, and only do so much encouraging and comforting and guiding. Imagine trying to get an interview with him – it’s hard enough trying to get an audience with the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury, never mind the Son of God! But our Lord did a wonderful thing.

Rather than leave us alone to struggle by ourselves we were sent the Spirit so that every single Christian can have God indwell in us all of the time, wherever we are, whatever we face. We have God in us, we are never alone, never without the Lord – now that is staggering!

Let’s give thanks this Pentecost that God has sent us His Spirit so we are not alone. Jesus was right; it really was for our good that he went.

WORDS: JAY BEHAN