Main point: At the end of ch 15 Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit, “will testify about me…” v.26. The Holy Spirit will testify against the world for its wrongfulness in v.8-11. Before that in v.1-7 Jesus told the disciples the wrongfulness of the world doing to them, namely, the coming persecution from the world to them.
Even though the revealing about the coming persecution sadding the hearts of the disciples v.6, but Jesus describing His going away was an “advantage” to the disciples. “For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you v.7. In other words, facing persecution with the help of the Holy Spirit was the design of God and believers should not look at difficulties with despair when help is provided.
(optional) Difficult text: What is the meaning of “the Holy Spirit proofing the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment” v.8?
prove the world wrong (NET) The meaning is often understood to be that the Paraclete will “convince” the world of its error, so that some at least will repent...But the verb [prove wrong] did not necessarily imply the conversion or reform of the guilty party. This means it is far more likely that conviction in something of a legal sense is intended here (as in a trial). The only certainty is that the accused party is indeed proven guilty (not that they will acknowledge their guilt)...
concerning sin, because they do not believe in me (NET) In 3:19 the effect of Jesus coming into the world as the Light of the world was to provoke judgment, by forcing people to choose up sides for or against him, and they chose darkness rather than light. In 12:37, at the very end of Jesus’ public ministry in John’s Gospel, people were still refusing to believe in him.
concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer (NET) ...Jesus’ return to the Father constitutes his own [righteous] in the sense of vindication rather than forensic justification. Jesus had repeatedly claimed oneness with the Father, and his opponents had repeatedly rejected this and labeled him a deceiver, a sinner, and a blasphemer (John 5:18, 7:12, 9:24, 10:33, etc.)...When the Spirit-Paraclete comes he will prove the world wrong concerning the subject of righteousness, namely, Jesus’ righteousness which is demonstrated when he is glorified in his return to the Father and the disciples see him no more (but they will have instead the presence of the Spirit-Paraclete, whom the world is not able to receive).
concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned (NET)...Jesus’ righteousness before the Father, as proven by his return to the Father, his glorification, constitutes a judgment against Satan...This does not mean that Satan does not continue to be active in the world, and to exercise some power over it, just as in 3:19–21 the people in the world who have rejected Jesus and thus incurred judgment continue on in their opposition to Jesus for a time. In both cases the judgment is not immediately executed. But it is certain.
Reflection: We should not be sad when the Holy Spirit proves the world guilty. They are wrong by not choosing Jesus but choosing darkness/sin. They are wrong about Who Jesus is and therefore their ruler, Satan, is judged. By knowing these facts we should be happy even in the midst of persecution. Not that our situation of persecution will be changed or our difficulties being removed. Do I ever feel joyful when what I believe is right? That kind of joy could help me to overcome all difficulties?
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