GONE FOR OUR GOOD Jesus Ascended into Heaven

John 16:5-11

• 5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'

• 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.

• 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

• 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:

• 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me;

• 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;

• 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

• 12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.

• 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

• 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.

• 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Wouldn't it be nice if Jesus had remained physically present?

• He could have had a call in talk radio show.

• But He went back to the Father.

Jesus Left: • His purse to Judas; • His garment to the soldiers; • His body to Joseph of Arimathea; • His mother to John; • His peace to His disciples; • His supper to His followers; • His gospel to the world; • His Spirit to His children.

Jesus was specific about needing to return to the Father

• At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus tried to explain: "Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me." – Jn 7:33

• After the Last Supper, Jesus said, "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'"--Jn 16:5

• And, of course, this, But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. – Jn 16:7

EVERYTHING JESUS DID WAS FOR OUR BENEFIT It is for your good that I am going

away. -- Jn 16:7

The reason He was born was…

• "to save His people from their sin."

The reason given for His death:

• "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." -- Mark 10:45

He gave us the reason for His ascension

• "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." -- John 16:7

THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THREE-FOLD:

When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: -- Jn 16:7

John used the Greek word elegchein

1. The Holy Spirit Convicts us of Sin. (v 8)

2. The Holy Spirit Convicts us of righteousness.

3. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of judgment.

"Convince," "Convict," "reprove," "make the world conscious," "prove wrong,"

The Holy Spirit can seem like either a Friend or a Foe

Depending on our response

If it feels like God is “on your back”

• Turn around.

It was for our good that Jesus left and sent us the Holy Spirit.

• Receive.

• Accept His Gift with thanksgiving.