The Big Picture

October 2, 2009, 10:09 pm by dc-agape.

John Chapter 16:5 – 33

Unlike the previous chapter, this one is solely for the believer, specifically the Apostles and the followers of Jesus during the 30’s AD.  The only thing related to the modern Church is the joy that followed (and should still be present) in the Church.  This joy is based on the presence of the Councilor (Holy Spirit) which would not appear until after Jesus’ death on the cross. 

The concept and the purpose of the Holy Spirit are outlined in this chapter, even though the purpose of the Holy Spirit is only briefly mentioned.  The first purpose of the Spirit is to convict the entire world.  I wonder when this will happen.  It certainly did not happen until after the European nations began the colonization of the Americas or Eastern Asia.  It certainly did not happen during the Crusades!  Supposedly, the Spirit brought the knowledge of humanities sin, Jesus’ righteousness, and the judgment of Satan (the prince of the world).  The concept of Satan is new to the world at this point.  The OT does not refer to Satan or the prince of the world, at any time or any place.  Jesus introduces this concept, even though it was not new to the Romans or the Greeks.   And please do not bring up Isaiah 14:12-15!  This entire passage starting in Isaiah 13:1-14:23 is one single oracle.  It is taken out of context if one uses it to describe Satan.  Read the whole passage not the single short fragment!  And don’t even try the Ezekiel 28:12-19 either.  This passage again has been taken out of context, read the whole passage: Ezekiel 28:1-19.  And make sure you understand the meaning of “son of man”.  In the Book of Ezekiel this term is describing Ezekiel…not Jesus (Ezekiel 2:1).

But an evil spiritual ruler of the world was not new to the Greeks or Romans.  Agra Mainyu is the evil side of Zoroastrianism – Babylonian religion during the period that the Jews were in exile in…Babylonia!  One must remember that in the 6^th century BC Cyrus the Great controlled most of “the known world”.  By the 2nd century BC, Greek and Zoroastrianism had combined into the now fully familiar Greek mythology.

But what was the joy that the Holy Spirit would bring to the followers of Jesus?  It is the relationship that Christians will have directly with YHWH.  Since the Holy Spirit is YHWH and was brought to humans after Jesus’ death, Jesus’ followers could know what Jesus knew and that was a relationship with YHWH.  Through the Holy Spirit and Jesus this relationship with YHWH provided security from the evils of the world.  This also provided direct communication with YHWH:

John 16:23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything.  I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Simply put, the joy that the Holy Spirit brought was having a Councilor to provide all the security, knowledge, and relationships that Jesus had.

To the non-believer (sinner) looking at this chapter brings one thing to the forefront.  Neither the concepts of the virgin birth nor the savior nor the devil were new (all were part of Zoroastrianism.  But all three were new to Judaism…and brought to a forefront by Jesus.  No wonder the Jews despised Jesus!  He was corrupting their religion with the religion of their captors during the Babylonian Exile.  This was worse than Hellenization of the Israeli religion!  It also indicates that Jesus was not teaching anything that was new.  He required following the OT and added components of both Greek and Babylonian religions to form a new religion: Christianity.  To be certain, this new religion was better than any of the three old religions…but it is was just that: a new religion.  It is truly amazing when the entire history of the world is combined and compared to specific national histories!  New knowledge, new understandings, and new perspectives are introduced.  One cannot live in isolation and one cannot make assumptions based on that isolation of events, histories, or interpretations.  The whole picture must be seen and accepted, you cannot disregard the pieces that do not fit your personal desires or beliefs.

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