The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Gwen Clucas

Heavenly Father, we pray that your Holy Spirit may rest upon us now, as we approach the study of your Holy Word, and that He may make that Word a living message to our souls. Grant that our prayers being asked in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, may be accepted for his sake.  Amen
 
Since Easter we have been reflecting on the effect the crucifixion had on the  disciples and the early followers of Jesus.  We have heard how Jesus prepared his disciples for his departure. When they were with Jesus after Judas departed from  the Upper room he comforted them and told them what was to follow. He told them how the Spirit would arrive and how his followers would flourish. We know how distraught the disciples must have been. They were facing shame, disillusionment and fear. We know how Peter denied he was a follower of Jesus and how ashamed he later felt. In today’s gospel reading Jesus begins to give the disciples answers to many of their questions.
 
Many of the questions the disciples had are the same questions that have been asked by many people through the generations since Jesus’ time. In particular the resurrection has been the subject of much debate.
 
One of the world’s leading legal scholars, Dr. Simon Greenleaf, from Harvard University, was originally sceptical about the resurrection. While teaching law at Harvard, he stated to his class that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was simply a legend. He was an atheist who thought miracles were impossible. Some of his students challenged him to apply his acclaimed rules of evidence to the resurrection account. He accepted the challenge and began an investigation into the evidence. He attempted to prove the resurrection account was false. The more Greenleaf investigated the record of history, the more stunned he was at the powerful evidence supporting the claim that Jesus had indeed risen from the tomb. He was unable to explain several dramatic changes that took place shortly after Jesus died, in particular the behaviour of the disciples. It wasn’t just one or two disciples who insisted Jesus had risen; it was all of them. Applying his own rules of evidence to the facts, Greenleaf reversed his position. He accepted Jesus’ resurrection was the best explanation for the events that took place immediately after his crucifixion. He believed it would have been impossible for the disciples to persist with their conviction that Jesus had risen if they hadn’t actually seen the risen Christ. He was so persuaded by the evidence that he became a committed Christian. He believed that any unbiased person who honestly examined the evidence, as in a court of law, will conclude what he did – that Jesus Christ has truly risen. Well-known author, C.S. Lewis,  who was originally a sceptic,  was also convinced.
 
After Easter is over, but before the  ascension, the disciples knew that Jesus would  soon be leaving them. He had told them that he was leaving and they were afraid because he had been their teacher and he would no longer be there to tell them what to do. Jesus clarified their role after he was gone. He told them that if they loved him they must obey his teaching. If they did that the Father would love them and make a home for them with him. Those who don’t love him won’t obey his teaching. Jesus told the disciples that the Holy Spirit will be sent by God. John told us: “Jesus appeared to the disciples and said ‘Peace be with you’ and he added ‘as the Father sent me, so I send you.’ Then he breathed on them and gave them the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit has been described as an energy, a power, that little voice we hear in our heads when we are troubled or questioning. I am sure many of us have had that experience. When I retired from teaching I asked “What do you want me to do with the rest of my life?” I clearly heard a little voice say, “Use your big loud voice.” I hope you can hear me today.
 
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would comfort us when we are hurting. John 14:27 records Jesus words; “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus told the disciples that if they loved him they should be glad he was going to the Father, who was much greater than him. He said he was telling them now so that they would believe.
 
The Bible is a best selling book, but in too many cases it sits unopened  on a bookshelf. It contains the word of God telling us how we should live. We are told to love God and love one another. We can then experience the true peace of Christ – the indwelling of God within us. Even during the horror and agony of the crucifixion Jesus remained at peace and prayed for the Father to forgive his murderers. That is the peace of Christ.
 
What does the gospel reading mean for us today?
Verse 23 says: “Those who love me will keep my word.” Love involves obedience, obedience is naturally included in love. Obedience is proof of love.
Verse 24 says: “Whoever does not love me does not keep my word.” The absence of love seems to prohibit or limit obedience.
When Jesus met the disciples following his resurrection he gave them the Holy Spirit, peace was what he brought to them.
 
John 2.22 told us that “After Jesus was raised from the dead his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.”
 
Bishop Peter wrote in this week’s E-life
“A Gospel reading such as this can nudge and prod us to ask Jesus through the Spirit to teach us again what it means to live worthily of the kingdom of God on earth.”
When I was researching this topic I found this suggestion which I felt was a good message to conclude with.
“Today when we offer each other a sign of Christ’s peace let’s commit ourselves to take him up on his offer,”