John the Apostle recorded some of the most personal and poignant moments of Jesus’ ministry. A.B. Bruce in The Training of the Twelve wrote that Christ’s words during the Last Supper were like those of a dying parent to his children. What Paul writes of as accomplished in this letter to the Ephesian church Jesus foretold on that crucifixion eve. Here are some verses from that night.
25 These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:25-26–ESV)
That night Jesus understood all too well the task before him. Despite its enormity, he did not forget the suffering soon coming to his disciples. To plant some hope for those difficulties he prophesied the arrival of the Holy Spirit. See, their connection to God needed to slide away from the person-on-person connectivity it had had onward toward person-to-God connectivity via the Holy Spirit. The former had been immediately palpable, but the later would be eternally effective. That evening Jesus revealed this plan with greater specificity, and while it was cryptic before the crucifixion it was palpable at Pentecost: the Holy Spirit came. [Read more…] about Ephesians 1:13-14>>Personal Pentecost & the heavenly allotment.