Week 1 Day 5: Our Need For The Holy Spirit

"But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you." John 16:7 NLT

So why did Jesus leave the earth if He was the living, breathing Word of God? Because the Word among us in not as powerful as the Word inside us. Research shows the best way to learn something is first to hear about it, then see it and finally to internalize it through memorization, meditation and practice. To really learn something, you have to agree with it and internalize it. It must become part of you.

This is why Jesus had to leave the earth to sit at the right hand of God. Through His life He laid the foundation for the path to God by teaching and living out man’s true purpose, but more was needed. He had to leave to fulfill the promise God had made to us, that one day, His Word, His Spirit would be inside of us. God said that He would unify our hearts and give us a new spirit. He would heal our broken, unresponsive hearts and give us hearts that were in tune with God’s nature, His purposes and His plans. (Ezekiel 11:19)

Jesus told His disciples that He had to leave so He could send someone better. The Greek word used here is “Paraclete” which means Advocate, Comforter, Encourager or Counselor. In other words, what could be better than having Jesus in our midst? Having Jesus—His Spirit, in our hearts. We could see Jesus and follow Him all over, but in the flesh He could not be with every single one of us all the time. The flesh has too many limitations.

Even if Jesus was with us all the time, it would not necessarily change us. Judas Iscariot was with Jesus and traveled with Him. He said he was a disciple, yet Judas still did not do what was right. Why? Because we can be around Jesus but unless we accept what He is saying, doing, and take it in deeply inside of us, we will not change. Change comes from within. It begins in our thoughts, it embeds in our hearts and it shows up in our words and actions. There is a difference between saying and doing. Many people say they are Christians, but their lifestyle and actions show they are not Christ followers.

Jesus left because we needed an internal guide, a new heart, a new way to think in order to really change our natural instincts. That is why Jesus left and then sent the Holy Spirit. So He can live inside of us, guiding us, changing us from the inside out. In order for change to be real and last, it must begin in our thoughts. Jesus in the flesh can’t live on the inside of us to help us change, but the Spirit of Jesus definitely can.

Would you rather have Jesus in the flesh living in various places on the earth or have the Holy Spirit personally living inside of you? How could having Christ followers in your life help fill the void of companionship left by Jesus in the flesh?

Memorize and Meditate on John 16:7