This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

Jesus has just told his
disciples he is about to die.

And with his last words, Jesus
comforts them with the promise

of the Holy Spirit and warns
them of coming persecution.

The disciples don’t understand.

They want to follow Jesus
and know where he is going.

But Jesus responds by telling them that he
goes to prepare a place for them with his Father.

Jesus is on a mission
to reunite us with God.

When Philip asks to see the Father, Jesus
tells him that to see Jesus is to see the Father.

Jesus is the perfect
representation of God.

Then, Jesus gives them a promise.

Once he leaves, another Helper will come who
will help them see and know the Father—the Holy Spirit.

This Spirit will fill them
as Jesus was filled,

enabling them to live out the
character and nature of God on earth.

Through the Holy Spirit, they would
be reminded of Jesus’ teachings

and empowered to
keep his commands.

They would reflect his wisdom and
perform the same works as Jesus.

The one who lived inside Jesus
will now live inside of them

Jesus compares it to a vineyard
and the fruit it produces.

God is the gardener, Jesus is the vine,
and the disciples are the branches.

As they hold fast to Jesus, the life of the
vine will fill them and overflow
in nourishing fruit.

The work of Jesus will be the natural
outflow of the life of Jesus in them.

But this good news comes at a cost.

Jesus lived his life perfectly hearing and
obeying God, and it will lead to his death.

Jesus promises that if his disciples follow his
course of life, they too will be hated by the world.

A servant isn’t greater than their master,
and this Master willingly lays down his life.

The disciples are about to lose
their flesh-and-bones Messiah.

They’re about to experience
intense persecution and torture.

And for thousands of years since, you and I
have had to live without the presence of Jesus.

But the good news for us today is this:

That it is to our advantage that Jesus
left so we could be filled with his Spirit.

Jesus promises that the Spirit in us is
even better than his Son beside us.

Jesus perfectly reflected God’s image, yet
he could only be in one place at a time.

But now the same Spirit that animated
the life of Jesus lives in all of his followers,

enabling and equipping
them to live like Jesus did.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just empower our
actions though; he empowers our message.

Jesus says that the Spirit convicts the
world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Through the death of Jesus and the gift
of the Spirit, the disbelief in the world begins

to die, and we are raised with Jesus to
rule over all the powers of this world.

May the Holy Spirit open your eyes to see
the God who filled his Son with his Spirit.

And may you see Jesus as the one
who empowers us to face suffering

and live boldly by the power
of that same Spirit in us.