Whither Thou Goest? Rejoice, Because Death Could Not Hold The King of kings and Lord of lords! - Part 2308

Jesus said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time comes, that whosoever kills you will think that he does God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor Me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go My way to Him that sent Me; and none of you asks Me, "Whither Thou goest?" But because I have said these things, sorrow hath filled your heart.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more. Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself, but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak, and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine and shall shew [it] unto you. All things that the Father hath are Mine: therefore, said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall shew [it] unto you. A little while, and ye shall not see Me, and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me, because I go to the Father." (John 16:1-16)

Herein, the Jesus that walked this earth -- the Word made flesh -- is speaking specifically to His disciples. The moment of Jesus' betrayal by Judas Iscariot is close. Peter has asked Jesus, "Lord, whither goest Thou?" wondering why Peter could not follow Jesus now. (John 13:36-38)

Thomas asks Jesus a similar question -- "Lord we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" (John 14:1-12)

And Judas too, (not Judas Iscariot) asks, "Lord, how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us and not the world?" (John 14:22)

All good questions, particularly since Jesus is telling His disciples of things that would occur before they come to pass -- so they might believe "that I AM He!" (John 14:29; John 13:19; John 16:4) Note that Jesus is also speaking of going away and instructing His disciples to rejoice. Most of us can relate to how Jesus' disciples were feeling. Suddenly, their Lord and Master that they had followed for three years plus was sharing that He must go, in order for the Comforter (the Holy Ghost) to come.

"And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (John 16:8)

Thankfully, we have the benefit of the scriptures which share that after His death on a cross, Jesus was buried in a tomb. But death could not hold the King of kings and Lord of lords. We understand too that the now risen Jesus made many appearances to His disciples so that an accurate record of a list of witnesses could not be contested. (I Corinthians 15:1-8) We learn also that this same Jesus who walked on earth now dwells within our hearts as the Comforter -- the Spirit of truth -- the Spirit of holies. And that in all things, this same Jesus -- who is now both Lord and Christ -- through the Holy Ghost gives instructions to the apostles whom He has chosen. (Acts 1:2-3; Acts 2:36)

Jumping back for a moment, note that Jesus goes on to share that their hearts should not be troubled. Why? Because an important transition was about to happen, and as we know from the day of Pentecost, this same Lord could not wait to come again and dwell within.

As Jesus said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee!"

Indeed, after Jesus ascended, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, came to dwell within their hearts . (John 14:26; John 15:26; Acts 1:2-3)  How do we know? Because on the day of Pentecost, the first 3,000 who repented and were water baptized in the precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus Christ received the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-41)

If you don't know Jesus as your Lord God and Saviour, ask Him into your heart this day. Find a believer who will water baptize you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as every single follower of Jesus was in the new testament side (after the cross) -- so that you too can be filled with the Holy Ghost -- the Spirit of Jesus dwelling within. And then find a King James version of the New Testament (preferably an authorized KJV -- if you can), pull out the coloured pencils and note paper and start studying the Word that gives life, wherein when ye taste, ye shall never thirst again.

Be comforted too knowing that the Lord of glory dwells in your heart and He has a life purpose for you. Stand in the offering plate.