“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” – John 16:7 (NASB)
The disciples of Jesus are with him in a second-floor room observing the Passover. Jesus is just a few hours away from the time he will be taken by the Jewish leaders and put on trial. It will be an illegal trial but the Jews must keep it quiet for a bit longer. Jesus is telling these followers and close friends that soon He will go away. They do not yet understand His purpose although He has been telling them he is approaching the moment for which he has come. He promises them and so He promised us that going away was necessary but they were not to be left alone. He also tells them that soon, just a little while they would see Him no longer – this is His accession to heaven that they will witness. But they will soon after see Him – when the Holy Spirit, the promised Helper is sent to abide in them. Now we who believe have Him abiding in us and us in Him. Jesus was emphatically claiming that the Spirit and He are one. Christ dwells in all faith believers through the Holy Spirit—in that sense we see Him.
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