Make Room | The Person of the Holy Spirit

The Person of the Holy Spirit

WARM-UP

Tell us about a time a good friend accompanied you during a task or errand, or was with you during an important life event. How did you feel?

Have you experienced a promise being kept by a friend or loved one? What happened?

How do you feel when you receive letters from someone not present?

WORD

13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever he hears, that will he speak; and he will tell you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will receive of mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said that he will take of mine and will disclose it to you. JOH 16:13-15

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth promised and sent by Jesus Christ to be with his disciples, to guide them and communicate the Word and will of God to them. In this lesson, we will look closer into who the Holy Spirit is and how we should relate to him.

And it shall come to pass afterward,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your old men will dream dreams,

your young men will see visions. JOE 3:1

And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. And they will look to me because of those who have been thrust through with swords, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only child, and grieve for him as one grieves for his firstborn son. ZEC 12:10

Rashi’s Commentary

A spirit—Talant in Old French, a desire.

A spirit of grace and supplication—That it should come into their mind to supplicate me, and they will be in my good graces.

They will look to me because of those who have been thrust through—Jonathan renders: And they will supplicate me because of their wanderings. And they will look to me to complain about those of them whom the nations thrust through and slew during their exile.

And they will mourn for him—For that slaughter.

As one mourns for his only child—As a man mourns for his only child. And our Sages expounded this in tractate Sukkah 52a as referring to the Messiah, son of Joseph, who was slain.

Sukkah 52a:3

The Gemara asks: Granted, according to the one who said that the lament is for Messiah ben Yosef who was killed, this would be the meaning of that which is written in that context: “And they will look to me because of those who have been thrust through with swords, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for his only child” (Zec 12:10). However, according to the one who said that the eulogy is for the evil inclination that was killed, does one need to conduct a eulogy for this? On the contrary, one should conduct a celebration. Why, then, did they cry?

17 . . . the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. . . . 26 But the Advocate, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and remind you of all that I have said to you. JOH 14:17, 26

1 The Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus.

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. JOH 16:7

As Jesus predicted and continuously reminded the disciples of his coming death and resurrection, He also told them that the Holy Spirit would come to be with them. The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised is to be our Advocate and Comforter, always with us, never leaving our side. How have you felt the comfort of the Holy Spirit?

2 The Holy Spirit speaks to us and guides us.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative, but whatever he hears, that will he speak; and he will tell you what is to come. JOH 16:13

Jesus also told his disciples that this Spirit that would be with them is a Spirit of truth, and would guide them and tell them what is to come. God is all-knowing, and because the Holy Spirit is God, he too is all-knowing. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, but a Person who patiently guides us into all the truth. How has the Holy Spirit guided you?

3 The Holy Spirit works in perfect unity with the Father and the Son.

14 He will glorify me, for he will receive of mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are mine. Therefore I said that he will take of mine and will disclose it to you. JOH 16:14-15

This is how Jesus described the relationship of the Trinity: the Holy Spirit will receive of mine [Jesus’] and will disclose it to

you. What Jesus has is from the Father, and what the Holy Spirit has is from Jesus. These three, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, work in perfect unity. We trust that this Holy Spirit that Jesus promised has the same mind as the Father and the Son. How does this knowledge give you assurance? How can it be a source of comfort as you live life today?

APPLICATION

Do you believe the Holy Spirit guides you as you go through each day? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more to you about himself.

Is there an area in your life that you feel you can’t handle alone? How can you intentionally allow the Holy Spirit to help you with this?

The Holy Spirit gives us the words to say to people. Who is one person you can preach the gospel to this week?

PRAYER

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more of himself to you as you interact with those around you. Pray that the words that come out of your mouth will be Spirit-led.

Think of a friend or family member that needs to come to know the Lord in a deeper way. Pray that they will be touched by the Holy Spirit as they see the way you live.

Pray for the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the community around you. Pray to be used by the Holy Spirit as you reach out to your community.

"The Rashi Chumash" and "The Rashi Ketuvim" by Rabbi Shraga Silverstein is licensed under CC BY 3.0