⁷ “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.”

“Read my lips,” says the Master. “Focus people, you are blinded by one of the truths I told you, but wait, there’s more, and better news.” So we might paraphrase the force of Jesus’ words. All the disciples could think of was Jesus’ soon departure, and His ominous talk of trouble, betrayal and denial. How could they think of anything else? Their world was about to shatter beyond repair. Yet, here is their Master telling them that His departure was actually an “advantage.”

That advantage, of course, was to be “the Helper” whom we know to be the Holy Spirit. Although hearing that did not seem to help them much at the time, there was coming a time when they would be absolutely transformed, from being fearful, sorrowful, dejected disciples to bold, fearless, joyful proclaimers of Jesus Christ. Yes, the Spirit would transform them, individually and as the foundation for building the Church, carrying on Jesus’ mission enterprise into the whole world (Eph 2:20).

Yes, advantage was the right word. When that word is used in the New Testament it usually conveys the concept of sacrificing something we desire for the sake of something greater. An interesting example of this usage was found in Jesus’ earlier teaching, “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better [lit. “advantage”] for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (Matt 5:29). The eye is obviously a good thing, but giving it up for something better is a clear advantage or “better for you,” namely avoiding hell. Paul uses the word as well, “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable [lit. “advantage]. All things are lawful, but not all things edify” (1 Cor 10:23). The “advantage” goes to those who sacrifice their freedoms for the sake of a “profitable” life style – which in context is one that is lived for the benefit of others.

So also for the disciples, they would be losing a good thing (physical presence of Jesus) in order to gain a more advantageous thing (the abiding presence of the Spirit). If He had stayed in His pre-ascended state, the team of the apostles would have had to stay in close physical proximity in order to experience His abiding presence. This obviously would have hindered the geographical expansion of the message. The “advantage” of the Spirit would benefit not just them but all the world as they moved out to spread the Gospel.

Lord, thank You for the Spirit’s ever-abiding presence in my life. Let me take advantage of that benefit, and do my part in reaching the world for Christ.