THE SUPERIOR GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“Nevertheless, 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

Jesus’ statement seems almost counter-intuitive. How could His departure possibly be better for His disciples than His continued presence? The Son of God—their beloved teacher, miracle worker, and friend—was telling them His leaving would be an advantage. No wonder they were filled with sorrow.

Yet Jesus spoke the truth. His physical departure would enable something far greater: the universal, intimate presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling within every believer. What seemed like devastating loss was actually the pathway to unprecedented spiritual blessing.

 

WHY JESUS SAID ‘IT’S BETTER I GO AWAY’: THE CONTEXT

Jesus spoke these words in the Upper Room, just hours before His crucifixion. The disciples were overwhelmed with grief at the thought of losing their Master. But Jesus was preparing them for a reality they couldn’t yet comprehend—that His going away would unleash the Helper (Paraclete), the Holy Spirit, in ways His physical presence never could.

This wasn’t a consolation prize. It was the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, where the work of the Son would be applied to believers through the person and work of the Holy Spirit.

 

FIVE WAYS THE SPIRIT’S INDWELLING SURPASSES CHRIST’S PHYSICAL PRESENCE

Universal Presence vs Localised Presence: When Jesus walked the earth, He was limited by a physical body. He could only be in one place at one time. If He was teaching in Jerusalem, He couldn’t simultaneously minister in Galilee. The disciples had to follow Him geographically to experience His presence.

The Holy Spirit changes everything. As the third person of the Trinity, He is omnipresent—capable of indwelling every believer simultaneously, regardless of location or time period. Today, a believer in Mumbai experiences the same divine presence as one in Manhattan. Both the church in the first century and the church today enjoy identical access to God’s presence through the Spirit. This universal indwelling made the global church possible. Without it, Christianity would have remained a localised Palestinian movement, forever limited by physical constraints.

Intimate Internal Indwelling vs External Relationship: Even the closest disciples experienced Jesus externally—as teacher, friend, and leader. They walked with Him, listened to His words, and witnessed His power. But He remained outside of them.

The Holy Spirit takes up residence within believers. Paul calls our bodies “temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). This isn’t metaphorical language—it’s the stunning reality that the living God dwells within us. The Spirit works from the inside out, transforming hearts, renewing minds, and conforming us to Christ’s image.

This internal presence provides immediate access to divine power for sanctification. Instead of trying to imitate an external example, believers are transformed by the indwelling power of God Himself.

Permanent vs Temporary Presence: Jesus’ earthly ministry, by divine design, was temporary. He came for a specific mission—to live perfectly, die substitutionally, and rise victoriously. His physical presence had to end for that mission to be completed.

The Holy Spirit’s indwelling is permanent. Paul tells us believers are “sealed” with the Spirit “until the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). The divine seal cannot be broken. The Spirit never leaves, never abandons, never withdraws His presence based on our performance or circumstances.

This permanence provides unshakeable security. Every believer can know with certainty that God’s presence is with them always, fulfilling Christ’s promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Empowerment for Ministry vs Observational Learning: The disciples with Jesus were primarily learners and observers. They watched Him heal the sick, cast out demons, and teach with authority. When they attempted ministry themselves, their efforts often fell short (Mark 9:18).

The Spirit transforms observers into empowered ministers. Jesus promised believers would do “greater works” than He did because of the Spirit’s power (John 14:12). This isn’t about more spectacular miracles—it’s about the scope and impact of Spirit-empowered ministry reaching every corner of the globe.

The Spirit distributes gifts for ministry, equips believers for service, and produces fruit that glorifies God. Every believer becomes an active participant in God’s mission, not merely a spectator.

Direct Spiritual Understanding vs Physical Instruction: Jesus taught using physical illustrations—parables, object lessons, and visible miracles. Even His closest disciples often misunderstood His teaching (Matthew 16:5-12). Physical instruction, while powerful, requires interpretation and can be misunderstood.

The Holy Spirit illumines truth directly to the heart and mind. Jesus promised the Spirit would “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13) and “bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). The Spirit takes the Word of God and applies it with precision to each believer’s life.

This direct spiritual understanding enables believers to comprehend spiritual truths that would otherwise remain hidden. The Spirit convicts of sin, reveals righteousness, and points to coming judgment—all with internal clarity that surpasses external instruction.

 

WHY JESUS SAID ‘IT’S BETTER I GO AWAY’: THE REFORMED UNDERSTANDING

From a Reformed perspective, the progression reveals the economic Trinity at work in redemption. The Father planned salvation, the Son accomplished it, and the Spirit applies it. Each person of the Trinity plays a distinct but unified role in bringing believers to God.

Jesus’ departure was necessary for the Spirit to come and apply Christ’s finished work to individual hearts. Through the Spirit’s ministry, believers receive effectual calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, and ultimately, glorification. What Christ earned, the Spirit applies.

This is why Jesus could confidently say His going was better—because it activated the Spirit’s ministry of transformation in every believer’s life.

 

LIVING IN THIS SUPERIOR REALITY

Understanding this truth should fill believers with confidence and gratitude. We’re not living in a second-rate era, longing for the “good old days” when Jesus walked the earth. We’re living in the age of the Spirit’s fullness, with direct access to God’s presence and power.

This reality encourages us in prayer—we commune directly with God through the Spirit. It comforts us in trials—the Comforter Himself dwells within us. It empowers us for ministry—the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead works through us.

We’re not waiting for God to show up. He already has, and He’s never leaving.

 

WHY JESUS SAID ‘IT’S BETTER I GO AWAY’: THE SUPERIOR GIFT

Jesus’ statement in John 16:7 isn’t a difficult truth to accept—it’s a glorious reality to embrace. His departure opened the door to something infinitely better: the permanent, universal, intimate indwelling of the Holy Spirit in every believer.

The next time you’re tempted to think you missed out by not walking with Jesus in first-century Palestine, remember His words. You haven’t missed out. You’ve received the superior gift He promised—God Himself dwelling within you through His Spirit. That’s not just better than His physical presence—it’s the very purpose for which He came.

 

WHY JESUS SAID ‘IT’S BETTER I GO AWAY’: RELATED FAQs

Did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit before Pentecost when Jesus breathed on them in John 20:22? Scholars like DA Carson and John Piper distinguish between the preliminary giving of the Spirit in John 20:22 and the full Pentecost outpouring. The John 20 incident was a foretaste or initial instalment, while Acts 2 represents the complete fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in John 16:7. This view maintains the “better” reality Jesus promised, that was fully realised at Pentecost—rather than in the upper room appearance.

• How do we explain Jesus’ promise that we would do “greater works” than Him? John MacArthur and RC Sproul interpret “greater works” (John 14:12) as referring to scope and extent rather than spectacular power. Through the Spirit’s global ministry, the church reaches more people and sees more conversions than Jesus did during His geographically limited earthly ministry. The “greatness” is in the Spirit’s ability to work simultaneously through millions of believers worldwide, accomplishing more collective ministry than one person in one location ever could.
• What about Christians who don’t feel the Spirit’s presence—does this contradict Jesus’ “better” promise? Theologian Sinclair Ferguson emphasises the Spirit’s indwelling is an objective reality that is independent of subjective feelings. The Spirit’s presence isn’t measured by emotional experiences but by the fruit of transformation, biblical understanding, and growing Christlikeness. Even when believers don’t “feel” the Spirit, He continues His work of sanctification, intercession, and guidance, making their position objectively better than the disciples who only had external access to Jesus.

How does the Reformed view differ from Pentecostal interpretations of this passage? While Pentecostals often emphasise subsequent “baptisms” or fillings of the Spirit with miraculous manifestations, Reformed theologians like Wayne Grudem teach all believers receive the fullness of the Spirit at conversion. The “better” reality isn’t about seeking additional experiences but recognising every Christian already possesses the complete indwelling presence of God. The Spirit’s work focuses primarily on sanctification and gospel proclamation rather than spectacular signs.

• Did Jesus’ human nature limit His divine attributes during His earthly ministry? Reformed Christology, as explained by scholars like Fred Sanders and Michael Horton, teaches Jesus voluntarily limited the use of His divine attributes (kenosis) without surrendering them. His physical body genuinely restricted His presence to one location, making the omnipresent Spirit’s coming truly “better” for global ministry. This wasn’t a deficiency in Christ but a necessary aspect of His incarnate mission to represent humanity perfectly.
• How does this passage relate to the covenant of redemption between the Trinity? Reformed theologians like Herman Bavinck and contemporary scholar Michael Reeves explain Jesus’ departure was predetermined in the eternal covenant between Father, Son, and Spirit. The Son agreed to accomplish redemption and then send the Spirit to apply it—making His departure essential to the Trinitarian plan. This means the “better” reality wasn’t Plan B after the crucifixion but the intended goal from eternity, demonstrating the perfect harmony of the Trinity in salvation.

What practical difference should this make in how we approach spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible study? Pastor Tim Keller emphasised recognising the Spirit’s superior indwelling should transform our spiritual practices: from external disciplines we move to internal communion. We don’t pray to a distant God but commune with the Spirit within us. We don’t study Scripture as an ancient text but receive illumination from the same Spirit who inspired it. This makes spiritual disciplines more intimate and effective than even the disciples experienced during Jesus’ earthly ministry, since we have direct internal access to divine wisdom and power.

 

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