Jesus told His disciples that He must return to where He came from (the Father) to prepare a place for them (John 14:1-3). And when He leaves, He will return to take all of His true disciples (those who have remained true to His principles and life). He further alerted the disciples that He must leave because if He doesn’t go to the Father, the Comforter (Helper, Holy Spirit) will not come (John 16:7). Jesus made them understand that greater benefits would accrue to His disciples when He goes to the Father. This then suggests that the coming of the Holy Spirit is of immense benefit to the believer. But in which way?

When Jesus was with the disciples, many benefits accrued to the disciples, and it was a wonderful experience. For instance,

• He [Jesus] prayed for Peter because Satan had planned to sift him. Jesus saw it and interceded for him (Luke 22:31-32);
• He [Jesus] healed their sick (Matthew 8:14-15).
• He [Jesus] shared with them the mysteries of the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:11-12)

They came to a point in their lives where they knew that with Jesus in their boat, all things were possible (Mark 4:38-39). Now, this Jesus is leaving the disciples. I don’t think they will be happy (John 16:5-6). How can they sustain this beautiful life they have been enjoying all these years without Jesus? They can’t go back to their old state where Jesus found them. Almost the entire nation of Israel had come to know them because of their association with Jesus.

But Jesus had a better plan for their lives. Instead of them tagging along with Him to enjoy the crumbs of His superior life, He wanted them to become like Him. They should heal the sick, rebuke the sea and the storms, access and download the mysteries of the kingdom of God and share them. Nicodemus said it right when he visited Jesus at night. He said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God because no man can do these miracles that you do except God be with him (John 3:2)." Nicodemus didn’t know the Holy Spirit, so he concluded that God must be with Jesus lest He couldn’t do what He does. That God who was with Jesus was the Holy Spirit. He was in Jesus and He was with Him (John 14:10).

If the disciples are going to continue in the shoes of Jesus, they will need the Holy Spirit to dwell in them and with them. Then comes the critical question—must Jesus leave the earth before the disciples can receive the Holy Spirit in their lives?

God is a God of order. All things must be done decently and orderly, the Apostle Paul, by the Spirit admonishes (1 Corinthians 14:40). As long as Jesus was in this world He was the light of the world (John 9:5), providing guidance and leadership to the program of God on earth. Immediately after Jesus left, the Holy Spirit had to take over the leadership and guidance of God’s program on earth. Remember, I mentioned earlier that the Holy Spirit can dwell in man (or flesh). He does His work by working through men and women like you to fulfil God’s plan on earth.

This is the Holy Spirit of God.