Skip to content

Add your phone number?

Optional. Nothing is sent unless you choose it.
The Historic Faith
Sign in

Jumpstarter 2 of 10

Ideas to help restart your discussion
The Holy Spirit  /  Why We Should Care About the Holy Spirit  /  Discussion Questions
All Questions
Question 2
Jesus says in John 16:7 that it is “to your advantage” that He goes away so the Helper will come; how would early Christians have understood that claim in light of their loss of Jesus’ physical presence, and what does it expose about modern assumptions that “having Jesus” is mainly an idea rather than an experienced dependence on God?
Another way to ask: Jesus says it’s better for Him to leave so the Helper can come (John 16:7). How would early Christians understand that, and what does it show about our modern idea that “having Jesus” is mostly just believing a concept?

Direct Answer Based on Chuck Pike’s teaching, early Christians would have understood Jesus’ departure not as abandonment but as the necessary way God would bring a new form of close, ongoing help—the Helper sent to them. It challenges the assumption that Christianity is mainly mental agreement rather than lived reliance on God’s present work.

Support from Transcript:

  • Chuck reads John 16:7: “It’s to your advantage that I go away…For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you.”
  • He summarizes the point plainly: “Jesus is saying, ‘I have to go so that the Holy Spirit can come.’ So obviously, the Holy Spirit is tremendously important according to Jesus.”
  • Chuck highlights the Spirit as personal and internal: John 14 says “He dwells with you and will be in you,” and 2 Corinthians says the Spirit is “in our hearts as a guarantee.”
  • He critiques the “wooden mechanical faith” that treats God as distant and leaves people to “fight the battle alone,” implying Jesus’ promise is the opposite—experienced divine help.
  • He notes such distance makes prayer seem unimportant; Jesus’ “advantage” language implies active dependence instead.
Discussion Follow-ups If Jesus says this change is an “advantage,” what kind of daily dependence should we expect? How might a low-expectation prayer life reveal we treat “having Jesus” as mainly an idea?

Jumpstarter 2 of 10
Back Questions Next