Fifth Sunday in Easter: Gospel, John 16:12-22             

John 16:12-22

The issue of interpretation is key in our gospel passage this week. Primary recipients and recipients by extension is perhaps a good way to think of the instructions given here by Jesus.

Jesus is speaking to his chosen twelve. And that’s important here. He is leveling with them that their capacity for his truth is limited. It’s one of the reasons that all through the Scriptures God’s revelation comes in bits and pieces. “Here a little, there a little,” as Isaiah put it.

Jesus tells them that there are things they are ready for and some things not. And then in verse 13 above Jesus says, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth ….” Again, He is speaking to the twelve and it is one of the primary ways that Jesus guarantees that what comes through the apostolic band in terms of his future revelation will be solid, truthful, bearing the very stamp of God. The Scriptures are true precisely because Jesus says so. And here, in this place, Jesus is encouraging and preparing, reminding the apostles that he (through the Spirit) will continue to speak. And here is where we come in, and not before.

Jesus is not giving instruction that you and I are to expect direct revelation from the Father. That’s not limiting God. But the current wash of “God told me, “ and “Jesus showed me,” have gotten so out of hand in much of Christendom that one has to wonder if God himself is confused. So many messengers. So many different messages. Jesus is speaking to the twelve and then to us that we may have supreme confidence in what comes to us through them. And frankly it takes more than a lifetime to garner all that we have from them. I don’t need extras. Let’s listen well to what’s already come to us with the stamp of Jesus; with his guarantee.