Throughout the gospels we find several instances where someone comes to Jesus with a direct request or question and His answer is, to say the least, indirect. A lot of times, as the saying goes, “it comes out of left field.” Why was that?

In the previous parts of this study, I have tried to emphasize that the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is simply the next logical, necessary step in the transition of the Mission from the Messiah to His disciples. As such, it is not only available to every believer, it is expected to be part of every believer’s life. Then why do we find some Christians wondering about it, or seeking special instruction on how to receive Him? Isn’t He right here next to us?

What is the greatest temptation that we can face in this life? If we wanted to be technical about it, nit-picky, we could say there is not one answer to that question. Because we are all different from each other:  Be it either by difference of circumstance or by virtue of a different – inherent – psychological make-up, at any particular time, each one of us will have a different weakness. Can’t you imagine yourself ever being desperate enough to risk stealing?

Or how does Acts chapter 2 differ from John chapter 20? Like many other questions about Christianity, this one too has become a subject of debate, leading to efforts at systematizing doctrine, and, therefore, eventually, demarcating denominations. It certainly is a subject in the branch of Theology called Pneumatology. Should I even venture to put forth my opinion?

In going through the Gospel of John, I emphasized the idea of Salvation as a mission. Jesus set it into motion, we continue it. As He was sent by the Father, so are we sent by Him. To enable us to carry out this mission faithfully (that is: in the same way He did, with the same spirit, the same love, the same understanding), He promised to send us the Holy Spirit.

This is the last segment of my study on the gospel of John. As the apostle draws close to the end of his narrative he again reminds us that he was an eyewitness to all these events. But more than that, he tells us, as he has told us in diverse ways throughout his gospel, that what he has presented to us is more than enough for the reader to accept it as Truth and believe on Jesus the Messiah.