This week we learned that Jesus’ departure was not a loss but a gift, because through it God sent the Holy Spirit to be present with all people at all times. Jesus taught that the Spirit is actively at work in the world convicting people of sin, righteousness, and judgment, not to condemn, but to lead them to freedom in Christ. The Spirit also guides the church into truth, faithfully preserving and illuminating God’s Word so we can know and follow Jesus today. Ultimately, the Spirit’s work always points beyond Himself to glorify Christ, drawing us into deeper trust, obedience, and participation in God’s redemptive mission.

This week, we begin our series titled Better Because, where we look at John 16 and why we are better off because Jesus came and departed. As humans, we think that we know best for ourselves, but many times giving in to those desires harms us. God knows what is needed for us to be made whole. As we see today, Jesus sacrificed Himself to pay the debt for our sins but also to become an advocate for us. We can live with a steady confidence that He will return to finish the work He started and that we live each day listening to His Spirit in us.