Shock, grief, anxiety and ignorance make it difficult for people to hear anything new.  Jesus recognised that the trainee apostles would be like that as they anticipated His departure, hardly understanding anything of what Jesus had said.  More information at that point would simply overload them and risk distressing them further.  However, they would not be alone in the future.  The Holy Spirit would be sent to each of them in just over seven weeks' time (Acts 2:1-4).

The Holy Spirit’s work would not be independent of Jesus; He would not bring a different gospel, for He is equally God with the Father and the Son.  The three persons of God speak with one voice for They are One.  When Jesus went back to heaven the Spirit would continue to speak - reminding the apostles of what Jesus had said, and telling them what they could not bear to hear at that time.  They would not stumble helplessly into the future, because the Spirit would instruct them. Every time the Spirit spoke, they would hear the voice of Jesus (John 14:25-26). They would know that their relationship with their Master was unbroken and unending – for which they would be profoundly thankful and give glory to Jesus.

We know what the Spirit said to the apostles; it is recorded in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16).  That is how we know so much about the Christian life, evangelism, pastoral ministry, heaven, hell and the Second Coming.  The role of those initial apostles (including Paul) was unique and foundational.  Their job was to define how to live the ‘Jesus Way’.  When we want to know what God really thinks about a subject, we can all go straight back to the Bible and check.

As we read the Bible, we also need the help of the same Holy Spirit who guided the apostles.  He enables us to understand the Bible and applies the truth directly into our own circumstances.  We are not left alone with a Book, as the One who inspired it is living within us!  He will guide us into the meaning of what He has written.  So let us ask for His help and then welcome the truth so we can act upon it.