The Proceeding Spirit

John’s Gospel communicates that prior to Pentecost, the Holy spirit had not yet been freely given to God’s people (John 7:37-39), i.e. there is a chronological order to trinitarian work (Morrison, 2007, p. 36): the Son proceeds from the Father and the Spirit from both the Father and the Son. All three members of the Godhead are in agreement with such work as the one triune God. As such a chronological order subsists then, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is dependent on Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension (Morrison, 2007, p. 37). “In particular, without the cross, there would be no Pentecost” (Morrison, 2007, p. 37). Jesus’ ascension is deeply tied then to the coming of the Holy Spirit. John’s Gospel includes a farewell discourse by Jesus. John 14:15-31 is Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit who would serve as his ambassador. The Gospel of John already includes more explicit references about the deity of Jesus than the other Gospels; yet, Jesus’ discourse in these verses focuses significantly on the promised Holy Spirit. This post will offer an analysis of three overarching aspects found within Jesus’ discourse: 1) trinitarian work in the love among the three members of the Godhead, 2) the sealing work of the Holy Spirit, and 3) the ambassadorial role of the Holy Spirit. These three aspects protrude from the text in a profound manner to support the concept of the Holy Spirit which proceeds from both the Father and the Son.