"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit..." (John 3:6-8)

"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:6-8) 

What does 'flesh gives birth to flesh' mean?

Jesus now must try to explain the difference between the physical body (here "the flesh") and the spiritual body (here "the spirit") to Nicodemus.

The physical body is a temporary vehicle for the spiritual self. Each of us is an eternal spiritual individual.

As spiritual individuals, each of us was created by the Supreme Being. He is the "Spirit" in the above statement, and we are the "spirit" within this physical body.

The physical body is simply a tool or vehicle for the spiritual individual. It is like a person driving a car. A person can get in a car and drive it, and then he can get out of the car at some point and walk away.

We are like the car driver and the car is like our physical body. The spiritual individual utilizes the physical body for a few decades. Then we must leave it behind, just as a car owner must one day get abandon an old car.

What does 'you cannot tell where it comes from' mean?

Jesus is describing the reality that the spiritual person and the Spirit - are both invisible to the eyes of the physical body.

Each of us is a person, and we are composed of spirit. This means that we are more properly identified as spirit-persons.

The world of spirit - where the "Spirit" and the "spirits" dwell - cannot be perceived with the physical senses, because the purpose of being in the physical body is to allow us the opportunity to learn within a state of naivete.

One might compare this to scientific medical research. In a double-blinded medical study, both the patients and the doctors are "blinded." They are "blinded" by not being able to know who is receiving what.

The reason why the patients and the doctors are blinded is so that the drug or herb can be tested without the influence of forcing the outcome through some sort of bias. It is like testing from a blank slate.

In the same way, when foods or beverages are compared, the taste tester will wash out their mouth between tastes so each can be tasted with a fresh palette. 

This rinsing of the mouth also gives rise to something used in medical testing. That is when the subject doesn't know whether they are using the medicine or a placebo. This is called being "blinded." When both the patient and the doctor don't know who is using the medicine or the placebo, the medical study is called "double-blinded."

In the case of the physical world, we are also "blinded." We are given a "blank slate" in order to learn. We are born into this world having forgotten our former lives and our connection with the Supreme Spirit. We also forget our identity as a spirit-person.

Such a "blank slate" allows us the ultimate in options. We can make a variety of choices in our lives, including choices related to helping or harming others, and those related to finding the Truth about the Supreme Being.

In other words, this "blank slate" allows us to forget about God if we choose to, and virtually ignore Him. We can even pretend that we are God - as some teach. Or we can simply live our lives as though we are the center of the universe.

What does this have to do with being born again?

Jesus also states here that, "You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'" What do the "spirit" and the "Spirit" and our "blank slate" have to do with being born again?

Being born again in Jesus' vernacular is basically having a change of heart.

Coming to the point where someone has a change of heart and is born again typically takes time to learn the lessons this world teaches us. This is something that occurs from within the heart, and this means others often cannot see such a change of heart.

This is because the realization of God and the change of heart that is being referred to as being "born again" is an internal process that cannot be seen or recognized physically (outside of one's activities).

Just as we cannot see the "spirit-person" or the "Spirit" with these eyes, we cannot see a person being born again with the physical eyes. Again, this is because the spiritual world is invisible to our physical eyes. Our eyes were not designed to see the spiritual world. They were designed to allow us to ignore the spiritual world.

Therefore, the process of being born again takes place invisibly. It is not the proclaiming of being "born again" as many do among sectarian institutions. This is not being "born again." Being "born again" is a change of heart. It is a change of our spiritual attitude. It is deciding to turn towards God. It is making a determination that we want to love God and serve God. It is a decision to give up our enviousness of Him.

This is a very private and very personal decision, that comes from deep within. It has nothing to do with what religion, sect or other "team" we might belong to. It is a decision made between each of us and the Supreme Being.

That makes this decision a spiritual decision - one that has its origin in the "Spirit." In other words, our spiritual selves come from God, and He is our means to remove our physical illusion that we are these physical bodies. He is our means of returning home, even though we are caged within a temporary physical body.

Why did our 'spirit' take on 'flesh'?

Why is the spiritual individual encased in a temporary physical body? This has been symbolically explained in Genesis:

The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 2:21-24)

Here we see that God ‘made garments of skin for Adam and his wife.’ What are garments of skin? Are we talking animal skins? Or little leaves as depicted in some art renderings of Adam and Eve? No, we are talking about human skin. We are talking about the physical body.

In other words, because Adam (more appropriately translated to "spirit-person") disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit, God banished him from the Garden of Eden - heaven. God sent Adam and his wife out of heaven, gave them physical bodies of flesh ‘to work the ground from which he had been taken.’ What is the ‘ground?’ This is the physical world. The "garments of skin" are made from (or taken from) the physical world.

And what was the ‘tree of knowledge of good and evil’ that God is referring to? And what did God mean by “the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil’?

What is the 'tree of knowledge of good and evil'?

Remember that God asked Adam not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Why not? And why did God put the tree in a place where Adam could eat its fruit in the first place? The tree of knowledge of good and evil is better translated to the "knowledge of pleasure and pain." The knowledge of pleasure and pain is rooted the desire for enjoyment. The desire for pleasure naturally produces pain because in order to feel pleasure, one must also be prepared to feel it's counterbalance, which is pain. In short, this represents a desire for self-centered enjoyment separate from God.

Why was this advised against by God? Because God created all of us for His enjoyment. He wanted to exchange relationships of love. But in order to exchange real love, God also had to give us the freedom to love Him or not. That freedom was expressed in our also having the choice to want enjoyment for ourselves (represented by the symbolic temptation by the serpent). Once this desire takes root, one must face both sides of

Desiring to be the enjoyer is basically desiring to be God, because God is the only true Enjoyer, and we are subjects in His kingdom. 

Still, He gives us the freedom to love and serve Him. Otherwise, it would not truly be love.

So eating the forbidden fruit is symbolic of each of us spirit-persons, at one time or another, rejecting our position as being a subject in God's world. It symbolizes wanting to become God-like. This is, generally speaking, the root of envy.

This self-centered perspective of wanting to be God-like is the state God described in Genesis as: “the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil’.

In the spiritual sense, "good" is being a loving caretaker of God (our natural identity) and "evil" is the self-centered desire of being the enjoyer and having others love and serve me. Once we develop this desire to be the enjoyer, God boots us out of the spiritual world.

Does God force us to worship Him?

God doesn't force us to worship Him. Neither does he force us to remain around Him. Instead, He creates a temporary virtual world, where spirit-persons can live apart from Him and even reject His existence if they want to.

This is God's way of, as a Sting song says, "If you love someone, set them free." God has set us free - free to determine for ourselves whether we want to love and worship Him.

This is why we were given these physical bodies.

With these physical bodies, we are in the illusion that we are the center of attention, and nothing matters but us. We can focus on making ourselves happy, and screw everyone else. With these physical bodies, we can ignore God's existence and pretend that we are God!

The virtual physical world is not a perfect world, however. God would not do that. He would not let us go forever. He still wants us back. In order to draw us back to Him, He had to create, within this virtual physical world, a learning program so that we might - assuming we wanted to - learn and hopefully realize that we are not happy - no matter how many goodies we get, or how many screaming fans we have - away from God. We are not happy without our Best Friend, Protector, and Companion.

Yet even though we rejected God and wanted to pretend to be God, He still loves us and still wants us back. So He set up this physical world in such a way that we should learn that the only way we can truly be happy is if we return to His Loving Arms.

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor ..." (John 14:16-17)

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17)

Why is Jesus telling them this?

Jesus is continuing his discussion with his closest disciples. He is telling them one of the results of them following his teachings.

This is indicated by the word "And," which is being translated from the Greek word κἀγώ (kagō), which means, according to the lexicon, "and I," "I also," "I as well," "I likewise," or "in like manner I." In other words, this statement of Jesus is connected to his previous statement.

And what was Jesus' previous statement? As translated by the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

"If you love me you will follow my instructions." (John 14:15)

In other words, should they carefully follow Jesus' teachings, Jesus and the Supreme Being will reciprocate by giving them "another Counselor."

Who is this 'Counselor'? 

The Greek word being translated to "Counselor" is παράκλητος (paraklētos), which means, according to the lexicon, "one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate" or "in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant."

The question that must be asked is whether this "Counselor" is a person, or whether Jesus is using the term allegorically - or metaphorically.

Consider Jesus' other uses of the same term, παράκλητος (paraklētos), shortly after this statement:

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)

and

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me." (John 15:26)

and

"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." (John 16:7)

We can understand more about the "Counselor" by these further statements by Jesus, including understanding that:

- from the word παράκλητος (paraklētos) that the Counselor is an advocate and helper.
- Jesus requests the Counselor from God be sent to his disciples should they follow his teachings.
- God sends the Counselor in Jesus' name. Using the correct Greek conversation usage, this is equivalent to Jesus requesting God send the Counselor.
- The Counselor is the "Spirit of Truth."
- The Counselor "goes out from" - or comes from - God.
- The Counselor will "testify" about Jesus - which means He confirms Jesus' teachings.
- The Counselor will come to them only if Jesus leaves them.
- The Counselor is the "Holy Spirit."

The New International Version - along with most of the other Bible versions, utilizes the term "Holy Spirit" instead of "Holy Ghost." The Old King James Version used the term "Holy Ghost," but then the New King James version has also shifted to "Holy Spirit." The translation is derived from the Greek words ἅγιος (hagios) - which means "holy" or "sacred" - and πνεῦμα (pneuma) - which means "spirit" according to the lexicon. Besides, the concept of a "ghost" typically indicates being haunted.

So the "Holy Spirit" described here as the Counselor is the same "Holy Spirit" discussed by Jesus when he told his disciples:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son [servant or devotee of God] and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:20)

and

"Anyone who speaks a word against the son of man [servant of humanity] will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (Matt. 12:32)

We can see also that the Holy Spirit is not specific to Jesus. David also mentions the Holy Spirit in Psalm 51, as he is addressing God:

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:10-11)

Isaiah also spoke of the Holy Spirit, as he indicated being brought to Moses' students by Moses:

Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people--where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them (Isaiah 63:11)

We can see from these statements that the Holy Spirit comes from God but is facilitated by God's representative.

It is also clear that following the instructions of God's representative brings the Holy Spirit to us.

What is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is the Supreme Being's communication facility - able to reach out to us and guide us.

Let's consider how broadcasting works today. Today a person can buy a radio with an antenna and be able to listen to a radio show being broadcast from hundreds - sometimes even thousands - of miles away. 

Another person with a radio can do the same thing. In fact, as long as they have a radio receiver with the right antenna, thousands, even millions of people can listen to the same radio show even though they are in different locations. How does this happen?

Through broadcasting. The signal from the radio station is being broadcast through the air to be picked up by any antenna that can pick up that frequency. The electromagnetic wave pulses picked up by the antenna are then converted to sound within the electronics of the radio. This allows the listener to hear the words being broadcast from the radio station.

However, without the right radio equipment, the person could not hear the station. And unless the person tunes in their radio to the right frequency, they also would not be able to hear the station.

Now we might consider this technology of a station broadcasting very advanced, but it is not so different from the process of hearing with our ears. Our ears are designed with the right organs to pick up certain broadcast frequencies. This is how we communicate with each other.

The Supreme Being has access to all frequencies and all broadcasting facilities. He can communicate through any means. And as Jesus and others are indicating here, the Supreme Being can guide us via this facility being referred to as the Holy Spirit.

We can easily compare this method of communication with broadcasting. As the words ἅγιος (hagios) and πνεῦμα (pneuma) indicate the essence ("spirit") of the Supreme Being, the question is how the Supreme Being's essence - being offered by Jesus - can simultaneously guide all of Jesus' disciples and others at the same time?

First of all, the Supreme Being is outside our range of physical sense perception. He is also outside the range of the mind - especially since the mind is a collection of information brought in by the physical senses. Therefore, we cannot physically perceive the technology of the Supreme Being.

However, we can understand that the Supreme Being can be with countless people simultaneously as we consider broadcasting technology. But even this is insufficient because it is not like the Supreme Being is sending exactly the same message to each person. He is communicating directly with each of us in a unique manner - simultaneously. The Supreme Being thus utilizes a technology that is far beyond our scope.

While we can perceive that such a method is not out of the range of possibility as we consider broadcasting, how the Supreme Being operates within the spiritual realm and physical realm simultaneously is outside of our scope.

The bottom line is that each of us has the ability to connect with the Supreme Being through the Holy Spirit. However, as it is made clear by Jesus and other representatives of God, connecting with the Holy Spirit is not something accomplished using our own resources.

Connecting with the Supreme Being via the Holy Spirit is accomplished, as Jesus clarifies, by following his teachings: Following the teachings of God's representative, in other words.

Why is following Jesus' teachings so important?

Consider Matthew 28:20 above, when Jesus is instructing his disciples to baptize others, inclusive of the Holy Spirit. This is indicating that by passing on his teachings to others, his disciples can also be giving others access to the Holy Spirit. In other words, as confirmed in Isaiah and Psalms, connection to the Holy Spirit is not exclusive to Jesus. But it is exclusive to those who are teaching what Jesus taught. How does this work?

Again we might compare this to radio broadcasting. The only way a person can receive the radio broadcast is if they have a radio with the right type of antenna. In the same way, the only way a person can receive the communications of the Holy Spirit - the Counselor - is if we are properly equipped - and tuned into the right frequency - in other words, if our hearts are sincerely devoted to Him.

Being tuned in in this sense means having established a heartfelt connection with the Supreme Being, and maintaining a humble attitude towards maintaining such a connection.

This is where God's representative comes in. It is a practical matter. The representative of God teaches the student who the Supreme Being is, and how they can come to know Him, love Him and please Him. The representative of God teaches the student how to do God's will. This means service and humility. The teacher also shows the student by example how they can learn to please the Supreme Being.

Should the student follow these teachings, the student will gain access to the Supreme Being through the Supreme Being's facility called the Holy Spirit. After the student has left the physical presence of the teacher, the Supreme Being will continue to guide the student as the student seeks to serve and please the Supreme Being by following God's representative's teachings.

This is confirmed by Jesus in this statement as he says: "The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him." The "world" here is referring to those of us who are mesmerized by our self-centered desires to enjoy life within the physical world. 

Those of us who are captivated by the things of this world neither "see" nor "know" the Holy Spirit because we are distracted. We may even have the right equipment (in the form of access to the teachings), but we are not tuned to the right frequency because we do not have an attitude of loving service.

But Jesus can say to his disciples: "But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you" because his disciples have been following his instructions. It is not as though we can take this last sentence out of context with the previous ones, and say that anyone can connect up with the Holy Spirit. There is a prerequisite: Following Jesus' teachings.

And what is the fundamental of Jesus' teachings? Love. Pleasing God is connected to serving God, and serving God is connected to loving God. God's representative is teaching us to love God, and learn to serve and please God. Only this will make us happy. Only this will fulfill us. This is communicated with Jesus' and Moses' most important teaching:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-38 and Deut. 6:5)

Here is the translation of Jesus' statement from the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

"And I will ask the Creator and He will give you another Counselor, so He may be with you eternally. This is the Spirit of Truth – whom the world cannot receive because it does not perceive Him or know Him – but you know Him because He will remain by your side and be with you.” (John 14:16-17)

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:18)

Where is Jesus going?

Jesus is preparing his followers for the impending death of his physical body. The phrase "leave you" clearly indicates that Jesus is leaving. Where is he going?

"I am going to the Father" (John 14:12)

"The Father" as confirmed by so many other verses, is the Supreme Being.

Since Jesus is "going" somewhere where he currently is not, a place where God is, he obviously is not God, as some proclaim.

But how will Jesus be leaving them and go to "the Father"?

Some portray that Jesus' physical body ascended up into the heavens. This is despite the fact that thousands of onlookers saw that Jesus' physical body died on the cross, and his body was examined and concluded to be dead before being taken to a tomb.

Why did Jesus say he 'will not leave you as orphans'?

The Greek word translated to "orphans" is ὀρφανός. This word can mean someone who is "orphaned." But according to Strong's lexicon, the primary meaning and use of this word here is "of those bereft of a teacher, guide, guardian."

In other words, Jesus is not referring to their being part of a physical family here. He is not referring to some parents dying and leaving his followers orphaned.

Jesus is speaking of the possibility that they will be left without guidance, since Jesus will be leaving them.

Yes, having a spiritual guide is important. This is the purport of Jesus' statement.

But Jesus is saying that they will not be left alone. He is saying that he will make the arrangements that will assure them they will continue to be guided.

Jesus defined this guidance in his previous statement:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17)

This means that ultimately, Jesus' guidance is the guidance of God. God is providing guidance through his representative Jesus, and also through the Holy Spirit - His personal expansion.

Didn't Jesus "rise from the dead"?

In order to support this speculation that Jesus' physical body - despite it having died on the cross - ascended up to heaven, some have put forth a speculative theory that after three days of "death," Jesus' body rose from the dead.

(We should note that Jesus' death is said to have occurred on Friday and his re-appearance happened on Sunday. That would be two days later, not three.)  

This theory is said to be supported by the various events that took place around the tomb. This is despite the fact that out of the four Gospels, there are three different stories of the tomb and subsequent appearance:

- In Matthew, Mary Magdalene and 'the other Mary' went to the tomb and found it closed. Then an earthquake came and an angel rolled back the stone and sat on it. The angel said: "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." (Matt. 28:5)

- In Mark, 'Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome' went to the tomb and found the tomb already open and a young man sitting in the tomb wearing a white robe, who told them: "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here." (Mark 16:6)

- In Luke, 'the women' went to the tomb and found the tomb open and did not find Jesus' body. They suddenly saw two men in gleaming clothes standing beside them. They said: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5)

- In John, Mary Magdalene went alone to the tomb and found the stone had been 'removed from the entrance.' She didn't see any angels. Instead, she ran to Peter and another disciple and told them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" (John 20:2)

When they all arrived back at the tomb, they saw the linen and burial cloths Jesus' body had been wrapped in. The others went home, leaving Mary crying at the tomb. Then she 'saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.' They asked her why she was crying. Then she 'turned around' and saw Jesus standing there, 'but did not realize that it was Jesus.'

So was it three women, two women or Mary Magdalene alone who went to the tomb? Did they find the tomb opened or closed? Did they find an angel, two angels, or no one there? Did an angel sit on the stone or were they sitting in the tomb? Did one angel appear alone or were there two angels there? Did Jesus appear at the tomb or later when they were walking?

The one common theme of all four portrayals is that Jesus' physical body was put in a temporary tomb donated by Joseph. This indicates that Jesus' body had to be moved eventually.

We must ask - besides the four dramatically different versions of the state of the tomb, the appearance of angels, and how they found Jesus' body missing: Why Mary did not 'realize that it was Jesus' when she had spent so much time - apparently years - following him? Why wouldn't she recognize him?

Other verses are consistent - that Jesus was not recognized by Mary nor his other disciples after his body died:

Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. (Mark 16:12)

Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. (Luke 24:15-16)

These and other verses clearly indicate that Jesus was no longer occupying his physical body. Why? Because they did not recognize him. If he was in his physical body, they would have immediately recognized him when he appeared to them.

What does Luke's angel mean?

We must clearly understand the meaning of the angel in Luke:

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5)

Looking for "the living among the dead" indicates that "among the dead" means that place where physical bodies lie dead - meaning a tomb. It also clearly indicates that Jesus was no longer associated with his physical body - which was dead.

The other angels also described Jesus' having risen, but did any indicate that his dead physical body came alive? Does "risen" from the Greek ἐγείρω (egeirō), mean his body has awakened from the dead? Certainly, according to the lexicon, the word can mean "to arouse, cause to rise" and so on. But what is "rising"? Is it the physical body, or is it the spiritual self, rising up out of the body?

It is clear from Jesus' many teachings relating the importance of spiritual life over the physical world, that Jesus' "rising from the dead" was actually Jesus' spirit-person rising out of his physical body.

Is this how Jesus would be leaving?

And this is the means for Jesus to be "leaving" his students. He would be leaving his physical body, and traveling back to the spiritual realm, that realm where the Supreme Being resides personally.

This is also why Jesus prayed aloud, as his body was dying on the cross:

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)

This clearly indicates that Jesus' spirit - his spiritual self - was what was leaving - "rising" - and "going to the Father."

The fact that Jesus is also assuring his disciples that he will not "leave you as orphans" and that he will "come to you" clearly indicates that while Jesus will certainly be leaving his physical body and returning to the spiritual realm, he would remain accessible to his students as they continued to serve him and work on his behalf.

He not only will be accessible, but he will "come to" them. This indicates, as did Jesus' appearance before them after his physical body was grotesquely murdered on the cross, that as God's agent and representative, Jesus has the authority and the ability to travel between the spiritual realm and the physical world in order to continue to guide his students as needed.

It is also clear from his previous statement that Jesus would also be initiating God's Holy Spirit to guide them:

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth." (John 14:16-17)

This indicates a relationship between Jesus and the Supreme Being - and God's extension, the Holy Spirit. 

Otherwise, we'd be denying the personal relationship of love that exists between Jesus and the Supreme Being. This would be an insult to both to deny either's separate existence.

Rather, the reason that Jesus - as God's loving servant and representative - and the Supreme Being via His extension of the Holy Spirit - will both be there to guide them is because there is a difference between their guidance.

Does God teach us through the Holy Spirit?

God sends His representative to show us how by example and through their teachings, we can come to know and love the Supreme Being. God's representative shows us how, so we can follow in their footsteps as best we can.

The Supreme Being - via His extension the Holy Spirit - also offers guidance. But this guidance occurs through our developing a loving relationship with Him. We each have an intimate innate relationship with the Supreme Being - one that is delicate. He is the ultimate object of our affection and our need for a beloved and soul mate. And as we follow the teachings of the spiritual teacher, we gradually re-develop that relationship with the Supreme Being.

The spiritual teacher is not put aside in this reuniting with God, however. They are always there for us, and because he also enjoys a unique loving relationship with God, we gain entrance into that relationship, and it opens up our own relationship as well.

We might compare this with a close friend who introduces us to their friend. We don't meet the new friend and then dodge the friend who introduced us. We may be establishing a personal relationship with our new friend, but it never excludes our friend who introduced us - who is also their friend.

This is what Jesus is doing with his followers. He is introducing them to God and offering to continue to guide them.

Re-establishing our relationship with the Supreme Being is not so easy. And should it be? What if our best friend for years cursed us and broke up with us and ignored us for years, and then suddenly wanted to come back? Would we let them back immediately?

Certainly not, because we would not want a repeat of what happened before. We would want them to be serious about being our friend again. Thus we would take things slowly. We would allow our relationship to slowly redevelop, as the trust and commitment grow between us.

This is not that different with God. While God is all-powerful, He is also tender and soft. He doesn't want a frivolous relationship with us. He wants us to be committed to a permanent loving relationship with Him. If we don't want this kind of relationship with Him, then fine. He will accommodate that. But He won't be as available to us. He is not a lap dog that we can just call on whenever it is convenient to us.

This means in order to redevelop our real loving relationship with the Supreme Being, we must be sincere. We must be real. We can't fake it. We can't pretend to love Him just so we can live a life of luxury or get some goodies. We can't pretend to love Him in order to impress others and expect there will be a relationship. Love is when someone commits themselves. Love is caring about the other person more than we care about ourselves. We cannot fake that.

God's representative guides followers with practical tools that help make them more sincere, and more serious about returning to our relationship with the Supreme Being. This means practical instructions. These will include regular prayer to God, making offerings to the Supreme Being, praising God by glorifying His Holy Names, reading scripture and seeing how others committed their lives to God.

As God's representative, Jesus' teachings guided his followers to develop a consciousness of love of God and love of others. This effectively allows the soul to reignite our natural loving relationship with the Supreme Being.

This is why Jesus' most important instruction was:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-38 and Deut. 6:5)

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send ..." (John 14:25-26)

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:25-26)

Is 'the Advocate' the Holy Spirit?

Jesus details that the 'Advocate' is none other than the 'Holy Spirit.' Who is the Holy Spirit?

From Jesus, we find that the Holy Spirit is an extension of the Supreme Being, who can be with each of us ("whom the Father will send"). While people in the physical world can only be in one place at a time, the Supreme Being has the ability to expand Himself without limits.

The Supreme Being can expand Himself and be next to each of us at any time. This ability to expand Himself does not diminish Him. His expansions also have all of His unlimited powers and abilities as the Omnipresent and Supremely loving and merciful God and Best Friend of all of us.

What about "the Advocate?" The word "Advocate" is derived from the Greek word παράκλητος (paraklētos). This Greek word has been translated to "the Helper" and "the Counselor" among the different Bible translations.* This variation of descriptions indicates how puzzling Jesus' description can be. The word can mean someone who advocates for someone else - but in this instance, who would the expansion of the Supreme Being need to advocate to? There is no one superior to God.

Therefore, "Advocate" is not an appropriate translation. The more appropriate translation in the context Jesus is discussing - the Holy Spirit - is "Counselor." The Supreme Being can provide counseling to us at any time, should we reach out to Him and request His help.

Jesus is illustrating his role as God's messenger.

Why does Jesus 'send' the Holy Spirit?

The phrase "in my name" is derived from the key Greek word ὄνομα (onoma). This can mean "in my name" according to the lexicon, but it can also mean, "on my behalf" or "on my account" according to Thayer's lexicon.

For God to send His expansion the Holy Spirit "in my name" is confusing and not in the context of Jesus' statement. However, to say "on my behalf" gives this statement meaning.

It means that God is "sending" His Holy Spirit because of the connection between Jesus and his followers. In other words, there is a relationship between Jesus and God, and because of this relationship, God helps those who follow Jesus.

The word "send" is also a bit literal, because the Supreme Being is always next to each of us. The Greek word πέμπω (pempō) can certainly mean "send" but also "one thing to another" and "rhetorically personified" according to Thayer's lexicon.

What is being sent, in other words, is God's personal counseling in the form of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is suggesting that God will reveal Himself for those who follow Jesus' teachings.

What is the Holy Trinity?

Jesus' statement relates directly to what many have described as the "Holy Trinity."

The concept of "Holy Spirit" brings up a critical part of the Nicene Creed. This is the concept of the so-called "Holy Trinity" - the "Father, Son and the Holy Spirit" (originally translated to "Ghost" but in many translations* (such as NIV), has recently been changed to "Spirit.")

In the fourth and fifth centuries, the Emperors of Rome including Constantine and Theodosius - made a concerted effort to galvanize and control the populations of Europe and the Middle East. Part of their strategy was to organize and control Christianity. This was accomplished in part by combining with the worship of Mithra, the sun god.

This is why, for example, Christmas is celebrated on December 25. This was the date that Mithra's appearance was celebrated by the Romans long before Jesus' appearance. 

We also find that Easter was celebrated in the spring long before Jesus' crucifixion. The Romans also celebrated the idol goddess named Ēostre in the springtime. This celebration was also coordinated with Mithra's departure - and sacrifice This is also why the new Catholic sect was organized in Rome - because Mithra worship was centered in Rome. 

Indeed, the communion was understood to have been a Mithra ritual. Justin Martyr recorded this more than a century earlier:

"Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same things to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed, with certain incantations, in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn."

The goal of the Roman emperor was to create a single religious cult controlled by Rome. This would allow the Roman emperor to effectively control the people of the Roman Empire, which soon became the Holy Roman Empire after Rome's military control over the region gave way to religious control.

The plan largely worked. Even though the Roman Empire eventually crumbled, the surrogate of the Empire, the Roman Catholic Church, continued its control over the religious part of the population.

This plan allowed the Roman surrogate institution to maintain a grip over the Middle East and Europe for over one thousand years by utilizing the Roman Catholic Church to control not only religious people, but also to dictate to the kings and queens of France, England and elsewhere.

For centuries after the Roman Empire collapsed, if a king or queen was not given approval by the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope, that king or queen would lose authority. It was only in later centuries after the Protestants and Lutherans were able to wrest this dictatorial control over these societies.

This control over much of the Christian world and the surrogacy of the Roman Catholic Church to the Roman government continues even to this day as the Vatican is considered an independent state from Italy, has its own bank, and controls its own land and vast wealth. It is by most definitions still an empire.

Prior to Constantine's organization of the church, the Christian world was made up of innumerable small communities and churches.

Constantine assembled a small group of the more politically-minded ecclesiastical leaders from around Europe and formed the first Council of Nicaea. He dictated that the group had to develop a single doctrine that would communicate a single interpretation to the whole of Europe and the Middle East under Rome's rule. 

The members of the First Council argued for some time as they struggled to develop a single creed. A power play then broke out between two main philosophical factions - one that leaned towards the concept of a personal God sending Jesus as a messenger - and another of God being a vague force with Jesus being God incarnated.

This latter philosophy won Constantine's favor, and the subsequent political power play drove out or forced the dissenting leaders to agree, and the Nicene Creed was written - and brutally enforced for over fifteen centuries.

This "Nicene Creed" stated that God was basically a vague entity made up of three parts, a Holy Spirit - a vague ghost-like being - the Father and the Son: And while Jesus was the "Son", he was also the Father incarnated, who "died for our sins."

Even today among all the various sects of modern Christianity, the Nicene Creed remains the foundation doctrine of their philosophies. This is despite the fact that many of the bishops (representatives) at the First Council of Nicaea disagreed with this doctrine.

Does the Nicene Creed ignore the Supreme Being?

Yes, the Supreme Being was left out of the equation in the Nicene Creed. The combination of three leaves no separate personality - the Supreme Being - from Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The doctrine essentially created what could be called a polytheistic model - of there being essentially three gods, one of which - the Father - is more of a vague force.

This philosophy is diametrically opposed to Jesus' teachings. Jesus' most important instruction was to love God and to do God's will. He also prayed to God frequently and frequently referred to God personally as a separate individual:

"My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me." (John 7:16).

How can a person love a vague force? How can a vague force have a message and a will? How can a vague force send someone, and love someone?

While professing such a polytheistic combination, the Nicene Creed and the Roman Catholic Church formed based on it, effectively erased God's separate existence from their teachings. The doctrine gives license to a theory that Jesus is God incarnated.

Could Jesus be God incarnated?

The Nicene Creed dictated and overseen by the Roman government - effectively created an icon: Jesus Christ. And they identified him in a way that contradicted Jesus' very teachings. For example, Jesus said:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." (John 4:34)

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." (John 5:30)

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." (John 6:38)

"Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me." (John 6:57)

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matt. 7:21-23)

"For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it." (John 12:49)

"So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say." (John 12:50)

These statements and so many others indicate clearly that Jesus is not God incarnated. If Jesus is God incarnated then he would not say these things. He would have said (from the above verses):

"My food is to do my will..."

"By myself I can do everything..."

"... only he who does my will..."

"For I have come down from heaven to do my will..."

"Just as I sent myself..."

"I speak of my own accord."

"So I am God."

These are the kinds of things that Jesus would have said if he were God incarnated. Why would God lie about Himself and pretend He was someone else?

Jesus never, ever said he was God. Why couldn't Jesus ever admit that he was God if he were truly God incarnated? Would he need to play word games in order to hint that he was God but not say it clearly? Why would Jesus not speak clearly about this fundamental issue?

That reality is that he did speak clearly, as the above verses and so many others indicate.

Why would God have to come to the earth to die for our sins?

Why would the Supreme Being ever have to come to the earth and "die" on the cross in order to save people from their sins? Does God have to be sacrificed, as if God is some kind of sacrificial lamb?

This is total fiction. God never has to follow the rules of sacrifice. The rules of sacrifice are facilities to help us come closer to God. God does not have to abide by those rules.

God can forgive us our sins with a simple thought. This is why Jesus instructed his students to ask God directly for forgiveness in the Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our sins...." (Luke 11:4)

If our sins could only be forgiven by God coming down to the earth and dying on the cross, then why would Jesus instruct his students to ask God to forgive their sins?

How are people forgiven their sins?

The Nicene Creed and the subsequent philosophy states that Jesus' crucifixion cleanses our sins - even automatically, as long as we accept it.

This fictional interpretation - which Jesus never taught - means that no one prior to Jesus' crucifixion could have been forgiven of their sins prior to Jesus. This is despite David writing in one of his Psalms:

Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your Name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your Name's sake. (Psalm 79:9)

This verse clearly indicates that God can forgive us our sins. It also states that God's Holy Names have the power to purify our consciousness.

Furthermore, we find that Jesus himself taught his own followers to ask God to forgive our sins in his Lord's Prayer:

" 'Our Father in heaven ... forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. (Matthew 6:12 NLT)

The entire concept of "sins" as spoken by the various teachers spoken of in the Bible has been misconstrued. To "sin" is to act with self-centered consciousness, as opposed to acting in a way that is pleasing to God.

This is confirmed by the meaning of the Greek word translated to sin according to the lexicon: "to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong - to wander from the law of God..."

The "law of God" relates to what is pleasing to God. To do something that is not pleasing to God relates to only being focused on what is pleasing to us. This is sin: acting with self-centered consciousness.

This means that being "cleansed" of our sins means for our consciousness to become purified. Our consciousness becomes purified by focusing our lives and our love upon God rather than upon ourselves. This purifies our consciousness, and our activities become focused on pleasing God. This is the only purpose of purification.

To have our sins forgiven for a moment and then returning to a self-centered life has little value.

In fact, the whole ritual of "being forgiven by the blood of Jesus" as wine or grape juice is passed around is offensive if the focus is only self-centered. 

The torture and murder of Jesus' body was in itself an offensive act on the part of the Romans and the institutional temple priests who recommended it, and those who try to utilize Jesus' torture for their own benefit of being purified so they can continue a self-centered life without guilt is offensive to both Jesus and God.

Is the Supreme Being a Person?

Only a person can be loved.

The reality is, God is a Person, and Jesus taught his students to come to know and love this personal Supreme Being, God. Jesus is not God, but he is God's representative. 

Therefore, to understand Jesus' commitment to God as he allowed his body to be tortured for God's teachings does have the power to bring about a purification of our consciousness, should we realize how committed Jesus was to God - how much he loved the Supreme Being.

It is this relationship with God that Jesus' discussion above relates to. Jesus was telling his closest disciples that after having been teaching them directly ("All this I have spoken while still with you.") after his body will be murdered and he returns to the spiritual realm, God will continue to be with them, assuming they continue to follow his teachings. This is confirmed by his saying:

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

While people can imagine that the Holy Spirit is some separate entity from the Supreme Being, this comes from those who are locked within the perceptions borne by the physical world and these temporary physical bodies.

The Greek word παράκλητος (paraklētos) refers to coming to one's aid or helping a person: "summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid" according to the lexicon.

The Greek word πνεῦμα (pneuma) means not just a "spirit" as a ghost or other entity, but rather, the essence of a person. We also translate this same word to "soul" as in "our soul" meaning our essence or vitality. And ἅγιος (hagios), translated to "Holy," relates to Godlike - or from God.

Because παράκλητος (paraklētos) refers the ability of God to help or aid someone, we can simply understand that Jesus was referring to God's ability to reach out to us and come to our assistance. 

We can relate to this ability for God to expand Himself in order for our mind to digest it. But in reality, the Supreme Being's ability to communicate and be with each of us where ever we go is part of His ultimate power and authority over the physical and spiritual worlds.

This power of God's is beyond the capacity of the human mind to conceive.

Is God our Eternal Companion?

As Jesus indicates, the Supreme Being is always with us. The reason we cannot see Him is that we do not want to see Him. We want to get away from Him. We want to ignore Him. So He has created a virtual physical world and these physical bodies for us to hide from Him and ignore Him for a while. This is why the body's physical eyes cannot see Him and the physical mind cannot perceive Him.

But if we follow Jesus' teachings by coming to love the Supreme Being and do God's will, we will be able to see Him again. He will be there to help us and guide us because He is always there for us.

Our ability to turn to God and rekindle our relationship with Him is known from the teachings of His representative, sent by God to also show us how it is done. This is why Jesus says "in my name" - because by our following Jesus' teachings, we learn to develop our relationship with Jesus' Beloved, God. Jesus is being a facilitator to that relationship.

So what Jesus is talking about with παράκλητος (paraklētos) and ἅγιος (hagios) πνεῦμα (pneuma), is God's expansive facility - His ability - to guide us and help us. This facility of the Supreme Being has the ability to, as Jesus confirms:

"teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

This ability to teach and remind us of Jesus' teachings is a faculty. It is a power. It is also outside of our mind's ability to perceive it. It must, therefore, be accepted as spiritual and outside our scope of mental speculation. It must be accepted from the teachings of God's messenger.

As this has been explained, God's expansive faculty can be compared to the sun's ability to heat up the earth. The heat from the sun can travel to the earth and heat it up but this heat is still inseparable from the sun itself. The sun's heat is part of the sun.

In the same way, God's ability or faculty to guide us and teach us is inseparable from His Person. It is a characteristic of this same Person - the Supreme Being. This is the Person Jesus wants us to give our lives to and love with all our being:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-38)

*Here is the translation of Jesus' statement from the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

"These things I have spoken to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit – whom the Creator will send in my name – He will teach you everything and remind you of everything I said to you.” (John 14:25-26)

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father ..." (John 15:26-27)

"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning." (John 15:26-27)

Who is the 'Counselor' Jesus is referring to?

Here "Counselor" is being translated* from the Greek word παράκλητος (paraklētos). According to the lexicon, the Greek word refers to someone who is "summoned;" "called to one's side;" "an advocate;" "one who pleads another's cause with one;" "an intercessor;" and "in the widest sense, a helper, aider, assistant."

Jesus is referring to the Supreme Being's expansive role of influence, often referred to as the "Holy Spirit."

This is confirmed by the use of the combination of πνεῦμα (pneuma) meaning "spirit" and ἀλήθεια (alētheia) meaning "truth."

But we must notice how personal Jesus makes this reference. He says "whom I will send to you from the Father."

So just who and what is this Holy Spirit that Jesus is referring to who will be counseling and assisting the disciples of Jesus after he has left them?

Why would this Holy Spirit assist them?

Is it assisting in the way of how famous football players and Olympic athletes pray to win the game or the race? Is that the kind of assisting Jesus is talking about?

Jesus is stating not only that he will "send" the Holy Spirit "to you from the Father" but he clearly identifies the "Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father." What does this mean?

The English phrase "goes out" is being taken from the Greek word ἐκπορεύομαι (ekporeuomai), which can be translated in one of two ways: Literally, as "to go forth" "go out" and "depart;" or metaphorically as "to come forth, to issue, to proceed as in feelings, affections, deeds and sayings," or "to flow forth," "to project," or "to spread abroad."

We must take into context the fact that Jesus is utilizing physical speech to describe a topic within the spiritual dimension. The Supreme Being is not limited as a human being is. He is not limited by time and space. A human being - a spiritual person occupying a gross physical body - is limited to the time and space of our physical body. We can typically be in only one place at a time.

The Supreme Being does not have this limitation. He is not limited by space and time. He is the Creator of space and time. Therefore, He is in control of space and time, and thus not limited by space and time.

Let's use an analogy. Let's say that we were to erect a miniature train set, with a circular track, and three little train stations built-in, and we program the train to run at a certain speed with stops at each station.

We erect trees and nature along the tracks between the train stations, and we put in all sorts of miniature figures that represented people, their dogs, telephone booths and other things to make the train set place seem like a real place.

During this creative process, we realize that we can pretty much add whatever features we want to the train set. We can put the buildings and trees where we want. We would have lots of creative leeway with the train set.

However we set things up because we had created this train set land, we could always change things around when we wanted to. We could always insert ourselves or our needs to have the train run at different speeds, run a different course, make the towns different and so on. We are in control of this little space because we made it.

And it is not as if we have to assume any of the characters we installed into the train set landscape to affect our control over it. We don't have to, for example, become one of the trees so that we can sneakily manipulate the trains or the stations. We are not limited by the train set landscape we made. We are outside of the dimension of this landscape.

The Supreme Being is in the same position. Because He created the physical world, He is not limited by it. He can manipulate it when He wants to. He can change things around when He wants. He can also support any particular activity when He wants. He does not have to become some sort of physical "ghost" or "spirit" or other concoction of our minds in order to influence things. He is not limited by His creation at all.

Just because the Supreme Being lies outside the confines of time and space doesn't mean that He isn't a person. The Supreme Being is a person, with spiritual form.

And because the Supreme Being's abilities lie outside the limitations of our physical world, His ability to influence, assist, counsel and so on cannot easily be described with words typically used to describe the things of this physical world. This is why Jesus often spoke metaphorically and used various parables as he described the spiritual realm.

But the Supreme Being set up and programmed this physical world for a purpose: To grant those of us who wanted to be away from Him the ability to exercise our freedom, and our desire to enjoy in a self-centered fashion.

This is because love requires freedom. Love cannot be forced.

Can we see God?

Because the spiritual realm is a place where its citizens are loving and not self-centered, once we decided to exercise our freedom by becoming self-centered, we could not remain in the spiritual realm. God had to create another place for those of us who wanted to exercise our freedom not to love Him or care for Him.

This is why our physical eyes cannot see God, or His expansive influence over the physical world. The Supreme Being designed the physical world in such a way that we could ignore His existence for a while.

God created a place where each of us could take on a virtual identity, and each play roles where we could pretend God does not exist and pretend we are the center of the universe. This is, in fact, the role that most of us in the physical world is playing at this very moment.

Just consider: Even though there are billions of people in the world, each of us thinks we are the central character: I am the most important person - or those physical extensions of "I," my family, are the most important persons - in my life.

This myopia - of feeling that we are the center of the universe - is our disease. We say 'disease' because this is not our natural condition. Our natural condition is seeing the Supreme Being as the center of our lives, and the universe. Our natural position is being one of God's humble loving caregivers, and loving all of our spiritual family members - God's children.

Since our current condition - thinking we are the center of the universe - is not our natural condition and thus is a diseased condition, the Supreme Being also programmed within the physical universe a rehabilitation system. This includes the law of consequence - that we must experience whatever - through our self-centeredness - we put others through.

This law of consequences - played out over multiple lifetimes - is why some of us are born into suffering conditions and some of us are born into more comfortable conditions. It is the result of our past behavior - and designed to gradually teach us that hurting others only hurts ourselves, and we aren't the center of the universe.

What are we?

We are spiritual beings, not these physical bodies. These bodies are temporary vehicles that each of us wears, and the physical world is a place of rehabilitation. Our spiritual self can migrate from one body to the next until we become sufficiently rehabilitated and become ready to return home to the spiritual world and our innate relationship with the Supreme Being.

You see, the spiritual realm is a personal place. It is a place of relationships. This is why when Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit he says "whom I will send to you from the Father." It is not as if Jesus is the Father or the Holy Spirit - Jesus is obviously distinguishing between himself and God here.

But one who loves the Supreme Being can effectively "send" God to us due to their devotional relationship with Him.

It is a matter of unity of will. Jesus loves the Supreme Being with all his heart and soul, and everything he does is to please God. This is confirmed:

"... for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." (John 5:30)

Therefore, Jesus can in effect bring the Supreme Being to others because Jesus is doing God's will. He is acting on behalf of the Supreme Being through his loving devotion to Him. They have a unity of purpose - which is why Jesus could also say "I and the Father are one." It is not as if they are the same person and don't have individuality: They simply have a oneness of purpose, based on love.

Because of this unity of purpose, Jesus knows that after Jesus leaves the physical world, the Supreme Being will watch over Jesus' disciples, and guide them as they attempt to carry on Jesus' mission, and "testify" by passing on Jesus' teachings.

And what is Jesus' mission? To speed up our rehabilitation process by introducing us to the Supreme Being and explaining the pathway for us to return home to the spiritual world:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-38)

*Here is the translation of Jesus' statement from the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

"When the Counselor comes – whom I will summon to you from the Creator – this is the Spirit of Truth who expands from the Creator – He will testify for me. And you will testify also, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27)

"Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief ..." (John 16:6-7)

"Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." (John 16:6-7)

Where did Jesus say he was going?

Jesus says this after he tells his close disciples in this conversation after the 'last supper' that:

"Now I am going to Him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'" (John 16:5)

What is giving grief to Jesus' disciples is his announcement that he will be leaving them. As explained with John 16:5, Jesus is clearly stating that he will be returning to the spiritual realm to be with the Supreme Being. This, as mentioned, is confirmed with various other statements regarding who sent Jesus, such as:

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:38)

"I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me." (John 8:18)

"If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but He sent me." (John 8:42)

"For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it." (John 12:49)

These and numerous other statements by Jesus clarify that Jesus is not the Supreme Being. Rather, Jesus is saying he is sent by the Supreme Being. That makes Jesus God's messenger, by his own admission.

Jesus confirms his being God's messenger as he says, "Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you". It is clear from this statement that there are two individuals here: Jesus and the Supreme Being.

Why is it for their 'good'?

But why does Jesus then say: "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away." ?

This relates, Jesus says, to his disciples' own relationships with the Supreme Being and His expansion - the "Counselor." Jesus is describing the intimate relationships that exist within the spiritual realm and how they work with respect to giving guidance.

"The Counselor" is being translated from the Greek word παράκλητος (paraklētos) which means, "comforter, helper, succourer, aider, assistant, pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, advocate" according to the lexicon.

Jesus clarifies who and what παράκλητος (paraklētos) is with a previous statement:

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)

We see here that the "Counselor" is in fact, the Holy Spirit of God. The words "Holy Spirit" are derived from two Greek words: The first is ἅγιος (hagios) which refers to something that is venerated or worshiped - often referred to as "holy." 

What is πνεῦμα (pneuma)?

The second is πνεῦμα (pneuma) which is typically translated to "spirit" but can also refer to "the vital principal by which the body is animated," "a human soul that has left the body," and "an angel" according to the lexicon.

Let's consider this carefully. What happens when a body dies? The same body that was walking around talking and being otherwise active is now lifeless. Every physical element is still there in the body: All the blood, the cells, the bacteria, the nerves, the brain, the eyes - everything down to the enzymes and proteins. What is missing?

What is missing is the personality who activated that body - "the vital principal by which the body is animated." The person who had goals, objectives, desires and will. This person is πνεῦμα (pneuma) - the spirit who occupied that body.

We are each non-physical entities, occupying a gross physical body much as a person might drive a car. And since we cannot see, touch or otherwise sense πνεῦμα (pneuma) with the gross physical senses or the instruments of the physical world, we know that πνεῦμα (pneuma) is beyond the physical dimension.

This is because the πνεῦμα (pneuma) is of another substance. It is of another dimension.

This can be compared with a boy sitting in front of a computer playing a video game. In the virtual world of the video game, the boy takes on an icon or avatar. That icon dwells within the digital world of the video game, and not outside the computer. 

For this reason, the video game icon cannot see the boy sitting at the computer terminal. The icon is only programmed to "see" those other elements of the virtual reality of the video game. Its entire identity and abilities are restricted by the programming of its virtual reality.

The physical world can be compared to a virtual world within a computer. But instead of the limitations of the 0s and 1s of the bits and bytes of digital code, the physical world is limited by the programming of the various atomic elements and their subatomic energy levels, and our physical bodies are limited by the programming of the DNA within each cell.

But just as an addicted video gamer might be hooked on the virtual reality of the video game, each of us - πνεῦμα (pneuma) - are trapped within these temporary physical bodies. And just as the video gamer begins identifying with his avatar or icon within the virtual reality of the video game, we are each trapped within these temporary identities of this gross physical world.

But now Jesus is talking not just about πνεῦμα (pneuma), but ἅγιος πνεῦμα (hagios pneuma). He is not talking just about a non-physical spirit being, but the most revered spirit being - the Supreme Being, or within this context, the Holy Spirit.

The first reality to understand is that just as our identities are spirit, not physical, the Supreme Being is also spirit.

The difference is that we are limited and God is not. Each of us - spirit-persons - can become trapped within the confines of a physical body, and tricked by this virtual realm in such a way that we forget our identities as spirit. The Supreme Person, however, is not limited. He does not become trapped within a physical body or confined by the physical world.

The Supreme Being created the physical world and these physical bodies. He furthermore is in complete control of them. He does not become limited by them.

Is God limited?

God can expand Himself into a myriad of spiritual forms and even physical forms as He wishes. His potency is unlimited. The Supreme Person is not limited by either time or space.

God can, therefore, be in multiple places at the same time. He can expand Himself without limit.

The Supreme Being can also present Himself to us when and where He wishes. While He is with us constantly through His expansive form, He can make Himself more or less available to us as He desires. This is God.

So while we might try to limit the confines of God through this entity called the "Holy Spirit" or "Holy Ghost," the Supreme Being is never limited by our perspective. He remains beyond our physical perspective. But we can know that He is with us and can allow Him to guide us.

The Supreme Being expands Himself within the physical world using three general energetic faculties: He expands Himself within each atom as atomic energy; He expands Himself within each galaxy and physical universe through gravity and the other geophysical forces; and He expands His energies into each living organism, as an unattached companion to the spirit-person trapped within that body.

We might compare this again to a car, and the Supreme Being is sitting within the car with each of us.

The problem is that due to our focus upon the illusory energy of the physical world we cannot see God's expansion - the Holy Spirit - next to us. Occasionally we might get a glimpse of Him as we feel there is someone guiding us. But this can be easily misread and misunderstand, as we may well also be listening to our mind or perhaps others outside the gross plane who may want to influence us.

So who is driving and who is the passenger in this 'car' we call the physical body? Well, that depends on how you look at it. We are the functional driver in that we steer our physical bodies according to our consciousness and desires. But the Supreme Being's expansion is the real driver because He is facilitating the trip.

This might be more completely (but still not completely) compared to steering a virtual spaceship through a virtual reality of a computer game. While the ship can be steered by the gamer, the programmer determines the functionalities of the ship and the environment of the virtual reality-scape within the game. In the same way, God and God's programming and control guide the functionality of our body and the environment of the physical world.

We say programming and control because, in the physical world, God has produced a machine that automatically responds to our consciousness, goals and activities. But He also can personally adjust and redirect things at will. He can, in other words, become involved personally or just let the energies of the physical world run automatically.

The automatic part of the physical world we can see through evolution, cause and effect, and consequences. These are programmed.

How will Jesus 'send Him to you'?

Should the Supreme Being be invoked by one of His loving servants to become personally involved in someone's life, the person will become personally guided by the Supreme Being. This will give that person greater access to Him through the facility of the Holy Spirit.

This increased guidance and access is what Jesus is describing as he states, "I will send Him to you."

This concept of "send" must be differentiated from our physical mind's concept of sending. Remember that the Supreme Being is not limited by time and space. He does not have to be physically dispatched. Also remember that God is already by our side. He is already our closest companion - whether we know it or not.

The difference is that God can give greater guidance and allow Himself to be accessed more easily by a person. This typically takes place when a person has shown their desire to come to know and love God.

So what does Jesus' leaving his disciples have to do with him "sending" the Holy Spirit to them?

When Jesus was before his students he could speak to them and teach them directly through his words and activities. In this way, he gave his direct guidance to them. And those serious students, by hearing from Jesus and following his instructions, became more advanced spiritually.

But once Jesus physically left their presence, they still needed guidance - as we all do. And because of their dedication to Jesus, Jesus invoked God to further guide them personally through the Holy Spirit.

This invocation is about loving relationships. The Supreme Being is not an inanimate object, a void nor "everything." The Supreme Being is a person - a person who loves and can be loved. But loving God requires first knowing Him. We must know the Person of God in order to love God.

Those who love the Supreme Being are involved in a relationship with Him. This intimate loving relationship is invisible to the physical world. Jesus was involved with such an internal loving relationship with God.

One who is involved in such a loving relationship with the Supreme Being can request He personally guide someone. Such a request is made within the context of the loving relationship that exists between the Supreme Being and His devoted servant. Such a servant is linked with God's desire for us to return to Him. For this reason, such a request is also loving service. 

The loving servant of God wants others to also come to know the Supreme Being, and this is also God's desire. They share the same desire, in other words - and this is the "oneness" between Jesus and God that is often incorrectly confused as their being the same person. It is a "oneness" of will - a "oneness" of purpose.

God's personal guidance requires a sincere desire to come to know and love the Supreme Being. That is not the same as a whimsical challenge of "if there is a God show yourself to me!"

So Jesus, as God's humble loving servant, is telling these committed and dedicated students that He will invoke God's personal guidance for them after he leaves them physically and can thus no longer give them direct guidance. 

Such is the love Jesus has for these dedicated students, and Jesus' desire to do the Supreme Being's will - of calling us back into the arms of our Best Friend and Eternal Companion.

This is why Jesus' most important teaching was:

 " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'" (Matthew 22:37)

"When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt ..." (John 16:8-11)

"When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." (John 16:8-11)

When who 'comes'?

Jesus is referring here to the Holy Spirit of God - though "comes" is an odd choice of translation as we'll discuss.

This statement continues from his previous one:

"But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." (John 16:7)

Jesus confirms the "Advocate" is the Holy Spirit - God's expansive potency that accompanies each of us, enabling those who seek a loving relationship with God to feel His presence and guidance - in this statement:

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 14:26)

This translation portrays the Advocate as being pretty heavy here, how the Holy Spirit will "convict the world of guilt" in regard to those things described afterward. Did Jesus really say this and if so, what does it mean?

What does 'comes' mean?

The word "comes" within "when He comes" is being taken from the Greek ἔρχομαι (erchomai), which can mean "to appear, make one's appearance" when used literally, or "to come into being, arise, come forth, show itself, find place or influence" when used metaphorically.

Because Jesus is speaking of spiritual concepts using words normally applied to physical things, we must accept the metaphorical usage of this statement - God's Holy Spirit is being described as arising, coming forth, showing Himself, and influencing.

Yet it is not as if the Supreme Being has to travel anywhere - or "come" from anywhere. He can expand Himself without limit and is thus simultaneously with each of us. Rather, it is us who simply cannot see Him, even though He has expanded Himself right next to each of us the Holy Spirit.

And the reason most of us cannot see God's Holy Spirit next to us? Ultimately we made this choice. We don't want to be with Him, so graciously, He has blocked our ability to see Him.

So what Jesus is discussing is the Supreme Being showing Himself to Jesus' disciples, along with guiding them.

Why and how would He convict the 'world of guilt'?

There is no indication from the original Greek texts that Jesus said anything about "guilt" here at all. None of the Greek indicates this word whatsoever.

The mistranslated phrase "will convict" is being taken from the Greek ἐλέγχω (elegchō) which can mean "to convict" but it can also mean "to call to account" and "show one his fault" according to the lexicon. More importantly, it can mean "to correct."

This means that as the Supreme Being comes forth and shows Himself as the Holy Spirit to Jesus' disciples (Jesus' audience) then He will have influence over them. This is best described as guidance.

It also means that God's showing Himself as the Holy Spirit in the lives of Jesus' disciples after Jesus has left them physically has nothing to do with convicting anyone or anything. It is for the purpose of purifying their lives. God's guidance will help cleanse their hearts and redirect their lives in such a way that enables them to continue Jesus' mission.

We might compare this to how a high school student is often assigned a guidance counselor - who is also often referred to as an advocate. Why does a student need a guidance counselor? To help guide and direct the student towards a more productive education. 

The school guidance counselor will talk with the child about their goals, and help direct them to apply for a college or trade school or some other facility. If they are taking drugs or drinking all the time, the guidance counselor will try to help them kick those habits. In these ways, the counselor will help steer their lives in the right direction.

The Holy Spirit "Counselor" that Jesus is referring to, will also help direct Jesus' students after his physical body is gone and he (the spiritual person) has returned to the spiritual realm. But here the goal is not to become productive adults. 

Here the Supreme Being through the Holy Spirit will be guiding Jesus' disciples in their spiritual advancement and their loving service relationship with God. The Holy Spirit will also be guiding them to continue Jesus' mission of bringing others back to their own relationship with God.

Understanding this form of guidance taken from the word ἐλέγχω (elegchō), meaning to "show one his fault" and help "correct" those faults allows us to understand the rest of Jesus' statement more clearly.

What does Jesus mean by 'the world'?

The Greek word κόσμος (kosmos) is being translated to the word "world" as if the Advocate will be "convicting the world." This is not what Jesus is saying. κόσμος (kosmos) can mean "world" or "earth" but it can also mean "universe." In this context, Jesus is describing the physical world - the material world.

What is the material world - or the physical world? It is the place where its citizens are all focused upon chasing self-centered dreams of being happy without love and the Supreme Being. The Supreme Being built the physical world to house those of us who decided our self-interest is greater than God's interest. We want to be the master. We want to live for ourselves.

So the Supreme Being built the physical world as a virtual universe - and created these physical bodies in order for each of us spirit-persons to pretend we were someone else for a while. This virtual universe is set up for us to take on new, temporary identities and pretend God doesn't exist for a while.

And this is precisely described by Jesus as περί ἁμαρτία (peri hamartia) - being translated here as "in regard to sin." More literally, περί (peri) can mean "concerning" while ἁμαρτία (hamartia) means, according to the lexicon, "to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong," or "to wander from the law of God, violate God's law."

What is God's law?

And what, precisely is the "law of God" or "God's law?" Both Jesus and Moses stated quite clearly the most important commandment, summing up God's law:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matt. 22:37-38 (and Deut 6:5))

To "wander" from this law or "violate" this law, according to Jesus' statement, is what is being translated to "sin."

And this is precisely what the Holy Spirit - the Advocate - will be helping Jesus' disciples "correct." His guidance will be purifying their hearts and their minds so they will become more and more focused on their personal loving relationship with the Supreme Being - and working to please Him.

To love someone with "all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" is quite clear. It means giving our lives to that person. Doing whatever pleases them. This means that the Advocate's guidance will lead them to become more and more one of God's loving servants - following in the footsteps of their spiritual teacher, Jesus.

Why does Jesus also mention δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) - being translated to "righteousness" - and κρίσις (krisis) - being translated to "judgment" as well?

When a person says "concerning" or "in regard to" that means that the subjects of the action - in this case, guidance - will relate to those items.

δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē) means "integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting" and "the condition acceptable to God" according to the lexicon. This means that God's Holy Spirit - the Advocate - will be helping to steer them away from their self-centered (sinful) consciousness, and towards a consciousness pleasing to the Supreme Being.

But "judgment" here is not that good of a translation of κρίσις (krisis) in this context. The word can mean "judgment" but it's primary meaning, according to the lexicon, is "a separating, sundering, separation." It can also mean "selection." It can also mean an "opinion or decision given concerning anything - especially concerning justice and injustice, right or wrong."

In other words, Jesus is telling his disciples that the "Advocate" will be giving them guidance to help them be able to discern between activities that displease the Supreme Being from those that please Him. They will be able to correct their self-centered consciousness more and more while becoming more focused on pleasing the Supreme Being.

This can be summed up as purifying their consciousness. This is the effect the presence of the Supreme Being has upon someone. God is purifying. And Jesus who is God's representative - is also purifying.

This purifying effect isn't about removing the consequences of a person's prior self-centered (sinful) activities. Being concerned about being cleansed of sins is also self-centered.

God's presence or the presence of God's representative - which includes their Names and visual representations - has a purifying effect upon our consciousness - assuming that we are not offending God at the same time.

God's presence and the presence of God's representative have a purifying effect upon our consciousness because He helps us understand our real identity as not being the physical, and He helps us understand our relationship with the Supreme Being: That He created us to be His loving caregivers. We each have a unique loving service relationship with the Supreme Being.

This purifying effect comes in the form of guidance, either through the words and teachings of God's representative, through the scriptures, or from within as the Holy Spirit. This latter facility is what Jesus is describing in this verse.

*Thus we find a more appropriate translation in the Lost Gospels of Jesus:

"And when He appears, He will refute the material world regarding offensiveness, righteousness and justice: About offensiveness, because they do not trust in me. About righteousness, because I depart for the Creator and you will no longer see me. And about justice, because the prince of the material world is condemned." (John 16:8-11)

The word "discernment" is difficult because it is not commonly used. "Justice" is clear, because it describes how a person will be able to make just decisions.

In other words, Jesus' disciples - through the Holy Spirit's guidance - will be able to understand how those who do not believe in Jesus' teachings will succumb to lives of emptiness - wallowing in self-centeredness (sin).

They will be able to perceive how Jesus' returning to his relationship with God in the spiritual realm relates directly to understanding how we too can re-establish our loving relationship with God - translated to the word "righteousness" (see above). They will come to know that not seeing Jesus' physical body means that Jesus has returned to his relationship with God in the spiritual realm.

And lastly, the translation says: "and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."

Again the word κρίσις (krisis) is being translated to judgment, which is okay as long as the context regards the ability to discern, separate or understand. 

This ability to discern is expressed with, "the prince of this world now stands condemned." What does this mean?

Many will automatically assume this is the "devil" or "satan" - a mythical being who has wrestled the world away from God and now somehow controls certain things here.

First, no one has wrestled any control over anything from God. God is always in control. Of everything.

Is sin caused by the devil?

Some portray that sin is caused by the "devil" or "satan." They are saying that "sin" is not our fault. It is someone else's fault.

They will say that either sin is caused by Adam's "original sin" or that it is caused by "satan." Which is it? And why is sin all their fault?

This is a way to conveniently escape responsibility. We don't want to feel responsible for our own self-centeredness (sinfulness). We don't want to feel responsible for our activities that hurt others (sin) or hurt ourselves (sin). We don't want to feel responsible for our offenses towards God and God's representatives (sin).

We use "satan" to take responsibility for our self-centeredness (sinfulness) because we do not want to change.

Every good psychologist or social worker knows the key ingredient to making any change is to first face ourselves and take responsibility. This is the first step to change.

So we cannot blame Adam's "original sin" or "satan" or the "devil" for our self-centered consciousness. This is our issue. We must take responsibility.

Rather, the concepts of "original sin," "devil" and "satan" are symbolic, just as Jesus' use of the phrase "the prince of this world."

And just who is "the prince of this world"? It is self-centeredness. It is each of us who are focused upon seeking our self-centered goals within this material world. It is the chasing of fame, wealth, attention, recognition and sensual satisfaction of the physical body. 

These are symbolically being represented by Jesus as "the prince of this world" because being focused upon using the things of this world for my own satisfaction is precisely what the virtual physical universe was designed for. The Supreme Being wanted to give us our freedom.

Our "original sin" happened for each of us. Each of us did the "original sin" at some point. This was the point where we decided we didn't want to love and please the Supreme Being. We wanted to love and please ourselves. We wanted to be master, not servant. We wanted to be king, not subject.

Now Jesus is stating here that once he leaves the physical world - after his physical body is murdered - and returns to the spiritual realm, he will be invoking the expansive quality (Holy Spirit) of God - his Beloved - to come and be with his disciples to guide them and help purify their consciousness and help give them discernment - the ability to perceive the difference between the path to happiness and the path to emptiness.

Happiness comes from loving and caring for the Supreme Being. It comes from working on behalf of our Best Friend and Constant Companion - our only Soul Mate - God. It comes from directing our lives in a practical way towards pleasing God. This is how Jesus lived: As well as those of Jesus' disciples who were guided by the Advocate - including James, Peter and others. They all were guided back to their loving relationships with God in the spiritual realm, just as Jesus promised them.