Well, it's better for us that Jesus is gone.

He said so when he left.

But how so?

Why is Christ's physical absence from us better for us than his physical presence with

us?

It's a wise theological question and comes to us from a listener named Sam in the form

of a question about the Holy Spirit.

Hello, Pastor John.

Can you tell me?

Why did Jesus have to leave before the Holy Spirit could come?

The timing doesn't make sense to me.

Couldn't the Spirit have come in full power while Christ was physically on earth with us?

This is a hugely helpful question because it causes me at least to step back, ask the

bigger question of what is God doing in the world and why does He do it the way He

does it?

Huge question.

So simple.

Well, obviously simple and yet my, oh my, does it shed enormous light on the very history

of redemption?

What is God doing?

Why does He do it the way He does it?

So Sam asks, couldn't the Spirit have come in full power while Christ was on earth?

...