“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.”
John 16:7 (NLT)
Jesus says these words while preparing the disciples for hardship. He warns them that persecution is coming—that they will be rejected, expelled, and misunderstood by people who believe they are serving God. He tells them this ahead of time so they will remember His words when the moment arrives. Earlier, He didn’t need to explain all of this, because He was still physically present with them.
Now He is leaving. And the disciples aren’t troubled about where He’s going—they’re grieving that He won’t be with them anymore. That’s when Jesus makes a startling statement: it is best for you that I go away. Not easier. Better. Because if He stays, the Advocate cannot come. But if He goes, Jesus Himself will send Him.
Here’s what helps me understand this. The disciples walked with Jesus, but they never had full access to Him. They shared His time. They competed for His attention. Even among the twelve, they experienced Him in moments and conversations. Someone else always needed Him. His presence, teaching, and power were real—but limited by proximity.
But now that Jesus has gone and sent the Advocate, we have something greater. We have uninterrupted access. Twenty-four hours a day. One hundred percent focus. What the disciples experienced externally, we now experience internally. Not partial attention. Not occasional moments. Christ’s Spirit dwelling within us.
Yes, Jesus was right. It truly is better for us that He went away. Because now we don’t just walk with Him—we live in Him.