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Deuteronomy is a series of sermons by Moses on the law. Moses is not going to go over the Jordan to lead the people against the Canaanites, and so he spends his last days instructing Israel how they should carry out the conquest, assuring them that Yahweh will fight for them.
Jesus' "Upper Room Discourse" is another "Deuteronomy." Jesus, the greater Moses, is about to leave His disciples and return to His Father, and He tells them what they can expect when He's gone. He assures them the Father will give them whatever they need to face the challenges that lie ahead.
Among other things, they can expect conflict and opposition, particularly from the Jews who opposed Jesus. The world of Judaism hated Jesus, and they will hate the disciples. The world of Judaism persecuted Jesus, and they will persecute the disciples. The Jews didn’t want Jesus in their synagogues, and they will cast out the disciples as well. All this because "a slave is not greater than His master."
The disciples will be able to stand firm only by the Spirit. The Spirit is the new "Paraclete," a Helper, who will bear witness of Jesus, and will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment.
This is the context for Jesus' promises concerning prayer. Prayer is the Christian response to persecution. When the disciples face the world's hatred and persecution, when they are despised by the seminary professors and church bureaucrats, when they are hated by all men, then Jesus says they should rely on the Spirit, and pray.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, August 27, 2006 at 07:43 AM
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