Why did the Lord Christ say, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7)?

The answer

St. Augustine says, “For at that time the apostles were not yet fitted even to die for Christ, when He said to them, ‘You cannot follow me now’ (John 13:36) … and yet afterwards a countless number both of men and women, boys and girls, youths and maidens, old and young, were crowned with martyrdom; and the sheep were found able for that which, when the Lord spoke these words … Well, then, let us grant that it is so, that many can now bear those things when the Holy Spirit has been sent, which could not then, prior to His coming, be borne by the disciples.”⁸⁴⁰

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty