Why Jesus Said It’s Better If He Left — and Why That’s Good News

Gary L Ellis
Sep 11
2 min read

Man in plaid shirt smiling, looking to the right in a bright room with large windows. Mood is cheerful. Text: ReCraft AI.

Jesus, Why Did You Say, “It’s Better That He Leave?”

I used to think following Jesus would’ve been easier if I’d lived back then — walking behind Him on Galilee’s roads, hearing His parables live, watching Him heal with a touch.

But then I’m confronted with His statement in John 16:7:

“It is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.”

Better? Really? Better than Jesus beside me?

Here’s the thing: The Spirit of God isn’t a dusty doctrine we fight over. The Holy Spirit is a living, pulsing reality.

From Map to GPS

When Jesus was here, He was bound by time and space. If He was teaching in Capernaum, He wasn’t walking through Bethany. His presence was limited to one location, one conversation at a time.

But the Spirit?

He’s not beside me in one spot — He is within me, everywhere I go. The facts are these: The Scriptures tell us that the word of the gospel and the power of the Spirit always go together.

It’s the difference between carrying a map and carrying a GPS. A map sits beside you. A GPS speaks from within, recalculates when you drift, and guides moment by moment. That’s what the Spirit does.

Power in the Ordinary

We act like following Jesus is about trying harder, imitating His example, and doing our best to live up to His sandals.

But the Spirit flips that script. It’s not about me living like Jesus is beside me; it’s about Christ living His life through me by the Spirit within.

Paul said it this way: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

The Spirit of God isn’t just Sunday-morning fireworks — it’s Tuesday traffic patience, Wednesday night peace when the worries won’t shut up, Thursday morning courage when you want to quit.

We can feel the Holy Spirit. Notice that the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 are not flat theological terms but emotional descriptions.

A Better Promise

Here’s the stunning truth: we don’t have less than the disciples had — we have more. The same Spirit who hovered over creation now hovers in our hearts.

Jesus didn’t abandon us when He ascended — He multiplied His presence. He moved from being beside His followers to being within every single one.

The disciples felt Him. Nothing has changed if it’s better. He didn’t say that it was better that He go away so that we could argue and debate over doctrinal dogmas.