Who dare claim that he has grasped the sense of all Christ’s words? And who can memorize all his sayings or carry them out? The troubled disciples at the Lord’s supper considered the betrayer’s mischief and what he was likely to do. They were unable to recall much of what Jesus said in his farewell talk, apart from John.
Jesus was comforted by the disciples forgetfulness, knowing that the Spirit of truth would come upon them to illumine and renew them as he had exhorted them. The Spirit continues Jesus’ work with the same sense and aim. He protects the weak. Jesus did not select geniuses, scholars adept in philosophy and rhetoric; rather he chose fishermen, tax gatherers and sundry sinners to put to shame the lofty knowledge of the world of advanced scholarship. The Father in mercy sent his Spirit to the incapable to make them His children, gifted with the wisdom of humility, denying themselves, living in uprightness.
Jesus did not publish a book in poetic style, nor did he dictate his gospel to someone who might mislay some leaves or forget the substance. He confidently expected the Spirit of truth to teach his disciples, illumine, guide and remind them of all he said. The Gospel is one of the Spirit’s great acts, until this day. He committed the plan of salvation to human language, to the memory of disciples; but the Spirit reminded and taught them, establishing them in Jesus’ sayings, so that the Spirit would glorify the Son by means of the Apostle’s witness. We have no other book save the writings of Christ’s apostles, who humbly presented the world the knowledge and faith they had received. No added words were put in Jesus’ mouth. Their preaching was not chill and dry news becoming obsolete in time, but the Spirit has renewed the vitality of these narratives continually to this day. When we read the gospel, it is as if we are reading of events that occur in our day. If we listen to Christ’s words, it is as if he touches our ears with his voice. He who claims that the disciples invented or distorted the original gospel, ignores the Spirit of truth, since in the Holy Spirit there is no deceit; he is Truth and Love.