What does John 14:17 mean?
This passage contains teachings from Jesus as He prepares the disciples for His impending arrest and execution. In the prior verse, Jesus promised to send a "Helper" (John 14:16). Here, He specifies that this is the Holy Spirit, available only to those who believe in Christ. In fact, this Spirit "indwells" those who believe (Romans 8:9).Recently, Jesus referred to Himself, using specific terminology, as "the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). Each of those statements came with a definite article—translated into English as "the." Here, Jesus once again uses specific terms. In Greek, He literally calls this promised Helper "the Spirit of the Truth." This not only emphasizes that there is only one valid kind of "truth," it connects the nature of this Spirit to the nature of Jesus Himself.
The Holy Spirit permanently resides in those who express faith in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). That indwelling will not begin until after Jesus is resurrected, which is why He says this Spirit "will be in you," rather than that it "is in you," at the moment He speaks to the disciples. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit will begin to live with all who believe in Christ (Acts 2:1–4; 10:47).
Those who do not believe do not have the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14). Scripture often uses the expression "the world" in reference to the fallen nature of man which rejects God. Those who believe in Christ know Him (John 6:69; 8:31–32; 10:14), and they know the way to salvation (John 14:4). Those who reject Christ don't see Christ, so they don't see God (John 14:8), do not know God (John 8:19), and are lost (John 8:24).
