By the inspiration and power of the Holy Spirit the disciples would fan out all over the world, face totally new situations and opportunities, and be empowered for exploits which they could never have done when they were still in training with Jesus by their side to help them. The coming is not in the future, as if the Holy Spirit had not been active in Jesus' ministry. The way we translate these three functions of the Spirit will depend on the model we use to explain his work among us. Jesus is referring to three things that people in the world are in darkness about, and only the Holy Spirit can enlighten them. People imagine that they will be judged and rejected at the pearly gates for their sins and lack of righteousness.
People know that there is a flaw, something evil, that keeps making life ugly.
This is something much more wrong and pervasive than drink, meanness, lies, and bad language. Forgetting that the Christian message is good news, many people imagine that our proclamation is mainly the day of judgment. And the Spirit's work is to overcome Satan's power to deceive us, fill us with guilt and despair, and persuade us to choose eternal death, darkness, and separation from the love of God. Scientists are interested in knowing the truth about the world around us. Often we are nosily curious about others.