I wonder have you ever thought that to obey and serve God the way He wants you to, would be too difficult, and would keep you from enjoying some of the best things in life! From the time our first parents were deceived by Satan (Genesis 3:1-13.) the temptation has been there for all of us to think like that!
But why were the disciples of Jesus troubled and fearful? What made them think the future would be too difficult for them? Their great Leader and Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ, was talking about leaving them! And as well as that there was violent religious opposition building up against them from the priests. (John 8:59. 10:31.) Jesus said to them, "My peace I give you....Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (verse 27.)
Jesus then told them why they should be glad that He was leaving them to go to the Father! (verse 28.) "The Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (verse 26. 1st Corinthians 6:19.)
You see, Jesus was about to change the way He would be with His followers - instead of them having the physical presence of the Son of God WITH them they would be having the Spirit of God WITHIN them. (John 14:16. 16:7.)
Yet there are many people today who still look for, and think they can have, the "real presence" of Jesus here on earth to give them comfort and help!
Maybe they think of another occasion when Jesus said "This is My body" as He gave the bread to His followers at the last supper. Today I would say something the same if I was giving you a photograph of my family. I would say, "This is my family." You would surely realise that the paper photograph was NOT the "real presence" of my family, but only a reminder of it. In the same way, Jesus was NOT giving them something that would be His real presence, but leaving them a REMINDER of Himself. He clearly said, "eat this in remembrance of Me .. until I come again." (1st Corinthians 11:23-26.)
Even while Jesus was speaking to His disciples, the evil one, "the prince of this world", was coming thinking he could destroy Christ. No way could he do that! Jesus was NOT going to be destroyed; but He was going to submit to death, because that is what His Father had commanded Him to do. (verses 30-31. Acts 2:23-36) He would die willingly, in order to pay for your sins and mine! (2nd Corinthians 5:21. 1st Peter 3:18.)
but He would rise again to become the Saviour.
For the time being, the disciples had the comfort and peace of having Jesus' physical presence with them, but Jesus told them that soon He would leave them.
Today all those who have faith in Jesus as their Saviour are assured of having God with them always - God WITHIN them! So the true believer has no need to be troubled and fearful in the midst of this world of troubles and fears. Having God the Holy Spirit within me, never to leave me nor forsake me, I have no need to fear man, or the troubles of life. (Hebrews 13:5-6. Romans 8:35-9.)
Read in John's Gospel chapter 14, verses 25-31, Jesus' reassuring words of comfort to those who trust in Him alone as their Priest and Saviour.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
For the next
reading from John's Gospel go to NEXT
In order to browse
further "Good News Compage" prompts and commentaries for John's
Gospel go to
---------------oOo---------------
