It is a very sad experience in life to be losing a good friend. It is bad enough if he or she is moving to another part of the country to live, but it is much worse if death is taking your friend from you.
Here is the true story of a very special case of losing a Friend; but what we learn from this story could help you and me when sadness like this comes our way.
Life had been getting more difficult and unpleasant for Jesus and His followers. The religious people and their leaders were angry with Jesus’ teaching. His claim to be the true Messiah, and only Saviour, was very unpopular with those who were believing their religion could save them!
What about YOU? Do you accept Jesus’ teaching that He is the only One who can forgive and save you? Many want to believe that it is some person or religion of our day that is needed to save them, so they get annoyed at Jesus’ claim to be the only Saviour.
Jesus had warned His disciples about His approaching horrible death, and about difficulties they would have when He would leave them. “I did not tell you this at first,” He said, “because I was with you. Now I am going to Him who sent Me, yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth; it is for your good that I am going away.” (verses 5-7.)
How could losing a Friend like Jesus be for their good?
You and I have never had the real presence of Jesus Christ beside us in life, but here Jesus promised His followers something better - Someone who would replace His presence. “Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you;” He told them, “but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (verse 7.) The Counsellor, the Holy Spirit of God, would not only come to be with all who trusted Jesus as their Priest, but would be WITHIN them, and never leave them!
So, it is NOT a disadvantage for us that Jesus went away, because His physical presence has been replaced by His Spirit within each one who believes in Him.
It is sad that so many insult Jesus today by accepting a human leader, a mere man, as being the replacement for Jesus. What an insult to Jesus for anyone to think that some mere man could be better for us than having Jesus Himself!
No matter how close the friend is that you may lose in this life, Jesus promises that there is One Friend you can have who will never leave you or forsake you - a Friend who is a wonderful Counsellor and Comforter!
Read in John chapter 16, verses 4-7 of Jesus’ wonderful promise to give His Holy Spirit to all His true followers. So, put your trust in Jesus as YOUR Saviour NOW and you will have within you a Friend and comforter you can never lose!
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---------------
