John 14:18-21
Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. – John 14:19
As Jesus was about to be betrayed by Judas and walk the path to Golgotha, He promised His disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (v.18) Seeing their teacher about to leave, the disciples were troubled (v.1); thus, Jesus’ promise was especially precious. “I will come to you” meant that although Jesus was soon going to ascend to heaven, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, who is also the Spirit of Christ, would be given by the Father to dwell in believers (vv.16-17). The Lord Jesus would come and abide in His disciples through the Holy Spirit and be with them forever.
Jesus told His disciples that He would not reveal Himself to the unbelieving world. After His resurrection, He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to them so that they could experience life in Him through the Spirit. “In that day” refers to the day when He resurrects from the dead, ascends, and dwells in the believers through the Holy Spirit. In that day, the disciples would not only “know” in their minds but also “know” through their personal experience in Christ: “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (v.20) In this union with Christ, they would enjoy the blessings of an intimate relationship with the Lord and experience His work. Originally, only “the Son is in the Father, and the Father is in the Son” (vv.10-11), but because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are brought into this divine mystery! What an incredible and marvellous blessing for us, who are so unworthy!
As [citizens] of the Kingdom of Heaven still living on earth, we, like the disciples back then, have received Jesus’ promise: “I will not leave you as orphans.” (v.18) We have the assurance of His constant presence with us. Those outside the Kingdom often have the misconception that believing in Jesus means placing oneself under a bucket load of restrictions—no longer able to enjoy the things they like and, instead, having to do things they do not wish to do. For example, after believing in Jesus, they must go to church on Sundays, losing their rest day, which they resent. The world, with its limited perspective, determines the priorities of life, not realising that they are forfeiting the blessings that the Creator intends to bestow upon humanity. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (v.21) Love is the driving force behind obeying the Lord’s commands. Believers know in principle that the Lord is within them, but only when they love Him and obey His commands do they truly experience His love and presence. Indeed, we are not reluctantly obeying the Lord’s commands, for love enables us to obey joyfully, and this in turn helps us to comprehend more deeply the height, depth, and breadth of God’s love as we follow Him!
May we live our lives immersed in this amazing love of our Lord!
Prayer:
Dear Abba Father, we thank You for sending the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to dwell in us after Jesus’ ascension. Thank You for the Spirit of Truth, who guides and helps us in our daily walk, and enables us to obey Your commands. May we live in Your love all our lives and follow Your will always. In the victorious name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!
As Jesus was about to be betrayed by Judas and walk the path to Golgotha, He promised His disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (v.18) Seeing their teacher about to leave, the disciples were troubled (v.1); thus, Jesus’ promise was especially precious. “I will come to you” meant that although Jesus was soon going to ascend to heaven, the Helper, the Spirit of Truth, who is also the Spirit of Christ, would be given by the Father to dwell in believers (vv.16-17). The Lord Jesus would come and abide in His disciples through the Holy Spirit and be with them forever.
Jesus told His disciples that He would not reveal Himself to the unbelieving world. After His resurrection, He would ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to them so that they could experience life in Him through the Spirit. “In that day” refers to the day when He resurrects from the dead, ascends, and dwells in the believers through the Holy Spirit. In that day, the disciples would not only “know” in their minds but also “know” through their personal experience in Christ: “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (v.20) In this union with Christ, they would enjoy the blessings of an intimate relationship with the Lord and experience His work. Originally, only “the Son is in the Father, and the Father is in the Son” (vv.10-11), but because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are brought into this divine mystery! What an incredible and marvellous blessing for us, who are so unworthy!
As [citizens] of the Kingdom of Heaven still living on earth, we, like the disciples back then, have received Jesus’ promise: “I will not leave you as orphans.” (v.18) We have the assurance of His constant presence with us. Those outside the Kingdom often have the misconception that believing in Jesus means placing oneself under a bucket load of restrictions—no longer able to enjoy the things they like and, instead, having to do things they do not wish to do. For example, after believing in Jesus, they must go to church on Sundays, losing their rest day, which they resent. The world, with its limited perspective, determines the priorities of life, not realising that they are forfeiting the blessings that the Creator intends to bestow upon humanity. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (v.21) Love is the driving force behind obeying the Lord’s commands. Believers know in principle that the Lord is within them, but only when they love Him and obey His commands do they truly experience His love and presence. Indeed, we are not reluctantly obeying the Lord’s commands, for love enables us to obey joyfully, and this in turn helps us to comprehend more deeply the height, depth, and breadth of God’s love as we follow Him!
May we live our lives immersed in this amazing love of our Lord!
Prayer:
Dear Abba Father, we thank You for sending the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to dwell in us after Jesus’ ascension. Thank You for the Spirit of Truth, who guides and helps us in our daily walk, and enables us to obey Your commands. May we live in Your love all our lives and follow Your will always. In the victorious name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!
