15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:15-17
Going Home
The disciples were stunned. Just three short years ago Jesus gave them the simple command, “follow me“. And they did. Many dropped their nets. Matthew abandoned his tax booth. All of them left their homes to follow Jesus, as Peter would remind Him (Luke 18:28). When they left their homes they left their wives, children, parents, and siblings for the sake of the kingdom of God (Luke 18:29). And now the same lips that uttered “follow me“, announce; “I am going away” (John 14:28).
Jesus was a radical. His teachings were controversial. The religious leaders were threatened by His presence. They were jealous of Him. To be associated with Him was dangerous. But the disciples loved Him. For three years they listened to His teachings. For three years they were privy to His miracles. For three years they sacrificed life’s comforts. In exchange, they were rewarded intimacy with God. Only a fool would be unwilling to make such an exchange.
I am not sure what the disciples understood of the kingdom of God at this juncture, but the thought of Jesus leaving them was a thunderbolt to them. Hence Jesus’ words, “Let not your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). Jesus may be going home, but He isn’t completely leaving!
Preparing a Place
What must have gone through the minds of the disciples upon hearing the words of Jesus’ departure? Besides the questions of how and why He might depart, there must have been many questions about their own futures. Three years away from their work. Three years away from their homes. They gave up so much, but they gained so much more. And now perhaps it would all be gone.
What would life look like without Jesus in the picture? For the past three years, everything revolved around Him. When the food was running out, He could multiply the crumbs. When taxes were due, He could raise the money from the mouth of a fish. When the sea threatened their lives, He calmed the sea. Most importantly, when they were lost, He showed them the Way. But apart from His death, it could never be opened.
So now it is time for Jesus to go home to the Father. If Jesus is going home, it was only logical that His disciples did the same. Was it not?
But before they had a chance to imagine their homecomings Jesus makes another promise. Not only is He going home to the Father, He is also preparing a place for them! And by extension, if He is going to prepare a place for them, He is going to come back and personally take them to their places He is preparing for them. The sad news of Jesus’ departure was made more bearable by the promise of His return.
As difficult as their separation would be, it would not be permanent. Christian “separation” never is.
Paraclete
Jesus not only comforts His disciples with the promise of His return, but He makes another astonishing promise. When Jesus returns to the Father, He will ask the Father to send His disciples another Helper. A paraclete (comforter, advocate).
Jesus’ return to the Father would “unleash” the Holy Spirit to indwell God’s children. Contrary to their concerns of being “abandoned”, Jesus assures His disciples that they will not be orphaned. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit will be with them forever (John 14:16).
Jesus goes on to tell His disciples that the Holy Spirit will teach them and bring to remembrance the things that He Himself had taught them. Part of the Holy Spirit’s role as Paraclete is to help God’s children discern and walk in the Truth. Without the Truth, there is no foundation for fellowship with the Trinity.
Making Our Home
As staggering as the promise of the Holy Spirit may be, Jesus makes another profound statement. The Holy Spirit is promised to those who love God and keep His commandments (John 14:15-16). Jesus then goes on to say that if anyone loves Him and keeps His words, Jesus and the Father will come and make Their home in them.
If you look closely at these parallel statements, Jesus is not only equating Himself with the Father but is also saying that to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit is equivalent to being filled with all three members of the Trinity. Those that love the Father, and Jesus, and keep their commandments/words will be filled with The Holy Spirit, The Father, and The Son.
While Jesus is preparing a place in Heaven for His disciples, the Trinity is making a home IN them (John 14:23). The fellowship that the disciples had with Jesus was not going to be broken, it was simply going to be redefined. Instead of having the physical Jesus in their presence, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was now going to live inside of them.
Until Finally Home
The disciples experienced the fellowship of Jesus for three years and it totally transformed them. The fellowship was so real and so sweet to them and it “defined” them. They gave up everything, including their lives for their Faith. They “tasted” eternal life (John 17:3), and there was no turning back. Things could never be the same, nor did they want them to be. They “knew” Jesus, and He was now everything to them. Can the same be said of us?
Do you love the Father? Do you keep His commandments? Do you love Jesus? Do you keep His words? If you are a child of God, do you understand what it means to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Is this indwelling something we take for granted? Are we even in touch with the Spirit or do we grieve Him?
Someday, like Jesus, we will finally be going home to the Father. Until then, we will experience our share of earthly trials. We will experience the pain of separation like the original disciples. We will face our share of storms. We will too often receive unwelcome news that will trouble us. In the midst of these trying times, we hear Jesus say, “Let not your hearts be troubled.”
Never Alone
As Christians, we will never be alone. Because Jesus sent “another helper” we can have unbroken fellowship with our Creator, Savior and Paraclete.
I don’t know what the world will throw at you today. I don’t know what news will reach your ears. Whether the skies are clear or if there is a storm on the horizon, we can be sure of one thing: we are indwelt with the Spirit of Truth, and He will be with us forever.
Enjoy the fellowship. As sweet as it is it is only a foretaste!!