There are so many times in life when we need words of comfort. When we stand at the bedside of a loved one not knowing if they will live or die, when a child is wayward and our heart breaks for their repentance, or when we are sick and hurting beyond expression. There are so many times when we just don’t know what to expect or what to do. These are the times we need great comfort. Sometimes God sends someone to our side that knows just the words that will give us hope. However, the greatest hope comes from the Holy Spirit that dwells within those who are a follower of Jesus Christ. As we continue on the pathway to the cross, we find Jesus continuing to speak to His disciples after the Passover supper. Judas has been dismissed as a betrayer and now Jesus speaks to the 11. They are not sure what is going on. It has not crossed their minds that Jesus is about to die on a rugged cross.
In John 14:16-31 Jesus is teaching them that He will be leaving them. He assures them that He will not leave them without a Comforter. A Comforter that will abide with them forever. He will dwell in the hearts of all believers. He is trying to explain to them how much better the Comforter will be because He can dwell inside each of them wherever they go. His physical body could only be in one place at a time. He explains in verse 17 that the world cannot receive Him because they don’t know Him. He talks about living again, about seeing Him, and not seeing Him. He tells them in verse 20 that there will be a day when they will understand that He is in the Father and He will be in them. This is referring to the day of Pentecost that is described in Acts chapter 2. This will be when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within the hearts of all believers.
John 14:16-20 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.”
The disciples are still puzzled by Jesus’ words and in verse 22 Judas, who is identified as Thaddeus in Matthew 10:3, speaks up and ask Jesus how this is all going to happen. Jesus explains that He Comforter is the Holy Ghost and the Father will send Him after Jesus leaves. They won’t understand now but when it happens they will remember all these things He has taught them.
John 14:21-26 “He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keeps not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
Our compassionate Savior knows the stirrings of their hearts. He understands their confusion and offers them words of comfort in John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Jesus spends this precious time before His arrest trying to prepare His disciples for His death. He tells them that they should rejoice that He is going to the Father but they still don’t get it. We know this because of the way some act from this time period until His resurrection.
John 14:28-31 “Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”
Hallelujah, we are so blessed to know the rest of the story. We have the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. He is our comforter and helper in John 14:26, the revealer of truth in John 14:17, He in John 16:8, He gives power over fear in II Timothy 1:6-7, and He gives life and peace in Romans 8:5-6. I strongly suggest you read these verses. They will give you great confidence in the Lord in times of need and help you to overcome any doubts and troubles Satan may throw your way. The Comforter has come, and we are the beneficiaries.
