John 14: 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
As Jesus talked with His Apostles in the upper room, He made a lot of disturbing statements - especially about His going away. There they were together, in Jerusalem, on the holiest night of the year, making memories. But now He was about to thrust them out into the world, where they were going to have to do it all without His physical presence. He would not be with them to take the lead, correct their mistakes, or make the major decisions. They were not always going to feel so comfortable, safe, and secure. But the fact was and is that He would never leave them, and His peace would always be with them through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. This was not to make them, or us, feel more independent, but to be a constant reminder that when something doesn't seem safe, He will keep us safe, if it's what He's calling us to do. Going out in His name is one of those things.
No comments:
Post a Comment