Jesus continued to instruct His disciples on the night before He was crucified. He commanded them to keep His commandments. Then He promised to send the Holy Spirit to empower us and help us keep His commandments. The Holy Spirit would be another helper just like Jesus.
The Holy Spirit reminds us of Jesus’ teachings, helps us understand them, enables us to obey them, and helps us teach others to obey the teachings.
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit will remain with His believers forever. Unbelievers do not see or know the Holy Spirit. But God’s children do know the Holy Spirit because He lives in them.
Jesus went on to say that obedience is the evidence of our love for Him. Unbelievers don’t love or obey Jesus. If you love Jesus, you will follow His commands.
He reveals Himself to those who obey His teaching not to those who refuse to believe in Him.
Jesus told the disciples that He was leaving them His peace. He instructed them not to let their hearts be troubled and not to be afraid.
The Holy Spirit brings this peace to all believers. This peace is wholeness, completeness, security. Jesus’ peace is not the world’s peace.
The world says peace comes from things. Jesus says peace comes from a relationship with Him. The world says we must work for peace. Jesus says His peace is a gift. The world says peace is the absence of trouble. Jesus says we can have peace in the midst of trouble. The world says peace lasts for a moment. Jesus says His peace lasts for a lifetime. The world says peace depends on the externals. Jesus says peace depends on the eternals.
Jesus reminded the disciples that He is in control of all that is about to happen. He told them that Satan, the prince of this world, has no power over Him.
Things to Think About
- Other names for the Holy Spirit – Advocate, Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Spirit of Truth.
- God Himself lives in every believer. We are temples where God resides.
- We are not redeemed by our efforts, but our efforts reveal that we have been transformed from self-centeredness to God-centeredness.
- Where are you looking for peace? Jesus tells us to find peace in Him.