“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18
Think about what the day after Jesus’ death must have been like for His disciples. Friday had been devastating, and now they were left to contemplate all that had happened and all He had taught them. John 13-17 tells us what Jesus said to prepare the disciples for life after His crucifixion and resurrection. Difficult days were coming. So, He comforted them with the promise that they would not be alone; the Father was sending “another Helper” (14:16). What an incredible conversation this must have been!
Listen to what Jesus told them about the Holy Spirit:
- He will enable you to do even greater works than I’ve done (14:12).
- He will abide in you and be with you forever (14:16).
- As the Spirit of truth, He will guide you into all truth (14:17; 16:13).
- He will be your Teacher, reminding you of everything I’ve said to you (14:26).
- He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (16:8-11).
Jesus prepared the disciples for His leaving by preparing them for His leading in the person of the Holy Spirit. Just as they were never alone, neither are we. Through the Spirit, Jesus abides in those who believe in Him. He expects every believer to live as He did—in complete submission to the Father’s will and as a willing vessel for the Spirit’s indwelling presence.
The promise of the Holy Spirit is an invitation to trust. The effective Christian life is not about trying harder but about trusting Jesus fully. As we rest in His strength we become all He called us to be and we accomplish all the Father wants to do through us. Any believer who desires to be fruitful and useful to the Lord must follow the Spirit’s leading. His power enables us to accomplish what we cannot accomplish on our own.
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? If so, then His life abides in you and you are never alone. When you live in submission to the Spirit, God’s will is accomplished in you and through you. What an amazing conversation to remember. Yet, the disciples still had no idea that the silence of Saturday would turn into a celebration on Sunday.
