Reading: John 14:15-26 (please read)
15 "If you love me, keep my commands.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever
17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 "All this I have spoken while still with you.
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
(NIV)
What the passage is about:
The passage refers to the time of the last super where Jesus was informing his disciples he was about to leave them. He used this time to assure them that even though he was leaving, he would not leave them alone. He told them of this precious gift- the Holy Spirit- that they would receive. When we receive Jesus we receive God and when we receive Jesus we also receive the Holy Spirit! They are all one in the same! This relationship is "forever" and cannot be nullified in any way.
The verse starts with a very important command "Keep my commands".
If we love God, then we need to obey the commands he have given us.
What it teaches:
We are called to accept Christ as Lord and savior and to know him. We are called to keep his commandments, loving each other as Christ loved us. God has left with believers his precious gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
Father we thank you for loving us. We thank you for dying on the cross for us. And if that wasn't enough, you gave us an amazing gift. The gift of your Holy Spirit to dwell in us. We thank you.
Father allow us to love each other as you have commanded. Fill us with your spirit. Allow us to be more like you. In Jesus name amen.
