Do not let your hearts be troubled
John 14:22-31
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ 23 Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
25 ‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over 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 be on our way.
Judas (not Iscariot) picked up on vs. 21 (part of yesterday’s reading) and wanted to know why Jesus was revealing himself to only some people (“to us”, vs. 22) and not to all people (“to the world”, vs. 22). Jesus’ answer returns to what he said in vs. 15, that those who keep/obey Jesus’ word demonstrate their love for Jesus, and it is with these people the Father and Jesus will live. Those who are obedient are in a relationship with the Father and Jesus that those who are not obedient do not have.
“Is that fair?” is a question that might be asked. But those who choose to not follow the Jesus way do not desire to see the Father, they are uninterested in a relationship with God. To have a relationship with God requires having a relationship with Jesus. Those individuals who reject Jesus’ direction in our lives are rejecting God who is revealed to us in Jesus.
Jesus then returns to the discussion of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit who comes in Jesus’ name, will teach Jesus’ followers what they need to know by reminding them of what Jesus said. The Holy Spirit speaks, teaches and acts in ways that are consistent with what the Father and Jesus have said and done in the world. Just as Jesus spoke the words of the Father (John 14:10), the Spirit speaks the words of Jesus (John 14:26).
Among the words the Spirit repeats to us are “Peace I give to you, do not let your hearts be troubled do not let them be afraid.” The Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus has promised to be with us to the end of time, that God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. In the Holy Spirit God keeps the promises made to be with us.
PRAYER:
O God, you have reveled yourself to us in the person of Jesus Christ, in him you kept your promise to be with us. We rejoice that you have sent the Holy Spirit to be with us always, and we thank you for your faithfulness in keeping your promise to us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.