John continues his mind-blowing recounting of the last night together. He remembers Judas’ (not Iscariot) question as a catalyst to this big answer – “What’s changed that now you are revealing yourself to us and no longer to the world?” Jesus knew He was going back to be with the Father. That, for Christ, was a great thing! Boom! Mission accomplished!
Still, it was a difficult, bittersweet moment for Christ because He loved them so. Jesus was about to unlock the door that had separated God and mankind since the fall of Adam. Jesus revealed eternal truths to these men. The things He revealed to them, the world did not have the capacity to know. So, when hit full on with the cares of the world and problems of life, these guys would rightfully fear that they would forget what Jesus taught them or at least screw it up.
First, Jesus comforted them with the truth that the Holy Spirit would be sent. He was cause them to recall what Christ had taught them as well as teach them all they needed to know going forward. As the world and its problems pressed in on them, they would have everything they needed to spread the good news of salvation. The Holy Spirit would comfort, teach, and empower them! It was a gift the unregenerate world could not enjoy.
Next, the Spirit would grant them the peace they needed to carry on – not a transient and circumstantial peace. This would be the peace of God. This was the peace demonstrated on the lake during a violent storm as their boat was about to sink and one sentence from the mouth of the Lord changed the waves to a dead calm – “Peace, be still!”
What these men were about to face would be a worldwind of transformation and change. There would be great victories in Christ’s resurrection, Pentecost, and the spread of the Gospel across the known world. There would also be great persecution and death. Tradition would fall to the grace and restoration of the salvation offered by the Father. That turmoil and change would be a peace-draining enterprise.
There would be tension from the temple, tension from Rome, and tension among the family of believers, but the Holy Spirit would intervene! Jesus promised His guys that, as on the lake, it would be complete calm in the midst of the storm. As these times came and events rolled out, the apostles would remember these promises and cling to them. That peace would be the game changer. It would allow all the attacks from men and from the enemy to fall short.
Today, as we continue the journey, that same peace and knowledge remains available to us. We have His word to guide us and His Spirit to grant peace in the storm. Like the apostles, as our lives play out, we must cling to these promises as they did! We have to walk in confidence that He will provide what we need when we need it!
God Bless You
22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding 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 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. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, [d]I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.
Walking With God 