The Gospel Of John Chapter 14 Pt. 5 Jesus Promised To Send The Comforter To Us

In John 14, Jesus has instructed His disciples to believe in Him as they believe in the Father. 

Then, our Lord gave promises about mansions in the Father's house, where Jesus was going to prepare a place for all who put their faith in Christ. 

When Thomas asked how they could know where to go and the way to get there. Jesus answered "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me."

Jesus let Thomas know that faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is essential to enter heaven. Jesus opened this way to the Father by His perfect atoning work for us on the cross.

Jesus is the way to the Father's house, and we are going to the dwelling place Christ is preparing for us. Jesus teaches the truth about the Father's house and we can fully trust His words. 

Jesus is the life, because He is Creator and sustainer of all life. When we turn to Jesus with repentant faith, He gives us eternal life (John 3:15-18).

Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus replied that when you see Him, you see the Father. 

Jesus did the Father's works and spoke the Father's words, and displayed the Father's heart. 

We learned that Jesus is the fulness of the Godhead, and that the Godhead dwells in Christ bodily (See Colossians 1:15-19; 2:6-9; Hebrews 1:1-4).

Jesus is now going to give us some clear revelation about the Person of the Holy Spirit.

All the born again, love Christ and keep His Commandments. 

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

As Jesus begins to teach His disciples (and us) about the Holy Spirit, He gives a clear imperative. We are to keep His commandments. 

What are the commandments of Jesus Christ? We find them by reading the gospels where Jesus is speaking. 

The subject matter Jesus spoke about is vast and there were many varied circumstances when He ministered. 

However, the application of His commands to us, are always easy to understand. 

Thus, before teaching us about the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes it clear we are to learn and obey His commandments. 

Why? This command is designed to teach us, that our bodies are now a temple for the indwelling Spirit of God. Keeping Christ's commands is an indicator of the presence of God's Spirit in us.  

1 Corinthians 6:17-20  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18)  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19)  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

The apostle Paul warns us about sexual immorality, by reminding us that the Spirit of God lives in us. When we commit a sexual sin, we pollute our body, and our body is a temple for the Holy Ghost. 

Therefore, since Jesus bought us and redeemed us with His own blood, we now belong to God. We are to glorify God with our body and spirit, because they are His.

A regenerated heart will desire to actively live for Christ. Therefore, this command from Jesus, is the fitting preparation for the promise of God's indwelling Spirit.

Jesus prayed for the Father to send the Comforter to us. 

John 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  

Now the promise of the Holy Spirit is given to us. Jesus said He would pray the Father to send another Comforter, to abide with us forever. 

The Holy Spirit opens our hearts to the gospel Christ. He explains the nature and importance of atonement. 

He shows the necessity of our salvation through faith in Christ and counsels us to receive it. When we pray, He makes intercessions for us with unutterable groanings.  

The Spirit of God is our connection with Jesus Christ, and with each Christian in the body of Christ (See Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:1-6 and many others).

God's Spirit is going to indwell us forever. This is the literal fulfillment of God's many promises, never to leave or forsake us (See Deuteronomy 4:31; 31:6-8; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 94:4; Hebrew 13:5). 

Jesus Christ's promise literally fulfilled at Pentecost. 

Acts 2:1-4  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2)  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3)  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4)  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

The literal fulfillment of this promise was at Pentecost, when the Holy Ghost fell upon 120 disciples, and the New Testament church was birthed. 

Jesus said the Father would give us "another Comforter." The Comforter is another One, like Jesus Christ. 

Another One like Jesus, would come to indwell the disciples. He is called the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Christ. 

The apostle John is the only New Testament writer to use the Greek word translated "Comforter." 

A "Comforter" is someone who comes alongside us when we need help. 

A "Comforter" is someone who administers comfort and consolation to those who are hurting. 

A "Comforter" strengthens and supports our mind and soul in times of distress or danger.

Jesus will teach us a lot about the Holy Spirit's ministry, in the next few chapters of John's gospel. We will find that He is our Comforter and much more. 

He is the Spirit of Truth who dwells in each believer's heart!

John 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Jesus used another name for the Spirit of God, here calling Him the Spirit of Truth. This connects with the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the verbal inspiration of the scriptures (See 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21). 

The Spirit of God gives us an inspired record from God to man. It is Spirit given truth. It is accurate. It is reliable and it is binding upon all things. 

God's truth regulates all creation (Hebrews 1:3). God's truth governs all spiritual realities. It condemns hardened sinners to eternal separation from God. 

God's truth breaths new life into humble, repentant hearts, who turn to Christ. It sanctifies us when we read and study it. It is our source of spiritual sustenance.

Truth from The Spirit of God is a message of light and hope!

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

2 Peter 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

1 John 1:5  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

God's truth brings us out from sins darkness, and into His marvelous light. It teaches us about God and how to worship Him. It illuminates the perils of sin around us so that we do not stumble. It shines on the holy path God is leading us on.  

God's truth is sure, certain and absolute. We must hear and heed what the Spirit says to us (See Revelation 2:7; 11; 17; 29; 3:6; 13; 22).

God's truth is a message of light and hope for all Christians. 

The world does not understand or care about these things. 

1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

The world cannot receive the Holy Spirit because people live in the darkness of depravity and sin. They do not know God and cannot empirically discern His Spirit.

The wonderful things of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit, seem like foolishness to those who are unbelievers.  

Thoughts to Ponder...

What wonderful promises Jesus gave to His disciples. We rest in those same promises today.

Let us then faithfully demonstrate our love for Christ, by keeping His commandments. John tells us that they are not burdensome to keep. Rather, it is a joyous privilege for us to honor our Savior in this manner.

Let us remember that our body and spirit belong to Jesus Christ. He paid for them with His own blood. 

A child of God has no rights in this world. All of our inheritance and fulfillment of God's promises await us in heaven.  

We belong to God and He has the right to tell us what to do. We must submit to Him and obey in all things that His word reaches us. 

May the Spirit of Truth have His way in our hearts today, exposing in sin or rebellion against the things of God, so that we might confess and forsake them.

May we allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and shape us for our Master's service.

Bob