Sunday June 9th, 2019 Day of Pentecost John 14:8-17
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate?" (verses 15-16)
The disciples were confused. They had gathered with Jesus to celebrate the Passover, a solemn yet joyous service of remembrance. Yes, they probably felt the charged atmosphere that hung over the city. Yes, they probably knew the authorities were on high alert because Jesus was in town, but that wasn’t anything new. So when Jesus began talking about going away, they didn’t understand. Where? Why? Will you return? I am sure more than one of them, more than once, tried to dissuade Jesus. But Jesus held firm.
What Jesus did offer was the promise of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will come and abide with you and be in you. This Spirit will be unique to you, my disciples, and as we now know, to all who would follow from that time onward.
Yesterday, we talked a bit about the work of the Holy Spirit. Maybe the most important is that the Spirit keeps us connected to God. It is so easy to become unhitched, to get caught up in career, money issues, family concerns, various hardships or the joys of life. The Spirit helps us keep our eyes on Jesus and our hands firmly in his.
Praise the Lord.
Holy Spirit of God, abide in and work through me. Amen. — DAB
Contributed by The Holy Spirit, II
The disciples were confused. They had gathered with Jesus to celebrate the Passover, a solemn yet joyous service of remembrance. Yes, they probably felt the charged atmosphere that hung over the city. Yes, they probably knew the authorities were on high alert because Jesus was in town, but that wasn't anything new. So when Jesus began talking about going away, they didn't understand. Where? Why? Will you return? I am sure more than one of them, more than once, tried to dissuade Jesus. But Jesus held firm.
What Jesus did offer was the promise of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will come and abide with you and be in you. This Spirit will be unique to you, my disciples, and as we now know, to all who would follow from that time onward.
Yesterday, we talked a bit about the work of the Holy Spirit. Maybe the most important is that the Spirit keeps us connected to God. It is so easy to become unhitched, to get caught up in career, money issues, family concerns, various hardships or the joys of life. The Spirit helps us keep our eyes on Jesus and our hands firmly in his.
Praise the Lord.
