A Friend Who Never Leaves: The Promise of the Holy Spirit

The Pain of a Friend's Departure

Bad news. Your best friend has just told you they are about to move to a country on the other side of the world.

In the last few years, you've shared so much together. You've seen them almost every day. You and your friend have always chatted about the happy things that have happened to you, commiserated on the sad times, and shared problems you were facing. And now they are departing.

How do you feel? What would help you to cope?

In the old days, you would try to keep in contact by phone calls or post. Today, technology can come to the rescue — Messenger, Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, and so on.

A Similar Scenario in John's Gospel

In our reading from the Gospel of John, there is a similar scenario. Over the last three years, Jesus and His disciples have lived together, worked together, journeyed together, joked together, shared the happy times and the difficult times.

Jesus has been the friend they turn to when they needed guidance, when they had a problem, when they just wanted to chat with someone they knew they could trust. And now He has announced He is going away to another place — just like that. Although, of course, there had been some hints before.

They don't want to lose touch with such a kind, understanding, and faithful friend. What will the future look like for them?

The Comforting Solution

Jesus, as always, feels their confusion and pain, and is ready to offer the comforting solution. It won't be letter-writing or technology that comes to rescue this situation. In God's eternal plan, there is a much better solution.

Jesus promises His friends He won't leave them like orphans. He says in verse 16:

"I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit, who will help you and always be with you."

Although Jesus will no longer be with them physically, the Holy Spirit will take His place, offering guidance, a listening ear, comfort, and hope.

Present for All People, for All Time

No longer will He be contained in a time slot in the centuries or in a small Middle Eastern country. Instead, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus — then and now — can be present for all men and women, girls and boys, for all time, for whatever place or situation we may be in.

We don't have to wait for a convenient time slot or worry our communication will be lost when the internet goes down or the mobile network is doing an update in our area to talk with Him and hear His voice.

In Matthew 28, just as He is about to ascend into heaven, Jesus reminds His disciples:

"I will be with you always, even until the end of the world."

Jesus has promised that He, through God's Spirit, will be with us always — and Jesus always keeps His promises.