John 14:8-17, 25-27 (NRSV)
Read John 14:8-17, 25-27 on biblegateway.com
Verse 8Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Verse 9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Verse 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Verse 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.
Verse 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Verse 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Verse 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
Verse 15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Verse 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. Verse 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
Verse 25"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. Verse 26But 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. Verse 27Peace 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.
Devotion
Jesus is very concerned about the power of God's peace, so that our hearts are not troubled or afraid. The word Advocate means "helper," the Holy Spirit, that God has sent to us, not only on a day called Pentecost, but to abide with us, and be in and among us every day of our lives.
The word translated as "if" in the New Testament, can also be translated as "since." Jesus then says about the promise of the Holy Spirit: "Since you love me, you will keep my commandments."
We live in a world that is all too "iffy" and not "declarative" enough as "since…then" reality in our daily lives. Jesus wants us to know that to be Christian is a gift that dwells within us, and that the Holy Spirit is our helper and giver of faith, hope, and love, in the "here and now" of our witness to God's grace.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, the promised Holy Spirit is not defined by the word Pentecostal, but is the very presence of your life now lived out, in and through us. Help us to live out our mission for the good of all people. Amen.