Are you troubled, distressed, agitated or afraid? Jesus does not want you to be troubled, but to have peace in your heart (vv.1,27).Jesus knew that his life on this earth was about to finish. He was about to leave his disciples (v.27); he was going back to the Father (v.3). Yet he said to them, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled, distressed, agitated’ (v.1, AMP). ‘Peace I leave with you’ (v.27). Jesus does not leave you alone but passes on to you an amazing legacy.
Jesus has good plans for your future
Jesus says, ‘There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home... I’m on my way to get your room ready’ (v.2, MSG). In Christ, your long-term future is totally secure.
Jesus is coming back for you
The end of earthly life is not the end. Jesus told his followers, ‘I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am’ (v.3). You will be with Jesus forever.
Jesus has opened the way for you to know God
Thomas asks, ‘How can we know the way?’ Jesus replies, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (vv.5–6)
.Jesus reveals God for you
Philip says, ‘Lord, show us the Father’ (v.8). Jesus replies, ‘Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father’ (v.9). If you want to know what God looks like, look at Jesus.
Jesus will do even greater things through you
Jesus will do even greater miracles through his disciples than he did while he was on earth (v.12).
Jesus will continue to answer your prayers
‘From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do’ (vv.13–14, MSG).
Jesus will never leave you alone
Jesus says, ‘I will not leave you as orphans’ (v.18). He says that he’ll ‘provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth... he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!’ (vv.16–17, MSG).
Jesus will continue to love you
‘Those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them’ (v.21b).
Jesus and the Father will make their home with you
Jesus said, ‘Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them’ (v.23).
Jesus leaves you with peace
‘Peace I leave with you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’ (v.27). Peace comes from trusting that Jesus is there with us and in us. Jesus is our peace.
How is all this possible? The way in which Jesus passes on his legacy to you is through the Holy Spirit. He will send the Holy Spirit (the paraclete) to live in your heart: ‘The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you’ (v.26, MSG). The Greek word parakletos literally means ‘one called alongside’. It has a multifaceted meaning – counsellor, advocate, comforter, encourager, helper, someone to stand by you, he who is to befriend you. A mother is a paraclete for her child. She takes away the anguish of loneliness. She brings presence, security, peace and communion.
The Holy Spirit now lives in us to give us new strength and new love – so that we, the church, can continue the mission of Jesus to the world.
Jesus had thought it through very carefully and had made a great succession plan!
