I Will Not Leave You Orphan

I will not leave you Orphan

John 14:15-21

Here’s something for you on this morning: A poll taken by the Center for the Governance of Change in the United Kingdom revealed that 25% of European citizens believe that robots and artificial intelligence algorithms would do a better job of making policy decisions than politicians would.

In Germany and the Netherlands, the figures are even higher. According to this poll, citizens throughout Europe are so disillusioned by their political leaders that they believe robots and computers would do a better job of governing their countries than humans would. (https://www.ie.edu/cgc/research/tech-opinion-poll-2019/)

Artificial intelligence may be able to evolve, but it will never know the power of the Holy Spirit guiding it. It may be able to update itself, but it will never have the Spirit of truth living inside of it. And a spiritual leader who never faces his or her own death can’t offer us an example of wisdom, grace or courage when we wrestle with the meaning of life. How do you live fully and faithfully in the limited time you have on this earth? Can a software program relate to the internal struggles of facing your own mortality?

In our Bible passage today, Jesus knows that he is heading towards his death. He needs to know if his disciples trust his leadership. What will they remember of his message and his mission after he is gone? What is the one thing his disciples will need to carry out his work and transform the world?

John 14:18-19 “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see me no more but will see me. Because I live, you shall live also.”

According to UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund), there are roughly 153 million orphans worldwide. Every day, an estimated 5,700 more children become orphans. What sad news! How wonderful God has blessed and protect us without us becoming orphans.

The Person who made the Promise: He is true and faithful God

Through the COVID-19 pandemic situation of this world, the Lord kept us safe and He says to us “I will not leave you orphans.” The person who made this promise is our true God. The person who made this promise is a God of faithfulness. At times, people have lost their parents or brothers, or sisters and you may think that now you are orphan but, this promise will comfort you directly “I will not leave you as orphans. In this sense, Jesus’ command is a gift. How many of us know people who are never satisfied, who are always chasing after some accomplishment or milestone that will give them a sense of purpose? It’s exhausting and frustrating to build your life around titles or accomplishments or image.

I will not leave you as orphan: The felling of absence is nothing but the absence of God. When God is absence you realize you feel lonely. Without Jesus Christ, you feel like an orphan.

John 16:32 “Indeed, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”

John 14:27b “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

“I think loneliness is an innate signal that a need is not being met, similar to hunger or thirst,” says Dr Michelle Lim. (Chair of the Australian Coalition to End Loneliness.) Who feels lonelier in this world? women or men? 47% of women feel lonely in this world and 36% of men feel lonely. 44 million people feel lonely or one in 3 U.S. adults 45 and older are lonely, according to AARP statistic survey. It is the contrast. Our God is the God of widows, and God of orphans. When Jesus commanded us to love one another as he loved us, he was removing our own agenda and priorities and replacing them with his own. The moment you accept Jesus as your Lord, your life purpose becomes loving others like Jesus did. No title or accomplishment can provide the joy and satisfaction of putting love into action on behalf of others.

Psalm 146:9 “The Lord watches over the strangers; he relieves the fatherless and widow.”

The People of the Promise:

John 16:32 “You will also leave me alone, but I will not leave you alone. Unfaithful disciples.”

When you’re in leadership, it’s difficult to know whom to trust.

He needed to know which of his disciples would follow him, and which ones would give up and walk away. Which ones would fall at the sword for him.

And that’s a question we have to answer in the church today

The very first command Jesus made in the book of John 1: 43 when he told Philip, “Follow me.” his last command in John 21: 22, when he told Peter, “You must follow me.”