The Essence of Jesus with Us
Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz
John 14:15-24
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 “aHe who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
This narrative is placed in this section of John’s Gospel because the crucifixion is coming soon. To understand the narrative, you need to consider the culture of Jesus' day. Remember that Jesus used his cultural norms to explain how the Torah and Prophets' writing and laws worked to enhance a person’s life. If you think about an explanation a friend or family member is giving you, it will have the culture built into the statement.
So, what are we looking at? The culture of orphans is a key to understanding this narrative. The Near East did not have orphanages like we have today in the United States. Let us say that when a man died, his wife and children, who were not adults, lost their income and protection. The widow would seek her father, hoping he would take her back into the family and support and protect her family. As a grandparent, you would think that it was an easy decision. I hate to tell you this, but it was not. Taking in a family, even though it is your flesh and blood, was not easy. Where would the family get the extra food that was needed? Therefore, taking in a family could put such a burden on the family unit that it could cause it family to fall apart.
I know that sounds cruel to you. During Jesus' time, widows either went back to their father's home or worked to support themselves and their children. Many times, the only work a widow could find was to become a prostitute. The world’s oldest profession gave various women the opportunity to take care of their families, especially widows. It is a said story that women were treated this way. However, I must remind you that the 21st century views widows and orphans differently.
Now wait a moment. You may think that in Leviticus there are laws about taking care of widows and children. Yes, they are written. However, we all know, even today, there are laws which are constantly broken and laws that are not enforced even by the government.
The Leviticus code does not consider that a family might not support growth in the family. A man and wife would have many children. That would make it difficult to blend into another family. Rich people did not have these problems. Yes, it was the poor who had to struggle.
Now that you know the cultural background, let us interpret Jesus' words in this passage. Being orphaned by a rabbi (a teacher) was not the same as losing one’s parent as a child. Jesus used a powerful example to explain that even when he was physically gone from the Earth that his disciples would have a guide who would take his place.
Let me be clear about the Holy Spirit. In some literature, you will find the word Shekinah (a Hebrew word). The Shekinah is the Holy Spirit. Christianity early on changed the name. Whether you say Holy Spirit of Shekinah, you are referring to the helper Jesus was discussing. The Holy Spirit was always with the people. They did not know how to access the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The full understanding of the Holy Spirit came to Jesus’ followers on the day we call “Pentecost.” The Holy Spirit directed the earliest disciples and followers to do the work that Jesus left them. That work was the evangelism of the Gospel to the world. What they would say and how they did it was instilled into their souls that day.
Jesus’ promise of his essence with us is the Holy Spirit. I know that many of you have heard preachers and evangelists personify Jesus. The phrase “Jesus’ hands are upon you” is such a phrase. Let me say this before I continue. If you imagine that the physical Jesus is holding on to you, then you keep that image. There are people who told me over the 25 years of pastoral work they cannot feel Jesus’ touch. This part of the message is for them and perhaps you will also be touched.
The physical touch of Jesus will not happen. He ascended into Heaven. Revelation says he will return. Oh, yes so does Matthew, Mark and Luke. But for us right now how do we come to understand this? It is the Holy Spirit who you are feeling. Since Christianity has a triune God when you feel the Holy Spirit lifting your soul you are being lifted by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Everything that Jesus said and what is taught is expressed through the Holy Spirit and through those of us who are disciples. We are the body of Jesus. What this means is that we are to act in the same manner that Jesus’ would act if he was physically here. When we do this the essence of Jesus’ teachings flows through us. This is important to do because when we behave like Jesus, we are helping to spread the Gospel.
Take a moment here to clear your mind of every thought. A nice feature of the LORD’s universe is that we exist in the physical world, but we can see into the spiritual world. There are people who are better at it than others. If you cannot see Jesus before you, that is ok. He is there! I can say that because of Jesus’ words in this passage.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are always with you. The mechanism to talk to the LORD is called prayer. Simple, is it not? So, my challenge to you is to offer a prayer to feel Jesus’ love in your life. As a follower of Jesus Christ wait for the blessing to come down upon you. Do not get discouraged if it is not an instant response. Remember that the disciples waited ten days after the ascension to have the power of the Holy Spirit.
May the LORD bless you every day. May the Holy Spirit become your guide into a successful future.
