But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name.

John 20:31

Jesus could not remain on this earth forever in His earthly body. He was born to die. But He promised His disciples that He would not leave them alone. How could He both leave and remain? That’s where the Holy Spirit comes in.

Show Us the Father (vv. 7-11)

Philip was a man of few words, but on this occasion he spoke up, requesting of Jesus, “Show us the Father.” But the Lord said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. Believe Me, I am in the Father, and the Father in Me.” It doesn’t get any plainer than that. If Jesus is not God, then He is a blasphemer. But Jesus is God. He is God the Son, and He is one with God the Father.

The Comforter (vv. 16-20, 25-27)

Jesus truly loved His disciples, and as a man it must have hurt to know He would soon have to part from them. True, He was fulfilling His purpose on this earh—to give His righteousness in exchange for our sin. But though it was right, and though it was settled before the foundation of the earth, that did not make it easy. We can take comfort in this whenever we too are separated from our loved ones.

But Jesus could do something we cannot do. He could send the Holy Spirit to take His place among us. No more would He walk, eat, sleep, and talk with them. But through the gift of the Holy Spirit He would do something even better—He would live inside of each one of us who has received His gift of salvation. The Holy Spirit will never leave us; and He’s not just with us, but He’s in us—guiding us in our choices, convicting us of our sin, strengthening us in our weakness, and comforting us in our grief. When Jesus walked the earth, He limited Himself to being in one place at a time. But the Holy Spirit is everywhere at all times. We don’t have to wait our turn. He is available to all who call upon Him. What a comfort! What a Comforter!

Love and Obedience (vv. 15, 21-24)

“If you love Me, keep My commandments,” Jesus said. And what are His commandments? Love God and love others. If we will do these two things perfectly, we will have no need for any other laws. For if we love God, we will not worship idols, or take God’s name in vain, or desecrate the Sabbath Day. And if we love others as we love ourselves, we will not lie, cheat, steal, kill, envy, or commit adultery.

These are important lessons that Jesus wanted His disciples to know, and us too, by extension. The world cannot see Jesus, but they can see us. Do they see Jesus in you? Do they see Jesus in me?

Up in the sky, thousands of miles away, is a big, cold, pock-marked rock. It has no beauty of its own. And yet poets proclaim its praises. Lovers gaze upon it. Songs have been written about it. Why? What makes the moon so appealing to us? Is it not the way it reflects the light of the sun?

Even so, you and I are just plain, ordinary people. But when we reflect the light of the Son, perhaps some will find us beautiful. It will be His beauty that they see. Are you reflecting God’s light into this dark world? That’s what they need.

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This week’s reading:

John 15

This week’s memory verse

I am the vine, you are the branches: He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

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Photo taken at Princess Beach in Destin, Florida, 2019