Rev Motekiai Fakatou reflects on John 14:8–17

John 14 is part of Jesus’ four major addresses that he gave as he journeyed through earth: the Sermon on the Mount Mt 5 – 7, the parables of the Kingdom Mt 13, the Olivet Discourse Mt 24 – 25, and here in John, the Upper Room Discourse Jn 13 – 17.

When Jesus was at the Upper Room with his disciples, he knew his hour had come that he should leave this world to be with the Father. Jesus continued to teach the disciples how to live his way, the Christ way. He demonstrated this by washing their feet, demonstrating the acts of serving, giving and ministering to others. “Blessed are you if you do them.” Jn 13:17.

At the same time, Jesus knew they would abandon him. It must have been hard for Jesus to identify his betrayer. He predicts Peter’s denial of him, though Peter insists that he would lay down his life for Jesus. Jesus told him, most assuredly, "The rooster shall not crow until you have denied me three times.” Jn 13:38.

Unfortunately, Jesus foretold what would happen and his disciples did not fully understand the magnitude of challenges awaiting them. Hence, Philip asked Jesus to show them the father and that it would be sufficient for them. Philip’s words here are easy to understand because they represent the general human longing to gain a first-hand personal and practical confirmation of God’s presence.

In response to Philip, Jesus said, “Don’t you know me? I am the visible, tangible image of the invisible God and a complete revelation of what God is like.” To know Jesus is to know God. The search for God, for truth and life, ends in Christ. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor / Helper to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” Jn 14:14–17.

Jesus knew that the requirement of love and keeping his commands would necessitate a resource of divine proportions and accordingly he prayed that his followers would have another resource. We do not earn the Holy Spirit anymore than we earn our salvation. In the process of responding to the Son of God, we discover that Jesus has provided a divine agent to us for living in this world.

Throughout the gospels, Jesus’ disciples faced many challenges and persecutions, but the divine agent guided them to fulfil all they were given to do. We know in our own situations, within our families and churches, our communities, our country and globally, the scale of suffering and pain people endure.

The Helper Jesus offers to his disciples here seems to be the perfect answer that we seek to help our world, country, community, family and individual challenges, our suffering and pain.

The Helper will give us all we need to strengthen, heal and guide us, so that we are able to serve, give and minister to others. As the prophet Isaiah prophesied, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, and to proclaimfreedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” Is 61:1.

Like the disciples filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be given the strength to bring healing, hope, and salvation to a world filled with hurt, pain and turmoil.