(Jesus said,) "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."
"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."
Questions for engaging the text:
- What do I observe" What am I seeing" Does this passage raise questions for me?
- Is anything attracting me, drawing my attention, or repulsing me?
-What response is emerging within me? What is my response to what is attracting me?***
-In what ways might I specifically act on my insights in the world
*** 1st three questions taken from The Art of Engaging Holy Scripture curriculum (see resources).
I really want to hear from you. Thank you for clicking on "Comments" below and adding your responses. Debra
I observe that Jesus is saying good-bye to the disciples, but he is not going to leave them with troubled hearts or full of fear. Jesus makes the incredible promise that he and the Father will send the Spirit of Truth to be “in” the disciples. That must have sounded strange and confusing to the disciples. How could this be?
ReplyDeleteI am attracted to Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit, “will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” It sounds as if Jesus was saying he had not taught the disciples everything. It seems that the Spirit does two things: reminds the disciples, and reminds me, of the things that Jesus taught – and – the Spirit continues to teach new things. I love the promise that the Revelation of Truth continues with the disciples and me and all believers.
I wonder what new things the Spirit has to teach me? I wonder how I can be sure that it is the Holy Spirit teaching me and not my imagination? Gracious Lord, please help me to recognize the movement of Your Spirit of Truth and please give me Your peace. Amen
If the Spirit really abides or lives in believers and continues to “teach everything” then I wonder how the Spirit is moving and working in the world today? I wonder what the Spirit is teaching? This week I want to try and find out. Every day I am going to read the front page of the newspaper and ask, “What is the Holy Spirit teaching?” I will let you know what I discover. Debra