Cat cafe in Vienna. What do they feed cats in Europe?

Promises 

John 14.18-31 

These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrances all that I said to you.  

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 

There was a second apostle named Judas. He’s known as Judas (not Iscariot). Now in history, he is recognized as who he wasn’t. Not for who he was. Bummer. He was named Judas before it was a bad thing to name your son Judas. This section is a response to Judas’s (not Iscariot) question: 

Lord, what then has happened that you are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world? Verse 22.  

This is, I would say, a good question. The lesser known Judas is probably the quiet, thoughtful one that doesn’t get a lot of attention like James, John and Peter. But He asks a compelling question. He is understanding that things are about to change. Jesus has been preaching to the masses and His ministry is about to end. Why? asks Judas. 

It is now time for Jesus to pass on the mantle of leadership to His chosen ones, the disciples. The disciples in return will preach and teach and develop other disciples who will then develop other disciples. This multiplying of disciples will go on until Jesus comes again. Jesus is pouring His final words, his very heart and soul, into these 11 men (Judas Iscariot has already departed). Jesus’ strategy to reach the world was about multiplication. Start small and multiple. 

From 1974-1977, our Youth Pastor, Dave, mentored and discipled four of us bone-headed guys throughout our high school years. Dave gave attention to all the youth but he spent a considerable amount of time with me, David, Jeff and Bud. Looking back, I can now see that God was very kind and gracious to us with his hand upon each of us, using Dave to pour into us a love for God’s word and a heart for ministry. David, Jeff and Bud are pastors and have been in full-time vocational ministry since college graduation. I took the business path but what was planted within me through the mentoring of Dave has born much fruit. Between the four of us, mostly them, we have discipled many who have discipled others and so on. 

Jesus said, I am going to disclose myself to those who love me, abide in me and keep my commandments.  Jesus is about to depart from them and depart this world and they are afraid. But the promises of Jesus in this section are “off the charts”. He told them the intimate, tender and powerful presence of Himself in their lives is coming! It is coming first for these disciple’s, who will turn the world upside down, and thereafter, continuously for us as believers. 

In order for them to continue Jesus’ work and ministry, Jesus gives them three promises: 

1. I (Jesus) will live within you. Jesus says to them, We (the Trinity) will make our home within you who love Us. In verse 20, Jesus says, In that day you will know that I am IN My Father, and you IN Me, and I IN you. Three times we see “in” used. There is no “outside”. Now, basic logic teaches us that two separate things can’t be inside each other at the same time. If I am inside my car, my car can’t also be inside me. But Jesus doesn’t care about human logic for this illustration. Jesus is inside us and we are inside Him. It is a closeness and intimacy that transcends human logic. Glow for a moment in the absolute security you have as a follower of Jesus. Perhaps your religion has taught you that the presence of God in your life comes and goes depending upon your behavior. No, He is always with you. He never will leave you. His home is with you even when you wander and go astray. It is absolute closeness that stays with us for eternity. There’s a whole lot of “in” and no “outside”. Wow!!! 

We’ll look at the other two promises tomorrow. 

Lord, sometimes we need to focus on our responsibility to be obedient to you. But this morning we are just going to rest in Your promises. You are not only with us but You are imminently close. Close beyond our understanding. Why should we fear? Why should we fret? May the peace of God be upon my readers who have given themselves in humble acceptance of you, by faith. Shed Your grace upon us. Amen!