Today we are continuing our conversation through the Book of John.

The section we are in right now, chapters 14-17, is a section of Jesus’ final directives, encouragements, focusing statements and promises to His disciples and in turn to us.

There is repetitive focus on these themes: You know the way to God, it is Me. Knowing Jesus is knowing God. If you know God, you will keep commandments. I am sending the Spirit to you, an advocate.

We are in the final sprint to John’s objective:

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)

Last week we saw Jesus encouraging His disciples. He told them, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:4) You know the way. You know it. You know the truth. You know the life. You know!!!

Jesus continued:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, (and I know you do) you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

The disciples were in an emotional roller coaster as Jesus is talking about His soon departure, betrayals and denying. And Jesus brings it back into focus again: You know the way because you know Me.

My faith says that this wasn’t an idea reserved for just the disciples. Jesus is looking at you and me today, as we are His disciples: You know the way to God because you know Me.

Today Jesus looks into the eyes of his disciples and says:

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” (John 14:15-17)

Today we are talking about the advocate--the Spirit. Next week we will be talking about obedience to these commands.

So before we dive into this, let me have you work through something. It’s different today than it was 50 years ago, or even 10 years ago. Relationship in proximity and/or over distance is different now. There haven’t always been free WiFi calls across oceans, video calls, email, texting, Snapchat and Whatsapp.

For some of you, you might remember having to pay your long distance phone bill at the end of the month. But these things, tools, didn’t mean that relationship over distance was impossible.

How do (did) people do healthy relationships from afar?

How do (did) people help others from afar?

Let me ask you another question out of that conversation. What motivates relationship even when there is physical separation? What motivates relationship where it isn’t “out of sight, out of mind”?

Why do some relationships thrive even when there is physical separation over time?

John is repeatedly stating concepts that are simple to repeat. But living them out, incorporating them into life--these concepts are exceedingly complicated.

Jesus is about to say:

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. (John 14:15-16)

This, in our preparation, brought us to several conversations on abandonment. I am going to give you some time to work through a micro focus group on abandonment. The definition of abandoned is simple. Abandoned: having been deserted or cast off.

Abandonment is part of the human experience. Everyone has dealt with it on some level, some much more than others. Keep that in mind as we have conversations today--that you and I have experienced it and are the experts.

On a piece of paper, I want you to work through a few things surrounding abandonment. The purpose of a micro focus group is to get our ideas formulized so that we can respond, react, reflect, use the information. So I am going to give you a few minutes to work.

Write your thoughts out on your paper, as much as possible. For the word abandoned: what are the causes? short term impacts? long term impacts? feelings?

Now we are going to turn the table to look at the opposite of abandoned. Maybe that’s connected, or stuck with, or in relationship. Let’s do the micro focus group process again. With your antonym: what are the causes? short term impacts? long term impacts? feelings?

Now that we have done this process, let’s put our insight out there.

What insights and/or perspective do you get as you put these focus group results next to each other?

As we continue our conversation, think about these perspectives and differences. What are the most striking differences between abandonment or it’s opposite?

We have talked about relationship from afar and about what motivates relationship from afar. We have talked about the similarities and differences of being abandoned and not being abandoned. Now we bring Jesus’ words into our perspective.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:15-21)

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:25-27)

What is the Holy Spirit? What is Jesus talking about? I love what Zach said in our preparation: “Spend an hour on the internet trying to figure out what the Holy Spirit is and you will be wrecked and more confused than ever!”

But let’s just bring the things that John says in these verses to the surface. Advocate. With you forever. You know Him. He lives within you. A teacher. A reminder. Peace.

Think about this list in connection with your life, not just as information from a book. We’ll jump into this question in a minute, but how have you seen the Holy Spirit work in your life in the form of these attributes?

Maybe you’re thinking, “I have no idea” or “I don’t know who/what the Holy Spirit is.” You’re not alone! I (Zach) have had this thought many many times. Keep having conversations. Even through my own wonderings and questions and frustrations and doubts I’ve seen God to be someone who is very interested in conversation and very interested in revealing to us who He is and specifically how the Holy Spirit works with us.

Jesus is looking into the eyes and hearts of His disciples. Here is this moment of physical presence, but things are about to change. 

These guys were with Jesus for 3 years. They only knew life with Him, and now He’s saying that He’s leaving but that the Holy Spirit will be all of this list of things for them.

For me, that would feel like a bomb was dropped.

But you will not be abandoned. You will not be left alone. You will not be an orphan. The Holy Spirit will be present with you, forever, as an advocate. You know Him; He lives within you. He’s a teacher, a reminder, peace.

How do you see the Holy Spirit embodying these attributes today?

• Advocate
• With you forever
• You know Him
• He lives within you
• A teacher
• A reminder
• Peace

Christianity can just be a thing to do, a thing I work on, or just a label. But is a relationship with Christ something I need? Jesus is looking into the eyes of His disciples, and He knew they needed Him.

And things were about to change. The character of God is about to shine. I am not going to abandon you.

Which of these do I need? And how do I receive them?

• Advocate
• With you forever
• You know Him
• He lives within you
• A teacher
• A reminder
• Peace

Here is a final dialogue question that brings this all together: What do you need from God? It is important that we notice some things that can stand in the way of this conversation. It has been fascinating, in our preparation, to talk about these two things that can derail this process: I don’t need and I don’t deserve.

I don’t need anything from God: I got it. I have to do it. It is up to me. I can’t trust anyone else. Success and health is in not needing. I don’t need.

There is also I don’t deserve: Why would God care? Why would God help? I am not worthy. I don’t matter. I am not cared for. I have not done enough. I have done too much. I don’t deserve.

Processing both, we hopefully come to a point of either seeing our need for God or seeing what He says we deserve.

Working through “I don’t need” and “I don’t deserve,” what do you need from God?

• Advocate
• With you forever
• You know Him
• He lives within you
• A teacher
• A reminder
• Peace

Take It Deeper Questions:

• Read John 14:15-31.
• Who are some people that you are confident will never abandon you? Why?
• What attribute of the Holy Spirit, mentioned here, is the most meaningful, wanted and/or needed by you? Why? Advocate, With you forever, You know Him, He lives within you, A teacher, A reminder, and Peace
• How have you seen these attributes lived out in the past?
• How are you challenged, focused, confused, and/or encouraged by this text?

Bible Reading Plan:

• Leviticus 13
• Leviticus 14
• John 17
• John 18
• John 19
• John 20
• John 21