"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name, he
shall teach you all things, and bring all things
to your remembrance, whatsoever I have
said unto you" John 14:26

The disciples had almost forgotten about the
Holy Spirit and Jesus had to remind them.

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give
you another Comforter, that he may abide
with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth;
whom the world cannot receive, because it
seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye
know him; for he dwelleth with you, and
shall be in you. I will not leave you confort-
less: I will come to you" John 14:16-18

Jesus knew that all He had said to His disciples
was a big mystery to them. They didn't know
how they could do the things He had done; OR
how He was going to be able to do these thing
for them after He was gone.

Jesus then let them in on a secret. John the
Baptist had fortold that Christ when He would
come would baptize them in the HOLY SPIRIT!

How were the disciples to do these works of
Jesus and even greater than He had done?

The secret was in that Name!

They were to be given power of authority to
do what He had done. They were to act in His
stead [place] that is in His Name:
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified
in the Son" John 14:13

"Verily, verily I say unto you, he that believeth
on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I
go unto my Father" John 14:12

These words must have seemed unreal to the
disciples. Sure, they had seen with their own eyes
the miracles that Jesus did. No man had ever done
these works before.

Now Jesus was telling them that they would do
them and all believers would be able to do what
He was doing! And even greater works they would
do!

Philip, who seemed rather slow in spiritual
understanding said, "Lord, shew us the Father,
and it sufficeth us."

That was a disappointment to Jesus, and He
said to him, if He had been with them so long
and he had not known Him, for "he that hath
seen me hath seen the Father" John 14:9.

Merry Christmas 2010

Jesus told the disciples not to be troubled, they
knew where He was going and the way. But not
Thomas, he didn't know where Jesus was going
nor the way. Apparently he was thinking it was
some earthly way.

Jesus corrected his thinking and showed him
that the way He was speaking of was spiritual.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth
and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me" John 14:6

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in
God, believe also in me. In my Father's house
are many mansions: if it were not so, I would
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again and receive you unto myself, that
where I am, there ye may be also"
John 14:1-3

These words are commonly quoted by many
ministers at funerals.

But Jesus told His disciples that He was going
to go and prepare a place for them and then
He would come back to receive them to Him-
self.

Peter became very sullen at Jesus' words and
fell silent. Then Jesus continued on with His
teaching.

He now was about to speak to His disciples as
a dying father might speak to his sad children.

Jesus had prayed for Peter that his faith would
not fail. His prayer would make the difference.

When Peter repented and was fully converted,
would strengthen his brethren.

Later we see Peter in 1 Peter 5:10 doing that
very thing: "But the God of all grace, who hath
called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after that ye have suffered a while, make you
perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you"

Jesus knew that the possibility of Peter becom-
ing His first apostle or a fallen apostle was very
iffy.

He told Peter that Satan had desired to have
him that he might sift him as wheat. "And the
Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath
desired to have you, that he may sift you as
wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy
faith fail not: and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren" Luke 22:31-32