No Substitute by Maria Hartman

John 14: 15-18
This is absolutely amazing! Jesus is preparing His disciples for the time when they will not see Him anymore. His sacrifice is fast approaching; the cross looms in the shadows. I can't imagine what it was like for the disciples. What did they think, what did they feel? Jesus knew.

He answered the cry of their hearts even if the words never made it to their lips.
In v. 15-17 He told them, "If you love me, keep my commandments. 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 you know him; for he dwelleth with you,and shall be in you.

If I was there, I believe I would have said, "Don't go Jesus; we don't want anyone else, it's YOU we need!" Maybe they felt something like that inside, for in v. 18 Jesus so lovingly tells them what they need to hear most. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

The astounding truth of this passage recently became clear to me: The Father knew that no substitute would do, therefore Christ would leave, but His Spirit would come. Not less of Him but more. They parted with Him physically, but they received Him in greater measure when His Spirit took up residence IN them. Although He was leaving, He was staying; permanently joined with each of them in a union which could never be broken.

Friends, you and I have been given what John and Peter and Luke were given; the Spirit of the Living God! We who are His have first hand knowledge of the Father because the Son left His Spirit for us. What provision!

God brought life out of death and accomplished this with such enormous magnitude so that His purposes would be fulfilled for all of eternity. He didn't take Christ from the disciples, instead He gave Him to the entire world! Praise God for His goodness to us!

For today: God left His Spirit on earth to accomplish many things, one of which is to reveal the will of the Father to all believers. Acts 26:18 reminds us of our mission, and the Spirit empowers us to carry it out . I now send you, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.