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The Words of the Lord Jesus present us with a striking statement of the most astonishing personal and spiritual potential. Yet that potential appears to be all but totally lost in these days.

Lost! Why? Could it be because of ignorance? Or, indifference? Could it be that true spiritual sensitivity has been thoroughly anesthetized by disloyalty, compromise, and worldliness?

There are so many Christians who appear to be content with the feeble witness: "Thank God I know that I am saved and heaven is now my home!"

What then of the Word of the Lord Jesus, "The works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do"?(John 14: 12). What does it mean for a Christian to actually live and serve at that level, promised by the Lord?

Or, Paul's poignant prayer: "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death!"

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"? (Philippians 3: 10, 14).

The Lord Jesus was sharing with His disciples that night. It was the evening prior to the day on which He offered Himself in His sacrificial death on the cross. He was revealing to them the most exciting reality.

To them! And, to us! Truth about the incredible and glorious potential of our new life - in Him!

While this may be seen as a very simple statement of fact, this statement by the Lord Jesus does carry with it a most vital emphasis.

"These things!" That is all of the promises He has made to them during this most significant time of fellowship. All of His Word of strong assurance which He has shared with them.

"I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you!"(John 13: 15).

"Love one another, as I have loved you. . . By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples!"(13: 34, 35).

"I go to prepare a place for you! . . . I will come again and receive you unto Myself!"(14: 2, 3).

These are just some of the examples of this incredible series of statements. His expressions of the most vital truths as they related to their lives.

We must be very careful to notice the way in which the Lord Jesus is emphasizing this. It is "these things I have spoken unto you!"

It is so very crucial that we today really grasp what He is saying. This teaching, which is so glorious in the way in which it reveals the amazing potential of our Christian life, comes directly from the Lord Jesus Himself.

It was His personal Word to His disciples! It is His personal Word to us today.

They heard Him as He spoke in such total love to them. As He was enabling them to see more and more of the wonder of God's plan for their lives. More and more of the glory involved in faithfully serving Him.

He is quite specific in His reminder. This is MY WORD to you. My Word is always My Father's Word. Thus, every detail of what you have heard is a vital part of the Father's will for you and your life.

Do we, today, really grasp what all this actually means for us? For our lives? For our service? That every promise is, in fact, His personal promise to us? Every Word of assurance is His Word which He personally is speaking to us for our greatest personal benefit?

John wrote, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you" (1 John 1: 3).

Peter: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Peter 1: 16).

The disciples were personally present with the Lord Jesus when He spoke "These things"! During this entire series of events they had watched Him, observing all that He did, with their own eyes! They had listened to every Word which He spoke, with their own ears.

They knew, as witnesses who were actually personally present, that He spoke every Word.

As the Lord Jesus promised, they were enabled by the Holy Spirit. He faithfully brought every word to their remembrance. Enabling them to bring the Word to us in a most vital and exciting way. Each word is as excitingly alive today as it was when they first heard the Lord Jesus speak.

It is in this reality we see His significant concern. He wanted us to be assured. There was no room for either doubt or conjecture as to what He said or what He actually meant.

The disciples personally heard Him speak every word. They recorded all He said under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Which means, we know that He has given us the foundation which provides us with the strongest possible confidence.

His personal commitment to this Word of assurance is so wonderful. So crucial. So full of real inspiration.

"But the Comforter, Which is the Holy Ghost, Whom the Father will send in My Name."

Once again the Lord Jesus makes this vital truth so very clear for us. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and His Word, are so definitely and decisively one! They canot be said to be unrelated.

When the Lord Jesus first spoke of the coming of the Comforter we see this fact so strongly emphasized. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter." (John 14: 15, 16).

"And!" - so obviously links His Word, and our response to His Word, with the coming of the Comforter.

This same fact is unmistakable in these verses which we are now considering.

This is not just some insignificant, incidental detail. It is obviously a most crucial aspect of the teaching of the Lord Jesus.

"The Comforter, . . . even the Spirit of Truth!" "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost!" (John 14: 16, 17, 26).

Again, this difference is not the result of just wanting to have variety of expression. Rather, the Lord Jesus is emphasizing a most vital truth.

The Lord Jesus is progressively drawing aside the veil to reveal more and more of the incredible glory of: God The Holy Spirit. More and more of His ministry and mission in the Church and to the world.

"The Comforter" - "The Paraclete" - is "The Spirit of Truth." As both "The Comforter" and "The Spirit of Truth" He is: "the Holy Ghost," "the Holy Spirit!"

"The Spirit of Truth" emphasizes His unique oneness with the Lord Jesus who said, "I am The Truth!"

"Another Comforter" speaks of the fact that He comes as the One who is exactly like the Lord Jesus to be the representative of the Lord Jesus.

"The Holy Spirit" refers to His position of glory within the Godhead. He is: God: the Holy Spirit. Rightfully an essential and integral participant with God the Father and God the Son in that relationship which can neither be defined nor explained.

This reality should mean so very much to every Christian. The Lord Jesus is emphasizing this thrilling assurance. You have the absolute guarantee of My Word of promise.

To ensure that you will be able to effectively and continually apply My Word, you will have: The Comforter. The Holy Spirit Himself. He seeks to continually live in you.

The Lord Jesus uses this expression to state a most vital truth. His Word clearly emphasizes the complete unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in every particular.

"I (the Son) will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter (The Holy Spirit)."(v. 16).

Now, "The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My (the Son's) Name!"

For the Christian, this is a very strong and exciting witness to the total unity of both the plan and the purposes of God. The faithful commitment to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to complete all that which the Lord Jesus had come to accomplish.

"In My Name!" Which assures us that the Holy Spirit is in complete and thorough agreement with the character, purpose, and personality of the Lord Jesus. In His coming, the Holy Spirit's mission is to reveal and make real the character and personality of the Lord Jesus. Including His teaching. As well as the meaning and purpose of everything He said and did.

"In My Name" - also includes, with My personal authority. To act on My behalf and in My best interests.

"Another Comforter!" "Another" - exactly like Jesus. To live in us as the Advocate and Representative of the Lord Jesus.

"He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

The Lord Jesus continued to unfold His teaching concerning the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian.

The Father will send, at the Son's request, the Comforter, Who is the Spirit of Truth. He is the Holy Ghost Who will guide the disciple into all truth.

The Lord Jesus is using the term "all truth" in a special sense. It relates directly to the fact that He stated, "I am the Truth!" Also, "the Comforter, even the Spirit of Truth!"

The Lord is concerned that His disciples be able to personally grasp the vital significance of His teaching. Especially in the areas which involved their special relationship with Him.

That they understand what it really did mean to be His disciples. All of the wonder and the glory of that relationship. The challenge and the inspiration. The potential and the power. The incredible blessing and the amazing riches.

There was, there is, no truth that is more important. More significant. Especially to the Christian.

"He shall guide you!" Leading you step by step in your personal progress in this glorious spiritual pilgrimage.

This emphasis is so very crucial. The Holy Spirit guides the believer: into the fullness of all that which the Lord Jesus Himself has taught.

He has no "new" message. Certainly not a different message. Nor an additional message.

This fact emphasizes the total unity of the Word of God. The Word of the Father, the Word of the Son, and the Word of the Holy spirit are: ONE! Not three, but one!

The Lord Jesus clearly states that He always spoke the Word of the Father. He never deviated from that fact. He never had anything "new" or "different" to say. Never!

The same is true of the Holy Spirit. He always speaks the same Word. "Whatsoever I have said unto you!"

This is so very vital for us today. There are some who want to claim that they do have a "new revelation". "New"- in the sense that it adds to the Word of the Lord in the Bible. That is a lie!

Every Christian needs to saturate themselves in and with the Word of the Lord. That is all we need. Pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide you into that truth and all that it means in your life.

The Holy Spirit will take the Word of the Lord and enable the humble seeker to be able to grasp a fuller understanding of its meaning. Guiding such into the personal and continuing application of its message.

It is this reality which the Lord Jesus wanted his disciples to grasp. So that they could experience the full potential of His Word in personal life and service.

As Christians, we so often make unnecessary problems for ourselves. We are prone to do this when we fail to see a particular statement against its background. To ignore the context can have negative results.

This is true of this statement of the Lord Jesus in verse 27. Very often Christians will quote it in isolation, as though it is intended to stand alone. Yet if we are to actually understand the message of these words, we must take into account the statements which precede them.

This is a thrilling promise of peace. "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you." It is so very wonderful. So full of great comfort and assurance. It inspires within us a joyful spirit of praise and worship.

We would encourage one another by saying, "Just let this promise speak to your heart!"

But, How? The sincere Christian, who desires to have this peace, must ask that question.

How does the Lord Jesus leave His peace with His disciples? How can they, we, personally appropriate and experience this promise?

But, is that really what the Lord Jesus is saying? Or, does He, if fact, say far more? All of which must be taken into account!

"Peace I leave with you!" It would be so very tragic, so very limiting, if we failed to notice one vital fact. This promise so obviously rests on the foundation which the Lord Jesus Himself put in place.

What is that foundation? "The Comforter, Which is the Holy Ghost, . . . He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee."

The perfect peace is not seen in isolation. It is the result of: (a) The mind that is stayed on the Lord. And, (b) The evidence that the person is trusting in the Lord.

"Peace I leave with you!" That peace will be continually experienced by the heart and mind which is open and responsive to the indwelling Holy Spirit.

By the evidence of being actually and continually teachable. So that as the Holy Spirit is able to teach, He is also able to guide into all truth. He is able to make all that the Lord Jesus taught to be the living powerful truth in the life, continually.

Such peace is never experienced in isolation. It is personally appropriated as we continue to hear the Holy Spirit making the Word live. As we continue to fully trust the Word, and obey in genuine love.

It is of the utmost importance that we really do understand this crucial spiritual principle. To then continually live by it. Apply it.

"Peace" - is the direct and guaranteed by-product of the trusting faith which humbly responds and sincerely obeys the Word taught by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

This is a most striking statement. If only we really do begin to grasp the significance of all that He is saying. If we do, it will have a most astonishing impact on us. On every area of our lives. On all of our thinking. On all that we are and do.

"My peace!" How can we even begin to understand: "My peace"? What words could we use to provide an adequate definition?

We are utterly humbled by the incredible and indescribable glory of those words: "My peace!"

All we can offer is, It is perfect in every respect. In every way, it is all that He could desire.

Remember Isaiah's words, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, who mind is stayed on Thee, because He trusteth in Thee."

Perfect peace is the experience of a life in genuine and complete harmony with the Father. It is the mind continually stayed on the Father. Constantly trusting in Him. Always unshakable in unflinching trust in His Word and in His will. In His faithfulness and His sovereign sufficiency which will never fail.

That is the description of the actual relationship of the Son with the Father. At all times. The Lord Jesus always lived in that glorious reality.

He maintained the uninterrupted vision of all that the Father was doing. He always listened to everything the Father was saying.

He had every right to claim, "I and My Father are One!" (John 10: 30). He lived that out. Daily!

"And He that sent Me is with Me: for the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him" (John 8: 29).

This is perfect peace. It flows from the perfect harmony which was continually maintained in His relationship to His Father.

Notice the key word: "Always!" "I do always those things that please Him!"

At the grave of Lazarus the Lord Jesus prayed, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard Me! And I knew that Thou hearest Me always!" (John 11: 41, 42).

That is perfect peace. Never any room for either doubt or uncertainty. Rather, total confidence!

His mind was always stayed on God! Thus, His peace was, is, always perfect peace.

That is the peace which He leaves with His disciples. With us. Nothing less than His perfect peace!

Yet, so very often the "peace" which we claim to have falls so far short of His peace. Why is this so?

The problem is never with God. Nor is it with the perfect peace which the Lord desires to share with us daily. The problem is in us.

Notice how His perfect peace was maintained! It was as He continually kept God The Father at the center of everything. The constant focus of His life, His thoughts, His desires, His words and His actions. He refused to permit anything to ever distract or divert Him.

It is only as we continue to apply that singleminded commitment that we will know His peace.

"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." ALWAYS: "looking unto Jesus" (Hebrews 12: 1, 2).

He was always one with the Father. We must permit the Holy Spirit to so live in us that we will abide in Him.

He was confident that the Father always heard His prayer. He promises us, "If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it" (John 14: 14).

Yes, we can begin to experience: "His peace!" To press on into a deeper fuller experience of "His peace!"

"Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

We forget far too easily how much this world does influence us. How extensively it does impact on how we think and respond.

Paul was well aware of this problem. "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12: 2).

Why did the Lord Jesus say, "Not as the world giveth"? Because our thinking has been so extensively conditioned by the way in which the world does give!

In this fact we have a key reason for so many Christians who remain spiritually immature. Whenever they hear the promises of the Lord, their response is always conditioned by the attitudes of the world.

The world says, "Promises are made to be broken." This modern age has adopted that response as a defense mechanism. So, immature Christians allow that to influence their response to the promise of the Lord.

Scepticism and unbelief come so naturally. This is the result of all we see and experience. In politics. In Business. In personal life, including marriage.

That is the way people have been conditioned to think. So, that is the way so many respond to the Word of the Lord.

Some may call it, "Healthy scepticism!" Yet it is so very unhealthy when it adversely effects our response to the promise of the Lord.

The Lord is infinitely faithful! He will always prove true to His promise, even though heaven and earth pass away!

The world gives - with ulterior motives. "What's the catch?" What strings are attached?

The Lord Jesus is always totally open about the peace He gives. Every detail is so clear and plain. There are no hidden "hooks".

The Lord Jesus gives, so that the one who receives can enjoy the gift for all of time and eternity.

Yes, if we insist on it, we can renounce His gifts. But He always gives with the love which longs that we will always continue to keep and be blessed by His gift.

Do not allow any anxious cares to intrude into your heart. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3: 5, 6).

It is important to notice the emphasis which Jesus puts on this. "Let!" There are things which can happen, only if we let them happen.

If our hearts become troubled, disturbed by turmoil, it is because we "let" that happen! If fear is able to gain a foot-hold, we have permitted it to do so.

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip" (Hebrews 2: 1).

"We let them slip!" We can allow ourselves to begin to drift from the secure anchorage of His perfect peace.

When Peter had his eyes on the Lord Jesus, by faith he walked on the water. When he "let" his eyes be distracted by the storm, he began to sink.(see Matthew 14: 27 - 33).

The Lord calls for the serious discipline of faith and obedience. Diligent alertness which is committed to always keep: "Looking unto Jesus!"

Then, no trouble or turmoil will be able to invade the heart. Peace, His peace, will reign.

"Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for My Father is greater than I."

"And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."

There are a number of exciting reasons for the Lord adding: "If you loved Me, you would rejoice!"

First, "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: 2, 3).

His Word of promise is the guarantee on which the believer's eternal hope and glory are fixed.

Then: "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).

The amazing potential of the Christian's service is the direct result of His assurance that He is going to the Father.

Also, "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever" (John 14: 16).

As He goes to the Father the Son assures us that the Holy Spirit will come to fill us. To equip us for service for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

"If you loved Me, ye would rejoice." He does give the disciples, and us, every reason to rejoice in knowing that He is returning to the Father.

"I come again to you!" Yes! He will come in infinite glory and majesty. Those who love Him look forward with indescribable joy to that amazing moment.

He also comes, in the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals Him. Glorifies Him. Enables us to continually abide in Him. Knowing Him in the deepest and richest personal fellowship.

He comes, in response to our sincere love expressed in genuine obedience. "If a man love Me, he will keep My Words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 14: 23).

"If ye loved Me, you would rejoice!" He gives us every reason to rejoice!

The Lord Jesus continually and totally honored the Father. He always pleased the Father. Did His will.

He would go to the Father knowing that the Father would honor His prayer, "And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was" (John 17: 5).

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name: That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow. . . . And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2: 9 - 12).

"If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice!" "With Joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1: 8).

Now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."

He knew that His word would be fully authenticated. Every detail He revealed would take place.

As they saw the fulfillment, their faith would be greatly strengthened. This was the actual effect. Even as it should have the same effect with us today.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10: 17).

He inspires us to give the most careful attention to every detail of His Word. Claim all by faith. Assuring us that such faith will be gloriously honored. His Word never fails. His promises are utterly trustworthy. We receive, as He promised!

As the direct result our faith grows stronger. Our confidence in His Word increases. We rejoice in Him.

"Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me."

These very special moment, for Jesus and the disciples, would soon be over. Did they understand that fact? Knowing that should have increased the intensity of their interest.

"The prince of this world cometh." The devil was already involved. He was gathering his forces, his vast host of collaborators.

Allied to the devil were the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees, along with almost all of the religious leaders. Judas had willingly enlisted in their cause.

The Lord Jesus knew all of this. The involvement and the activities of the forces of evil can never be concealed from Him. He always knows!

That fact places the Christian who walks with the Lord in the position of great advantage. Our Lord is never taken by surprise. Never!

The Lord knew that the devil "has nothing in Me!" There was nothing in Him that the devil could use against Him. No sin. No disobedience. Nothing.

The devil would attempt to do his worst. Yet he was defeated even before he started. The Lord Jesus knew that His victory was absolutely sure!

Remember, while we are content to abide in Christ, the devil can find nothing in us to use against us!

Therefore: continue to abide in Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to continually fill you. Then there will be nothing the enemy can use. He is defeated.

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not!" (1 John 5: 18). He cannot touch that one. He has nothing to get hold of!

"But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."

In this verse the Lord Jesus gives us a most striking example of His teaching. He said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments."(John 14: 15). Our obedience to His Word is witness to our love for Him.

His witness to the world that He loves the Father is His obedience to His Father's commandment.

He was doing exactly what He requires us to do! This was His way of honoring the Father before man.

This is the way we must prove our love for Him and our commitment to honor Him. The love which obeys!

Notice His emphasis: "Let us go hence!" He was inviting the disciples to walk with Him. To be with Him, even in the place of the most glorious demonstration of His total obedience to the Father!

He still says that to us today. Go with Me to the place of total genuine loving obedience. Go with Me, to Gethsemane. To Golgotha. You go with Me in faithful commitment to My Word, even at the cost of the most humiliating sacrifice!

There is no other way for true love to go! No other response which expresses the love He demands from us!

As we abide in Him, daily we will hear Him say, "Arise, let us go hence!" In love for Him we will arise and go, wherever He leads. Whatever the cost.

It is thus that we keep our focus on His all-sufficient Word. Concentrating on hearing Him. Responding to Him in the love that goes all the way.

That is allowing the Holy Spirit to make the Word of the Lord live in power in our lives. In our service