John 14:15–21

15 ‘If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever—17 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. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 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.’

 

On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. John 14:20

When 14-year-old Jai felt depressed and sad, he turned to his youth leader. “Everyone has moments of feeling down,” explained the older man. “But there’s always someone there for you . . . Jesus. You’re not alone.” As Jai continued attending youth club, he placed his belief in Jesus. He concluded, “Jesus died for us, and he’s changed me for the good.” The boy attributes this change to the presence of Jesus: “I always knew he was there, but now Jesus is inside of me; he is part of me.”

Jai speaks of the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within him, which Jesus promised to His friends as He prepared them for life after His death. Jesus said He would ask the Father to send them “the Spirit of truth”, whom they would know because “he lives with you and will be in you” (JOHN 14:16–17). Even as Jesus dwells with the Father, so too will His friends dwell with Him: “On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (v. 20). This is a mystery, but Jack expresses it well when he says that Jesus is inside of him.

We too can look to Jesus for peace, calm and forgiveness. With Him living inside us, we know that He can and will change us for the good. Even as He has changed Jai.

How does knowing that Jesus lives within you make a difference to your daily life? How can you look to God for change and transformation?

Indwelling God, thank You for the grace to know and serve You. Help me to accept Your loving presence in my life.