It has been said that we all have abandonment issues to one degree or another.Today, Jesus pushes that button, telling His disciples that He is going away only a few days after He washes their feet.
Slowly read and reflect on what follows.
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“Dear, dear children, how brief are these moments before I must go away and leave you! Then, though you search for me, you cannot come to me—just as I told the Jewish leaders.”
Simon Peter said,”Master, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.
Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming.
When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there.”
“No, we don’t,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me.
“If you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you.
He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, for it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, for he lives with you now and someday shall be in you.
No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm—I will come to you.
In just a little while I will be gone from the world, but I will still be present with you. For I will live again—and you will too.When I come back to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.But when the Father sends the Comforter instead of me—and by the Comforter I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I myself have told you.
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives.
So don’t be troubled or afraid.Remember what I told you—I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, for now, I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am.I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do, you will believe in me.
I don’t have much more time to talk to you, for the evil prince of this world approaches. He has no power over me,but I will freely do what the Father requires of me so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.”
John 13:33; 14:1-30 TLB
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