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TEXT: John 14 Today we are beginning a six week journey to the cross and to Easter Resurrection. Each week we will look at a different chapter of the Gospel of John, starting today with John 14 and progressing through to the John 20 account of Resurrection on Easter morning. All these events take place during the last 12 hours before the Crucifixion, so in effect we are stretching out “Holy Week” and walking through it slowly with Jesus and the disciples. Today we are looking at the theme of comfort. Jesus has just had the Last Supper and washed the feet of his disciples. He has given them the “love command” and now is talking about going away. The disciples are getting understandably worried about him and what is about to happen. And so in this chapter he encourages them and offers them the extraordinary comfort of the Holy Spirit. He has told them that he is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” and that “no one comes to the Father but through me.” He has announced that the reason for leaving is that he may return to be with the Father. And so the questions pour out, “What about us? Who will lead us? Who will teach us? How will we get to the Father?” Their professional lives as fishermen, tax collector, and otherwise were shot. They were now inextricably linked to this revolutionary teacher. And now he was leaving. I certainly would have thought: “I feel helpless and alone, and I just don’t know what to do!” Those questions are why this chapter is often used in funeral services to offer comfort and hope to the family and friends of someone who has died. For the same reason and the same questions it’s also a timely theme for us now, still in the midst of COVID, still in the midst of a world turned upside down, still wondering what is coming next and whether we’ll be okay. Jesus didn’t just offer this comfort to the disciples, but to all who believe in and follow him. This is a good word and one I am eager to share with you today. HELP – you have help in Christ “I feel so helpless.” Have you ever uttered or thought those words?? I have! Things spin out of control; things are bigger than me; things are beyond my strength or power. We spend a lot of energy wrapping ourselves in security, strength, power, and safety. That makes it all the more terrifying when all that is shattered and we have to whisper out a desperate “Help.” The disciple Peter has said, “Why can’t I come with you?” Thomas has said, “How will we find you?” Philip has said, “How can we find the Father?” Who will help them? Or we face loss of income, loss of health, problems and breaks in relationship, injustice, discouragement, depression. It is so easy to feel helpless. And Jesus answers… I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may be with you forever. (v.16) A Helper sent from God the Father… that sounds good! Tell us more… That Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him… but YOU know Him because He abides (lives) with you and will be IN you. (v.17) Here’s the promise of help! God the Father sends the Holy Spirit of truth as Help! And wrapped up in that promise are three very comforting statements in verse 17: “You know Him” – If you have trusted in Jesus Christ, the Father has sent this same Holy Spirit to you as Help. If you know Jesus Christ, then Jesus says you know the Spirit. That is simply part of the eternal truth that God is One in Three! Jesus, the Son, shows us the Father, who sends His Spirit to us. If you trust in Christ, you know the Spirit!“He abides with you” – If you are a Christian, you not only know the Holy Spirit, you have the Spirit. More than that, He abides with you… God lives with you! That’s what ‘abide’ means – God stays and remains and makes a home with you. You have the Spirit. You have help!“And He will be in you” – Even closer than living WITH you, the Holy Spirit lives IN you. God’s Spirit lives in your l