Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel narrative of the life and ministry of Jesus the Christ written and recorded by the apostle John. More specifically, today’s passage is found in chapters fifteen through seventeen of this New Testament book. When and as you read the words which are found within these chapters you will find Jesus teaching and speaking unto the disciples concerning His departure from this earth and His subsequent return unto the Father. The thirteenth chapter of the gospel narrative written by the apostle John presents us with the truth that the hour had come for Jesus to return unto His Father which was in heaven, and that He had not only come from God, but also that He went to God. The narrative found in the opening verses of the thirteenth chapter brings us face to face with the absolutely powerful truth that Jesus the Christ knew that the time and hour of His departure had come for Him to return unto the Father which was in heaven, and that the path unto the Father would lead Him through the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus recognized and understood that the path of returning unto the Father which was in heaven would lead directly and straight through suffering and death, and that He would ultimately die upon a cruel Roman cross where His physical body would be hung for six hours on one Friday before it would ultimately be taken down from the cross and buried in a borrowed tomb. Jesus knew, recognized and understood that the hour had indeed come for Him to return unto the Father which was in heaven, and that directly associated and connected with His return unto the Father, and the glory that would come with it would lead Him directly through suffering and death upon the cross. It’s actually quite remarkable and astounding to think about and consider the fact that Jesus’ return unto the Father would not and could not take place without and apart from suffering and death, and that the only way to the Father was through suffering and death. What makes this even more remarkable is when you think about the declaration that Jesus emphatically declared that no man could come unto the Father except through Him. It would be when speaking unto the disciples Jesus would indeed and emphatically declare that He was indeed the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that if any man wished to come unto the Father they must needs come directly through Him.

            This reality of no man being able to come unto the Father but by and through Jesus the Christ Himself is quite powerful—particularly and especially when you think about and consider the fact that the path of Jesus unto the Father which was in heaven would lead directly through suffering and death. It is absolutely necessary and imperative that we recognize and understand that Jesus’ own path and return unto the Father would lead Him through suffering, through death, and through burial before experiencing resurrection from the dead, and ultimately ascending unto the right hand of the Father which was in heaven. Jesus knew and understood that although His hour had come for Him to return unto the Father He would and not return unto the Father except by first walking through the valley of the shadow of death and through suffering. Jesus knew that He must needs return unto the Father, however, before He would and before He could return unto the Father He must first walk through and experiencing suffering and death here upon the earth. The words which we find here in this passage not only describe the path Jesus must walk through as He prepared to return unto the Father, but the words would also describe the work Jesus would do after being returning unto the Father. It’s worth noting that in order for Jesus to return to the Father He must needs walk through suffering and death, but even after Jesus returned unto the Father there would indeed be a work that would need to take place there at the right hand of the Father. It would be there at the right hand of the Father Jesus would not only send the promise of the Father which was the person of the Holy Spirit, but it would also be there at the right hand of the Father Jesus would prepare a place so that where He is with the Father we might also be. It should be noted that Jesus’ return unto the Father wasn’t merely about His return unto the Father, but also about our following Him unto the Father.

            As I sit here this morning thinking about and considering the words found in this passage of Scripture I find it truly astonishing and remarkable that Jesus’ return unto the Father, and Jesus’ ascension unto the Father wasn’t merely about Him receiving and being glorified with the glory He had with the Father before the world began. The more you read these words and the more you think about and consider Jesus’ returning unto the Father the more you will encounter and come face to face with the absolutely astonishing truth that Jesus’ return to the Father would indeed place Him at the right hand of the Father in heaven, but Jesus didn’t return to the Father to be with the Father and yet be apart and away from us. Jesus would return to the Father that He might send the person of the Spirit that through the Spirit He might continue to abide with us and we might abide with Him. In addition to this, Jesus would return to the Father that He might prepare a place for us that where He was with the Father we might also be. If there is one thing we must needs recognize and understand when reading the words found in these chapters it’s that Jesus’ return to the Father wasn’t merely about His own glory, but it was about a two-fold work which needed to be done—the first work which would  be directly linked and connected to the earth, and a second work which would be directly linked and connected to heaven and to eternity. Jesus’ return unto the Father would indeed be the means whereby He would be glorified with the glory He had with the Father before time began, however, His return to the Father was also about and for us as well. Oh how we have great need to recognize and understand that Jesus’ return unto the Father would not only have a powerful impact on our time here upon the earth, but Jesus’ return unto the Father would also have a powerful and profound work upon our being with both He and the Father. We know within the gospel narrative that Jesus would speak of both He and the Father coming in unto us and supping, dining, abiding and dwelling with us here within the earth, and we also know within the New Testament prophetic book of the Revelation of Jesus the Christ that He stands at the door and knocks, and if any man hears His voice and opens the door He will enter in and made His abode with us. Is it possible that the means whereby the Father and the Son make their abode with us in this life—in the already but not yet—is through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit?

            The words which are found in this narrative found in the gospel of John are absolutely and incredibly powerful when you take the time to think about the fact that Jesus’ return unto the Father would pass Him through both suffering and death, and that as He returned unto the Father no man would be able to come unto the Father but by and through Him. Not only this, but when we think about the return and ascension of Jesus the Christ unto the Father in heaven we must needs recognize and understand that Jesus’ return unto the Father in heaven would not only carry out a work that would directly impact us within this life, but His return unto the Father would also carry out a work that would impact our fellowship with Him in eternity. Jesus would indeed return unto the Father, however, it wasn’t merely to receive the glory and honor He had with the Father which He had before the world began and before time would begin. Jesus’ return to the Father would be intrinsically and directly linked and connected to the work of sending the promise of the Father which was the person and presence of the Holy Spirit, as well as the work of preparing a place in heaven with both He and the Father in order that where they are we might be as well. Oh please don’t miss and lose sight of this awesome and powerful truth, for the words which are found here bring us face to face with the tremendous truth that Jesus’ return unto the Father would not only touch the realm of our being with Him in His Father’s house, but also that He might be with us in the midst of the earth. Despite the fact Jesus would depart from this earth and return unto His Father in heaven He would not leave us comfortless, He would not leave us as orphans, and He would not leave us without coming unto us. In fact, Jesus would declare unto His disciples that even though He would return unto the Father in heaven He would come unto us, and would come unto us through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit.

            These words found here in the New Testament gospel narrative written by the apostle must not only be understood in terms of Jesus’ return unto the Father in heaven, but they must also be understood as Jesus’ return unto the Father that He might send the person and presence of the Holy Spirit unto us, as well as that He might prepare a place in His Father’s house in order that where He are we might also be. Jesus would indeed return unto the right hand of the Father in heaven, and it would be there at the right hand of the Father He would send the person, the presence and the promise of the Holy Spirit in order that although He had departed from this earth and returned unto His Father He might continue to abide and dwell with and among us. Oh I cannot help but wonder and think about the fact that when Jesus speaks of He and His Father coming in unto us and making their abode and dwelling with us, He was not speaking about the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. I cannot help but think about and wonder if the means and the way the Father and the Son make their abode with us is through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit as the apostle Paul would write about in the epistles which were written unto the Corinthian saints. There is not a doubt in my mind that the way the only begotten Son and the eternal Father make their abode with us is indeed and is in fact through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. It would be on the day of Pentecost Jesus would—from the right hand of the Father—send the person of the Holy Spirit within and upon the earth. It would be on the Day of Pentecost Jesus would send the promise of the Holy Spirit which would be manifested in that upper room where the one-hundred and twenty men and women who were all gathered together in one accord were praying. It would be on the day of Pentecost Jesus would fulfill that which He had promised and spoken unto the disciples on this particular night in which He was betrayed, and when He would also fulfill that which we find and read within the New Testament gospel of Luke, as well as the New Testament book of Acts. Before I move any further within this writing I would like to invite you to consider the following words which are found in the New Testament gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, as well as the words which are found in the first and second epistles written by the apostle Paul unto the Corinthian saints:

            “…Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the Temple, praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:45-53).

            “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He though the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: to whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? Tis same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:1-11).

            “Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by His own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’” (1 Corinthians 6:15-20).

            “Be ye not unequally yoke together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? OR what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

            It is with all of this mind that I would also like to call and draw your attention to the words which are found in these chapters concerning both the Father and the Son entering in and supping with those who keep the word and commandments, and those who love both the Son and the Father. What’s more, is I also feel it is absolutely necessary and imperative that we consider the words which are found in the third chapter of the prophetic book of the Revelation of Jesus the Christ and the letter which Jesus instructed the apostle John to write unto the angel of the church of Laodicea. Consider if you will the following words which are found in both of these Johannian writings found in the New Testament:

            “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, 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 14:21-23).

            “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:20-22).

            The more I think about and consider the reality of Jesus returning unto the Father and being glorified with the glory He had with the Father before time began the more I can’t help but think about the fact that His return wasn’t merely about the glory, nor even was it even about being set down at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Would it shock and surprise you to think about and consider the fact that being set down at the right hand of the Father isn’t even the greatest joy, the greatest delight, and the greatest pleasure in the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ right now? Would it surprise you if I told you that His being seated at the right hand of the Father is secondary to something that is of far greater worth and far greater value than where He is seated? Consider if you will the following words which are found in the second chapter of the New Testament epistle which was written unto the Ephesian saints and congregation from the hand of the apostle Paul: “…Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-7). There is not a doubt in my mind that Jesus’ being set down at the right hand of the Father isn’t nearly about as much as it where He’s seated as much as it is who is seated there with Him. There is not a doubt in my mind that Jesus’ being set down at the right hand of the Father in heaven is not as much about Himself as it is about us whom the apostle Paul writes are now seated together with Him in heavenly places, and will be set down together with Him in heavenly places in the age to come. It is absolutely necessary that we recognize and understand this, for when the author of the epistle which was written unto the Hebrews spoke of Jesus enduring the cross and despising the same, they also wrote how there was a joy that was set before Him. We would like to think that the joy that was set before Jesus was indeed being set down at the right hand of the Father, however, I am absolutely and completely convinced that being set down with the Father and being set down at the right hand of the Father isn’t as powerful as who is seated there with Him. Jesus wasn’t solely interested in being seated with the Father in heaven, but He was also interested in our being seated together with Him.

            The words which we find in chapters thirteen through seventeen of the gospel narrative written by the apostle John are absolutely and incredibly powerful—not only because they point to and reveal the awesome and powerful truth of the path to the Father leading through suffering and death, but they also reveal that even after Jesus was set down at the right hand of the Father, and even after Jesus had departed from the earth He would come unto us within this life. It is absolutely necessary that we recognize and pay close attention to the awesome and powerful truth that Jesus’ returning unto the Father was not solely about a work which would be accomplished in the here and now and in the already but not yet, but it was also about a work which would be done in eternity when we will finally be brought into the Father’s house and into the presence of the living God. When we think about Jesus departing from this earth and returning unto the Father who was in heaven we must needs understand and acknowledge the awesome and powerful truth that even though He would depart from this world and return unto the Father He would indeed come unto us. It’s absolutely remarkable and astounding to think about and consider the fact that although Jesus would depart and return unto the Father—not only would He come unto us, but He would come unto us with and through the person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus would indeed depart from this earth and would return unto His Father which was in heaven, however, He would not leave us orphans, and He would not leave us comfortless. There are countless references found within these chapters that point to the awesome and powerful truth that Jesus returns and goes unto the Father that He might send us the promise of the Father. Not only this, but if Jesus did not depart from this earth and return unto His Father who was in heaven the promise of the Holy Spirit would and could not come.

            Before I get into the reality of the person and presence of the Holy Spirit as it was written and recorded within these chapters I find it absolutely necessary to call and draw your attention to the reality that when Jesus was indeed the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us, He was limited to the confines of time and space. With being in the flesh Jesus was limited to where that flesh and where that physical tent and body could be at a single and specific time. What I mean by that is Jesus could only be at one place at a single time and could not be in all places at any given time. While Jesus was in the physical body and in the form of human flesh He was confined to being in one place at a single time, and could not be in many places at the same time. When the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would be released and poured out among us—not only would it be possible for Jesus to come unto and dwell with us, but now Jesus could be with each and every one of us at the same time. With, through and by the person of the Holy Spirit Jesus could be with you right where you are, He could be with me where I am, and He could be with our brothers and our sisters together at the same time. Not only would Jesus not leave us as orphans, and not only would Jesus not leave without a Comforter, but Jesus would be able to manifest Himself with us at the same time, and at any given time during the day. The same way Jesus could be with our brother and sister around the world in Auckland is the same way Jesus could be with our brother and sister in Jerusalem and the same way Jesus could be with us in the United States, and the same way He could be with our brother and sister in Lima. How absolutely remarkable and powerful it is to think and consider the awesome and powerful truth that through the person of the Holy Spirit Jesus would actually give us a greater gift than His being the Word made flesh and dwelling among us. When Jesus gave unto us the person of the Holy Spirit He gave us something so much better and far superior than even His being the Word made flesh and dwelling among us, for through the person of the Holy Spirit Jesus would and could be with all those who make up His body and His bride at the same exact time without being confined to a physical body and to the elements of time and space.

            Jesus made it perfectly clear that if He did not go unto the Father who was in heaven the person, the presence and the promise of the Holy Spirit would and could not come. Jesus emphatically declared that it was expedient for Him to depart from this world and to return unto His Father which was in heaven, for it was in that departure there would actually be a coming unto. Pause for a moment and think about that fact—the fact that in the departure of Jesus there would actually be a coming unto us by Jesus the Christ. It’s truly something worth noting and pointing out how Jesus would depart from this earth and return unto the Father, and that in that departure and returning unto His Father which was in heaven He would in turn come unto us. I fully realize that this might not make any sense to our natural minds, for how can Jesus depart from us and return unto the Father and come unto us? How can Jesus depart from us and return unto the Father, and yet both He and the Father would come in unto us and make their abode with us? The answer is actually explained in the person of the Holy Spirit, for not only would the Spirit be the Spirit of the Father, but the Spirit would also be the Spirit of the Son. It would be through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit Jesus would be able to dwell with and among us, and it would be through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit the Father would be able to dwell with us. Through Jesus the Christ the Father would indeed dwell with and dwell among us in the flesh, however, it would be through the person of the Holy Spirit that both the Father and the Son would and could dwell among us at the same exact time. Oh stop and think about that reality and truth, for through the person of the Holy Spirit—not only would and not only could the eternal Father dwell among and dwell with us, but so also would and could the begotten Son dwell with and dwell among us.

            The words captured by the apostle John in this particular passage of Scripture are absolutely and incredibly captivating and beautiful when you think about it, for even though Jesus would declare unto His disciples that He departed from this earth that He might return unto His Father, He would make certain key promises. Jesus would declare unto His disciples that although He departed from this world and returned unto the Father who was in heaven He would indeed come unto us. Jesus would declare unto His disciples that although He departed from this world and returned unto the Father who was in heaven the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would indeed come unto and be manifested among us. Not only this, but Jesus would also declare that both He and the Father would come in unto us and would make their abode with us. Furthermore, Jesus would not only speak of an abiding presence with us here in this life and in the already but not yet, but Jesus also promised abiding, dwelling, fellowship and communion with the Father and the Son in His Father’s house in heaven. Stop and think about the incredible promises that are found within these chapters, for there are four distinct promises which were made by Jesus the Christ—(1) Jesus would come unto us, (2) Jesus would send the person of the Holy Spirit, (3) both Jesus and the Father would come in unto us and make their abode with us, and (4) Jesus would prepare a place in His Father’s house that where He was we might be also. IN all reality these chapters have at the very heart and center of them a powerful declaration and statement of presence—not only in the here and now in this life, but also in eternity and within the Father’s house. The words written and recorded by the apostle John within these chapters are a powerful declaration and statement given by the Lord Jesus Christ unto us concerning presence—and not only presence, but the presence of the full and complete Trinity. It is absolutely impossible to read these chapters and not be brought face to face with the powerful truth that at the very heart of them is the manifestation of the divine and eternal Trinity.

            THE MANIFESTATION OF THE TRINITY IN THE ALREADY BUT NOT YET! The more you read these words the more you will find that not only would Jesus come unto us, and not only would the Holy Spirit be sent unto us, but so also would the Father and the Son come in unto us that they might make their abode with us. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this awesome and powerful truth and reality, for it has the ability to shine a tremendous light on what we find here in these chapters. It was indeed true that Jesus would depart from this world, and it was indeed true that Jesus would return unto the Father who was in heaven, however, in and with that departure would actually come a greater demonstration and manifestation of the person and presence of Jesus the Christ than His being in the flesh. It was true Jesus needed to come in the flesh that He might offer Himself as a sacrifice upon the cross for the atonement, the redemption and the reconciliation of man, but it is also true that He needed to return unto the Father in order that by returning unto the Father He might fulfill and accomplish something much deeper and much greater. Jesus must needs have come in the flesh, and in the flesh become a living sacrifice that would be offered upon the cross, however, it was also true that Jesus needed to return unto His Father who was in heaven, for in His return unto the Father who was in heaven Jesus would offer us a more lasting and abiding presence of the Lord Jesus the Christ It would be in the return of Jesus unto the right hand of the Father in heaven that we would experience a greater demonstration and manifestation of presence within our hearts and our lives. Oh that we would truly acknowledge and recognize this, for although sorrow filled the hearts of the disciples when Jesus spoke unto them concerning His departure, there would be joy in the Holy Ghost when Jesus would send the promise of the Father unto us.

            You cannot read the words written and recorded within these chapters and not see a promise of presence in the here and now, as well as a promise of dwelling and abiding in the life and age to come. Jesus’ departure and return unto the Father in heaven would not only have direct implications to us in the here and the now, and for us in the already but not yet in terms of an abiding and lasting presence among us, but it would also have direct implications for us in the age to come. In Jesus’ departure there was not only a promise of divine presence within this life in the earth, but there was also a presence of fellowship, a promise of communion, and a promise of intimacy in the age to come with the Father and with the Son. It would be through the person, the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit the disciples of Jesus Christ—both those who originally heard the words He spoke, as well as those who would live within and upon the earth from those times up through and until this present generation. Jesus would return unto the Father that He might send the person of the Holy Spirit, and that the person of the Holy Spirit might manifest unto and among us the words and works of Jesus the Christ, as well as the person and presence of Jesus the Christ. Jesus would indeed return unto the Father which was in heaven, and it would be in that return unto the Father who was in heaven that we would experience an even greater experience of presence and of a deep dwelling and abiding with us. Oh we dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this powerful truth, for it has the power to transform our experience within this life—our experience with the person and presence of the Holy Spirit, our experience with the person of Jesus the Christ, and our experience with the eternal Father. It is with this in mind that I now seek to invite you to consider the words, the promises and the declarations Jesus made unto His disciples on this night in which He was betrayed by one of His own. We have great need to read, hear and understand the words which Jesus spoke unto His disciples concerning the coming of the person, the presence and the promise of the Holy Spirit, for it is when we truly understand those words we are able to understand how in the departure of Jesus would actually come a powerful demonstration and manifestation of presence through the person of the Holy Spirit. Consider if you will the following words and verses which are found in these five chapters found within the gospel narrative written by the apostle John concerning the coming of the Holy Ghost as sent by Jesus from the right hand of the Father which is in heaven:

            “If ye 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 ye know Him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:15-19).

            “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:25-26).

            “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).

            “Neverhtless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:7-11).

            “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:12-15).

            The words which we find within these passages of Scripture must be recognized and understood in direct relation to Jesus’ declaration spoken unto the disciples concerning His departure from this world and His return unto the Father. It is absolutely impossible to truly understand the words which Jesus spoke unto the disciples concerning His departure without also at the same time considering the words which He spoke concerning the promise of the Father—that which He would release and send unto them after He arrived at the right hand of His Father who was in heaven. The more I think about and consider the words Jesus spoke unto the disciples within these chapters the more I am brought face to face with the powerful truth that while He did indeed speak to them of His departure and His return unto the Father, He would also declare unto them that He would come unto them—and not only that He would come unto them, but that for those who loved Him and kept His commandments and words He and the Father would come unto them. I am absolutely and completely convinced that the means by which the Father and the Son come in unto those who love the Son and who keep His commandments is through the person of the Holy Spirit. It is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit within the earth that allows the person and presence of the begotten Son, as well as the person and presence of the Father to be manifested within our lives. What’s more, is that this in direct alignment with the words the apostle Paul wrote unto the Corinthian saints when He spoke unto them about the living God dwelling in and dwelling among us and our being His people. The living and eternal God desired to dwell in the midst of and within His people, and the means by which He would do it was through the person of the Holy Spirit. When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us it was the fulfillment of the prophetic word which Isaiah promised concerning Emmanuel, which is interpreted as being “God with us.” It would be through the person of Jesus Christ—through the Word becoming flesh—that God would and could dwell among, and dwell with us. The absolutely powerful truth about Emmanuel is that it is the manifestation of God with us as He would literally dwell with us through the person of Jesus the Christ. It is through the person of the Holy Spirit, however, that not only would the living God dwell with us, but would dwell within us.

            FROM DWELLING WITH TO DWELLING WITHIN! FROM DWELLING AMONG TO DWELLING INSIDE! When the Word became flesh He would dwell among us, and the Word would be the embodiment of God with us in the flesh. When the Holy Spirit would be released within and upon the earth it would no longer be the Word which would dwell with us, but it would be the Word which would dwell within us. Oh how absolutely and incredibly powerful it is to think about and consider the fact that through the person of Jesus the living and eternal God would dwell with us, but through the person of the Holy Spirit—not only would the living God dwell with us, but so also would the eternal Son now dwell within us. It would be through the person of the Son of the living God the eternal God would dwell with us, and we would behold the Son as the only begotten of the Father. When, however, the Son returned to the Father there would be this absence and void that would be left in the earth as the Word which became flesh and dwelt among us now be set down at the right hand of the Father in heaven. It would be into that void the Holy Spirit would enter and not only manifest the presence of the living and eternal God, but it would be in that void the presence of the only begotten Son would be manifested. Much like the Holy Spirit would hover over the deep at the time of creation, so also would the Holy Spirit now be manifested within and among us. No longer would it be the Word made flesh and dwelling with and dwelling among us, but it would now be the Spirit who would dwell within and inside of us. It is through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit the Father and the Son would be able to come in and make their abode and sup with us, and it would be through the person of the Holy Spirit Jesus would be able to fulfill and keep His promise that He would come unto us. It would be through the Holy Spirit that Jesus would continue to have fellowship with His disciples, with the early Church, and with the Church throughout the ages. Not only this, but it would be through the Holy Spirit the eternal Father would have fellowship with the Church, which is and has been made up of the disciples and followers of Jesus the Christ.

            If there is one thing we must recognize and understand it’s that although Jesus the Christ would indeed depart from this earth and return unto the Father—thus indicating that Emmanuel, which means “God with us” no longer being in the flesh—the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would indeed be manifested in the earth as the ultimate and divine presence of the only begotten Son. It is absolutely and entirely worth noting and pointing out that Jesus’ return to the Father and His being set down at the right hand of the Father would place Him in the position where He would from that place with God send the person of the Holy Spirit. It would be from that place at the right hand of the Father where Jesus would indeed come to us in the person of the Holy Spirit, and it would be through the Holy Spirit Jesus would abide with us for ever. In fact, when Jesus first spoke of the Holy Spirit in these chapters He would speak of the Spirit in terms of another Comforter who would abide with them for ever—even the Spirit of truth who the world could not receive because it sees Him not, nor knows Him. As you continue reading the words concerning the Holy Spirit you will find Jesus going on to say that the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father would send in His name, would teach them all things, and bring all things to their remembrance, whatsoever He had spoken unto them. In the fifteenth chapter we again find Jesus speaking of the Comforter, and when the Comforter was come—that One whom Jesus would send unto them from the Father who was the Spirit of truth—He would proceed from the Father and would testify of and concerning Jesus. It is absolutely undeniable and unmistakable when reading these words and this language that through the person of the Holy Spirit Jesus would indeed and would in fact come unto them. Despite the fact that He was departing from the earth and returning unto the Father who was in heaven He would come to them again—yet not coming unto them as He had previously. In times past Jesus had come unto them in the flesh, and would be that one whom the apostle John would write as that which they heard with their ears, that which they saw with their eyes, that which they handled with their hands, etc. Jesus would indeed and would in fact come unto them after He departed from the earth and returned unto the Father who was in heaven, thus indicating that even His departure was not final, nor was His absence something that would remain. Although He would be absent from and absent with them in the physical form of human flesh, He would be present with them in the person of the Holy Spirit. Although Jesus would be absent from them as the Word which became flesh and dwelt among them, He would indeed be present within them once more through the person of the Holy Spirit. Not only this, but whereas Jesus would dwell with them in the form of human flesh, He would now dwell within them—would literally abide within them, inhabit them, and dwell inside them—through the person of the Holy Spirit. Consider if you will the following words and language that is found in this passage of Scripture concerning the statements Jesus made declaring He would come unto them:

            “I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL COME TO YOU” (John 14:18)

            “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).

            Each of these passages brings us face to face with the tremendous and powerful truth that although Jesus would indeed depart from the earth and would return unto His Father who was in heaven He would indeed come unto His own. Perhaps one of the most powerful declarations that is found within these chapters is the Lord’s promise that He would come unto the disciples. In the same breath as the Lord declaring unto the disciples that He would not leave them comfortless He would also declare that He would come unto them. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this, for if Jesus declared unto them that He was going to depart from them—how would He in fact come unto them? The truth of the matter is that although the Word which became flesh and dwelt among them would depart and return unto the right hand of the Father in heaven the Word which is Spirit will indeed come unto them. This particular reality is evident and manifest when you read and consider the words which are found in the gospel narrative written by the apostle John and how the apostle would record Jesus’ words concerning the Spirit that He would guide them into all truth, and that He would bring to their remembrance all those things which the Lord had spoken unto them in their hearing. The Word which was made flesh and dwelt among them would indeed depart from this world and would return unto His Father who was in heaven, yet the Word which is Spirit would come to them—and would not only come unto them, but would also abide with them, and would also dwell among them in their midst. The Word which was made flesh and would dwell among them in physical and bodily form would depart and return unto the Father and in His place and in His room the eternal Spirit of the living Christ would be manifested in the earth. Oh how absolutely and incredibly powerful this truth truly is when you think about it—particularly and especially when you think about and consider the fact that not only did Jesus declare that He would come unto them, and not only did Jesus declare that both He and the Father would come unto them, but Jesus would also declare that the Holy Spirit would come unto them. Pause for a moment and think about how incredibly awesome and powerful this reality and truth is, for not only would the Word which became flesh and dwelt among them come unto them, and not only would the eternal Father which was in heaven come unto them, but the person and presence of the Holy Spirit would come unto them. Consider if you will the following words which are found written and recorded in the sixteenth chapter of this New Testament gospel narrative:

            “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of the world is judged” (John 16:7-8).

            “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).

            It is quite clear when reading these words that not only would Jesus the Word which had been made flesh and dwelt among them come unto them, but so also would the Holy Spirit come unto them. Three times within the sixteenth chapter Jesus would emphatically and powerfully declare unto the disciples that the eternal Spirit would come unto them—and not only that He would come unto them, but also that He would be the manifestation and representation of the Lord Jesus Christ. We dare not and must not miss and lose sight of this awesome and powerful truth, for although Jesus returned unto His Father which was in heaven and was set down at the right hand of the Father in heaven, He would not only come unto His disciples and to His Church, but He would also send the eternal Spirit of truth unto them. Jesus declared unto them that He would not leave them comfortless but would come unto them in the person and presence of the Holy Spirit. Oh that we would allow the truth and reality of this to sink down within the very depths of our heart and our spirit, for these words have the powerful reality of completely altering how we view the person of the Holy Spirit. It is absolutely necessary and imperative that we recognize and understand that the Holy Spirit is not this inanimate object that was sent into the earth, but is the Word which became flesh and dwelt among men as the Word which became Spirit. You will recall Jesus declaring concerning His words that they were spirit, and it is this reality which we must recognize and understand, for the Spirit would not only be the Spirit of truth, but the Spirit would indeed be the Word which previously had been made flesh now being in the person and presence of the Spirit. When the Word at one point would become flesh and would dwell among us—the Word would now become Spirit and would not only dwell among us, but would actually dwell within and inside of us. It would be through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit that the Word which previously dwelt in the physical body of flesh among men would now dwell within and inside men and women. It would be through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit Jesus would now dwell within men instead of dwelling among men. It would be through the person of the Holy Spirit that the eternal Father and the only begotten of the Son would be able to make their abode with and within them.

            With all of this being said it’s imperative that we recognize and understand within these chapters that Jesus made it very plain and clear unto the disciples that the hour had come for Him to be glorified—and not only for Him to be glorified, but also for Him to return unto the Father. Although time and time again within this New Testament gospel we find references of the hour and time of Jesus the Christ not having come, we now find something completely and altogether different, for now the hour had indeed come for Jesus to return unto the Father in heaven. What’s more, is that within the gospel narrative written by the apostle Matthew we find Jesus teaching His disciples at least four different and distinct times that He would be betrayed, that He would suffer many things, that He would die, and that He would be raised from death to life on the third day. Now here we are in these chapters within the New Testament gospel of John and we find Jesus speaking unto His disciples about more than simply His being betrayed, His suffering, His dying upon the cross, and His being raised from death to life on the third day. What we find in these chapters if Jesus preparing His disciples for His departure, for the hour and time had come for Him to depart from this earth and to return unto His Father who was in heaven. We have already established that Jesus’ departure from the earth would indeed be necessary and expedient for Jesus the Christ, for it would be through His departure He would be able to send the promise of the Father, which was the Comforter and the Spirit of truth. It would be the Spirit of truth which would be the manifest presence of Jesus the Christ in the earth—and not only the manifest presence of Jesus the Christ in the earth, but also the manifest presence of Jesus Christ within and among His Church and His body. No longer would Jesus be confined to one single place in the physical form of the flesh, but now Jesus could be with His Church and His body in Corinth just as He was in Ephesus just as He was in Jerusalem just as He was in Samaria just as He was in Philippi just as He was in Collosae just as He was in Thessalonica. It is with all this before us I invite you to now consider the following words which Jesus spoke concerning His departure from this world and His subsequent return unto the Father which was in heaven:

            “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. YE shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:33-35).

            “Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards” (John 13:36).

            “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. IN my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know” (John 14:1-4).

            “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).

            “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 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” (John 14:27-29).

            “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for I go not way, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you” (John 16:7).

            “…of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more” (John 16:10).

            “A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father” (John 16:16).

            “For the Father Himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father” (John 16:27-28).

            Each of these verses paint a truly powerful and absolutely undeniable picture—namely, that Jesus the Christ would depart from this world and would return unto His Father in heaven. On the night in which Jesus was betrayed He would speak very plainly unto His disciples and would declare unto them that He would indeed depart from them and would return unto His Father who was in heaven. Jesus held no punches and kept nothing back from the disciples and made it absolutely clear to them that His hour had come for Him to return unto the Father, and that He would be no more in the world. The truth of the matter is that directly linked and connected to the departure of Jesus unto His Father which was in heaven is not only the promise that He would come unto them, and not only that He would send the person, the presence and the promise of the Holy Spirit, but also that He would go to prepare a place for them. I previously wrote how Jesus’ ascension unto the right hand of the Father would not only have implications for the here and the now, but would also have implications in the eternal realm. The more you read the words which are found within these chapters the more you will encounter and come face to face with the awesome and powerful truth that the departure of Jesus was not only so He could dwell within and among the disciples and the Church, but also so that they might dwell with Him where He was. It would be through the eternal Spirit Jesus would dwell within the disciples and within the Church where they were, and it would be through His return and ascension unto the right hand of the Father in heaven Jesus would prepare a place for them that they might be there together with Him. Oh that we would recognize and understand this, for while it was true that Jesus would indeed be seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven—that was not the greatest joy that would be in the heart of Jesus upon returning unto His Father in heaven.

            When Jesus returned unto His Father in heaven—not only did He know that He would come unto them, and not only did he know that the Holy Spirit would come unto them, but He also knew that where He was there they would be also. Jesus’ return unto the right hand of His Father who was in heaven was not merely about His sending the person and presence of the Holy Spirit that He might dwell within and dwell among the people of God in the here and now and in the already but yet, but it was also about His preparing a place for His disciples and for His Church in order that where He was and where He is His body might be there together with Him. Oh I continue to believe that even now as I am writing these words the Son is at the right hand of the Father preparing a place for us in order that where He is with the eternal Father, so also might we be there with Him. It would be Jesus the Christ who would declare that in His Father’s house are many mansions, and that if it weren’t so He would not have told us. Oh that we would truly recognize and pay close attention to this truth, for Jesus’ return and ascension unto the Father was about more than sending the Holy Spirit so He could dwell within and among us, but it was also about His preparing a place that we might dwell together with Him where He was and is with the Father. There is a great need within and among many Christian circles and churches to truly recognize that Jesus did indeed return unto the right hand of the Father which is in heaven, and that there at the right hand of the Father which is in heaven Jesus is preparing a place that where He is with the Father, so also might we be there together with Him. Jesus returned unto the Father because He knew He could not remain here in the earth forever, however, He knew that through the person and presence of the Holy Spirit He would be able to dwell with and among us. Jesus would abide in the form of human flesh for thirty and three years, and the eternal Father would not suffer His flesh to suffer decay. With this being said, we must needs recognize that it would be through the person of the Holy Spirit Jesus would be able to dwell within and among us without the form of human flesh, for the flesh was no longer necessary for His dwelling within and among us. Whereas the form of flesh was once necessary in order for the eternal Son to accomplish that which the Father desired—after and upon Jesus’ return unto the Father who was in heaven the form of flesh would no longer be necessary, for Jesus would and could now dwell within and among His disciples, His followers, His Church and His body in the person of the Holy Spirit.

As I prepare to bring this writing to a close we must needs recognize and understand that Jesus’ departure from this world and His return unto the right hand of the Father in heaven was not only so He could send the person and presence of the Holy Spirit unto us within the earth, but also so He could prepare a place for us with Him. The ultimate goal was to send the person and presence of the Holy Spirit in order for Jesus to dwell with and among us while preparing a place for us in order that where He and the Father are, so also we would be there with the triune Godhead manifested before and among us for all eternity. It would be the person and presence of the Holy Spirit that would allow Jesus the Christ to dwell within and among us in the here and the now, however, the person of the Holy Spirit would remain and abide within and upon the earth until that time and that hour when Jesus would return for His body and His Church that He might bring them together with Him unto His Father’s house. Oh there is coming a day when the body of Christ and the Church will no longer be here within and upon the earth with the Holy Spirit as the manifest presence of the eternal Father and the begotten Son, but rather the Church will be in heaven with the full triune Godhead as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will indeed be present among us. It is truly something worth thinking about and considering how Jesus the Christ is seated and set down at the right hand of the Father in heaven having already sent the person and presence of the Holy Spirit, and that ever since He has sent the person and presence of the Holy Spirit He has been preparing a place for us in order that where He is with the Father, so also we might be there together with Him. Pause for a moment and think about the fact that Jesus would send the Spirit and has already sent the Spirit, and has since the day of Pentecost been preparing a place for us where both He and the Father are. It would be the person and presence of the Holy Spirit that would prepare a people, while it would be through the eternal and only begotten Son of the living God that a place would be prepared for us. The person and presence of the Holy Spirit would prepare a people which are ready to be caught up together with Jesus in the air that He might bring them with Him unto His Father’s house in heaven. It is the person and presence of Jesus the Christ at the right hand of the Father in heaven who will prepare a place for us in order that where He is, so also might we be there together with Him, His Father, and all the saints of God since the beginning of time and creation. Oh how absolutely wonderful and incredible it is to think about and consider this powerful truth that while Jesus is set down at the right hand of the Father in heaven He is preparing a place for us that we might dwell and abide together with Him, and the Spirit is present upon and within the earth that He might prepare a people which are and will be ready to meet the Lord in the air and be brought into the house of the Father. Oh that we would allow the person and presence of the Holy Spirit to work within us that we might be prepared and be made into a people that are truly able to enter into and inherit the place which the eternal Son has been preparing and is still preparing for all those who love Him, all those who love the Father, and all those who keep His commandments.