Through his Spirit, our Saviour is always near: to bless, to guide, to comfort, restore and forgive. For He has united himself to us, like a rabbi and his students, like a head and its body, like a shepherd and his sheep. It means Christ doesn’t forget us when we’re grappling with uncertainty nor overlook us when we’re grieving. He’s not out of earshot when we cry in a prayer of pain.

Israel had a rich tradition of rabbis and their students. A wise teacher would attract a band of followers and carefully instruct them in all the things that he wanted them to know. Over years of lessons and interaction, there would grow a close connection between the teacher and his pupils.

And so when a rabbi died, his bereaved disciples were often described as “orphans.” They were like parentless children, like youths without a legal guardian. Now there was no longer someone to lead them—they were on their own.

In the tradition of the Jewish rabbis, Jesus led and taught his disciples for years. And He knew they feared the day of being alone. So on the eve of his death, Jesus speaks comfort and hope. His words in John 14 have a Trinitarian theme. He tells them about the Father’s heavenly house, about the Son’s mission to do the Father’s will, and about the promised Counselor, the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is leaving, but this good rabbi won’t abandon his students as orphans. He says that He is going to come to them yet. He would be gone, but not absent! Ten short days after ascending, He would send them the Spirit.

Even as the disciples are despatched into all the world to testify about the Christ, and even as they face opposition and encounter a lot of unbelief, Jesus says in John 14:18,

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

After He ascends, the good Teacher will send the Spirit. And not just any Spirit, He will send his Spirit. He is a Spirit so connected to Christ, a Spirit so full of Christ, that it would be like Christ himself was still among them! “I will come to you.” This is how Jesus can say to his disciples just before He departs for heaven, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:20).

This beautiful truth lives on today in this place. He has ascended, but Christ is with us. As God’s children, whoever we are, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, Jesus comes to us, He draws near to us, and He stays among us.