In this three-chapter section of John’s Gospel (chapters 14-16) the Lord Jesus is speaking to His disciples of the days which lie ahead for Him and them. He teaches them that though He would no longer be with them visibly, He would be sending them “another Helper” to abide within them, the Holy Spirit (14:16).
It’s understandable the disciples had questions about this. One question they put to Him was, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” (14:22) Jesus responded with some profound truths. He says that where He is loved, and where His words are kept (followed), He and the Father will “come to him and make Our home with” that person.
Think of the house you live in. You arrange everything in it to suit yourself. You make it distinctly and distinctively your home. In it your personal belongings are stored. In it your love is shown the occupants in special ways.
Now think of this in a profoundly spiritual sense: God the Father and God the Son make the heart of every Christian believer their home. When do they first “take ownership”? When but through the rebirth which takes place in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism—the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost (See Titus 3:5ff)!
Thereafter, through the Word of God in the Bible, the Father and Son come into the heart as welcome guests, casting out sinful clutter, daily calling believers to repentance and faith. Such “interior decorating” continues day after day until finally the Christ-believer arrives safely home to the glories of eternal life in heaven.
Up to heav’n ascending, Our dear Lord has gone;
Yet His little children Leaves He not alone.
Into Christ baptizèd, Grant that we may be
Day and night, dear Spirit, Perfected by Thee.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 229:3, 7) |
