Daily Worship

God is closer than we know . . .

Norah Summers May 13, 2026 2 2
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John 14: 13-21 (NIV-UK)

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

15 ‘If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.’

The Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

‘When I go, you will not be left alone’ - there is a promise!

The disciples do not realise that Jesus is going to leave them. They cannot imagine such a scenario. They have left everything to follow him — not knowing how or when he would explain, but they have followed him anyway.

Now he is explaining, and they can’t make sense of it. Surely there was to be some sort of grand denouement to the story, triumph, relief, a new order. The idea that he would go knowingly to his humiliation and death is beyond their grasp.

So Jesus focuses on the Comforter, who will come to them.

They will no longer have his physical presence, but the Spirit who will be with them always.

Always.

Always.

And we are still in that always time.

Keep watch.

Take heart.

“I waited for the Lord. God heard my cry.

Wait for the Lord, his day is near.

Wait for the Lord, keep watch, take heart.”

(From Taizé, it can be found in Church Hymnary 4, 276)

 

Prayer:

 

Loving God,

our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come —

we thank you for your Spirit,

our reassurance that you are with us,

always.