Dear Christian friends:

Jesus has commanded us Christians to do His work here on earth. He says in our text, "If you love Me, you will do what I command." What does Jesus command us to do? What is His work? Jesus commands us to preach the Gospel and to love one another and help one another.

This work we, ourselves alone, cannot do, as we learn from our text. Jesus gives us the power to do it. He promises to be with us and to live in our hearts so that we can do His work. But often we don't use His wonderful help. We Perhaps are not aware that He is waiting to help us.

Before He ascended into heaven Jesus again commanded His disciples to preach and baptize. Then He said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the World. (Matthew 28:19-20)

We need to be aware that Jesus is with us to help us do His work here on earth.


Jesus is with us although we can't see Him.

When Jesus said these words of our text it was the evening before He died on the cross. Jesus had told the disciples that He would not be staying with them on earth anymore. He told them that He must suffer and die and on the third day arise from death, and then return to His glory in heaven.

The disciples felt sad and felt that Jesus was deserting them. They felt that Jesus was leaving them without support and protection. So Jesus promises them that He will be with them and help them in their future work.

We often feel the same as these disciples. Jesus has ascended up into heaven and now sits at God's right hand to rule over the church and the world. We can't see Jesus now. We can't talk to Him face to face. When trouble happens we often are afraid and worry because we think Jesus has forsaken us. We easily become discouraged and feel to quit. But we should not feel that way. Although Jesus has ascended into heaven, He is still with us. Although we can't see Him or shake His hand or talk to Him face to face, Jesus is very close to us. He has not forsaken us. In our text He says, "I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.” (verse 18)

How can Jesus be sitting up in heaven at God's right hand and at the same time be here on earth with us? Through the Holy Spirit! In our text He explains to His disciples how He is always with them. He Says, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter to stay with you always. That Comforter is the Holy Spirit. Unbelievers can't receive Him, because they don't see Him and don't know Him. You know Him, because He lives in you and will be in your heart." (verses 16-18)

On the first Pentecost Sunday (which we will celebrate in two weeks on June 19), God sent the Holy Spirit to Jesus' disciples in a special way. (Acts 2:1-12)

Today God sends the Holy Spirit to us by our baptism, by preaching His Word and by the Lord's Supper. It is important to attend to Jesus' Word regularly, so that we can have His Spirit.

What is this comfort that the Holy Spirit brings to us? It is really God Himself living in our hearts. God who made us, God who sent His Son to die for our sins, He loves us so much and wants us to love Him. Therefore, He comes to live in our hearts so we can love Him and serve Him with joy. St. Paul says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Perhaps you have heard of a Catholic nun named Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India. She helps the many beggars and homeless on the city streets there. She won the Nobel prize for peace a few years ago. She saves:

"God's Spirit is in my heart,
He has called me and set me apart.
This is what I must do,
What I must do.

He's sent me to give Good News to the poor;
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more;
Tell blind people that they can see;
And set the down-trodden free.
And go tell everyone the news that the kingdom
of God has come,
And go tell everyone the news that God's
kingdom has come.

Don't worry what you have to say,
Don't worry because on that day,
God's Spirit will speak in your heart,
Will speak in your heart."

God's Spirit is in Mother Teresa's heart, and therefore she loves God and obeys His commands to tell Good News to the poor and help the needy. And she has thrill and joy in doing this difficult work. One person who watched Mother Teresa clean a leper's wound and put on a new bandage said to her, "I would not do that for a million dollars." She replied,"Neither would I; I do it for Jesus!"

God's Spirit is in Mother Teresa's heart. Is His Spirit in your heart? Do you love God and obey His commands? Do you have joy and thrill in helping the poor and needy? Do you tell the Good News to sorry sinners?

When God's Spirit is in your heart you will have new life and you will have new life and you will know what you must do in life. When God's Spirit is in your heart you will have the power to do the good things that Jesus commands and you will have pleasure and joy in doing these things. (verse 21)

The Holy Spirit of God is talking to your heart now as I preach to you. Don't resist Him! Listen carefully, so that you can have true happiness today in doing Jesus' work!

Amen.