Take Heart!

Jesus Promises the Helper

John 14:15-31 - September 6th, 2026

Sermon - Pastor Scott Thompson

John 14:15-31 continues Jesus' words to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion. He knows what is coming. He knows that His disciples will soon watch Him be arrested, beaten, and crucified. Yet instead of leaving them without hope, Jesus prepares them for His departure by promising them the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus begins with a statement that connects love for Him with obedience: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, ESV)

Jesus does not present obedience as a way to earn His love or salvation. Rather, obedience is the evidence of genuine love for Christ. A person who has been changed by the grace of God will desire to follow the One who saved them. Jesus is not saying that His followers will obey perfectly. We will still struggle with sin. But where Christ has given new life, there will also be a growing desire to obey Him.

Then Jesus gives this remarkable promise:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” (John 14:16, ESV)

The word “another” is significant. Jesus Himself had been their Helper, Teacher, Comforter, and Guide. Now He promises that the Father will give them another Helper, the Holy Spirit, who will remain with them forever.

This is not merely a promise of spiritual assistance. Jesus is speaking about the presence of God Himself dwelling with His people.

Jesus tells them that the world cannot receive the Spirit because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But then He says something extraordinary to His disciples:

“You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17, ESV)

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force or simply a source of power. He is the divine Person who comes to dwell within God's people.

Jesus then says, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18, ESV)

What a comforting promise. Jesus knows His disciples will feel abandoned when He is taken from them, but their separation from His physical presence will not mean separation from God. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ will continue to be with His people.

Jesus goes on to explain that those who love Him will be loved by the Father, and He says, “We will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23, ESV)

Notice the Trinitarian reality presented here. The Son speaks of the Father, and the Father and Son promise their presence through the Holy Spirit. Christianity is not belief in three gods, but one God who eternally exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Jesus also promises His disciples peace:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” (John 14:27, ESV)

This is not the temporary peace the world offers. Jesus is about to face the cross, yet He speaks of peace. His peace is rooted in the certainty of God's sovereign purpose. Nothing happening to Jesus is outside the Father's plan.

That should encourage us as well. Our peace is not found in having an easy life or knowing how every circumstance will turn out. Our peace is found in knowing Christ and trusting the God who rules over all things.

Jesus closes this section by saying, “I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.” (John 14:31, ESV)

Even the cross, which appears to be the ultimate act of injustice and defeat, is actually the obedient mission of the Son. Jesus willingly goes to the cross because He loves the Father and because He came to accomplish the salvation of His people.

John 14:15-31 reminds us that Christ does not abandon His people. He gives us His Spirit, He gives us His peace, and He brings us into fellowship with the Father. Our hope does not rest in ourselves, our circumstances, or our ability to hold everything together. Our hope rests in Christ.

So, if you claim to love Jesus, ask yourself whether your life reflects that love through obedience to His Word. And when life becomes difficult, remember His promise: “I will not leave you as orphans.”

As always, we encourage everyone to check everything through the lens of the Scriptures. Be like the noble Bereans of Paul's day and search the Scriptures to see whether these things are true. Please visit us at here for much more, and remember, Christ is enough.

With that said brothers and sisters, let us take heart in the peace that Christ alone gives, and let us go serve Him with great joy!

FRF Family