The Comforter

That same night before the great feast, the teacher sat with his students for their last meal together. He knew that he would soon leave them, and their hearts were full of fear and confusion. To bring them peace, the teacher gave them words of comfort and a promise. He told them, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." The teacher explained that in his Father's house there were many rooms, and he was going ahead to prepare a place for them. One day, he would return and bring them to be with him forever. This gave his students hope that even though they would be apart for a time, they would be together again. Then the teacher said something very important: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." By these words, he showed them that he alone is the path to God. The teacher also promised them a helper—the Holy Spirit. This "comforter" would live inside them, teaching, guiding, and reminding them of all the teacher had taught. Unlike before, when God's spirit only came upon people for a short time, now the spirit would stay with them forever. He gave them a new commandment: to love one another the same way he had loved them. With the Holy Spirit's help, they could live out this love every day. Finally, the teacher promised his peace. Not the kind of peace the world gives, which can be taken away, but a deep and abiding peace from God that nothing could break.