“I Will Not Leave You as Orphans” John 14:15-27 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 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[a] in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 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.” Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:15–27 Big Idea Jesus has not us. He comes to us by his Spirit so that we can live as adopted children, not fearful orphans. 1. The Beneath the Fear The disciples fear failure—but beneath that is a deeper fear: abandonment Jesus addresses this directly: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18) Orphanhood = loss of safety, belonging, and presence Scripture and neuroscience agree: our deepest fear is being alone 2. God’s Answer to Exile From Genesis onward, humanity lives east of Eden—cut loose from God Salvation is God’s plan to bring us home Jesus’ promise includes: His resurrection His return The sending of the Holy Spirit 3. The Spirit as “Another Helper” “Another” (allos) = of the same kind The Spirit is not a force, but a person—fully God 4. What the Spirit Does Helper (Power) The Spirit provides power for witness and obedience The church is not set up to fail Comforter (Presence) Comfort doesn’t remove pain—it changes fear God’s presence has always been the hope of his people The Spirit reassures us: You are not alone Advocate (Identity) Jesus advocates for us before the Father The Spirit advocates within us against accusation and shame We are forgiven, adopted, and free Teacher (Transformation) The Spirit brings not just information, but formation. Obedience becomes possible and desirable God’s law is written on our hearts 5. The Gift of Not temporary relief, but lasting rest Peace as “home at last” The end of exile, fear, and abandonment Peace purchased at the cross and shared through the Spirit Reflection & Discussion Questions (8–12) When you hear Jesus say, “I will not leave you as an orphan,” what emotions or memories surface for you? In what areas of life are you most tempted to believe you’re on your own? How does the image of “orphanhood” help explain fear, shame, or control in your life? Which role of the Spirit stood out to you most today: Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Teacher, or Peace? Why? Where do you tend to look for comfort when life feels overwhelming? What does it look like for the Spirit to “advocate” against your inner accusations? Why do you think obedience often feels like oppression rather than freedom? How does the Spirit change not just what we know, but what we desire? What would it mean for you to stop “managing abandonment” and start trusting presence? How does communion reinforce the truth that we belong to God? How might the Spirit want to comfort or use you to comfort someone else this week?