In verse 25 of John 14, Jesus says to the disciples, These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. Now I suppose until about the last century or so, such a text would have seemed very, very strange. Not until you had telephones and recordings that there could be any means of transmitting a voice when the person wasn't present. Nowadays, we can speak easily right across the world. So why is Jesus saying this? And why did John see fit to record it? And if we ask that question, we need to go back a stage further, don't we? And say, why did the Holy Spirit cause John to record it? because we know that all the words of Scripture are those that were given to those holy men of old to write down.

And indeed, Jesus is going to go on and underline the importance of the Holy Spirit in bringing all things to your remembrance. That's what he introduces immediately after this. Furthermore, You'll recall that at the end of the Gospel, John says that many other things did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, and many other things said Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.

So what's the significance of this? This is really Jesus' last message before his death to his disciples. And it's a long message, isn't it? It starts in chapter 13, And it goes right through to the end of chapter 16. And then, it would seem, in the presence of those disciples, he prays to the Father in those wonderful words that we have recorded in what's sometimes called the High Priestly Prayer, John 17. And after that, apart from a few scattered comments. There is no further opportunity for Christ to speak to these who he has had such a long time with. Many things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. So, in a sense, he is underlining this, isn't he? The last words that people speak are very often given a tremendous significance. It's true of some of the writers such as S.F. Paul in our own denomination. Tremendous emphasis given on what people said on their deathbeds.

Well, we're not on a deathbed. But Jesus and the disciples know that these are going to be the end of this time. It brings us back to the beginning of the chapter, doesn't it? I go to prepare a place for you. Let not your heart be troubled. Don't be worried about that. I'm going, but I will come again and I will If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself. But where I am, there ye may be also. So I'm still present with you at the moment, but I will be going.

Now, of course, as we think back to that opening, we find In one sense, just how little the disciples understood, don't we? Very solemn. Jesus said, have I been so long with you and yet have you not known me, Philip? He makes this comment as to where he's going, as though it's a very obvious thing. And Thomas says, I've got no idea what you're talking about, Lord. We don't know where you're going. And if we don't know where you're going, how can we know how you're going to get there, what the way is? And then Jesus says, I'm going to the Father. No one can go to the Father but by me. And Philip says, well, show us the Father. And Jesus says, but I and my Father are one. It underlines the limited understanding of the disciples. And yet, what is our understanding? Are we so very different from them? It's easy to criticize the things that they did wrong, isn't it? Yet some of the tremendous acts that they did, we wouldn't have a clue about putting into practice. The great acts of faith. We need to be very careful. We really let him that Thinketh he standeth, take heed, lest he fall. Now, I know that's written in another context, but it's true of these things as well, isn't it? Those who have had a great understanding of theology apparently have drifted off and solemnly been left in an altogether different position. You need to be very careful.

Jesus says, these words are important. They're so important that I'm speaking to them, I'm speaking them to you while I am yet present with you. We need to take heed to these things. So, what has he said? Verse 11, Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, or else believe me for the very works sake. The works. Often in the Bible referred to as signs, because they were the signs that were to indicate exactly who he was. We were reading this afternoon some of the great miracles that Jesus performed in Matthew chapter 9. Healing of the sick of the palsy, Jairus' daughter, that woman with the issue of blood, the dumb man whose spirit was cast out so that he could speak, and the two blind beggars. They're signs that who Jesus says he is, is who he is. Believe me for the very work's sake. If you don't understand what I'm saying, if you cannot believe me from what I say, then believe me from what I'm doing. Because they testify. These are they which testify of me, he says.

But then he goes on to say, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son, Now, of course, we know that there were great works done by the disciples. We have them recorded for us, don't we, in the Acts of the Apostles. Tremendous Acts. Why? Because He is no longer present with us. He is now with the Father. He has ascended as our great High Priest. And so as we come, we present our prayers through him. Now, it's not just a sort of form of words. It shouldn't be a form of words that we say, any more than as we emulate his prayer in Gethsemane. We don't just say, nevertheless, I will be done as just a sort of write-off, as it were. These are solemn things. These are serious things. We need to pray, of course, in accordance with the Father's will and with his will, as led by the Spirit. But we have this great assurance that whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. because he has gone to be with his father.

These things have I spoken unto you. But then what else does he enjoin upon us? Verse 15, if ye love me, keep my commandments. 21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. 15 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. saved by the acts of the law. That was never the intention. That's not what Jesus is speaking of here either, is it? These are his words, his commands. But do we seek so to do? These are the things that will please him. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. They're my final message. These things are important. And so they should be important to us, shouldn't they? And when we fail to keep those commands, then we need to pray that the Lord will forgive us and keep us. How can we begin to keep these commands? These things are spiritual as well as practical, of course.

What does he say? Verse 16. If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of truth will come. It's what Jesus says here, isn't it, as well? Really, these words lead into that. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. I've said these things to you. These are the important things. These are those things that you are to bear forward. But the Holy Spirit will come. The Father will grant him to you in accordance to my prayer. And he will teach you all things. He will add to this fullness.

John says in the opening chapter, doesn't he, of his fullness that we all received and grace for grace, grace upon grace. But that didn't stop when Jesus ascended to heaven. It is still true through that work of the Comforter. And again, we rightly speak of the Comforter as the Holy Spirit, don't we? But Jesus here speaks of him as another Comforter. The first comforter, the first one who was called alongside his people was Emmanuel, God with us. The one who is called alongside. That is what the comforter means, the paraclete. He is a comforter, he is an advocate. He is one who strengthens. And that's exactly what Christ did.

Emmanuel God with us but I go to prepare a place for you and when I have gone whilst I have gone whilst I am away another comforter will come one who will also be with you also in that sense Emmanuel God with us he is still with us isn't he he will be says Jesus in the midst and He will bring my words back to you. These words that I have said here, they will be renewed, they will be brought back and the understanding of these things will be granted to you by the Holy Spirit.

Now, that confusion that we've already spoken of with Thomas and Philip, and we could, I'm sure, go through the other disciples as well in the same sort of way, had we the facts granted to us. But they're true of us too, aren't they? We need that teaching of the Spirit. We need that application of these things to be applied to us. Not just in terms of understanding the words, but in terms of putting them into practice. If you love me, keep my commandments. Keeping the commandments isn't learning them, being able to recite them, is it? Treasuring them, if we like. No, it's putting them into practice. walking in those ways. And for that we need that ministry of the Holy Spirit leading us.

This is the way walking in it, says the word. Yes, it's God who speaks it, but who caused those holy men of old to write it? It's the Holy Spirit, isn't it? He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you. Not just these things here, but those things that have gone transpired over these last three years, two and a half years that I've been with you. He will apply them. He will teach you. It will cause you to record these things so that there will be that record left for those future generations and present with you. But until that time come when I come again, there is that need, isn't there, for that continued witness. And we have that in the written word and from the Spirit of Truth. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

Now the meaning is again underlined for us, isn't it, as we come to verse 27. I'm present with you, peace I leave with you. I'm going to go, I will no longer be present with you, but my peace I give to you. It's not a worldly giving. It's a spiritual giving.

Who is this one who leaves his peace? It's the Prince of Peace. The one who came to bring peace. the one who in the next few days will bring us peace by the blood of his cross as we have it presented to us. That's the peace he's bringing, isn't it? Eternal peace. Peace, peace of conscience, peace of salvation through the forgiveness of sins.

Yes, but a peace as we walk through that road. peace in the midst of tribulation. That's what he's going to go on to say in the coming chapters, isn't it? That there will be those who, if they, when they persecute you and bring all manner of charges against you, falsely for my sake, they will think that they're doing God a service. But through that, I give you my peace. I give you my peace, that you may bear through all of those difficulties.

And I'm declaring that now. That in the midst of those situations, when you come to those difficult pathways, you will be reassured that you have this gift from me. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You're concerned about me going, but in one sense you'll understand what I mean by this. That's the least thing to be concerned about. Because although I am going, I am providing for you.

But these other pathways that you will come across, do you not think you have been left You have my peace. You have my blessing. And you have that presence of the Comforter in the midst of those difficulties.

Also, we have a great prospect to look forward to, don't we? I am yet present with you, But, verse 28, you have heard how I said unto you, I go away and come again unto you. I will come again. I'm present now and there will come a time when I am present again.

Now of course, when Christ comes again, that will be in power and great glory. It will be a very different situation to the situation in which he is here in the upper room speaking to his disciples. He will come with all the holy angels and every eye shall see him. He will not be therefore present in this sense. And yet, what a tremendous prospect that will herald. We touched upon it this morning, but we read about it here, don't we? I go to prepare a place for you and I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.

I'm going to take you to my kingdom, to the place of my abode, that you will be in my presence forevermore. That's what he's saying, isn't it?

I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. Now John uses the image of Jesus tabernacling on the earth. He was camping, if you like, for a while. But there, the tabernacle of God is with men. But this is a more settled dwelling. He will dwell with them. I may be for ever, says Christ. The result of that is that there is that tremendous prospect of that comfort. He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, Neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. There will be no imperfection there, will there? No death, no sorrow, no pain. Behold, I make all things new.

Now what happened when all things were made in the beginning? Well, step by step of the way, we read after every day, don't we? And God saw that it was good. And God saw that it was good. And then when we come to the end of everything that he had made, behold it was Very good. It was already good. Everything was as good as it could be. But now it is completed. So the whole total is done. Indeed.

At the very outset, we have those words, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And you'll notice if you go through that really every verse in Genesis 1, it's true of many of the chapters in the Bible of course, but every verse starts with and. And God said, and God said, and God did, and... That's not just bad writing. You must tell people not to start sentences with and. But really it's indicating that every section of that chapter goes back to the original statement. So, in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and in creating that, he said. And in creating that, he did. It's that implication. Everything is being hooked back up. And so, by the time we get to the end of the chapter, the creation of the heavens and the earth is finished. And it's very good because it's been brought to its completion. And there is nothing more to be added. And there is nothing to be taken away. It's wonderful, isn't it?

And then God says, behold, I make all things new. which was perfect at the beginning, will be perfect. The new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. We don't know how long there was between what we know as Genesis chapter two and Genesis chapter three, but I don't think it was very long. but that first state will be restored, as it were, to that perfection. I make all things new.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. and by implication everything in between. That's the meaning. It's the whole alphabet. And he starts and he completes. It's in a sense a reflection of that phrase that Tindale came up with it in translation, didn't he? The author and finisher of our faith. He's the one who starts it, he's the one who completes it, and he's written all the sections in between.

But in so doing, that's another wonderful thing, isn't it? Being present with you. Yes, when he writes that, when he says that, he's speaking about his physical presence, but that physical presence won't go. There is a sense in which He is with us every step of the way until we come to this perfection in glory and we will forever be with the Lord. He sings what is said unto you, being yet present with you. is there in that glory, isn't he? The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And since he had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it. And the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day, for there shall be no night there. There is that constant harmony, that consistency. There is no sea, no more sea. Why? Because the sea is restless and churning and never stable. But that's not heaven. There's an eternity there, and a glory, and a peace. The gates are open. There is no danger, no enemy to come in that needs to be kept out. That's why cities had walls, wasn't it? To keep out the enemy. There's no enemy there. The devil and his legions and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

There's a huge solemnity about that verse. But it brings us to the glory here. No night. because there is that constant presence of the Lamb and the light of God. This is the prospect that he is giving to the disciples. Yes, I know that the revelation which came to John was decades down the line. But it's hinted at here, isn't it? And these people knew their scriptures. And they would know those wonderful prophecies, parallel prophecies given by Isaiah of these things. Perhaps they didn't apply them altogether at this point. But I'm sure as time went on, they understood.

Why? Because the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things. All things from His Word. Not just the things of Christ, pre-eminently the things of Christ, of course, but all the things. What were those words of Christ? They haven't in their fullness happened yet, but what do we find on the resurrection day? He said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you. I've already told you this. You've forgotten or you didn't understand it, but I'm going to do it again. These are the words which I spake unto you whilst I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning me.

then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written. And thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. People often refer to that event and the talk on the road to Emmaus, but it wasn't a new thing. These are the things I've spoken to you about before, but we know, don't we, that they were so slow? How often do we read, you know, afterwards they understood these things, or then they remembered that he had spoken these things. They haven't got a clue half of the time.

Even when they go on to say, at the end of chapter 16, we have those wonderful words, don't we? Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now we are sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God. And Jesus says, do you now believe? You still haven't really got it. You're beginning to get there. Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, because you've forgotten. Every man to his own, and shall leave me alone. Yes, I know that that's a fulfillment of a scripture. But that's no excuse for them, is it? Any more than it's an excuse for us.

In the same category, if you like, as when Paul speaks to the Jews and he says, you took with wicked hands and crucified and slew. Yes, it was all done according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. But that doesn't excuse you. It doesn't mean you're guiltless. All things are done according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, aren't they? But we need to walk with Him.

And now I have told you, before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye might believe. I'm telling you now, I'm warning you now, while I'm yet present with you, that you might have an understanding of these things. We have, don't we? As we look to that great day which we've already spoken of, when he will come. We have those pictures given to us, those testimonies given to us.

Think of Matthew 24 and the parallel scriptures. What shall be, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world? I'm telling you that when it is come to pass you might believe, not to be shaken by these things. You shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that ye be not troubled. For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

And we see these things building up and building up, don't we? War after war here, there and everywhere. Unrest. A nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in diverse places. Half of these things we never hear about, do we? We've got a Filipino lady at chapel and there were two very severe earthquakes in the Philippines back in September. Never heard them mentioned apart from her. But her brother wasn't allowed to go back in. They could go back in the house, but they weren't able to sleep in the house for over a month because of the number of aftershocks.

Earthquakes in diverse places. These are the beginnings of sorrows. They're leading to that great day when he shall come again. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you. And you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. and then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another.

You say this is very comforting, but this is what Jesus says, being yet present with us. That when these things come about, we might be prepared. And look to that time when there will be something far better, far more glorious. Then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Why are there so few that gather in the house of God? They shall be offended. They don't want these things. They want something much gentler, and softer, and pleasanter, more entertaining.

Behold, I've told you before, while I'm yet present with you, says Christ, Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And we see these things, don't we? And we get shocked by them. But we all ought to be shocked by them because that's what Jesus has said. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax coal. But does that not link in with what we've read and what Jesus goes on to say? If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

We see the wickedness around and people get sucked in. This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. But the love waxes cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. So press on. Press on. I will send the Comforter. He will be with you. He will support you. He will strengthen you through these things. Press on.

If any sharp man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not. People do get sucked away, don't they? somebody on the door some years back who told me that just as Christ had become incarnate, so the Holy Spirit had become incarnate and was somewhere in Nigeria. We know that's not true according to scripture. But we need to know the scriptures to know that, don't we?

Presumably there were many that were stuck in there. But then shall arise false Christs and false prophets and shall show great signs and wonders. in so much that if it were possible, they shall deceit the very elect. It's not possible, but it's close, in a sense. There will be those that are perhaps deflected for a time.

That great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, nor never shall be. And except for those days shall be shortened, there shall no flesh be saved, but for the elect's sake these days shall be shortened. I tell you this while I am present with you. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

But know this, that if the good men of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. Hereafter, verse 30, I will not talk much with you. For the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me, but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise. Let us go hence.

I hadn't talked about this until just now, but we read this afternoon, as I said, from Matthew 9, and it speaks there about the chief priests and the Pharisees saying, if he cast out the devils by the prince of the devils, but the prince of this world cometh and has nothing in me. They couldn't have been more wrong, could they? He remained sinless. Praise God he did, because he was going to the cross for his people, bearing their sins, not his own.

Things will come to an end, says Christ. I will be taken, I will go. But I will be victorious. The Prince of this world has nothing in me. I love the Father, and I go to the Father, and I keep his word. Yes, at great cost. If it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, thy will, not mine, be done.

But the Holy Spirit will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance. May he help us to meditate on all these things and to lead us into that truth, that we might grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.