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Commentaries
English
John
  
18"I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you.19Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also.20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you".


When the betrayer went out, Jesus informed the disciples that he was to leave them soon, and they would not be able to follow. But he added that he would return to them in person. He was aware of their fears, and his saying has two meanings: Firstly, the coming of the Holy Spirit, since the Lord is this Spirit. Secondly, his coming in glory at the end of time. For these two reasons, he had to leave them and go to his Father. Without this farewell, the Holy Spirit would not have come to us.
This Spirit is he who opens eyes and hearts instantly. We are aware that Jesus did not rest in the grave as others do, but that he is alive, present with the Father. His life is the foundation of the cosmos and of our salvation. Because he defeated death, he gives us life, so that we too may overcome death by faith, and live in Christ’s righteousness. Our religion is one of life full of hope.
The comforting genuine Spirit is God’s Spirit who comes to dwell in us, and convince us that the Son is in the Father, and the Father in the Son, in perfect union. This spiritual knowledge of the Holy Trinity is not like the study of mathematics, but becomes incarnate in the believer, that we might be united with God as Jesus is. These mysteries in the Spirit lie beyond our grasp as humans.
Jesus does not say that he wishes to dwell in you separately, "but I dwell in you together". The Christian on his own is not the temple of the Spirit; he is like a stone set in this divine mansion. All believers share in this spiritual indwelling. This promise is given in the plural, "You are in me and I in you". The fellowship of saints is where Jesus reveals himself. Do you notice that the Lord concludes this promise with a charge "Love one another as I have loved you"? It is not I alone that am bound to Christ, but all of us will be filled unto the fullness of God.

Prayer
We bow before you, Holy Lamb of God; by your death we have received eternal life. Forgive our little faith, our ignorance, so that no barrier may rise between you and us. May we see you in all our trials, and live in that lofty awareness. We thank you that our Comforter has come, the Spirit of truth who will keep us together for ever.
Question
What are the attributes that Jesus applies to the Holy Spirit?