Bible Stories for the Young
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As Jesus walked along through the valley and to the garden, the depth of His love and affection for His friends was overflowing. He was comforting, leading, preparing, and just showering them with Love from Heaven.
“I’m leaving to go back to the One who sent Me. But instead of asking Me where I’m going (which would make you happy to think about!) your hearts are just all sad because I’m leaving.
“But I promise you, it’s BETTER for all of you if I leave now. Because if I leave, I can send you the Companion — a Helper, Comforter, Counselor, Strengthener — who is in your corner and on your side.
“And when He comes, He will show the world’s thinking is totally wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. Wrong about sin, because they don’t believe in Me, so they think they don’t have to answer to anyone higher than themselves. They think, “Ahh, anything goes. There’s no such thing as sin. There’s no standard or anyone to answer to.” WRONG.
”And wrong about righteousness, because I AM going to the Father. (Righteousness is not just about good deeds. Righteousness will be found in Jesus because He’s going to be glorified. He’s going to go to the right hand of His Father where He will stand up for us. He becomes our Righteousness if we clothe ourselves with Him.)
“And wrong about judgment, because the ruler of this world has already been condemned. So no matter what wrong things someone believes about sin and righteousness, they won’t get off the hook because satan has already been judged. There’s no discussion. Anyone on satan’s side will receive the same penalty as him.
“There’s so much more I want to say to you, but you can’t handle it just yet. And when I send the Spirit of Truth to you, He’ll show you the way to everything True. That’s why the Spirit will glorify Me — because the Father shares everything with Me, and I share everything with the Spirit, so that He can share it with you!“
Then Jesus said, “In a little while, you won’t see Me anymore. But then a little while after that you will see Me again.”
Hearing that last part made the disciples confused and sad. So Jesus said to them, “I know you don’t understand all of this yet. You will cry and be sad while the world will cheer. You will be filled with sadness, but then, your sadness will turn into Real, full joy! You will have a lot of pain now. BUT I will see you again, and your hearts will sing with joy — and no one will be able to take that joy from you.
“When that time comes, you won’t just be asking Me for things. Instead, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give to you. Until now you haven’t done that before. But now, you will ask the Father for things in My name, and you will get it! And your joy will be full.
“I know some of these things still seem a little blurry to you right now, but a time is coming soon when none of this will be blurry anymore — I’m going to make it all plain and clear to you.
“When it’s clear, you will ask in My name. And I’m not saying that you’ll ask Me for things and I’ll ask the Father for you. I’m saying YOU will ask the Father, because the Father loves you… because you love Me and believe that I came from Heaven.
“I came from the Father and entered into the world, but soon I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
His disciples said, “Now You’re talking clearly. That we can understand! We believe that You have come from God.”
But Jesus replied, “Oh, a time is coming very soon when you will be scattered, and I will be left all alone. But I’m not alone, because My Father is with Me. But I have told you these things so that resting in Me you will have peace. In this world you will have trouble and pain, but be brave because I have conquered the world. I have overcome it!”
Jesus was gradually starting to share with them the amazing good news coming. He’s saying, “This has only been a shadow, fellas. Something better’s coming. Abraham cut away from the secret parts of the flesh, but I’m going for the secret places of the heart. No longer will someone say, “Know the Lord, know the Lord,” but My Family will all know Me from the least to the greatest. Ohhhhh, stuff’s gonna get better.“ (Better for them, and better for US.)
