Please Don't Leave Me!

Have you ever used those words before or have your child or loved one say "Please don't leave me!" Depending on the situation or the person this can be a very fearful place to be - to be left alone. It is interesting that a person can feel alone even in a room full of people because the people they care about the most or depend upon has left them.

When our son was in a kindergarten program in Pennsylvania he would cry every time I would leave him. He was not alone but he didn't want me to leave him. I would encourage him the best I could that I would return for him and take him home, but it didn't seem to stop his tears.

During the feast of the passover Jesus knew that His hour had come and that He should depart from this world to go to the Father. Even though the disciples had walked with Jesus for 3 years, they still did not fully understand what He taught them about His life, death and resurrection. He knew they would be afraid when that hour came and He left to go to the Father.

In John 14, two times Jesus tells His disciples to not let their hearts be troubled or be afraid. He was preparing them for His departure. He wanted them to know that He was leaving but He would be preparing a place for them to come to be with Him when that time came. He tells them that the Father will give them another Helper or Comforter - the Holy Spirit. He tells them that the Spirit of truth will dwell WITH them and IN them. In verse 18 He says "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." He tells them in verse 26 "the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." Then in verse 27 He says "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Jesus spends time at the passover with them washing their feet and teaching them what it means to be a servant and serve others. He is also teaching and preparing them for the time of His departure. Jesus knew the disciples and all those who followed Him would be fearful and troubled with His death. The disciples had spent 3 years of their lives with Him and had seen the miracles, experienced the blessings and been transformed into different people. Indeed it would be a fearful time for them. That is why He wanted to make it abundantly clear that they would not be left alone because they would have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.

Sometimes we feel very alone, frightened and left behind. Because we cannot see Jesus, we do feel alone in difficult times. If you know Christ and have accepted His death and atonement as forgiveness for your sins you will never be left behind or forgotten. The Holy Spirit dwells in each one of us teaching us to remember those things He has taught us through His word. Isaiah 49:15 has brought me great comfort. "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you." The Lord loves His people and will never leave us or forsake us. He will return and take us to where we can dwell with Him forever.