There is a sense in which anxiety pervades the upper room. One of the twelve, having betrayed Jesus, fled into the night. Increasing the tension were Jesus’ words that he was going to depart from the disciples and that where he was going, they could not follow. Little wonder that so much of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse is focused on comforting the remaining disciples.

Jesus pledges to the eleven: “I will not leave you as orphans.” The Lord’s immanent death would so devastate the disciples that their condition could be fairly compared to that of orphans. But Jesus assures them that such will not be the case. They will not be left alone. He has already assured them that he will return in glory at his Second Coming (14:1-4). But also, they will see him in a matter of days for the grave will not keep its hold on him (14:19). But still, he will be departing in order to return to the Father in glory. And yet, even in his physical absence, his presence and even that of the Father will remain with them by the power of the Holy Spirit. “As the Son incarnated the Father’s presence in the world, so now the Spirit brings the Son’s presence into the world through the life of the believer” (Burge, 405).

The Holy Spirit is never absent or missing. He has never been a non-factor in the world. Indeed, the Old Testament saints needed no less of the Spirit for their faith and sanctification than we do today. Nevertheless, the Spirit’s activity among his people is multi-faceted. The nature of his activity among God’s people seems to grow with the progress of redemptive history. Jesus is referring to the ministry of the Holy Spirit when he speaks of the disciples’ love for God and their ongoing union with the Son and Father. This is a love and spiritual union that cannot be known by the world for it is known only by those who have the Holy Spirit.