In this final section of chapter 14 Jesus promises the Holy Spirit a second time. As he does, he offers greater clarity on the ministry of the Spirit. Jesus knows that the disciples have struggled to understand many of the things he has taught them. His resurrection will certainly give them an entirely new understanding. But even so, Jesus will depart from them. They will not want him to leave. They will have no other way to conceive of this than a profound loss. And this is why God’s triune nature is such a source of help and hope. The physical absence of Jesus will not mean the loss of his real presence.

 In this section the Lord explains how the Holy Spirit will “teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (vs. 26). Jesus’ soon coming departure will not be the departure of God from the lives of his people. Indeed, the second Paraclete (Advocate, Helper, Counsel), the Holy Spirit will come to them and carry on all that Jesus began.

 The Holy Spirit is the “hands on,” as it were, Person of the Triune God. That is, it is the Holy Spirit who ministers to us the ongoing presence of the risen Christ. He binds us to Christ and Christ to us. He gives us the Scriptures. He vivifies dead souls once unable to understand or accept the Word of God. The Holy Spirit is the means of the peace Jesus gives to us (vs. 27). It is a peace anchored in our justification before God (Romans 5:1) and carried forward through the sanctifying presence of the Spirit.

 Given that we live in a world in the throes of spiritual warfare (vs. 30), we need the saving, enlightening, and strengthening power of the Paraclete. The “ruler of this world,” has nothing on Jesus or on those in whom he dwells.