We find ourselves in the 17th chapter of John. This
is early on Friday morning of Passion Week. In the
darkness of the morning hours before dawn, our Lord
has around Him the eleven disciples. Judas has
already left to launch the betrayal that will take
place in just a very brief time, after which our Lord
being arrested, will go through a mock trial; and on
Friday, will be crucified; on Sunday, rise from the
dead.
But we are still deep into the darkness of
early Friday morning. Our Lord has been spending the
whole evening giving promises to the disciples. They
are recorded for us in John 13, 14, 15, and 16. They
are promises of blessing, promises of persecution,
all kinds of promises. But the greatest promise of
all is that He will send the Holy Spirit to provide
the fulfillment of all His promises, and to be the
power they need to serve Him and witness for Him in
the world.
