The Comforter

The Jewish leaders were determined to destroy any trace of its leading antagonist, Jesus Christ, the One the people were calling the King of the Jews. They thought they would accomplish this by slaughtering His followers.

It was a troubled world for the early church. Persecution and adversity were on every hand, and yet the disciples of Jesus had the strength and the will to continue as long as Jesus was in their midst.

But their world was suddenly shattered when Jesus said, "It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you" (John 16:7).

Peter, always the headlong, reckless one, asked, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now?" (John 13:37). Although Peter yearned to be with Him, the Lord knew that Peter and His disciples were afraid, so He said, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:26-27).

We live in a world that is desperate for peace. War, violence, and catastrophe are on every hand, and fear has reached an all-time high. Many are seeking for every form of relief imaginable—drugs, the occult, palm readers. Humanistic cultures have sprung up across the nation to help soothe the escalating fear in the hearts of humanity. Never in the history of mankind has there been so much sickness and disease. New diseases are forming far too rapidly for medical science to find cures. Mental illness is soaring off the charts and people are losing hope. Many are succumbing to death or to the hopeless escape of suicide.

Where is the answer?

The answer has always been in the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost. The Lord kept His promise and sent the Comforter to His disciples. "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).

Did Peter find peace for his troubled, fearful heart? Yes! Peter and others who received the Holy Ghost traversed the known world spreading the gospel of Jesus without fear—and the church grew.

God never intended for us to face this world without the Comforter. In His kingdom there is no shortage of peace! Friend, are you troubled by fear? Is your world crashing around you? Are you unable to find hope or tranquillity? Then seek Jesus the Comforter and He will speak peace to your troubled mind and heart today! •