**The Promise of the Comforter**

The night air was thick with the scent of olive trees as Jesus and His disciples walked along the dusty path toward the Garden of Gethsemane. The flickering torchlight cast long shadows on their faces, revealing the weariness in their eyes. They had shared the Passover meal together, but now a heaviness lingered in the silence between them. Jesus, sensing their troubled hearts, paused and turned to them, His voice tender yet firm.

*”These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.”*

The disciples exchanged uneasy glances. Peter, ever impulsive, clenched his fists. “Lord, what do You mean? What is coming that would cause us to stumble?”

Jesus looked at them with deep compassion, His eyes reflecting both sorrow and unwavering love. *”They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.”*

A murmur of disbelief rippled through the group. James, his brow furrowed, shook his head. “But why would they do such things? We follow the God of Abraham!”

*”Because they have not known the Father nor Me,”* Jesus replied. *”But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.”*

Thomas, always the one to voice doubt, stepped forward. “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. *”I did not tell you these things at the beginning because I was with you. But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’”*

The weight of His words settled upon them. Sorrow filled their hearts, for they could not bear the thought of being separated from Him.

Yet Jesus, seeing their grief, continued with a voice full of promise. *”It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send Him to you.”*

Philip’s eyes widened. “Helper? Who is this Helper, Lord?”

*”The Spirit of truth,”* Jesus said, His voice steady. *”He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak. And He will tell you things to come.”*

John, leaning closer, whispered, “But how will He guide us?”

*”He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”*

A quiet awe fell upon them. Though they did not yet fully understand, there was comfort in His words.

Jesus continued, His voice now carrying both warning and hope. *”A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”*

The disciples murmured among themselves, confused. “What does He mean by ‘a little while’?”

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, smiled gently. *”Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. And you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.”*

He paused, allowing the imagery to settle in their hearts. *”A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.”*

Peter’s eyes softened. “So our grief will not last?”

*”Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”*

The disciples drew nearer, their fears slowly giving way to hope.

Jesus lifted His eyes toward heaven for a moment before speaking again. *”In that day, you will ask Me nothing. Whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”*

The night seemed less oppressive now, as if the promise of dawn was already breaking in their hearts. Though the road ahead would be difficult, they would not walk it alone.

Jesus looked at them one last time before they entered the garden, His voice a whisper of divine assurance. *”These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day, you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.”*

A deep peace settled over them, though the storm of trials was yet to come. For they now knew—though the world would rage, though sorrow would come—they would never be forsaken. The Comforter would come.

And with that promise, they stepped into the shadows of the garden, where the greatest battle of all would soon unfold.