No Longer An Orphan
Lectio Divina of John 14
Take a few moments to quietly prepare your heart to enter God’s presence. Intentionally release the chaos and the noise in your mind. Read these passages slowly, lingering over the words. After each reading, take a few moments to silently reflect. Afterwards, spend a few minutes in prayer over what you received from God’s Word and give thanks for His amazing words of life
After the 1st passage: Listen for a word or phrase that particularly strikes you.
After the 2nd passage: Listen to how the passage seems to touch your life experience.
After the 3rd passage: Reflect on the questions below.
John 14:16-18, 26-27
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,
to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth,
whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.
You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
(ESV)
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And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.
The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him.
But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative— that is, the Holy Spirit—
he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart.
And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
(NLT)
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I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend
so that you will always have someone with you.
This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in
because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for.
But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!
“I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back.”
The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you.
He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole.
That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—
feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.
(MSG)
REFLECTION QUESTIONS*
What is God doing in this passage? (Circle all of the words that show His actions/work.)
What is God inviting me to do? (Underline the words that show your actions/work.)
In what ways is the Holy Spirit my Friend, Helper, and Advocate?
What am I afraid of? How am I still living as an orphan?
What difference does it make to believe Jesus is with me and is rescuing me?
We invite you to take use the Lectio Divina worksheet, linked in the button above, to enhance your experience.