God's Abiding Presence

The profound idea that Christ and His people could be in union with each other and experience each other's presence without the world knowing anything about it was beyond the comprehension of the disciples on the night before the crucifixion. Judas, not Iscariot, wondered how it would be possible for Christ to appear to His people without also appearing to the rest of the people in the world. The reply of the Savior was that His presence with His people would be a spiritual one. The key issue in this text was the reality of saving faith, and Christ taught that the mark of saving faith was the obedience to Christ's word. The order was important. People could not secure the love and presence of Christ by their obedience. Their love for Christ would lead to adherence to all that Christ taught.