Christian living, General Stuff

While I was with you

Reading Time: 2 minutes

This morning I was reading in John 14, and after Jesus had told his apprentices that he would be leaving them soon, but not alone, he spoke the following words:

All this I have spoken while still with you. (John‬ ‭14‬:‭25‬, emphasis mine)

We’ve all heard the expression that some things are better left unsaid, and yet I sensed the Holy Spirit whispering to me as I read that some things are better said. That some words carry weight that can only be felt when they are spoken and, because of the proximity, heard.

I mean, let’s be real, if you got a text from the IRS saying you owed money, you’d delete it and report it as junk. But let a card-carrying, badge-wearing IRS agent knock on your door to tell you the same thing, and you’re suddenly listening. I can tell by the sweat forming on your brow just from reading that scenario that you understand how the medium we use to communicate goes a long way toward communicating the weightiness of what we’re saying.

Jesus knew his time was short, and he knew that some things are better said face to face. He made sure he was with them so that he could tell them what was coming.

The heaviness of Peter’s impending denials, and the reminder that Jesus was still going to prepare a place for him.

The weight of not being sure if they still knew the way even after spending three years following the Way.

The sadness of saying goodbye to the Truth while trying to lean into the anticipation of the coming Spirit who would continue leading them into truth.

“All this I have spoken while still with you.”

And so it is with us. While we have breath, we have opportunities to speak words in a way that mirrors the importance of them. In good news and bad, we can choose to be present with the ones receiving it.

It takes courage to be present, but when we’re communicating kingdom truth like what Jesus did, making sure our words are heard is worth any discomfort we might feel.

Who can you be present with right now, and what would you want to tell them?

Find the time, and say the words.

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

Facebook Comments

comments

, ,
March 22, 2025by Paul Jenkins
Written by Paul Jenkins
Paul Jenkins is lead pastor of The Gathering, a community church located in beautiful downtown Albemarle, North Carolina. He's the author of God is My Air Traffic Controller and My Name's Not Lou. Paul is passionate about his wife, his 3 children, running, reading, coaching, leading people who are following Jesus, Swedish Fish and the Carolina Panthers.