This year, in John 14, in verses I have treasured since I first read them as a young adolescent, I not only heard Jesus saying to us a deeply loving goodbye, but also understood with my heart, like never before, that these words speak of what Easter means to Jesus.
Jesus says,
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray to our Creator, who shall give you another Comforter, who will abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth her not, neither knoweth her: but ye know her; for she dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
At that day ye shall know that I am in our Creator, and ye in me, and I in you.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom our Creator will send in my name, 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.
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Creator: for our Creator is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
John 14:15-20 and 25-29, King James Version, adapted