It might seem strange, but Jesus says that some wonderful things are going to happen to his disciples because he is going away.  We might think that if Jesus stayed with them he would give them the power that they need;  but no.  Jesus says that unless he goes away, the Holy Spirit will not come.  It’s the Holy Spirit that brings all the fullness of what God can give to us.

There are nine days between the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost, a week from Sunday.  The word “novena” comes from the root meaning of the word “nine.”  This is what Jesus means when he talks about “the little while” between his going away and the coming of the Spirit.   Jesus brought great joy to his disciples and will do the same for us if we read his words very slowly and quietly, believing the many promises in these verses.  How many of these promises can you count?

John 16:16-33

Create your own Bible Breaths Learn More…
Example:
“No one takes away my joy.” v. 22

Fridays are dedicated to the Gospels. This year, we generally read from the Gospel of Mark,
except during most of Lent and Easter when we read from the Gospel of John.

These Firestarters are for families with children. For the Firestarters in the original edition, I recommend the ebook.  You will have the entire program of well over a thousand of these introductions with you on your phone or tablet! Check the menu options at the site for more information.