For Jesus, it was unthinkable that He would love His Father and also disobey Him. Pleasing the person you love is the essence of relationship. And so Jesus used the same test of the disciples: if they loved Him they would obey Him; and if they failed to obey, they would reveal their lack of love. Judas Iscariot had just walked out of the conversation (John 13:30), but those who stayed, listening to God’s Word, were given a very special promise.
 
Love, as designed by God, never ends. And so although Jesus was going back to heaven, He promised His disciples that their relationship would continue. Instead of His visible, physical presence alongside them – the Holy Spirit would come to live inside them. They would know the Holy Spirit because He has exactly the same character as Jesus. And so the precious relationship they had begun to enjoy with God the Son would continue with God the Spirit.
 
It should be unthinkable that we can say that we love God when we refuse to do what He says. How can that be a real relationship with our Creator? But as we learn to trust, obey and serve the Lord Jesus (and His gospel) we find that our relationship grows because the Holy Spirit is at work inside us. He enables us to understand how to please Jesus, and He gives us the power to serve wholeheartedly and well. And He has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Matthew 28:20).