I imagine we would have asked the same questions and made the same errors the disciples did in their pursuit of knowing God. “’Show us the Father and that will be enough for us,’ Philip said. ‘Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me?’” (John 14:8-10) Even in His presence, the apostles fell short of really knowing the Lord.
Peter might have called himself a failure in trust, love, and obedience. He sank after a few steps on the Sea of Galilee; he denied he even knew Jesus on the night of His arrest; and he disobeyed his Master three times by falling asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane. With our lack of understanding and human weakness, how can any of us succeed?
God knew we could not save ourselves and He knows we cannot follow Jesus without divine help. Though they did not comprehend, the disciples were told that a Helper would come. “I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7)
I need help! I need help to trust; I need help to love; and I need help to obey. God answers: “You are right… so I give you My Spirit. Do not even try to live through your own efforts… depend on Me. Accept My help and learn to live in Me and you will experience the abundant life I have promised.”
“If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Counselor to be with you – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him.” John 14:15-21
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:25-27