In John's Gospel, Jesus' long discourse during the Last Supper (Jn 14-16) contains several different kinds of sayings: teaching, promises, words of encouragement and consolation. These different forms of speech are not entirely separated: a commandment or a word of teaching can be a great encouragement for us and doctrine can easily resound in our hearts as a promise. When Jesus says "I am the way, the truth and the life" (14:6), he is teaching us about himself and God. His words are also a promise to us: he will always, in all circumstances, be our way to God; he will always reveal the truth to us and will always guide us towards the fullness of life.

Of the several promises which Jesus makes during this Last Supper, a very important one is the promise of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13). This promise is fulfilled especially at Pentecost and then throughout the history of the Church. While the Spirit has his own reality, mission and presence in the Church he is also in a certain sense, the presence of the absent Jesus.