Give yourself a fly-by tour of the remaining chapters in John. Browse over the chapters from 14-21 and read the headings to see what is yet to happen in the book. What do you notice? What events are yet to take place? What do you notice is missing?

In this section and a few chapters following in John, Jesus has a lot to say – things that are most on his mind on the eve of his arrest and death. He will say some things that seem confusing things and some things that are quite clear. My advise is to breath in the clear advice from Jesus before being drawn into the mysterious stuff. The latter will become clearer when observed in context, so absorb the clear teachings and celebrate them in order to process the harder teachings.

Context

John opens his book by telling us that The Word has come into the world and that whoever believes in him will be called children of God. John invites us to listen to this Word-Man, Jesus, and test if you believe him. To reject Jesus, says John, is to reject God.

Jesus performed his first sign to reveal his glory at a wedding in Cana  (chapter 2) and his last sign at a funeral in Bethany (chapter 11), also to show his glory.

During the first sign, he declared that his “hour” had not yet come (2:4). This mention of an “hour’ not yet come occurs again in 7:30 and 8:20. After the final sign, and he is again in Bethany, he declares that his hour has come (12:23). He says that the hour is for the Son of Man to be glorified. He says in 12:27 that the reason the Word became flesh was for this very hour that was now drawing upon him. In chapter 13, the Passover Festival was about to begin and Jesus knew that the hour had come:

“Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” (13:1)

We pick up our study from chapter 14 onwards with these themes in our mind: that the Son of Man will be glorified, that a particular event or hour is about to strike which is exactly what the Son of Man came for, and that there will be those who believe in his name and those who will not. This distinction will be described as the difference between knowing God and not knowing God; being with God or against him; being a lover of God or not; being separate and distinct from the world or being just like the world.

In 14:10 “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” This statement describes a one-ness and closeness between Jesus and God the Father. It is one thing to say that “I am in the Father,” but it is quite another to say that “the Father is in me”!!!

Let’s look at 14:15-31 and look out for themes and phrases that carry all of this context forward…

Observation

(15) “If you love me, keep my commands”. Obeying commands from somebody does not demonstrate that you love them (like a soldier following orders doesn’t necessarily love his/her commanding officer). But loving someone may be demonstrated by listening and obeying (assuming that the person you love is in a position of authority and is wise).  With respect to Jesus, the eternal God, if we love him, it will be demonstrated by our submission to his authority. Jesus demonstrates his love of the Father in 10:18, 12:49-50; 14:31 and see also 18:11. Jesus gives us one specific command in 13:34; 15:12; 15:17. See also 14:21 for an expansion of 14:15.

(15-21) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate…the Spirit of truth…and I too will love them and show myself to them.” There is a message wrapped up in this paragraph of a great love that will be poured out from God the Father and Jesus to all who love God and demonstrate that by keeping Jesus’ commands. The Spirit of truth is described as (a) an advocate (v16, ie, a supporter, or one who is for us), (b) eternal (v16), defined by truth (v17), invisible and mysterious (v17),  yet known to those he is revealed to (v17), linked with Jesus himself (v18). Verses 19-21 could be read to indicate that the Spirit’s presence in a believer is the way that Jesus is revealed to the believer. Judas questions Jesus in the next section which leads Jesus to clarify…

(22) Judas has a good question which we may still ask God today…if all this is true and wonderful, why not reveal yourself to everybody Jesus?

(23-24) “Anyone…” Anyone is welcome to love and obey Jesus’ teaching. But the reality is that not everyone will. These two verses are quite clear and yet a long slow read of them reveal some amazing truths! On the one hand, for anyone who will love Jesus, listen to his words, respond by following his instruction will be blessed by God in an amazingly intimate way! Christians are not rule followers, they are people who love Jesus and who are loved by Jesus. By loving Jesus, they are absolutely loving the Father as well and both the Father and the Son, by the Holy Spirit (v17) will live and dwell and make their home with them! On the other hand, those who will not obey Jesus, show they have no love for him and both the Father and the Son agree that there is no place for them in that person’s life.

(25-27) “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate…will remind you of everything I have said to you…” Jesus is planning to leave this world but not without making preparations for his disciples. The Spirit, the Advocate, will bring to their minds everything that Jesus has said to them. This is an assurance for the disciples and an insight for us about the writing of the new testament also.

Notice the Trinity spoken of in this verse (26): The Spirit will be sent by the Father in the name of Jesus. The Spirit will remind them of what Jesus has said. So, the Father and the Spirit are not the same person. Nor is the Spirit and Jesus. Nor is Jesus and the Father. Yet they all work together in unison and for each other. The Father will send the Spirit in Jesus name (not his own), thus elevating the name of Jesus. The Spirit’s task is to remind the disciples of everything Jesus has said, not the words of the Father or of the Spirit. And yet, elsewhere, Jesus has said that everything he says has been commanded of him by the Father. (rest your brain now and just worship)

(27) But notice even deeper that Jesus wants to leave them with peace and hearts that will not be troubled (recall 14:1). Jesus himself had been troubled when he saw the mourners outside Lazurus’ tomb (11:33), when he reflected on the reason he had come – to die on the cross (12:27), by the knowledge that one of his disciples would betray him (13:21). What ties these events together? Jesus is troubled by the effects of death and sin. But he charges his disciples now, not to be troubled. He is going to give them peace and will not really leave them. Jesus is asking his disciples to trust him.

(28-31) Read this paragraph a few times and see what stands out to you. What truths do you see? a) Jesus is a prophet who can tell his disciples what is going to happen and know that it will take place, b) Jesus is pleased to be going to the Father, c) those influenced by Satan are coming, d) Satan (the prince of this world) has no power over Jesus, e) Jesus will show his love for the Father by being obedient to him and keeping his commands (ie, subjecting himself to death as the Father has commanded him), f) Jesus asks us to do just as he is demonstrating: to love him and keep his commands. Do you see anything else in this paragraph? The command from the Father for Jesus to follow is for Jesus to love the world (John 3:16).

“Come now; let us leave” Although Jesus says this at the end of chapter 14, it seems another three chapters of Jesus speaking will pass by (15-17) before they finally leave in 18:1. If nothing else, this shows us how little time takes place over four chapters! It’s not days or half a day but almost like real-time. Like an episode of 24 when Jack Bowers says, “let’s go” but we don’t see him going till the next episode. Something like that. The pace of 14-17 is not laid back chilling out by a campfire talking…Jesus is getting ready to leave and has final things to say to his beloved disciples.

Meaning

The Trinity share in a oneness which we are invited to participate in – The Father, Jesus and the Spirit are certain to love us and be with us and share with us in a way that puts human relationships to shame – but our part is to trust and obey. Will we go with Jesus? Do you want that?

Application

1. We can’t love and follow a person that we don’t know. Jesus calls us to get to know him and keep his commands – do as he says we should do. He has given us his Spirit to guide us into all truth AND he has equipped his disciples to recall all that Jesus has said. We have the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Talk together about how to get to know Jesus more through his word.
2. Jesus makes a few distinctions implicitly and explicitly between his way of love and the worlds’ ways (27, 31) and makes a distinction between those in the world who will obey him and those who will not. He paints a picture of either making a home with God (23) or with the world (implied in 24). Where do you see your future? Are you pursuing your home with God now?
3. Jesus promoted our need for an Advocate and promised the Spirit to be in us. One key distinction between those with the Spirit and those without is the desire to love God. Jesus told the Samaritan woman in chapter 4 that the Father seeks true worshippers who will worship him in spirit and in truth. We may not ‘see’ the Spirit (v17) but we know him because he brings us to Jesus with understanding and truth. Discuss together the importance of trusting Jesus when he describes the Spirit and seeing his affect on us as proof of him being present in us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, we desire to know you, to love you and to follow you. Father God, we long to know you and to be at home with you. Holy Spirit, our advocate, please teach us to love and obey with all of our hearts. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.