John 14-16

John 14

Jesus comforts disciples before His departure

• “Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled”
• Calls them to:
  • believe in God
  • believe in Him
• Jesus says He goes to prepare a place for them
• Promises:
  • He will come again
  • believers will be with Him

Thomas the Apostle asks: “How can we know the way?”

• Jesus’ Response“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
• No one comes to the Father except through Jesus

Philip  asks “Show us the Father.”

• Jesus says whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father
• Jesus speaks and acts through the Father

Believers will continue Jesus’ mission

• Works spread through Spirit
• Jesus promises to answer prayers offered in His name
  • The purpose is to glorify the Father

Promise of the Holy Spirit

• Love for Jesus expressed through obedience
• The Helper/Comforter παράκλητος (paraklētos)
  • helper
  • advocate
• Holy Spirit:
  • dwells with believers
  • will teach
  • remind disciples of Jesus’ words

“I Will Not Leave You as Orphans”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.”

Jesus speaks of:

• going to the Father
• Ruler of this world was coming (through Judas)
  • “he has nothing in Me”
• obedience to the Father

John 15

Abide: μένω (menō): to remain, stay, continue, dwell 

Jesus says “I am the true vine.”

• Father is vinedresser/gardener
• Believers are branches
  • Fruitfulness depends on abiding in Christ
  • Fruitful branches are pruned
    • Brings even more fruitfulness

Abiding in Christ: Spiritual life depends completely on Christ

Glorifying the Father

• Fruit-bearing glorifies God
• Demonstrates true discipleship
• Jesus connects:
  • obedience
  • love
  • joy

Jesus desires disciples’ joy to be complete

New Commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

• Jesus defines love sacrificially: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

The disciples are chosen and appointed to bear fruit

The World’s Hatred

• World hated Jesus first
• Disciples should expect persecution
• Followers share treatment of Christ
  • ‘A servant is not greater than his master.`
• Rejection fulfills Scripture
  • Psalm 69:4

Promise of the Spirit

• Holy Spirit testifies about Jesus
• Disciples also testify as witnesses

John 16

Jesus warns disciples:

• they will face persecution
• some will think killing them serves God
• Jesus prepares them beforehand

Jesus says it is better He goes away, then the Helper will come

• Holy Spirit convicts concerning:
  • sin
  • righteousness
  • judgment
• Spirit:
  • speaks truth
  • glorifies Christ
  • reveals what belongs to Jesus

Jesus says: “A little while, and you will see me no longer and again a little while, and you will see me.”

• death
• resurrection

Sorrow compared to labor pains

• But joy follows after suffering
• Disciples’ sorrow will become joy
• No one can take that joy away

Believers may ask and pray directly in Jesus’ name

• Father loves those who love the Son

Disciples finally declare Jesus came from God

Jesus says disciples will flee and leave Him alone

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Application

Jesus gives his final encouragement to the disciples before leaving. He acknowledges there will be pain and persecution. Nevertheless we are called to lay down our lives for others and to love one another. We are blessed with the Spirit that guides us throughout all of life’s hardships.