JOHN 14:15-31
Lesson # 30
COMFORT IN THE FACE OF LOSS OR DEATH – PART II
I.? Introduction:
Note:? We spoke last week of Jesus preparing His disciples for His leaving and giving them the tools to deal with their loss.? We spoke of our replacing His work here on earth in His behalf as part of that answer and that was a result of our believing in Him.? We also spoke of the hope of heaven and “seeing God” and that both of these focus not on doctrine but reside in Jesus Himself.? He Himself is our hope of heaven and our ability to see God.
Q? The disciples saw God in the flesh, they saw Jesus, what do we do now since we cannot watch Him in the flesh teach and act?
An = If they say just read the Bible, ask them if that is a good enough answer?
Q? I had a friend who said, “If I lived at the time of Moses and saw the miracles, I would believe”, how would you answer him?
An = Just suggest that Jesus seems to have anticipated such a discussion and problem and will address it, lets watch what He does….
II. Promises For Disciples Now That Jesus Went to Heaven:? John 14:15-21.
A.? The Promise of the Spirit:? John 14:15-17.
>>>> Have someone read John 14:15-17.
Q? What is the promise given here by Jesus?
An = The giving of the Comforter, the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
Q? According to verse 15 what is the prerequisite for Jesus sending His Spirit?
An – If we love Him and keep His commandments.
Note:? Here, in this verse, as in Deuteronomy, and in 14:21,23,24 Jesus says the motivation for obeying the commandments of Jesus is that we love Him.? We obey His teaching because we are in love with Him.? To be sure, blessings follow, but our obedience is grounded in love.
Q? Can the world, can the secular media, receive the Spirit of Truth?? Why?
An = No, they do not see Him or know Him.? We know the Spirit because He is in us.
Note:? This is very frustrating to secular scholars (and many biblical scholars who are not really believers).? The Spirit of Truth is given to those who love Jesus and therefore do His will.
Q? If we do not know the Holy Spirit, what would be the cause?
An = Perhaps, we do not love Jesus Christ.
Q? What is the proof or way we love Jesus Christ?
An = We do what He teaches.
Q? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in these verses?
An = To help, to counsel, to be with us forever, to lead us to Truth, to Jesus.
B.? The Promise of His Presence, of Intimacy With Jesus:? John 14:18-21.
>>>> Have someone read John 14:18.
Q? What is Jesus promising here?
An = He says is so beautifully, we will not be orphans.? He Himself will come to us.
Q? Can you explain to the rest of us if you have had an experience of Jesus coming to you?
>>>> Have someone read John 14:19.
Q? What two things is He promising here?
An = We will see Him, perceive Him and we will live forever.? We cannot prove or experience living forever until it happens, but maybe the other is more immediate.
Q? What could Jesus mean that we today will behold Him.? Does that mean now or in heaven to come?
>>>> Have someone read John 14:20-21.
Q? What is promised here?
An = We shall know that Jesus is “in the Father”, we will know we are “in Him”, and we shall know He is “in us”.? At the end of verse 21, Jesus will “disclose” or “show” Himself to us.
Q? What is the pre-condition for such “showing” or “disclosure”?
An = If we have His commandments and keep them because we love Him.
Note:? If you go through the entire speech given to Philip about “how to see the Father” (verse 8) then we will see the speech is dominated by two things:? promises and conditions.? The conditions are basically three and yet really three sides of the same thing:? believe in Him, 12b, 13a, 14a;? love Him;? and keep His commandments 10, 21a 21c.? It seems that loving Him, keeping His commandments and believing in Him are more or less all tied together.
RQ? Do we want to see to the Father?? Our role is to believe, love, keep.
The promises are doing his deeds 12c-d;? answered prayer 13b, 14b;? gift of the Spirit 15;? not left alone 18;? see Him 19b;? eternal life 19d;? intimacy with Him 20,21.? To believe in these promises all do two things:? they help our “troubled hearts over His leaving” and draws us to Himself.? It seems like that is the goal.
Note:? There is one more question in this passage, this one is be Judas (not Iscariot) who like Thomas and Philip seize on the last phrase of Jesus’ address.? The last thing Jesus spoke about was “disclosure or “showing” Himself.? One thing bothered this disciple, not the promise, but to whom it was given.
III.? Judas’ (not Iscariot) Question:? Why limited Disclosure.? John 14:22-31.
A.? The Question:? How come only the disciples will see Jesus?? John 14:22.
>>>> Have someone read John 14:22
Q? Why would Judas (not Iscariot) be concerned that only disciples would be “show” Jesus after His leaving?
An = He has made that clear.? The world cannot receive the Spirit because it does not see or know Him.? Only disciples can do the words, receive the Spirit, receive the promises and have intimacy with the Son.? Maybe it disturbs us we cannot prove the validity of the Son if He is only revealed when we believe, love Him and keep His commandments.? We are not sure what disturbed Judas (not Iscariot).? Let see how Jesus answers….
B.? The First Part of the Answer:? Remember what I have already said.? John 14:23-24.
>>>> Have someone read John 14:23-24.
Q What is Jesus repeating here?
An = Jesus repeats that only those who keep His Word, and love Him will have fellowship with the Father.? Jesus’s Word is the Father’s Word, it was the Father who sent Him.?
Note:? Those who today, say I accept Jesus as a kind and moral man, are not accepting the real Jesus and are certainly not accepting God, but a view of Jesus, and therefore a god of their own making.
C.? The Second Part:? I will ask and the Father will send the Spirit.? John 14:35-26.
>>>> Have someone read John 14:25-26.
Q In whose Name will the Spirit come?
An = Sent by the Father in Jesus’ Name.
Q? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in these verses?
An = He will teach and remind us of what the Son said.? The Spirit is the teacher.? We cannot see Jesus in the flesh, but we can listen and be taught and reminded by the Spirit.
Q How is this a word of comfort for the disciples who will not have Jesus in the flesh with them anymore?
An = The Spirit, in His Name, will be teaching and reminding in their midst.
D.? The Third Part:? A Pronouncement of Peace.? John 14:27-28
>>>> Have someone read John 14:27
Q? What is promised in this verse?
An = His Peace, again not the peace of the world, but His peace.?
Q? What is the exhortation at the end of this verse?
An = Do not be fearful or troubled.? Because He gives His peace we are not to be troubled.? However, at times we cannot focus on God’s gift, and so perhaps the next verse is a help.
>>>> Have someone read John 14:28
Q How is Jesus challenging them here?
An = To love Him, to seek His joy.? Jesus is saying to the disciples if you care, you would be happy with my going because I go to the Greatness of the Father.
Q How could this help us handle our lack of peace when a dear Christian dies?
An = We should focus on the deceased person’s joy of being with the Father.? When we focus on other’s joy, it is amazing how right that it and how much it allows God to pour His peace in us.? We focus this way through faith, i.e. we believe.
E.? Final Words:
>>>> Have someone read John 14:29-31.
Q? What does it mean the ruler of this world has nothing in Him or no hold over Him?
An =? Jesus is pure.? He is one with the Father and does the will of the Father and the powers of darkness and evil have no power of Jesus.? When we abide in Him, the same is true of us.
>>>> Have everyone turn to John 10:17-18.
Q? Does the coming of the evil one for Jesus mean he has over powered Jesus?
An = No.? Remember it is Jesus who lays down His life and will take it up again, He does so on His own authority.? The devil did not take Jesus against His will.? Jesus came to die and He came to give His life a ransom for many.? He came to do the Father’s will.? He came to die for His sheep and that is the only the beginning:? “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.”? John 14:18.