By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text: John
14:15-31
John
14:26-27
But the [d]Helper,
the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach
you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to
you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to
you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.
(NKJV)
The news of one leaving us
is sad and can bring anxiety. This was especially true for the disciples who
had placed their faith in Jesus as the Messiah, only to hear Him say he was
leaving. The words of this text are words Jesus gave to His disciples to
comfort them during a time of great anxiety, with these words continuing to
bring comfort to those placing their faith in Jesus as their Savior today. The
Church has a simple yet challenging mission to share this message with the
world, but how effectively is it doing?
The text begins with Jesus
telling His disciples that if they love Him, they will keep His commandments (John
14:15). Jesus will pray for the Father to send them another helper who will
be with them forever (John
14:16). This helper is the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit which the world
cannot receive because it does not see Him or know Him. The disciples know this
helper and He is with them in Jesus, and after Jesus departs will be in them (John
14:17). Jesus promises not to leave the disciples as orphans but assures
them he will return (John
14:18).
Jesus will only be with
them a little while longer with the world seeing Him no more, but the disciples
will see Him because he will resurrect from the grave and live, so they will
also live (John
14:19). When they see the resurrected Lord they will know Jesus is in His
Father, with the disciples in Him and Jesus in the disciples (John
14:20). Those keeping Jesus’ commandments are those loving Him with them
loved by the Father with Jesus loving them and manifesting Himself to them (John
14:21). Judas, not Iscariot, asks the Lord how He will manifest Himself to
them and not to the world (John
14:22). Jesus answers by saying anyone that loves Him will keep His word
with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit making their home with them (John
14:23). However, one not loving Him and not keeping His words is not
rejecting the words of Jesus but the words of God which come from Jesus (John
14:24).
Jesus said these things while
with them and reminded them that the Helper, the Holy Spirit is coming from the
Father, who will teach them all things and help them remember His words (John
14:25-26). Jesus promises His peace that is not like anything the world
gives so their hearts need not be troubled or afraid (John
14:27). Jesus tells the disciples they should rejoice at Him going away to
be with the Father who is greater them Him and that He is coming back to them (John
14:28). By telling the disciples of these events before they happen, they
will believe when they happen (John
14:29). Jesus tells them he will no longer talk much with them because the ruler
of this world is coming and has nothing to do with Him (John
14:30). Jesus will do as the Fathe has commanded as a demonstration of His
love for the Father and tells the disciples to go from the upper room (John
14:31).
Jesus is preparing to
leave the disciples in death on the cross, but He will resurrect from the grave
in a declaration of victory over sin and death. However, he will then ascend to
be with God the Father at His right hand, making intercession for us (Romans
8:34). Jesus senses anxiety in the hearts of the disciples and tells them
they will not be left as orphans with the Holy Spirit coming to be with them
forever (John
14:16-18). Jesus came to earth to demonstrate the power of God in one who
is without sin in their life, who then died for the sins of humanity so that
one choosing to make Jesus their savior could experience forgiveness from sin.
One who is forgiven of their sins through Christ becomes the righteousness of
God in Christ and a child of God (John
1:12; Romans 3:21-22). These Children of God who are filled with the Spirit
of God will continue the ministry of Christ while still on earth (Mark
16:15-18).
Those who profess a
belief in Jesus as their savior today do so in faith because Jesus' physical
presence is no longer on earth (Ephesians
2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:8-9). People do not come to a saving belief in Jesus as
Messiah today through physically meeting Jesus, but through conviction of the
Holy Spirit by one full of the Holy Spirit sharing the Gospel with them (John
16:5-11). The great commission of the Church is to continue the ministry of
Jesus by taking the good news of the Gospel to the world. However, as we see in
the seven letters to the Churches in Revelation
2-3, many Churches have failed in this mission, with only a remnant
carrying on the work.
We must continue to pray
for revival to come to our world, but for that to occur requires.
- Repentance
- Returning
to the Lord
- Renewal
of Mind
- Revival
in the believer’s heart
Please join me in prayer
for these 4 Rs to occur in the Church so revival can come to a world in
desperate need of Jesus Christ. If you are reading this and have never prayed
to receive Jesus as your personal Savior, please take a moment to pray with me
now.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe
you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
Let someone know of your decision
or reply to this post with your decision. May God convict, challenge, and
encourage everyone reading this post.
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