John 14:15-31
Another Counselor Promised
15“If you
love Me, you will keep My commandments; 16and I also will ask the
Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17He
is the Spirit of truth, whom the world is unable to receive because it doesn’t
see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will
be in you. 18I will not leave
you as orphans; I am coming to you.
19“In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see
Me. Because I live, you will live too. 20In that day you will know
that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you. 21The one
who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who
loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal
Myself to him.”
22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going to reveal
Yourself to us and not to the world?”
23Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father
will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24The
one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not
Mine, but is from the Father who sent Me.
25“I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. 26But
the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom
the Father will send in My name, will
teach you all things† and remind you of everything I have told
you.
27“Peace I leave with you. My
peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must
not be troubled or fearful. 28You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am
going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that
I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29I
have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you may
believe. 30I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler
of the world is coming. He has no power over Me. 31aOn the contrary,
I am going away so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the
Father commanded Me, so I do.
31b“Get up; let’s leave this place.[1]
Intro Questions
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
OPEN:
- Who was the best counselor you ever had? Why was this person so special?
- How are the disciples to show love to each other (John 13:34)? To Jesus (John 14:15)? Why is this idea repeated four times (John 14:15, 21, 23-24)?
- What do you learn about the Holy Spirit in John 14:16-17, 25-27? What is the relationship of the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the believer? To each other?
- What is the difference between how Jesus gives peace and how the world does?
- How at home are the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in your life? Are they more like owners, or temporary guests?
- On a scale from 1 (smooth sailing) to 10 (furious storm), what is your peace quotient? Why? Where do you need Jesus' peace? Where can you find hope in this passage?
- How has the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus in your life?
- Of all the promises made here (John 14:16-18, 21, 23, 26-27), which one means the most to you? Why?
(John 14:15-31)
Jesus Speaks Privately With His Disciples.
THE CONSOLATION HE GIVES TO HIS DISCIPLES (14:1–4)
THE CONVERSATION HE HAS WITH HIS DISCIPLES (14:5–31)
He says he will ask the Father to send them the Holy Spirit (14:15–21).
Judas (not Judas Iscariot) and Jesus (14:22–31)
1. Judas’s question (14:22): “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
2. Jesus’ answer (14:23–31)
a. He says that he only reveals himself to those who love and obey him (14:23–24).
b. He promises that the Holy Spirit will explain all this to them (14:25–26).
c. He reminds them again of his departure and return (14:27–31).
PEACE ON EARTH
December 23, 2018
Dr. Joe Pettigrew
"Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.” John 14:27
The Christmas season is a wonderful time of year. Families gather for joyous celebrations and we see individuals we haven't seen since last year. Small towns and neighborhood communities put up Christmas lights and even the air itself smells special—all raising “peace on earth, goodwill to all” expectations all around.
But contrary to the famous Hallmark Christmas movies, trials and tribulations do not take the holidays off. While we look forward to Christmas and hope it will be a great time, we live in a fallen world which can even make Christmas very painful.
For some families, there will be an empty place at the table because a loved one is no longer here. For some parents, the hope for a prodigal child returning in time for Christmas will be met with their continued absence. Some will be surrounded by people, but still feel outcast and abandoned. Others will find themselves alone during this season wishing that someone would visit them.
Whatever happened to “peace on earth, goodwill toward men?” Regardless of where you find yourself in life, be reminded that Christ loved the world so much that He came down from Heaven. And He did not come to just sit around in a manger. He came to bear the cross for sin and its consequences—provide salvation to anyone who will believe in Him.
Living in a fallen world means there is chaos—instead of peace—chaos that we contribute to daily. Yet Christ came into this chaotic world and bore upon Himself the sins of the whole world. Why? Because He loves everyone, including you.
Thought of the Day: No matter where we find ourselves this Christmas season, we can find hope and comfort in the person of Christ, if we will seek Him! “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”
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“If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father...” John 14:28
Goodbyes can be difficult. When our children visit from far away, we are always disappointed to see them leave. “Why can’t they stay longer—or just move closer?”
Jesus’ disciples were similarly troubled by the prospect of his going away. Who would now teach them about God’s kingdom? Yet Jesus insists that his going away will be good for them.
Goodbyes come to us in various forms. We can experience the loss of a career. We can move away from friends or family. However, what seems to be the most painful is when we lose a husband, father, or child to death.
This week I lost a friend, but more importantly, a great Godly woman lost her husband. He was my mentor and teacher ways that not even he knew. I never knew him to be unethical or unkind to anyone. He was a high school principal and system superintendent, and that alone is about as hard of a job as it comes. Bobby Miller was a solid man of God, an incredible leader, and a loving father and husband. He will be missed.
Jesus teaches that even in the face of such goodbyes, we can experience peace and hope. The “prince of this world,” the devil, wants us to be defined by our losses. But the Father is greater than all things. And when we love Jesus, our lives are directed toward the Father rather than our losses.
After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the Spirit would remind the disciples of these words. And then Jesus’ words about “going back to the Father” made sense. Not death, but glory, is the future of those who obey the Father’s will.
Jesus’ words point us to his destination—and to ours: full life in the presence of God. We will still experience sorrow in the face of loss. But we can rejoice as we see even death as a doorway to our heavenly Father.
Thought of the Day: Holy Spirit, remind us of Jesus’ words. Help us in the face of loss to see our destiny with the Father, and to rejoice in the ruling power of Jesus.
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