John The True Life
Orient John 14:1-31
Jesus continues His teaching in the Upper Room, giving His followers perspective before His imminent arrest and trial. This section is considered a farewell discourse as Jesus gives final thoughts and his followers respond in sorrowful questions, not knowing what will happen. Important teaching about the Holy Spirit is found in this section and can be regarded as a key passage detailing His unique work and personhood within the Trinity.
Introduction
Bread broken and wine poured. The One who cleaned their feet reclines with them at the table. Judas the betrayer has just gone out to gather soldiers and a guard to assist the Pharisees to arrest Jesus. Peter, who proclaimed He would never betray Him, is told this very night he would deny Christ 3 times. Yet Jesus continues to teach and comfort His closest followers knowing that hours from these words He would be abandoned by them. He outlines the challenges they will face and describes the Great Comforter who will come to them to counteract these hardships. Do we really know this Jesus? Are we being changed to be more like Him? Are we resting in the words that were also for us to find hope when we wander far from Christ? Jesus gives comfort to our troubled hearts by reminding us of our spiritual heritage and unity with the Father. Take courage dear ones as you dwell in this word from God today!
Opening Prayer
Lord my heart is often troubled. I struggle to believe in You and what You said You will do. Remind me today of the place You are preparing for me and the Helper You have sent to guide me to the day when we are joined for all eternity. I am not alone, I am in You as You are one with the Father. The Spirit of truth dwells in me, reminding me of all that You Have said. Amen
Meditation
Read and reread the following passage, taking God’s word in deeply. As you do be sensitive to a phrase or verse the Holy Spirit emphasizes to you personally.
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.4 And you know the way to where I am going.”5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have 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 hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
Paraphrase
Rewrite the phrase or verse that the Holy Spirit highlighted during meditation. What is your take away?
Reflect
1. All humanity is seeking life. Because we are made in the image of God, we gravitate toward experiences that bring thriving and growth. There are many counterfeits that leave our hearts worried instead of built up. A paraphrase of verse 8 reminds us that Jesus is the only way, the real truth, and the real life. Where have you been seeking paths to life other than Christ, lies contrary to His words, and imitations of the life that satisfies to eternity?
2. Verse 9 haunts me because I’m been following Jesus for 20+ years but His words to Philip convict me of my faithlessness: “Have I been with you so long and you still don’t know me.” Many of the spiritual hang ups I have are moving past my false narratives about Jesus to learning deeply who Jesus He says He is through the Scriptures. In what ways have you tried to move past who Christ is for something better? Have those things really helped?
3. In the ancient world, a name indicated their characteristics. Verse 14 is often used by false teachers as a way to bind God to do what we want through prayer. Nothing could be further from the truth! Asking in the name of Christ means praying as Christ would-thinking about His priorities and work, having His priorities in mind as His representative. The ESV commentary says this, “Effective prayer must be for and desire what Jesus delights in.” Reflect on your prayer life. How often do your prayers line up with asking in the name of Christ?
4. To the disciples, the thought of Jesus leaving was unimaginable. After all, they had left their families and careers to follow Him. They didn’t understand the benefits the Helper, the Spirit of truth would bring into their lives of faith. The Amplified translation expounds upon the Holy Spirit as Helper by detailing what specific roles He adds to our faith journey: comforter, advocate, intercessor, counselor, strengthener, standby. As you read this list, which description stands out as something you need today. Pray to the Holy Spirit with this role in mind and ask Him for what you need. His favor and presence is with all who trust in Him.
5. As I studied, I identified verse 23 as a summary of chapter 14 and as our experience as Christians. We love God as He first loved us[1], drew us and calls us to Himself. Through trust in Him we exchange our sin and darkness for righteous standing before Him and light[2]. When we keep His word, obey Him, submit to Him, His spirit changes us from glory to glory[3]. We experience the Father’s love and the work of the Son as the Holy Spirit dwells within us. The unity we experience with God becomes our home, our safe harbor here on earth and then the veil is removed as we dwell with Him in heaven[4]. Where are you in this continuum of the Christian life? Are you experiencing the reality of this in your day to day?
Closing Prayer
Jesus, I seek life apart from You and am left with a troubled heart. You are the only way for me to experience the life I was created to live. Let me glorify You and fill my life with Your truth. Remind me of who You are. I have been with You long enough to know You. You are all that I need. As I pray each day, show me how to pray. Let what You care about be the burden of my heart as I pray in Your name. Thank You Holy Spirit for living in me and meeting my every need. You are the sustainer of my life and will be with me until I am able to make my forever home with Jesus, who is preparing a place for me. Let me turn to You Helper in every circumstance. I depend on You.
Continue praying personally to the Lord with what He showed you during mediation and reflection.
Comments