I Will Come Again - John 14

What events have taken place leading up to this chapter?

Jesus’ ministry - preaching, healing, interactions with religious leaders

Resurrection of Lazarus

Holy Week / Passion Week

Palm Sunday - triumphal entry, waving of palm branches

Monday - Jesus clears the temple

Tuesday - Jesus spars with religious leaders, gives the Olivet Discourse (Mount of Olives)

Wednesday ?

Thursday - Passover, Last Supper

Friday - Trial, Crucifixion, Death, Burial

Our text today - part of the “Farewell Discourse”

1. Honor Through Love

John 13:31–35 CSB

31 When he had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so now I tell you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

v.31 “When he had left” - finally!? The disciples may not realize this but without Judas present, Jesus can now share with them some important truths

“Son of Man”

Outside of the gospels, associated with glory (e.g., Daniel)

Inside the gospels, associated with suffering

Here - both!

“God is glorified in him” - God has revealed his glory in Jesus

There’s lots of glory going on in these two verses!

Jesus is glorified for his obedience to the Father and his sacrificial death

God the Father is glorified in the death of Jesus because it demonstrates His love, mercy, and justice to humanity

v.33 “little children” - only used here in John; a term of endearment - “my children”

“just as I told the Jews”

John 7 33-34 “33 Then Jesus said, “I am only with you for a short time. Then I’m going to the one who sent me. 34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.””

v.34 “I give you a new command” - for when Jesus is away

“new” - perhaps for the new covenant

“love one another” - in the context of “Just as I have loved you”

John 12–21 (4) A Summation in Four Parts and a Preface to the Teaching that Follows (13:31–38)

you cannot make people love one another without the acceptance of the covenant foundation of the self-giving love of God for the world.

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible Exposition

The Greek words for love appear only 12 times in John 1–12, but in chapters 13–21 we find them 44 times

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible Exposition

Some Christians celebrate Maunday Thursday during “holy week” (the week leading up to Easter) as the day of the Last Supper. The word “maunday” stems from the Latin mandatum, meaning command—the command given here to love one another

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible Exposition

That supernatural love would distinguish disciples of Jesus. Love for one another would identify them as His disciples. It is possible to be a disciple of Jesus without demonstrating much supernatural love. However, that kind of love is what bears witness to a disciple’s connection with Jesus and thereby honors Him (cf. 1 John 3:10b-23; 4:7–16). John’s first epistle is really an exposition of the themes that Jesus set forth in the Upper Room Discourse. Every believer manifests some supernatural love, since the loving God indwells him or her (1 John 3:14). However, it is possible to quench and/or to grieve the indwelling Spirit, so that we do not manifest much love

2. Honor Through Loyalty

John 13:36–38 CSB

36 “Lord,” Simon Peter said to him, “where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.” 37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly I tell you, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.

v.36 “Where are you going?” - Peter jumps back to Jesus’ prior statement

Jesus’ response - “you will follow later” (as a martyr)

v.37

“why can’t I follow you now?” - Jesus’ statement about where he was going was indirect, but not impossible to discern

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Exposition)

“Sadly, good intentions in a secure room after good food are far less attractive in a darkened garden or with a hostile mob. At this point in his pilgrimage, Peter’s intentions and self-assessment vastly outstrip his strength.”

“Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was absolutely deliberate … But there was never anything in this world less deliberate than Peter’s denial of Jesus.”

v.38 “before the cock crows”

“Jesus knows our weaknesses and is willing to restore us when we fall short. He continues his work in us so we can move past our failures and follow him”

Is this an encouragement to you?

3. Honor Through Believing

John 14:1–6 (CSB)

1 “Don’t let your heart 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 am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.” 5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

The Gospel according to John 2. The Promise of a Place Where Jesus Is Going (14:1–4)

It is Jesus who is heading for the agony of the cross; it is Jesus who is deeply ‘troubled’ in heart (12:27) and spirit (13:21). Yet on this night of nights, when of all times it would have been appropriate for Jesus’ followers to lend him emotional and spiritual support, he is still the one who gives, comforts, instructs. For they, too, are troubled (same verb as the verses just cited)—not because they are rushing toward pain, ignominy, shame, crucifixion, but because they are confused, uncertain of what Jesus means, and threatened by references to his imminent departure. However appropriate it may be to cite the words Do not let your hearts be troubled at Christian funerals, they were first addressed to disciples who under substantial emotional pressure were on the brink of catastrophic failure

v.1 How does the KJV read? Grammatically this could be two statements or two commands; it is probably the latter.

v.2 “rooms” - not mansions. Although…1 Cor 2:9 “9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.”

We should focus on the many and not the mansions!

Tim Keller - the wonder of the “homeness” of Heaven. What are the characteristics of home? You are always welcome; you can always go there. Think of this quality along with the presence of God!

v.4 “You know the way” - this should have been a comfort to the disciples

v.5 Thomas - we don’t know where you are going, so how is it that we know the way?

v.6 “I am the way” - an enigmatic answer at the time, but one that is perfectly clear to us!