John 13:31-14:14- Jesus’ Comforting Truth

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Welcome to Bible Study Fellowship.

My name is Megan Hutchinson

Did you know- that BSF has a youtube page specifically for BSF Kids?

All you have to do is go to youtube and search: BSF KIDS

there you can find all the songs sung during the morning as well as a Bible story that goes directly with our scripture each week.

This is a great resource to use if you are out one week because of sickness but still want your child to engage with the scripture…

or..if you have children you would like to bring but can’t- these are available for you as well.

so again…youtube.com…search BSF Kids………

and now I want to invite Kathy Johannesmeyer up for a treasurers report…

One last announcement:

I know many of you are already excited about studying the book of Revelation with us next year.

I wanted to let you know that we have not officially started registration YET.

If you have a friend who is interested in joining us for next year, they can go ahead and sign up on mybsf.org and just indicate in the notes they want to register for Revelation.

However- if you are already a part of our class you will automatically be re-registered for next year.

In a couple of weeks we are going to be giving you ALL the information you need and make any steps you need to take to complete the registration clear.

So hang tight…you haven’t missed it..and I promise that we will make sure that you get the information you need to register for next year once it’s available…

so with that..

Let’s pray

Introduction:

So…last week..Elmo took to social media and said: “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?”

This question resulted in over 200 million views and over 13,000 responses.

This simple question- resulted in THOUSANDS of people opening up about how they were really doing.

The responses ranged from desperate to humorous, including: “Life is hard,” and “Not great, Elmo, not great.” They spoke about “being tired, broke and unsure how to improve things, and feeling disconnected from others.”

One user said people were "trauma dumping so hard on Elmo that the official sesame street account had to tweet out mental health resources," adding at the end, "god help us."

Our world is troubled…longing for comfort………one news article stated after seeing the responses to Elmo…people are not ok…

There are MANY troubled hearts in our world…some of those hearts have put their faith in Jesus and some who have not. …

This week in our scripture- Jesus longs to bring comfort to the troubled hearts of his disciples, to you, and to the world.

and this week Jesus shows us that comfort comes from Him.

DIVISIONS:

Comfort in Love 13:31-35

Comfort in Belief 13:36-14:14

Open apps or Bibles

COMFORTED IN LOVE

Last week, we entered the Passover, or Last Supper, meal with Jesus and his disciples…

this week, the night is continuing.

Jesus had washed their feet and also explained that someone was going to betray him.

and Jesus’ first word in vs. 31 is NOW..

basically- Jesus is calling them to REMEMBER what just had happened…Judas had just left to go and betray Jesus..

the next 24 hours were going to be extremely difficult for the disciples as Jesus’ death was approaching..the betrayal was just the beginning.

so here Jesus says- now that things are in motion and the betrayer is gone…I have a few more things to share..

You can almost feel Jesus take a deep breath…and then……he comforts his disciples as he describes his Glorious love..and then his visible love……

GLORIOUS LOVE

So, in vs’s 31 and 32- Jesus FOCUSES on the big picture of what is about to happen by pointing his disciples to his Glorious love-

When I’m baking and my kids walk in the room and ask me what I’m doing I don’t say:

well- I’m taking this knife and I’m going to chop and destroy this fruit until every last drop of juice is squeezed out

…RIGHT..instead I simply say “I’m making a cake…with a wonderful fruit filling”

I point them to the big picture..the cake..thats the glory…that’s what matters.

here Jesus points them to the big picture..to his glory as he reveals the father’s glory.

In the Book of John- we have heard Jesus say over and over that he came to do the will of the Father. .and the Father’s will is that Jesus would come and die to save His people.

so in vs’s 31 and 32- the time has come for God’s glory to be revealed.this will happen through Jesus.

NOW is the time for the Son of Man to be glorified- and the culmination of this will occur on the cross. ……and when you see Jesus- lifted up in glory- then you will see the Father.

and you will see and understand more of who God is……

Jesus explains this now……so that…in a couple of hours when they look at Jesus on the cross- instead of despair- they will look up and see the Glory of God…revealed in the Son of Man.

Love drove Jesus to the cross. In his ultimate act of love Jesus’ revealed the glory of the Father……

so in his glory- you can find comfort not because of the cross itself, but because of who is on it……

The Comfort comes from knowing the character of Christ..he is loving, holy, compassionate, righteous, faithful, true, gracious, forgiving, and humble..just to name a few…

you have to know and BELIEVE in WHO Jesus is and what he does…

Most people would say that dying on a cross is anything but glorious.

but it’s all about perspective.

because of who Christ is and what he accomplished on the cross…you can look at him lifted up and see the GLORY OF GOD in Jesus.

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So- Christ has given them the big picture…and then in vs 33- he drops the bomb.

oh and by the way..…I’m leaving…and..you can’t come

VISIBLE LOVE

Imagine how the disciples would have felt in this moment.

They had given up everything for Him. They left their jobs..their families..

this would have been devastating……

But where Jesus is going right now..is not heaven..it’s the cross..and he is going in their place.

But then immediately he reminds them in vs 34- to love each other…he commands it…because it’s what they need.

Because as they love each other they will be able to recognize Christ’s love in other’s.

His love is distinct. it’s visible.

The disciples relationship with Jesus is changing.

He is no longer going to be here physically, but they will find him- in each other.

Next week we will dive deeper into the work of the Holy Spirit and the part he plays in this.

But- I want you to recognize that this promise of his visible love found in other believers is meant to be a source of comfort for the disciples…and it is a source of comfort for you too…

They were always called to love each other. That is not new- God gave them that command all the way back in Leviticus.

What is new is that Christ became the perfect example of what love looks like.

Jesus’ love looks different than the world- we talked about that last week as we looked at Jesus as the selfless servant.

and the ability to love each other in Christ would be made possible by Christ’s death on the cross.

Have you ever met someone where you knew instantly that they knew Jesus- simply by their actions?

There is a comfort we receive- no matter where we are- when we meet other believers.

It’s a family that includes every age, race, socio-economic status and nationality.

Being with God’s people brings comfort because when you are with and loved by God’s people- it is literally Christ- reaching out through others to show His love personally and intimately to you.

One of the beautiful things about Bible Study Fellowship is that it is interdenominational AND international.

You can travel almost anywhere in the world and find connections with other believers in Christ through BSF.

This room alone is filled with women of different ages, socioeconomic status and race..we come from different backgrounds..different upbringings…all brought together into one place because of the love of Jesus.…

But it’s not the notes or the lectures or lessons that makes you feel at home when you show up at a BSF class.

It’s Christ- and his visible love shown through His people…

Truth: Believers are comforted in the love of Jesus as they love one another.

When have you experienced comfort from God through His people loving you like Jesus?

Maybe you have received physical or financial help, a meal, a card, a prayer…or maybe someone simply showed up for you in your time of need.

As you reflect on how God has used others to comfort you..

ask yourself..Who desperately needs the comfort of Jesus in my life today?

and how might you step out and show them His love this week?

II. COMFORT IN BELIEF 13:36-14:14

In the rest of our passage we see Jesus remind his disciples that they have to believe that he is the source of comfort…the comfort comes from believing in his power, his words, and his works.

IN CHRIST’S POWER (13:36-38) In vs 36-38…Here comes Passionate Peter who missed the part about loving people and is still stuck on the whole “Jesus leaving part”……

so he goes back to it and goes umm..hey Jesus-where are you going exactly?

Jesus replies “Where I am going, you cannot follow NOW, BUT you will follow later.”

Pay attention to Jesus’ words here…right NOW you cannot follow me- Jesus is going to the cross- and last week we were reminded that Jesus’ death on the cross is what made following him possible in the first place.

Jesus here is saying it again..you can’t follow me because I have something to do FIRST- I have to leave- to go to the cross.

In this moment- Peter is relying on his own strength as he announces his willingness to die for Christ..

so Jesus says- actually- in your own strength- you will deny me 3x’s- before the night is even over.

But don’t miss the 2nd half of vs 36……after he says you cannot follow now…he says BUT you will follow later. ……

and in that we find THE COMFORT FOR PETER……

he probably didn’t realize that Jesus was trying to encourage him and to comfort him.

BUT- one day- not long after this- Peter understood.

We know that the power of Christ in Peter enabled and equipped him to love and serve and build Christ’s church…and later he did lay down his life for Christ- boldly and passionately proclaiming Christ’s name up until death.

One day Peter could look back on this moment realize that Jesus was inviting Him to rely on Him and stop depending on himself.

It would take a hard lesson…Peter WAS going to deny Christ 3x’s…

Where are you, like Peter, walking around trying to serve Christ in your own strength?

Are you tired..frustrated…in need of some comfort?

How would your service to Christ change if you stopped striving- and started thriving- by serving through Christ’s power in you?

So…

Let’s take a moment and talk about what has happened in the last few minutes…

Jesus has washed the disciples feet.

He reveals a coming betrayal.

He announces that he is leaving…

and then….he now tells them that Peter- one of the leaders of the group- is apparently going to deny EVEN knowing Jesus 3x before the night is over.

if you are a disciple in that room…

how are you feeling right now?

TROUBLED. DISTRAUGHT. AFRAID.

you know Peter was feeling it..

Jesus knew their fear..so he continues, chp 14:1-“Do not let your hearts be troubled….You BELIEVE in God; believe also in me.”

What is the remedy for a troubled heart..a distressed heart…a heart that cannot rest…a heart that is afraid……IT IS BELIEF IN Jesus…

…HE is where the comfort is.

because comfort is found in Christ.…

IN CHRIST’S WORDS 14:1-4

and in 14: 2-3 Jesus offers comfort to those who believe in His words..

he says……

2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus reminds his children that he is going to the Father to prepare a place..

but he will come back and take them to the Father’s house…their TRUE HOME.…

So Jesus says..I’m gonna go now..cuz there is work that needs to be done- I’m preparing the way..don’t worry

Don’t worry b/c God’s house is not a fixer upper in need of a remodel- His house isn’t broken. notice Jesus doesn’t say anything about preparing your room..

Your room is just fine- and actually, according to Matthew 25 we are told that it has been prepared before the foundation of the world……

Jesus continues in vs 4 saying You know the way to the place where I am going.”

the room is there…the house is fine…you know the way… you just can’t get there..….YET…

I remember as a child thinking that the purpose of salvation was to get to heaven.

and then when I got there……there would be a big house- with a big feast and streets of gold……and there will be no pain, sickness or death.

and that is all true……

but what makes heaven..heaven…is the presence of Jesus..if Jesus is not there- then it doesn’t matter how great it is- it isn’t heaven.

Jesus’ second coming- his promise to come back- isn’t about Jesus coming and taking you to heaven…it is about Jesus coming and taking you to Him. …

Come and plan to study Revelation with us next year…because we are going to spend all year focused and deepen our understanding of JESUS.

Revelation is a book about hope..it’s a book about comfort…and it’s a book about Jesus.…

In John we see him come as the suffering servant but in Revelation he is going to come as the conquering king.

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A couple of weeks ago I spent the morning in our pre-school children’s hallway.

While there, I saw several of you bent down, re-assuring your child- despite their tears- that they could go into the room- because you were coming back.

For some children…they BELIEVED the words of comfort from their mothers and they confidently walked into the room BELIEVING their words.

For others- they heard the words, but they struggled to BELIEVE…so they were afraid and uncertain..

I have been the mom with the child who BELIEVED my words and confidently walked into class.

But I have also been the mom with the child reaching out and screaming for me hysterically…

It caused me so much pain as a mom to see my child worry unnecessarily…

To know she was potentially missing out on the joy because she was too busy being afraid of what might come next.

I knew I was coming back…there wasn’t any reason to be afraid……

Her worry came not because she did not hear or understand my words…but because she didn’t BELIEVE my words……

but my words to my children were always the same…Mommy loves you…I will see you soon…

Is that not what Jesus is saying in our scripture this week..I love you..and I will see you soon.

When my daughter finally moved from HEARING to BELIEVING my words she behaved differently…instead of crying hysterically..she walked confidently into the unknown..BELIEVING I was coming back.

So Christ’s PROMISED and IMMINENT return should cause us to have that same reassurance and comfort while living in a place that is NOT our HOME.… a place where we have been dropped off..and where the future contains, many unknowns..

Jesus here is promising that HE IS COMING BACK- that is the hope…that is the comfort..

DO you BELIEVE his words?

Last year my family made a shift and we went someplace new. new people. new unknowns.. and my confident child who had come so far….forgot..in an instant she stopped believing my words…and was once again crying out and reaching out for me.

…we aren’t any different..we so often and quickly forget..

It’s why Jesus gave his HIS WORDS…so that we would believe..so that we could be reminded over and over..

When I do not believe Jesus’ words.…The here and now feels more real than the certainty of God’s promises……I live afraid..afraid of the unknown…AND afraid of my current circumstances

When I do believe…then I live differently..I walk confidently- unafraid of the unknown because my comfort and hope is in Christ and I am confident that his words and his promises to me are true..that he loves me and he is coming back to take me to be with Him.

And through believing his words..I find comfort.

In Christ’s Works 14:5-14

in the final portion of our scripture, Christ shows us that comfort is found by believing in his works……

So Peter- the main talker of the group- is now stunned into silence, so in vs 5 Thomas steps in.

“Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Thomas is still focused on the where….he wants a map.

He’s like- listen- just show me what to do and where to go and I will do it.

But Jesus..again..points to the WHO..he points to himself……he says: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”

Here we have another I am statement..another reminder that Jesus is God.

Here Jesus says …I am going to prepare THE WAY for you..by being THE WAY……there are lots of rooms but no way to get to them

if you BELIEVE in Him..then your place in the Fathers house is made ready for YOU THROUGH Jesus because HE is the way.

This is comforting..HE IS THE WAY SO WE DON’T HAVE TO BE.

‌On your own, you could never be enough- you could never do enough or acquire enough to go where Jesus is..UNLESS…a way was provided..and that is exactly what Jesus does.

through his work on the cross..he provided a way. the way..the only way……

One pastor said…”Jesus becomes the way, to complete the truth, to overcome death so you can have life.”

When Jesus died…he removed the barrier of sin that was keeping you from a relationship with God.

and because of that..through him you can now have relationship with the FATHER.

and then- when you BELIEVE- he sends his Holy Spirit to live in you- giving you the presence of Christ- the essence of HEAVEN in you……with you right now.

Which means…right now…today……you can have life through Him.

and there is no other way…

Our culture does not like this truth- they find it exclusive.

But to believe that Jesus is the only way- you have to first set aside your pride and recognize that on your own- you are not enough.

We all long to be our own savior…we want to be completely independent- never having to rely on anyone else.

But when we put our pride aside…when we say- I cannot save myself because of my sin- and when we recognize our dependence and our need for Christ…we find life..and in Him- in his work…not our own…we find comfort……

so Jesus offers them comfort in vs 7 saying..I’m doing the work for you to know the Father- and guess what!

Now that I have done the work on the cross. you can know him too..because I made a way.

the door has been opened.

and just when you think the disciples understand… in comes Philip and shows that he has COMPLETELY missed what Jesus is trying to say.

if your mind is exploding today and you are struggling to keep up..you are not alone…don’t give up…

so Philip says…Just show us the Father…and that will be enough.

in vs’s 7-11 it’s almost like Jesus is like. Ok- how many ways can I say the exact same thing…that I and the Father are one..you see me..you God.

so over and over he says it..in different ways, but same message.

It’s like Jesus is looking at Philip and saying..Philip- am I not enough for you?

as he gets to vs 12 he REMINDS them of all they have seen…they have seen him do the works of the FATHER as he turned water into wine, healed the blind man and the paralytic, fed the 5000, and raised Lazarus from the dead…to name just a few……have they already forgotten?

He isn’t leaving them on their own- in fact- they will continue to experience his POWER and see greater works than they have already seen…Jesus isn’t talking about the magnitude of the power…he is talking about the scope of impact.

Bible Study Fellowship alone currently has over 400,000 men, women and children across the world.

but it started in California- with just a few women- wanting 1 woman to teach them the Bible.

Jesus’ words and his works started with just a group of 12…in one part of the world..

and today, on every continent Christ’s church continues to grow..

these are the greater works as Christ.

… in vs’s 13 and 14 Jesus also points out that they will see God’s work through answered prayer.

But Jesus doesn’t say- ask for whatever you want and you will get it.

He says that genuine prayer in his name is a prayer that when answered - brings glory to God.

and remember where we started today. Looking at the glory of God…and when God get’s the glory..you receive His comfort.

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TRUTH: God’s comfort is felt as His words are believed.

Where do you go for comfort?

Do you go to Christ?

Or do you continue to run to things of this world that never fully satisfy?

Conclusion:

I’m not sure what words of comfort or resources Elmo offered those crying out in his recent social media post…

but what I do know is the true source of Comfort..

and his name is Jesus…AND because he is the source.…

We can rest knowing:

He is the way- so I don’t have to be.

He is the truth- so I can trust his words.

and in him..and only Him..do I find Life. …

Let’s Pray.