John 16:25-33
Notes
Transcript
Closing today of intimate teaching.
5 Chapters to the Upper Room Discourse!
4 chapters, John 13 through the end of 16 is an intimate relation of great, one on one teaching.
And John 17 is the Great High Priestly Prayer that Jesus ends this discourse with.
That’s just about one quarter of the book of John given to just this one night!
To say John thought this night needed to be included is an understatement!
This night and it’s teachings are important!
We started chapter 13 on June 14th. That means we’ve been studying this one night a little over four months!
I encourage you to study these chapters!!
It’s 5 chapters of our Saviors last night with His disciples, giving is His final words of truth and encouragement before His gruesome death!
And here we are today studying the end of Chapter 16, the last words of teaching of the night.
Remember in the previous verses Jesus discussed with the disciples “a sorrow turned to joy” in relation to a women giving birth. During the process of birth is great pain and sorrow but after birth is great joy.
Jesus uses these figures of speech quite regularly because of the great disconnect the disciples have to the Fathers plan. But as we’re going to see today, a time is coming when this type of talk will no longer be needed.
A time of great change is upon them and they as well all that believe will never be the same because of it!
Read.
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;
27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Pray
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
We have to start with this truth.
Do we understand all things?
At times do subjects need dumbed down because we lack the full picture?
Computer software, talking with a medical doctor, trying to understand the human body, etc.
Do the disciples have the full picture of what is to come?
Do the disciples have the full picture of the cross and redemption?
No but they’ve been given enough to start breaking the hold of the flesh.
They’re worldly ways are being challenged.
As we know, Jesus has been speaking and teaching in many ways and thoughts.
All in growing the infants they are.
But a day will come, when mature food will be given.
But they’re still not ready for that type of food.
It reminds me of 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 when Paul is addressing the church of Corinth.
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
The flesh doesn’t respond well to the Word of God.
In fact you could call the Word of God, poison to the flesh.
Our natural desires and ways are apposed to God.
What do I mean by the flesh? Upside down Kingdom, why upside down? The world, the flesh is love for self over love for others.
We just can’t be given steak and potatoes right of the bat with the years of flesh lived.
We must first be given milk!
Daily we are being grown in the ways of God, and as we are grown the things of God become better understood and plain to us.
Not by our power but through His provisions of food and growth.
Things are here and now that don’t always make sense.
Think about the disciples for a moment...
Talk about being with them no more, death, persecution. They don’t fully understand it’s meaning.
Only after Calvary and Pentecost were the disciples equipped with the hour of understanding.
Be humble towards unknown situations.
Trust God.
Take heart, God’s plan never fails.
The Good will be revealed!
26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
Look at the revealed good of God’s plan!
Restoration!
The Gospel, the Good News Of Jesus!
Communion with God through our Saviors life!
Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, died a sinners death, buried a sinners burial, yet by truth and power, raised on the third day!
Showing so much! The seriousness of sin, the depth of love, and the authority over all!
In that day, in the hour of understanding the disciples were given the mature food of Christ, His great works, and His great love!
They and all who believe have been restored to the Father through the Son.
These are powerful verses to say the least!
The great plan of salvation through the works of the Son!
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.”
It’s easy, sitting on this side of Calvary.
We have as Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story” concerning Jesus’ earthly life, death, and resurrection.
But at this moment in scripture the disciples didn’t have the rest of the story.
In fact Jesus point blank tells them “the hour is coming”, which indicates what? The hour isn’t here now!
So what are they basing this confession on?
Was it based upon all the miracles they had seen Jesus do?
Was it based on His previous words of declaration of who He was?
Apparently not, because they just confess it’s now that they know Jesus came from God.
Why now? Apparently at this moment, everything worked and made sense to their understanding.
Which is another way of saying they had more faith in they’re thoughts and ways than true belief and trust in Jesus.
Why do I say this?
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?
Through everything you’ve seen and heard, it’s now that you believe?
Now belief is good because it makes sense to your understanding?
Jesus, goes on to tell them in verse 32...
32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
Another hour is coming and indeed has come, when the faith that you put on your understanding will be broken.
Folks there is so much truth in this!
It begs the question...what is our faith in?
I hope it’s in nothing except how Paul puts it in
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
There’s so much in that one statement.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, deity, know Him!
Why Him crucified?
Sin is as real as the death that comes from it.
Confess this sin as deathly.
Repent, change direction through the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that raised my savior from the grave.
And believe in nothing more or less than the finishing works of Jesus!
This is what we put our faith in as Christians.
Nothing more nothing less.
Do we know all the reason’s of why things happen the way the do?
Nope but we know Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Do horrible things happen that I just don’t see how any good could come from it?
Yep, all the time.
But guess what, so did the disciples.
The persecution and death of their friend, Messiah, and King, made no sense at all at the time.
But good thing we don’t put our trust and belief in man and his understanding and his ways of thoughts.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Verses like these bring great joy, great peace!
And speaking of great peace.
Jesus closes the teachings of the upper room discourse with this last sentence.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Just as Jesus is not alone because the Father is with Him, we are not alone.
That alone should be bring great peace to our soul.
We in Christ are not alone!
The Holy Spirit lives in us!
Thank you Jesus!
Another peaceful thought, nothing and I mean nothing catches God by surprise.
He’s not up there fretting over this and that. He’s God, all knowing, all powerful!
His plan will succeed, period.
And try to remember, this world, this time, is not everything. There’s so much more!
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Secondly, remember when you fail as the disciples did when they scattered.
He has you.
Not as in your sin is no big deal and don’t worry about it.
Our sin is a big deal and we need to repent.
But our salvation isn’t by our perfect repentance...none of us have that.
It’s by the finished work of our Savior Jesus Christ!
Church do you belief that, is your faith in that and nothing more or less?
Confess to yourself and others.
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Let’s pray
