The Paraclete 1
JOHN 14:15-21
Jesus has been encouraging the disciples to continue in faith: “you believe in God…” [14:1].
§ Faith must grasp where Jesus is going: “I go to prepare a place…” [14:2].
§ Faith must grasp that there will be a final reunion: “I will come again and receive you…” [14:3].
§ Faith must grasp what Jesus is in his Person: “I am the way, and the truth…” [14:6].
§ Faith must grasp that Jesus is not only the revelation of God [14:7] but also ‘God with us’ due to the fact of the mutual indwelling of the Father and the Son [14:11].
§ This is the hinge of saving faith: Jesus is the revelation of God, He is God with us, and He is the eternal Mediator between God and man.
- THE FUTURE OF THE KINGDOM
In this case the saying provides a significant window into the post-resurrection situation. Even though the disciples here may have been overwhelmed by sorrow (cf. 16:20), they are called to focus on the future rather than the present because most of the verbs are in the future tense in this section.
1. Ongoing Discipleship
a. Ongoing Faith
The ongoing emphasis on faith: “he that believes on me…” [14:12].
§ ὁ πιστεύων - “believes” [14:12], present active participle, ‘knowledge, conviction and trust’;
b. Ongoing Love
The condition of discipleship: “if you love me keep my commandments” [14:15].
§ Ἐὰν - “if” [14:15], a combination of the conditional eiv and the particle a;n to denote uncertainty or indefiniteness;
§ ἀγαπᾶτέ - “love” [14:15], plural present active, ‘devotion and delight based on regarded value’; ‘a spontaneous feeling which impels to self-giving or to the seizure of the object which awakens the feeling, or to the performance of the action in which pleasure is taken’;
i. Abiding (Future) Devotion
The characteristic of love is devotion: “keep my commandments…” [14:15].
§ ἐντολὰς - “my commandments” [14:15], ‘order, commission or command’; usually in the context of a command given by ‘a king, official, or general’;
§ τηρήσετε - “keep” [14:15], future indicative active, ‘to continue in a state’; ‘to guard, observe’;
§ New covenant obligation: “a new commandment I give unto you…” [13:34-35].
§ Integrally tied to holistic devotion to God: “this is how we know that we love the children of God, by loving God and carrying out his commands” [1Joh.5:2].
§ The future is the correct reading: ‘they will obey what he commands’.
Application
2. Discipleship & Works of the Kingdom
Faith and the works of the kingdom: “the works that I do…” [14:12].
§ τὰ ἔργα - “works” [14:12], clearly a reference to the “signs” [20:30-31]; ‘the works performed by Jesus which confirm the word spoken by him’;
§ ποιῶ - “I do” [14:12], present active, ‘perform an action’;
§ κἀκεῖνος – “these” [14:12], demonstrative pronoun,
§ ποιήσει - “he shall do” [14:12], future active, ‘perform an action’;
a. Greater Works
i. Works
In this Gospel the “works” [14:11] are signs of the kingdom: “many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples…” [20:30].
§ σημεῖα - “signs” [20:30], ‘sign, characteristic, mark’; connected with shmainw, ‘to signify, indicate, make known’.
ii. Greater Works
The promise is even more staggering: “greater works than these shall he do…” [14:12].
§ μείζονα - “greater” [14:12], comparative, ‘greater in abundance, extent or degree’;
§ ποιήσει - “he do” [14:12], future active, ‘perform an action’;
iii. The Resurrection & the Greater Works
How is it that the disciples will do “greater works” [14:12] than what Jesus did? The very basis of the greater works is “because I go to the Father” [14:12].
§ ὅτι - “because” [14:12],
§ πορεύομαι - “I go” [14:12], present middle indicative, ‘move from one place to the other’;
§ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα - “unto my Father” [14:12],
§ The works will become greater precisely because of the new order that has come about consequent on his going to the Father.
iv. The New Testament Church
The “greater works” [14:12] belong to an age of clarity and power introduced by Jesus’ sacrifice and exaltation.
§ From a numerical standpoint, the works of Peter and the other Apostles surpassed those of Jesus in a single day (the day of Pentecost): “there were added to the church about three thousand souls” [Acts 2:41].
§ The message went forth not just in “Judea and Samaria” but “to the farthest parts of the known world” [Acts 1:8].
Application
3. Discipleship & Successful Ministry
a. Prayer
The disciples’ fruitful conduct is the product of their prayers: “whatsoever you shall ask in my name…” [14:14].
§ αἰτήσητέ - “shall ask” [14:14], aorist subjunctive active, ‘to demand’; ‘to request’;
§ ἐν - “in” [14:14], ‘withinness’;
b. The Mediator
Prayers are offered: “in my name…” [14:14].
§ τῷ ὀνόματί μου - “my name” [14:14], ‘petition with invocation of his name’ or ‘appeal to his name’;
§ The fundamental factor is the role of Jesus as mediator between God and his people: “no one comes to the Father but by me” [14:6].
§ The central idea is that the prayer is answered because of a faith-union with Christ as the one who is “the way…” [14:6].
§ The central idea also includes mutual harmony in the things desired’.
c. The Mediator’s Work
The work is that of the Mediator: “I will do it” [14:14].
§ ποιήσω - “will do it” [14:14], future active,
Application
Contrast is between ‘Jesus and his disciples in the limited circumstances of his earthly ministry’ and ‘the risen Christ with the disciples in the post-Easter situation.
§ Jesus will continue to work through them: “I will do it” [14:14].
- THE PROMISED RETURN
1. The Promise
The disciples still feel abandoned; but Jesus consoles them.
a. Orphans
The temporary condition of the disciples: “I will not leave you comfortless…” [14:18].
§ Οὐκ ἀφήσω - “leave” [14:18], ‘depart from’; ‘dismiss or leave behind’; ‘abandon’; “he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone…” [8:29];
§ ὀρφανούς - “comfortless” [14:18], ‘bereaved’; ‘an orphan’; ‘one without parents’; ‘friendless person’;
§ Orphans are exposed, vulnerable, unprotected, without guidance and support.
b. Jesus’ Return
He promises to return: “I will come to you” [14:18].
§ ἔρχομαι - “come” [14:18], present middle, ‘to come or go in a particular direction’, the direction being determined by the preposition.
§ πρὸς ὑμᾶς - “to you” [14:18],
2. The Account of Jesus’ Movements
a. The Separation from the World
Jesus is not speaking of events remote in the future: “yet a little while and the world…” [14:19].
§ ἔτι - “yet” [14:19], ‘still’;
§ μικρὸν - “little while” [14:19], ‘small’; ‘little’;
§ κόσμος - “world” [14:19], ‘the godless world system’; ‘the moral order against God’;
§ θεωρεῖ - “sees” [14:19], present active, from ὁράω, ‘to see or look at’; ‘to see or perceive something’; ‘to see is to take part in’;
§ οὐκέτι - “no more” [14:19],
b. Return to the Disciples
Jesus’ resurrection appearances: “but you shall see me…” [14:19].
§ θεωρεῖτέ - “see” [14:19], present active, from ὁράω, ‘to see or look at’; ‘to see or perceive something’; ‘to see is to take part in’;
c. The New Order
i. Jesus’ Resurrection
The salvation-historical event of the resurrection of Christ: “because I live…” [14:19].
The consequence of Jesus’ rising from the dead is new life for the disciples, new eschatological life mediated by the Spirit: “because I live you shall live also” [14:19].
§ ὅτι - “because” [14:19], conjunction, ‘for this reason’;
§ ἐγὼ ζῶ - “I live” [14:19], present indicative active, the resurrection - “And they, when they had heard that he was alive…” [Mar.16:11; Luk.24:33].
ii. Resurrection Life
The salvation-historical consequence of the resurrection: “you shall live also” [14:19].
§ ζήσετε - “you shall live” [14:19], future active,
§ Jesus in his Person: “I am the resurrection and the life…” [11:25-26].
§ Jesus is the beginning and first cause of the new creation: “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall al be made alive” [1Cor.15:22].
Application
The crucifixion was the event that would separate Jesus from both the disciples and the world in general.
§ The resurrection, however, was the event that divided the disciples from the world; for while the world continued in their blindness, the disciples were able at that point to see him.
§ Jesus ‘comes at Easter to be reunited with his disciples and to lift to a new plane his relationship with them, for which that in the ministry could be only a preparation’
3. The New Dawning
The groundwork is being laid for the “oneness” between Jesus and his disciples that mirrors the oneness between Jesus and his heavenly Father.
a. The Resurrection
The reference point in their development: “at that day you shall know that…” [14:20].
§ ἐν - “at” [14:20], ‘withinness’;
§ ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ - “that day” [14:20],
b. The New Light
The revelation of that day: “you shall know that…” [14:20].
§ γνώσεσθε - “know” [14:20], future middle indicative, ‘to know by experience or personal relationship’;
i. The Triple Union
The triple union of salvation: “that I am in the Father…” [14:20].
§ ἐγὼ - “I” [14:20], that is, Jesus;
§ ἐν τῷ πατρί μου – “in my Father” [14:20],
§ ὑμεῖς - “you” [14:20], that is, the disciples;
§ ἐν ἐμοὶ - “you in me” [14:20],
§ κἀγὼ ἐν ὑμῖν - “I in you” [14:20],
It is the unbreakable unity between the Father and the Son that will affect the resurrection and into which from now on disciples will be incorporated – a unity of life between him and them that will be expressed in the same ‘reciprocal formula of immanence’ as that of the unity of the Father and the Son.
Application
- THE PROMISED NEW ORDER
The prospect of doing “greater things” anticipates the need for enabling power; the manifestation of God himself as Spirit.
1. The Promise
The first of the five Paraclete sayings is inserted at this point [see 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-11, 12-15].
a. The Intercession
The intercession: “I will pray the Father…” [14:16].
§ ἐρωτήσω - “pray” [14:16], future active, ‘ask for information’; ‘request’; ‘to consult a person’;
§ τὸν πατέρα - “the Father” [14:16], “the Word was with God…” [1:1];
§ Secular Greek used it technically for putting a formal question at a meeting or in the process of making a contract. It may even mean to accept the terms of a treaty.
b. The Gift
The promise: “he shall give you another comforter…” [14:16].
§ δώσει - “give” [14:16], from dw'ron ‘gift’ or ‘present’; ‘to give as a gift or presentation’; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” [3:16];
Application
2. The Comforter
a. The Role
The promise and the gift: “another comforter…” [14:16].
§ παράκλητον - “Comforter” [14:16], ‘a helper’; from para ‘alongside’ and kalew ‘to call’; ‘one called alongside’;
i. Secular Greek
The history of the word outside the NT gives the clear picture of ‘a legal adviser or helper or advocate in the relevant court’.
§ In secular Greek the παράκλητος is the ‘person called in to help, summoned to give assistance’, gives us the meaning of ‘helper in court’;
§ ‘the use of παράκλητος for representative is to be understood in the light of legal assistance in court, the pleading of another’s case’; ‘advocate’; ‘a legal adviser or helper or advocate in the relevant court’; ‘an active speaker on behalf of someone before someone else’.
§ ‘The Spirit, however, is not the defender of the disciples before God but their counsel in relation to the world’;
b. Another
The comforter will be “another comforter…” [14:16].
§ ἄλλον - “another” [14:16], ‘another of the same kind’;
§ The expression implies that they already have a comforter; this is a reference to Jesus: “yet I little while I am with you…” [13:33].
§ This implies that Jesus’ role as “advocate” during this time, strengthening and helping his disciples, was discharged on earth.
§ Virtually everything that has been said about the Paraclete in this gospel has been said elsewhere about Jesus: both come into the world; both are sent by the Father; Jesus is the truth, and the Spirit is the “Spirit of truth” [14:17]; Jesus is the Holy One of God, and the Spirit is the “Holy Spirit”; the world does not recognise Jesus, neither does the world recognise the Holy Spirit.
3. The Identity
This Comforter “another” comforter; he is one ‘that is in the same kind or class’ as Jesus.
a. The Presence
A permanent presence: “that he may abide with you forever” [14:16].
§ μεθʼ ὑμῶν – “with you” [14:16], ‘in the midst’; ‘in the company of’;
§ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα – “for ever” [14:16], ‘unit of time as a particular stage of history’;
§ ᾖ - “abide” [14:16], subjunctive present active, eimi ‘to be’;
b. The Identity
The identity: “the Spirit of truth…” [14:17].
§ τὸ πνεῦμα - “Spirit” [14:17], ‘wind, breath, spirit’: “the wind blows where it lists…” [3:8];
§ τῆς ἀληθείας - “of truth” [14:17], ‘fact’; ‘that which is in accord with what really happens’; “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” [14:17]; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” [14:6];
§ The genitive is descriptive of a characteristic; the “Spirit of truth” communicates truth: “he shall teach you all things…” [14:26].
§ Coming so soon after [14:6], where Jesus claims to be “the truth” [14:6], the “Spirit of truth” [14:17] may in part define the Paraclete as the Spirit who bears witness to the “truth” that Jesus is.
Application
- THE REDEMPTIVE-HISTORICAL REALITIES
The presence of the “Spirit of truth” [14:17] in the world is a defining presence.
1. The World
a. The Inability
The attitude of the world: “whom the world cannot receive…” [14:17].
§ ὁ κόσμος - “world” [14:17], ‘the creation’; ‘the godless world system’; ‘the moral order against God: “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” [1:10];
§ οὐ δύναται - “cannot” [14:17], ‘to have power or ability to perform an act’;
§ λαβεῖν - “receive” [14:17], aorist infinitive active, ‘to grasp’; ‘to take possession of’;
b. The Cause
The root cause: “because it sees him not…” [14:17].
§ οὐ θεωρεῖ - “sees him not” [14:17], from ὁράω, ‘to see or look at’; ‘to see or perceive something’; ‘to see is to take part in’;
§ οὐδὲ γινώσκει - “knows” [14:17], present active, ‘to know with a focus on experience or personal relationship’;
Application
The hiddenness of Jesus: “world sees me no more…” [14:19].
§ The world is quite unaware of the Spirit’s activities; there is no personal relationship with him.
§ The world qua world cannot receive the Spirit; to do so it would have to give up its essential nature, that which makes it the world.
2. The Disciples
a. Personal Knowledge
The attitude of the disciples: “but you know him…” [14:17].
§ γινώσκετε - “know” [14:17], present active, ‘to know with a focus on experience or personal relationship’;
b. The Present
The present: “he dwells with you…” [14:17].
§ μένει - “dwells” [14:17], present active, ‘remain in a place or state’;
§ παρʼ ὑμῖν - “with you” [14:17], παρa denotes ‘nearness’; ‘by or beside’;
i. The OT Church & NT Church
This is often interpreted as the distinction between the Old Testament church where the Holy Spirit was “with the church” and the New Testament church now characterised by the fact that the Holy Spirit is “in them”.
ii. The Spirit & The Presence of Jesus
The distinction being made is with regard to the presence of Jesus:
§ During the days of his humiliation, the Spirit of Christ was on Christ: “John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him…” [1:32-33].
§ The Holy Spirit was in great measure with Jesus throughout his ministry: “he whom God hath sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him” [3:34]; “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives…” [Luk.4:18].
§ In this sense, that is, in the physical presence of Jesus with them, the “Spirit of truth” was “with” [13:33] the disciples.
c. The Future
This was all to change after the resurrection: “and shall be in you” [14:17].
§ ἔσται - “shall be” [14:17], future middle,
§ ἐν ὑμῖν - “in you” [14:17], ‘withinness’; ‘indwelling’;
i. Post-Resurrection
After the exaltation Jesus would breathe his Holy Spirit into the disciples: “when he had said this, he breathed on them, and says unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost” [20:22].
§ At the Pentecost event: “they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…” [Acts 2:4].
§ This is the defining characteristic of discipleship: “if any one does not have the Spirit of Christ…” [Rom.8:9].
Application
The Spirit is to be experienced; otherwise the promise in the ensuing verses of relief from the sense of abandonment is empty.
- THE MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST TO THE DISCIPLES
For the first time in this gospel, Jesus speaks of his love for them: “he that loves me shall be loved of my Father…” [14:21].
§ ὁ ἔχων - “has” [14:21], present active participle, ‘to possess’; ‘to own’;
§ τηρῶν - “keeps” [14:21], present active participle, ‘to watch over’; ‘to guard’; ‘to observe’;
§ ὁ ἀγαπῶν - “loves” [14:21], present active participle,
§ ἀγαπηθήσεται - “loved” [14:21], future passive indicative,
§ ὑπὸ - “of” [14:21], with the genitive and the passive ‘denoting the immediate agent’;
§ ἀγαπήσω - “I will love him” [14:21], future active indicative,
§ ἐμφανίσω - “manifest” [14:21], future active indicative, ‘to make visible’; ‘to cause to be seen’; >>>> the resurrection appearances of Jesus to the disciples??????