Untitled Sermon

Jesus Provides Fulfillment: We truly have all that we need

Dhdh

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,

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.

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.

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.

18. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

29. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.

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.

30. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,

20. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

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.

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.

For this morning, we are going to be looking at our text from two different angles. The first angle will be trying to identify the things that Jesus exposes and diminishes. The second angle will then be trying to identify what Jesus provides in place of the things that he exposes and diminishes. So let us approach this text from the first angle and try to identify what elements Jesus exposes as being a hinderance to what glorifies God.

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.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…”

The first element that Jesus exposes and diminishes to his disciples is the world and its ways. As it was true back then, so it is also true today, the world believes that it has the resources necessary in order to obtain peace. But as we know and understand, the world is powerless to give peace. The world contains so much hatred, so much selfishness, so much bitterness, so much malice, so much anxiety and fear that every attempt at peace is quickly quenched. As D.A. Carson says, “The world promises peace and waves the flag of peace as a greeting; [but] it cannot give it.”

Dhdh

And the disciples understood this. You did not have to work hard to convince them that the world they lived in was filled with frustration, anger, violence, and death. But their understanding of peace and their vision of how to obtain peace was far different than what Jesus had in mind. During this time, Rome was more powerful than any other nation that was found on the map. The pax Romana, which means “Roman Peace” was a period of relative peace and stability across the Roman Empire. This “peace” in the eyes of Romans lasted for about 200 years. But this “peace” was won and maintained by a brutal sword. Many Jews including the disciples believed that in order for there to be a messianic peace, which they greatly longed for, there would have to be a mightier sword than that of the Romans. In their eyes, they believed that in order for Jesus to overthrow the wickedness of this world, he would need to rise up as an earthly king and build a juggernaut army that no one could compete against, including Rome.

But what does Jesus say in verse 27? “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…” At this point, the disciples are completely lost. They were first confused when Jesus said that he was going away. You can imagine them thinking, “But Jesus, don’t you need to stay and continue to build your political status? Where is your kingdom? Where is your army? You can’t be going away! You said that you are the Messiah!” And now in our passage for this morning, Jesus is saying that the peace he gives to them is not as the world gives. Jesus is communicating to them that the peace he gives will not be given from that of a sword like the world gives. Jesus exposes the world and its ways to the disciples. And now the disciples I’m sure are completely confused. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during this conversation, just to see the disciples’ reaction when Jesus says this. I can imagine that the look of confusion on their faces was the same as that of a dog. Have you ever seen a dog confused?

For those of you who may be visiting or have not been here in a while, we have been studying Jesus’s farewell sermon to his disciples in the book of John chapters 13-16. And this is essentially Jesus’s final words of instruction to his disciples before he is nailed to the cross. In his farewell sermon, we are trying to closely identify the discipleship resources that Jesus promises will be provided to his disciples so that they can continue to spiritually grow and also help others to grow. In this farewell sermon, one of the things Jesus is trying to do is set his disciples up for success. So here we are in , and this section we have titled, “The Spirit and Instruction for Discipleship” (repeat).

What the disciples did not understand because they did not have the “Counselor” yet (as mentioned in verse 16) is that Jesus’ peace is far different than what the disciples could have ever imagined. Rather than using a sword like the Romans did, Jesus displayed his own peace throughout the entire time that he was beaten, mocked, whipped, and nailed to the cross. And unlike the world and what it’s sword could not absorb, Jesus absorbed in himself the sin of the world through his death. Jesus fulfilled the promise God made to Abraham that the disciples were longing to see fulfilled. Through his suffering on the cross, Jesus established the messianic peace in a way that no one ever saw coming. Rather than securing the messianic peace through a sword mightier than that of the Romans, it was secured through an innocent man who suffered a horrific death in the hands of Romans, Jews, and all of us. Because of his death, Jesus gives his followers peace with God, which is what Jesus was referring to when he said in verse 27, “…peace I give to you…”

The word “Peace” was a customary Jewish greeting and word of farewell in the Jewish culture. Here in our passage, it is primarily used as a farewell statement to the disciples. When people would greet or depart by saying “peace”, it was a way to convey the notion of a positive blessing, especially in terms of a right relationship with God. It was a way of saying, “All is well”. For the disciples, the idea of Jesus leaving was not a blessing. In their eyes, all was not well. But if the disciples understood peace the way Jesus understood it, they would not have been troubled and full of fear. What’s amazing is that this word of farewell that Jesus gives becomes a word of greeting after the resurrection. Turn just a few pages over to chapter 20 verse 19. This is after Jesus had died on the cross and has been placed in the tomb. Jesus rises from the dead and look at what he says when he meets his disciples:

Take a look with me at the very beginning of this passage. Jesus says in verse 15,

“On the evening of that day; the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you.”

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

The first resource we see in this passage that Jesus provides for his disciples so that they are successful is the Word, his commandments. Now I want you to listen very closely to what I just said because something so simple can easily cause us to not take time to pause and think about this. The first resource we see in this passage that Jesus provides for his disciples so that they are set up for success is the Word. It won’t be long before Jesus is gone and no longer physically present before his disciples. Jesus is implying here to his disciples that if they truly want to do God’s will, they will know it because they have Jesus’s commandments. They have his Word.

A second element that Jesus exposes and diminishes is the disciples’ fear and anxiety. Let’s read verse 27 in its entirety but let us pay special attention to the second half of verse 27:

There is something here that I want you to notice in our passage for this morning. Look just a few verses down at the first part of verse 21. What does Jesus say?

“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.”

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.”

You see, the peace that Jesus is teaching of is the peace that the disciples would experience once Jesus “went away”. Last week, we looked at how Jesus promised his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit once he was gone. What Jesus is communicating here in the second half of verse 27 is that because his disciples will soon have the presence and power of the Holy Spirit and because they will soon have peace with God, Jesus will have provided all that is necessary to meet his disciples’ fears. It is because of these two elements (The Spirit and Peace) that Paul could proclaim to the Philippians that the peace of Christ that goes beyond all human understanding will guard their “hearts and minds” from fear and anxiety.

He repeated what he said in verse 15! And then a couple of sentences later, he says the same thing in verse 23,

Turn back to chapter 20:19, and we are going to read verses 19-22:

“… ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…’”

“On the evening of that day; the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’”

Is anybody in here confused about this principle “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”? Anybody confused? Maybe verse 24 will clear up some confusion,

As we look at these verses, what are the disciples afraid of (The Jews)? Why were they afraid of the Jews (Because they were followers of Christ and the Jews just got done killing Christ)? How does Jesus respond to their fear? Yes, he appears to them. But what two elements does Jesus give to them (Peace with God, the Holy Spirit). Just like what Jesus was trying to communicate to them in our passage for this morning, Jesus is reminding them that in the midst of their fears they have peace with God and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus does not rescue them from their circumstances… Jesus is soon going to ascend into Heaven where he belongs, and the disciples will soon have to open that door and face the Jews.. but Christ reinforces that they have all that they need.

“Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.”

More than life’s circumstances, our standing with God is of utmost importance. And if we are able to:

Make sense now? 4 times here in this short passage, Jesus brings up his Word. Now I do not believe that Jesus was saying this over and over again simply because his followers were just not getting it. Maybe that was the case. But I believe that Jesus mentions over and over and over and over again that knowing and keeping the Word equates to loving God and knowing his will because it is so very important and it’s just that simple. And yet, so many Christians today do not understand God’s will because they do not open up this book enough to truly know it.

A) say that we are at peace with God

Many of us unfortunately just nibble on God’s Word. We have a verse framed on our wall. We have a verse on our coffee mug. We have bumper sticker of a verse on our car. We open our Bible on Sunday. We listen to hours of K-Love radio throughout the week. When we’re driving. When we’re working. When we’re exercising. K-Love! And there’s nothing wrong with those things by itself. But if that’s all our intake is, we’re sadly just nibbling on God’s Word and our theology will be incredibly shallow. We need to feast on God’s Word, and we need to feast on a regular basis.

and

At the same time though, we can easily feast on God’s Word… but we do it for all the wrong reasons. In John chapter 6, Jesus does the incredible and feeds a massive group of hungry people, more than 5,000, with a few loaves and fishes from a little boy’s lunch. And come the next day, those full bellies were no longer full. And so here you have this massive crowd on a manhunt to find Jesus, and they were willing to travel all the way to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to eventually find him. And when the crowd approaches him, Jesus knew that the reason why they actively seeking him out was because they were interested in bread, not in him. What’s convicting is that we too can be so selfish like the 5,000 and open up God’s Word and spend hours studying it not because we truly love God for who he is, but because we ultimately desire for our felt “needs” to be met. Heath Lambert is a pastor and an author, and one of the books that he has written is a book titled, “Finally Free”. On this topic that we are thinking through, he says this that I think is valuable for our ears to hear,

B) acknowledge the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives

“Some in the church today believe and teach that Jesus’ fundamental mission is to meet our perceived needs. So, for example, if you are lonely, Jesus came to be your friend; if you’re single, Jesus came to be your companion; if you feel ugly, Jesus came to be your encourager; if you’re broke, Jesus came to make you rich; if you’re sick, Jesus came to make you well. The crowd in was hungry and believed Jesus came to make them full. Now it is gloriously true that Jesus is a friend of sinners. He provides for us, and we can depend on him for our daily bread. Nevertheless, Jesus’ entire point in is to correct those who see him primarily as something other than the Savior from sin. If the only time you’re interested in walking with Jesus is when you want his help to get over [a sin or a problem in your life], you’re not walking in the fullness of the loving relationship that Jesus wants to have with you. We all come selfishly to Christ at times. All of us want him to do the things we want on the timetable that seems right to us. We get frustrated when God wisely defies our foolish expectations. It is not Jesus’ job to be at our beck and call. This reality doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look to Jesus to help with your problems, to fill your belly with bread, or to supply any other good thing that you truly need. It does mean you shouldn’t come seeking the help of an errand boy whose job is to rush in and satisfy your every whim. You should come to the sovereign King of the Universe who graciously saves from sin and gives eternal life and who acts in his own way and in his own timing. You should come pursuing a full-fledged relationship with this sovereign King who saves, desiring to draw close to him in every way, and not just seeking to get your problems fixed. Coming to Christ in this way is tons better than merely getting his help [for whatever your circumstances are]. Coming to Jesus in this way looks to him as the comprehensive Savior that he is rather than just as another Mr. Fix-It.”

We truly do have all that we need for source of comfort and confidence to press on and face our fears. In the midst of scary situations, we can as says: “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

So do we regularly go to God’s Word with the primary purpose of having our felt needs met? Or do we regularly go to God’s Word simply because he is our King? Simply because we love him and we want to know more about him and his will? Brothers and sisters, let us be thankful that we have the Word, because this is God’s will. By having God’s Word, we are equipped for success. But let us not treat God like a “Mr. Fix-It” every time we go to His Word. Let us not view Jesus as an “errand boy whose job is to rush in and satisfy our every whim.” Let us go to God’s Word and actively study it in order to know his commandments. If we truly love him, we will keep his commandments.

The wrath of God is the greatest being that we should be most fearful of. And if because of Christ we can now say that we have peace with the most powerful being in the universe, what then are our fears and anxieties in comparison to being in right standing with God?

The second resource that Jesus gives to his disciples is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Commentator F.F. Bruce helps us to understand that the Spirit has been mentioned before in earlier parts of the book of John, but one of the fullest teachings about the Spirit and its ministry in this Gospel is right here in verses 16-17 and 26. What facts can we glean from our passage in regard to the gift of the Spirit? Take a look at verses 16, 17, and 26:

But as we come back to our passage for this morning, these truths that Christ gives is not enough for the disciples. They continue to live in a state of trouble and fear because they fail to understand. And because they fail to understand, they fail to trust. And because they fail to trust, they fail to love Jesus. Verse 28 says this,

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 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.

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.

The first fact that we should observe is that the Holy Spirit is our “Helper” for forever. Other translations use the word “Counselor” or “Advocate” to describe the Spirit, and though I think every adjective is accurate, I really do best like the word “Counselor” to describe the Spirit. As we all know, a counselor is someone who teaches. The Holy Spirit truly is our Counselor, someone who will teach us, encourage us, and to exhort us to the way of Jesus. Notice how Jesus mentions to his disciples that they will receive another helper, which clearly implies that they already have one, and in this case, he can only be referring to himself. Indeed Jesus has been their champion and their helper, but in just a few chapters Jesus is going to be leaving them. The other “helper” or “counselor”, will be with them permanently, forever, and not only be with them but also be in them. How can this be? I think it is fair for us to assume that prior to this, not everyone who followed after God had the gift of the Spirit residing within them to be their Counselor. If we think about this in light of the Gospel, the Spirit could never reside within because man is cursed by sin, and God is so holy that he cannot tolerate sin; therefore, he could not allow the Spirit to reside within man. But Christ is able to make such a bold statement here in verses 16-17 and 26 because he ultimately knows that his death on the cross would lead to reconciliation between man and God; thus the blessing from God the Father to give another Helper to those who are followers of Jesus Christ, his son.

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.

As the Counselor, the Spirit provided clarity to the disciples of Jesus’s teachings. If there’s one thing you must know about the disciples it’s that these men failed over and over and over again in Jesus’ ministry and their understanding of who he is. Jesus says in verse 26, that the role of the Holy Spirit, after Jesus is glorified, is to remind the disciples of Jesus’ teachings and help them to grasp its meaning and significance. One thing we must understand about this verse is that this is an important promise to the disciples in regard to their role of writing out the New Testament and spreading the Gospel. This promise gives validity of what we hold in our hands this morning. Not only were the disciples eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings, but the disciples had the power of the Holy Spirit helping them to remember without taking away their individual perspectives. We can be confident that the New Testament writings are precise and accurate records of what Jesus taught and did. Not only that, but I also believe that there is an element of verse 27 that is a promise of what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives today. As we approach God’s Word, it is the Holy Spirit who is actively involved in placing truth in our minds, helping us to uncover God’s will, and convicting us when we stray away from it.

The first fact that we should observe is that the Holy Spirit is our “Helper”. Other translations use the word “Counselor” or “Advocate” to describe the Spirit, and though I think every adjective is accurate, I really do best like the word “Counselor” to describe the Spirit. As we all know, a counselor is someone who teaches. The Holy Spirit truly is our Counselor, someone who will teach us, encourage us, and to exhort us to the way of Jesus. Notice how Jesus mentions to his disciples that they will receive another helper, which clearly implies that they already have one, and in this case, he can only be referring to himself. Indeed Jesus has been their champion and their helper, but in just a few chapters Jesus is going to be leaving them. The other “helper” or “counselor”, will be with them permanently, forever, and not only be with them but also be in them. How can this be? I think it is fair for us to assume that prior to this, not everyone who followed after God had the gift of the Spirit residing within them to be their Counselor. If we think about this in light of the Gospel, the Spirit could never reside within because man is cursed by sin, and God is so holy that he cannot tolerate sin; therefore, he could not allow the Spirit to reside within us. But Christ is able to make such a bold statement here in verses 16-17 and 26 because he ultimately knows that his death on the cross would lead to reconciliation between man and God; thus the blessing from God the Father to give another Helper to those who are followers of Jesus Christ, his son.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 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.

“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.”

The second fact that I want us to notice about the Spirit is that he is the “Spirit of Truth”.

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus refers to himself in verse 6 that he is the way, the truth, and the life. The Spirit of Truth is one who bears witness to the truth of who Jesus is. As the “Spirit of Truth” the Holy Spirit will guide the disciples into all truth.

The third fact about the Holy Spirit that we need to understand is that the world cannot receive the Spirit because they do not see him nor know him. The world is unable to know or see the Spirit because they are in natural rebellion against God. Therefore, it is impossible for them to have any understanding of the Holy Spirit. D.A. Carson says in his commentary, “The truth is that the world does not know the Spirit of truth, and cannot accept him, and if it could it would cease being the ‘world’.”

As a recap, Jesus is teaching that the Holy Spirit equips believers for success because:

As the Counselor, the Spirit provided clarity to the disciples of Jesus’s teachings. If there’s one thing you must know about the disciples it’s that these men failed over and over and over again in Jesus’ ministry and their understanding of who he is. Jesus says in verse 26, that the role of the Holy Spirit, after Jesus is glorified, is to remind the disciples of Jesus’ teachings and help them to grasp its meaning and significance. One thing we must understand about this verse is that this is an important promise to the disciples in regard to their role of writing out the New Testament and spreading the Gospel. While this may be a promise specifically for the 1st century disciples of Christ, we can glean from this that there is a general teaching and guiding of the Holy Spirit in our lives today.

· He is our Helper/Counselor (16)

· He will be with us forever (17)

The second fact that I want us to notice about the Spirit is that he is the “Spirit of Truth”.

The first fact that we should observe is that the Holy Spirit is our “Helper”. Other translations use the word “Counselor” or “Advocate” to describe the Spirit, and though I think every adjective is accurate, I really do best like the word “Counselor” to describe the Spirit. As we all know, a counselor is someone who teaches. The Holy Spirit truly is our Counselor, someone who will teach us, encourage us, and to exhort us to the way of Jesus. Notice how Jesus mentions to his disciples that they will receive another helper, which clearly implies that they already have one, and in this case, it can only be Jesus himself. Indeed Jesus has been their champion and their helper, but in just a few chapters Jesus is going to be leaving them. The other “helper” or “counselor”, will be with them permanently, forever, and only be with them but also be in them.

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.

The third element that Jesus exposes and diminishes to his disciples is their self-centered hearts. The reality that Jesus is communicating to the disciples is that he is returning to his Father, and his Father is living in the sphere of glory, which is exactly where Jesus belongs. Jesus is returning to the sphere of glory that he had with the Father before the world was created in the beginning. As Carson states, this sphere of glory is a “place where the Father is undiminished in glory, which is unquestionably far greater than the Son in his incarnate state.” If we think about this, why would the disciples be upset? This is great news! If they truly loved Christ, they would be happy for his gain. But Jesus confronts the disciples to the fact that throughout their time of being with him, they have responded to matters emotionally entirely according to their own perception of their own gain or loss. Jesus calls out their self-centered hearts.

The third element that Jesus exposes and diminishes to his disciples is their self-centered hearts. The reality that Jesus is communicating to the disciples is that he is returning to his Father, and his Father is living in the sphere of glory, which is exactly where Jesus belongs. Jesus is returning to the sphere of glory that he had with the Father before the world was created in the beginning. As Carson states, this sphere of glory is a “place where the Father is undiminished in glory, which is unquestionably far greater than the Son in his incarnate state.” If we think about this, why would the disciples be upset? This is great news! If they truly loved Christ, they would be happy for his gain. But Jesus confronts the disciples to the fact that throughout their time of being with him, they have emotionally responded to matters only according to their own perception of gain or loss. And Jesus calls them out for their self-centered hearts.

The third element that Jesus exposes to his disciples is their self-centered hearts. The reality that Jesus is communicating to the disciples is that he is returning to his Father, and his Father is living in the sphere of glory, which is exactly where Jesus belongs. Jesus is returning to the sphere of glory that he had with the Father before the world was created in the beginning. As Carson states, this sphere of glory is a “place where the Father is undiminished in glory, which is unquestionably far greater than the Son in his incarnate state.” If we think about this, why would the disciples be upset? This is great news! If they truly loved Christ, they would be happy for his gain. But Jesus confronts the disciples to the fact that throughout their time of being with him, they have emotionally responded to matters only according to their own perception of gain or loss. And Jesus calls them out for their self-centered hearts.

· The world does not know him and therefore cannot receive him (17)

· He lives with and within us (17)

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus refers to himself in verse 6 that he is the way, the truth, and the life. The Spirit of Truth is one who bears witness to the truth of who Jesus is. As the “Spirit of Truth” the Holy Spirit will guide the disciples into all truth.

· He teaches us (26)

· He reminds us of Jesus’ words (26)

The third fact about the Holy Spirit that we need to understand is that the world cannot receive the Spirit because they do not see him nor know him. The world is unable to know or see the Spirit because they are in natural rebellion against God. Therefore, it is impossible for them to have any understanding of the Holy Spirit. D.A. Carson says in his commentary, “The truth is that the world does not know the Spirit of truth, and cannot accept him, and if it could it would cease being the ‘world’.”

We have so much to be thankful for. Let us continue on.

The first fact that we should observe is that the Holy Spirit is our “Helper” for forever. Other translations use the word “Counselor” or “Advocate” to describe the Spirit, and though I think every adjective is accurate, I really do best like the word “Counselor” to describe the Spirit. As we all know, a counselor is someone who teaches. The Holy Spirit truly is our Counselor, someone who will teach us, encourage us, and to exhort us to the way of Jesus. Notice how Jesus mentions to his disciples that they will receive another helper, which clearly implies that they already have one, and in this case, he can only be referring to himself. Indeed Jesus has been their champion and their helper, but in just a few chapters Jesus is going to be leaving them. The other “helper” or “counselor”, will be with them permanently, forever, and not only be with them but also be in them. How can this be? I think it is fair for us to assume that prior to this, not everyone who followed after God had the gift of the Spirit residing within them to be their Counselor. If we think about this in light of the Gospel, the Spirit could never reside within because man is cursed by sin, and God is so holy that he cannot tolerate sin; therefore, he could not allow the Spirit to reside within man. But Christ is able to make such a bold statement here in verses 16-17 and 26 because he ultimately knows that his death on the cross would lead to reconciliation between man and God; thus the blessing from God the Father to give another Helper to those who are followers of Jesus Christ, his son.

If we are to be honest, it is difficult for us to focus the attention off ourselves and on to the purposes of God. We tend to be more alert to our own griefs and sorrows than to things that bring our Master joy. I would like to encourage all of us to consider, what areas of our life are we more concerned about our grief than God’s glory? I am certain that we all would need some time to sift through our life and find ways where we are guilty like the disciples. But let me encourage us to be jealous for God’s glory and beg the Holy Spirit to show us any hints of self-centeredness in our lives so that we may repent of them. May we be comfortable with being uncomfortable for God’s glory, even if it means sacrificing what we cherish most.

If we are to be honest, it is difficult for us to focus the attention off ourselves and on to the purposes of God. We tend to be more alert to our own griefs and sorrows than to things that bring our Master joy. I would like to encourage all of us to consider, what areas of our life are we more concerned about our grief than God’s glory? I am certain that we all would need some time to sift through our life and find ways where we are guilty like the disciples. But let me encourage us to be jealous for God’s glory and beg the Holy Spirit to show us any hints of self-centeredness in our lives so that we may repent of them. May we be comfortable with being uncomfortable for God’s glory, even if it means sacrificing what we cherish most for His gain.

Dhdh

As the Counselor, the Spirit provided clarity to the disciples of Jesus’s teachings. If there’s one thing you must know about the disciples it’s that these men failed over and over and over again in Jesus’ ministry and their understanding of who he is. Jesus says in verse 26, that the role of the Holy Spirit, after Jesus is glorified, is to remind the disciples of Jesus’ teachings and help them to grasp its meaning and significance. One thing we must understand about this verse is that this is an important promise to the disciples in regard to their role of writing out the New Testament and spreading the Gospel. This promise gives validity of what we hold in our hands this morning. Not only were the disciples eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings, but the disciples had the power of the Holy Spirit helping them to remember without taking away their individual perspectives. We can be confident that the New Testament writings are precise and accurate records of what Jesus taught and did. Not only that, but I also believe that there is an element of verse 27 that is a promise of what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives today. As we approach God’s Word, it is the Holy Spirit who is actively involved in placing truth in our minds, helping us to uncover God’s will, and convicting us when we stray away from it.

Lastly, let’s take a look at the remaining verses:

The second fact that I want us to notice about the Spirit is that he is the “Spirit of Truth”.

“And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 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.”

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus refers to himself in verse 6 that he is the way, the truth, and the life. The Spirit of Truth is one who bears witness to the truth of who Jesus is. As the “Spirit of Truth” the Holy Spirit will guide the disciples into all truth.

The fourth observation I want us to make from this morning’s text is how Jesus demonstrates to his disciples his foretelling power. Jesus wants his disciples to know about his foreknowledge so that it can serve as an aid to believing in him when they do occur.

The third fact about the Holy Spirit that we need to understand is that the world cannot receive the Spirit because they do not see him nor know him. The world is unable to know or see the Spirit because they are in natural rebellion against God. Therefore, it is impossible for them to have any understanding of the Holy Spirit. D.A. Carson says in his commentary, “The truth is that the world does not know the Spirit of truth, and cannot accept him, and if it could it would cease being the ‘world’.”

Have you noticed Christ’s confidence throughout this entire passage? Jesus knows exactly what is going on. He is in complete control of what is going to happen.

As a recap, Jesus is teaching that the Holy Spirit equips believers for success because:

· Verse 27: Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid

· He is our Helper/Counselor (16)

· Verse 28: I am going away, and I will come to you

· He will be with us forever (17)

· Verse 28: I am going to the Father

· The world does not know him and therefore cannot receive him (17)

· Verse 29: I have told you before it takes place

· He lives with and within us (17)

· Verse 30: He has no claim on me

· He teaches us (26)

· Verse 31: Rise, let us go from here

· He reminds us of Jesus’ words (26)

o Do you know where they are going? It is here where they begin their journey to the garden of Gethsemane

We have so much to be thankful for. Let us continue on.

After walking through our text, the biggest takeaway I want us to see is that Jesus came to fulfill:

Lastly, let’s take a look at the remaining verses:

The third way that Jesus sets his disciples up for success is through the promise of the involvement of the Father and Jesus himself in the believer’s life. Please take a look at verse 23 with me…Jesus says,

· Jesus came to fulfill our deepest need to have peace with the Father.

“And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 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.”

“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.”

· Jesus came to fulfill so that our hearts wouldn’t troubled and afraid.

The fourth observation I want us to make from this morning’s text is how Jesus demonstrates to his disciples his foretelling power. In a way, he exposes the disciples of their shortsightedness by revealing his foreknowledge. Jesus wants his disciples to know about what is soon going to take place so that it can serve as an aid to believing in him when they do occur.

What interesting to note is that in verse two of chapter 14, Jesus mentions that he has to leave his disciples in order to prepare his Father’s house for his followers..and while he is doing that he is simultaneously joining with the Father in making a dwelling place in the believer according to verse 23. Several commentators such as D.A. Carson explains that this manifestation of the Father and the Son in the life of the believer is presumably done through the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who is God and knows the depths of God according to , is the presence of God representing the Father and the Son in us.

· Jesus came to fulfill events he foretold so that we would believe.

If we were to take a step back and look at the entirety of this morning’s passage, have you noticed Christ’s confidence throughout? Jesus knows exactly what is going on. He is in complete control of what is going to happen. We can see his confidence in his language:

is another place where the Father and the Son are linked in this task:

· Jesus came to fulfill his victory over Satan

· Verse 27: Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid

“So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.”

· Jesus came to fulfill his obedience to the Father

· Verse 28: I am going away, and I will come to you

So how is this an advantage for the disciples and for us? How does the presence of God and the Son represented through the Spirit within and around us equip us for success?

We truly have all that we need in Christ. He is the ultimate promise fulfiller. We can go forth in our lives confidently knowing that Jesus is actively involved. He is sovereignly in-control over every little detail of our lives. He is reigning while seated on his thrown at God’s right-hand.

· Verse 28: I am going to the Father

· Gives us great comfort and a reminder that God is actively at work in our lives. He is not absent. He is completely sovereign over everything that is going on in our lives.

· Verse 29: I have told you before it takes place

· Speaks to God’s love for us and His desire to be with those who love him.

· Verse 30: He has no claim on me

· Verse 31: Rise, let us go from here

Jesus in this passage is setting the disciples up for success by equipping them with resources.

o Do you know where they are going? It is at this moment where they begin their journey to the garden of Gethsemane

1. The Word: If we want to do God’s will, we will know it because we have his Word.

Throughout this entire passage, Jesus demonstrates a calmness to his disciples. If anyone were to be feeling troubled and afraid, it would be Christ because he is about to experience the most humiliating and horrific death experience that the Romans could think of. But Jesus knew that he had peace with the Father, so he could face the prince of this world since he had no claim on him. Jesus foreknew that this death would bring him and his father glory. He foreknew all that was going to take place! He foreknew that his life would bring fulfillment.

2. The Spirit: The Counselor, someone who will teach us Jesus’ way

3. The Spirit is the presence of God who is able to perfectly represent the Father and the Son in us. Because of this, God dwells with us.

After walking through our text, the biggest takeaway I want us to see is that Jesus came to fulfill:

Brothers and sisters, let us be confident knowing that Christ has fully equipped us to do the good work that is set before us. Let us not tremble with fear in this sinfully, cursed, and wicked world. Although we earnestly wait for the coming of the Lord and to be present face to face with him for all of eternity, in the meantime Jesus has equipped us with his Word and the indwelling of the Spirit.

· Jesus came to fulfill our deepest need to have peace with the Father.

· Jesus came to fulfill so that our hearts wouldn’t be troubled and afraid.

· Jesus came to fulfill events he foretold so that we would believe.

· Jesus came to fulfill his victory over Satan

· Jesus came to fulfill his obedience to the Father

We truly have all that we need in Christ. He is the ultimate promise fulfiller. We can go forth in our lives confidently knowing that Jesus has fulfilled what we could not. Jesus has provided us peace with God; and therefore, God through the presence of the Holy Spirit will always be actively involved in our life’s circumstances. If Christ foreknew what was going to take place in his life and the disciples lives, would he not know what is going to take place in our lives? He is sovereignly in-control over every little detail of our lives. He is reigning while seated on his thrown at God’s right-hand. Because Jesus has provided fulfillment, let us help each other and to those outside of this building by pointing our lives to Christ. Everyone is searching for fulfillment, everyone. But only Christ has fulfilled what we could not come close to fulfilling. Let us lean on him completely for true fulfillment.

Untitled Sermon

Greeting

Read

Read :

Pray

Introduction

Jesus exposes and diminishes:

The World and its’ Ways (27)

Pray

Lesson

1. The Word (15)

1. The Word (15)

Fear and anxiety (27)

2. The Holy Spirit (16, 17, 26)

2. The Holy Spirit (16, 17, 26)

His Gain Self-centered hearts (28)

3. The Father and Jesus themselves

His foreknowledge and our shortsightedness (29-31)

3. The Father and Jesus

Landing the Plane

His Fulfillment (27-31)

Application

Untitled Sermon

Greeting

Read

Read :

Pray

Introduction

Jesus exposes and diminishes:

The World and its’ Ways (27)

Pray

Lesson

1. The Word (15)

1. The Word (15)

Fear and anxiety (27)

2. The Holy Spirit (16, 17, 26)

2. The Holy Spirit (16, 17, 26)

His Gain Self-centered hearts (28)

3. The Father and Jesus themselves

​

His foreknowledge and our shortsightedness (29-31)

3. The Father and Jesus

Landing the Plane

His Fulfillment (27-31)

Application