John 14

ME

WE

Recap

So in the last chapter we looked at Jesus giving them the great commandment as well as doing something radical to demonstrate the importance of it.

Jesus has just tasked them with something very difficult and something that was kind of a new focus for them. Something that would be a reflection of their changed life.

But then something else happens that we didnt look at last time....

Peter

Jesus does all of this and tells them all of this, radically shaking up the minds of his followers. Then He tells them that he is going to leave.

This is the part at the end of the chapter, peter then says hes going to go with Him. Jesus says no, youre going to deny even knowing me.

John 13:36–38 ESV

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Jesus says things are going to be so hard for you Peter, that he are going to deny me.

I imagine Peter being overwhelmed and even thinking, why would you leave?? Dont you know things would be better if you just stayed?

Us

I have often thought that same thing. Jesus, dont you know how much easier it would have been if you were still right here.... Like if you still walked among us… Like after you rose from the dead, you didnt have to leave you could have just stayed and that would have been so much better. Like why dont you get it…

A lot of times I have thought that, especially as a teen, like people wouldn't think i was crazy for believing if you were still here. I could just asks you my questions and get an answer.

I think if we were honest we have all had those moments.

Transition

But what we think is not always the best way. Jesus knew that Him leaving would be better. But how? Or why?

How would Jesus leaving us, leaving his disciples in that moment, know it would be hard, be better?

Thats what were going to look at in john 14. That what Jesus talks about in John 14 and what he gives us there, actually empowers us to do what he said in Chapter 13.

GOD

How would Jesus leaving us, leaving his disciples in that moment, knowing it would be hard, be better?

Lets see what it says in chapter 14.

John 14:15–16 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

Jesus calls the Spirit “another Helper” - another of the same kind. The Spirit of God is no different from the Son of God in essence. Both are God. But he is different in form.

The Spirit

He is God in spirit just as Jesus is God in human flesh.

However, this does not make the Spirit just a thing, it is a person. The Bible makes it clear when referring to the Spirit it uses pronouns that are personal.

Jesus is also sure to say that this new Helper will be with you forever. Its not going anywhere.

So Jesus tells us that we are going to be given this helper, but what else does he say about this helper?

John 14:17 ESV

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.

Jesus tells them that they know Him because he is with them, but that He will be in them.

What??

Jesus is referring to himself in the first part and the Spirit in the second part. But both as the same person. One with them and one in them.

John 14:18–20 ESV

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

There will be a crazy union between Jesus and us in the form of this spirit.

The Progression

Lets stop and explain for a moment.

Throughout all of scripture, the greatest promise God ever made to His people was that He would dwell with them.

This was the entire goal in establishing the covenant with Isreal.

Exodus 6:7 ESV

I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Exodus 29:45 ESV

I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.

During this time in the Old Testement God dwelled with his people in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, in the middle of their camp. He lived with them. He dwelled with them.

In Jesus, God went a step further by sending His Son to live in flesh with us. God in human form to live walk and breath with us. The name Immanuel even means “God with us”.

At the beginning of John Joe talked about this same progression. God with us in flesh.

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

This was kind of the second step in this progression of God dwelling with his people.

Now Jesus is promising yet another much greater step in God dwelling not just with His people, but in His people. This all being made possible by Jesus. That through Jesus’ death and resurrection it would be possible for God the Spirit to come, dwell and live in the hearts of His people.

To walk with us every day in every moment. Not bound to human flesh but with all who believe.

The Holy Spirit, this Advocator, this Helper is so much better, because he doesn't just live among you, He lives within you.

But what does this have to do with us?

WE

This radically changes the relationship between God and humanity.

Jeremiah 31:31–33 ESV

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah fortold this day when everything would change. But the awesome part is he says God will write the law on their hearts. That it will not longer be about this external battle of trying to keep the law. But it will come from within.

It would be by the power of the spirit within them. Ezekiel talks about this time as well when things will change with in the heart.

Ezekiel 37:14 ESV

And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

Its about life change from the inside out. As it is said often, “Its not about behavior modification, its about life transformation” The problem is we think behavior modification would be easier if Jesus was here walking with us. The answer is life transformation is possible because of the Spirit living with in us. They key is surender to it.

Jesus talks more about what the spirit can do in us further in John 14.

John 14:26 ESV

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.

Jesus says he teaches us from the inside out. To empower us to live differently, to see differently, to carry out what he said in chapter 13 to love people.

So what do you do?

YOU

You let him. Once again its not about trying harder its about surrendering more. Its about you letting God have more of you're life and heart. That jesus is not just an add on but he is everything. That you are a reflection of Him.

For many that means realigning yourself with him everyday though prayer.

Saying, ok God my life is about you, you have it all, i trust you, I cant do this on my own, work though me and in me.

But that is not how we often start our day. So lets start there.

QUESTIONS

Read John 13.36-38

How do you think Peter felt in this moment. Being given a new command, then being told jesus is leaving and your going to deny Him?

How can you relate to how peter felt?

What comfort can we find in John 14.16?

Read John 14.18-20

What is Jesus referencing when he says they will see Him no more?

How can we find comfort and power in the first part of vs. 18 and the last part of vs. 20?

How does John 14.26 empower us?

Why do you think its easier to try harder rather than surrender more?

Everyones lives are different. We all have different areas that we need to surrender in. What practical step can you take this week to surrender more to the Spirit living with in you?