Gospel of John - 12

Gospel of John - 12

John 15:1 - 17:26

Introduction

We ended last week with the first half of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse (Upper Room Discourse). Tonight we will finish that large teaching and cover the High Priestly Prayer in chapter 17. Much to cover in one night.

John 15:1-11

the metaphor of the vine and branches is the heart of this discourse.Vine was used in OT as symbol for Israel (Isaiah 5 and 27 - Vineyard Songs)Israel failed to produce fruit and was placed under judgmentJesus is the true vine and his followers will produce fruit

v. 2 - God is the vinedresser…two roles1) remove dead branches - reference to Israel and to those who have fallen away2) prunes the good branchesPrune - kathairo - same root word as ‘clean’ in verse 3 - katharos

v. 4 - Abide in me…continued daily relationshipPart of how we do this is obedience…verse 10‘And I in you’ - likely lit. See that I abide in you (no verb)Purpose is always to bear fruitIsaiah 27:6; Hosea 14:4-8

v. 5 - apart from me you can do nothing = nothing of eternal value

v. 6 - does not abide - not true believerEzekiel 15:1-8; Hebrews 6:4-8

v. 7 - my words abide…this is how we see to it that Jesus abides in us/keep in step with SpiritTwo conditions for answered prayer - abide in him, and his word abide in usWe would be transformed and pray according to his will

v. 8 - God is glorified by our fruit-bearing…this is why we pursue it

v. 9-11 - abide in his love by obedience - not an earning of his love, but a fleshing out of what it looks likeAll for our joy…obedience is for joy, not punishment

Action

Father

Son

Spirit

Give life

5:21, 26; (6:33); 17:3

5:21, 25–26, 40; 6:33; 17:3

3:6, 8; 6:63

Proclaim future

1:33

13:19, 26, 36–38; 14:3, 29; 16:1–4, 16–28, 32; 20:18

16:13

Indwell believers

14:23

14:20, 23; (15:4–7); 17:23, 26

14:17

Teach

6:45; 7:16, 17; 8:28

7:14; (8:2); 8:20; 13:13–14

14:26

Testify to Jesus

5:32, 37; 6:27; 8:18

8:12–14, 18

15:26

Glorify Jesus

5:22–23; 8:50, 54; 13:31–32; 17:1, 22

(1:14); 2:11; 13:31–32; 17:5, 24

16:14

Actions Common to Father and Son

Action

Father

Son

Glorify the Father

4:23; 12:28; 13:31–32

(2:16); (9:3–4); 11:40; 12:28; 13:31–32; 14:13; 17:1, 4–5

Give the Spirit

3:34; 14:16

(4:10–14); (7:37–39); 20:22

Send the Spirit

14:26

15:26; 16:7

Actions Common to Son and Spirit

Action

Son

Spirit

Be given by the Father

3:16

(4:10–14); 14:16

Be sent by the Father

3:17; 4:34; 5:23–24, 36; 6:29, 57; 7:28–29, 33; 8:16, 26, 29, 42; 9:4; 10:36; 11:42; 12:44–45; 13:20; 15:21; 17:3, 8, 18, 23, 25; 20:21

14:26; 15:26

Speak not from himself

(5:19); 5:30; (6:38); 7:16; 12:49–50

16:13

Speak only what he hears

3:32; (3:34); (5:30); 8:26, 40; 12:50; 15:15

16:13

Convict

3:19–20; 4:16, 18; (5:27); (8:7); 8:34, 40; 11:40; 12:7–8; 13:8

16:7–11

Be received

1:12 (cf. 1:10–11)

7:39 (cf. 14:17)

Disclose what belongs to God

1:18

16:13–14

John 15:12-17

v. 12 - Jesus already told them this in 13:34-35 - how world knows we are disciples

v. 13-14 - you are my friends - stunning declaration from JesusAbraham - 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; Moses in Exodus 33:11

v. 16 - I chose you…not in salvation sense, but to be apostles and sent out

John 15:18-27

v. 18 - hated Jesus first - can’t be like Jesus without a cross

v. 19 - ought not be surprised that the world hates us - always has since Cain killed Abel

v. 22 - responsible for what you know - rejected Jesus, now stand guilty

v. 25 - without a cause - quote of Psalm 69:4Irrational evil of the world…not because you did anything wrong

- v. 26 - Holy Spirit - Helper…Given by the Father to the Son, who send him to earth

John 16:1-15

v. 1 - his words are to keep them from falling away…calms unsettled minds and hearts

v. 2 - killing them is an act of service to God - zealous for God’s gloryExample is Apostle Paul - Galatians 1:13-14; 1 Timothy 1:13

v. 3 - none asks me…present tensePeter asked this very question in 13:36

v. 7 - advantage that I go away…the Spirit cannot come in fullness until Jesus returns to Heaven

v. 8 - Spirit will convict the world…that is good news for the world…his ministry is to bring the ‘world’ into the Church.

v. 10 - …because I go to the Father - he will not be there to teach righteousness personally…Spirit will do that through illumination (v. 13)

v. 11 - is judged…perfect tense - has been, and is still (kekritai)

v. 13 - Spirit of truth, leads to all truthReference to their impending writing of Scripture‘Declare’ - anangelloo - used 40x in Isaiah…exclusive domain of God to declare what is to come - reference to the deity of the Holy Spirit

John 16:16-33

v. 16-19 - ‘a little while’ (2x)…repeated then by Jesus and the disciplesRecalls usage of that phrase 4x previous (7:33; 12:35; 13:33; 14:19)Reference to the death (won’t see me) and post-resurrection appearances

v. 23 - ask nothing…no need to inquire as to the meaning of his death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit will be present to help lead to all truth.

v. 24 - new way to prayIn Jesus’ name…in line with his character and will

v. 28 - leaving and going to the FatherCould refer to his spirit during physical death; more likely refers to ascension after 40 days post-resurrection

v. 32 - scattered - fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7Quote by Jesus in Matthew 26…strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter

v. 33 - peace I leave - not absence of conflict or tension, but in spite of…Discourse ends with a note a triumph

The High Priestly Prayer

The Father Gave the Son . . .

John 17

authority to give eternal life

v. 2

people out of this world

vv. 2, 6, 9, 24

work to accomplish

v. 4

words

v. 8

his name

vv. 11, 12

glory

vv. 22, 24

The Son Gives Believers . . .

John 17

eternal life

v. 2

the Father’s word

vv. 8, 14

manifestation of the Father’s name

vv. 6, 26

glory

v. 22

The Son Asks the Father to . . .

John 17

glorify him

vv. 1, 5

keep believers in the Father’s name

v. 11

keep believers from the evil one

v. 15

sanctify believers in the truth

v. 17

make believers one

v. 21

Jesus’ Followers and the World

John 17

they are sent into the world

v. 18

they are in the world

v. 11

they are not of the world

v. 16

the world has hated them

v. 14

their unity with each other and union with God may cause the world to believe the Father sent the Son

v. 21

John 17:1-5

Jesus prays for himself (v. 1-5), his disciples (v. 6-19), then all believers (v. 20-26)

v. 1 - glorify your Son…claim of deityGod said he would give his glory to no one else - Isaiah 42:8; 48:11

v. 2 - authority over all flesh - new era under rule and reign of JesusDaniel 7:13-14

v. 2-3 - eternal life - knowing God and Jesus his sonOnly true God - Deuteronomy 6:4Jesus is unique son - John 1:14,18; 3:16,18

v. 5 - before world existed…material universe is not eternalMutual glory of the Trinity before creation

John 17:6-19

v. 6 - name - character, identity

v. 11 - keep them…preserve themHoly Father…only 1x in NTBe one, as we are oneUnity of mind and purposeMutual loveTogetherness

Characteristics of that unity:

Results in joy (v. 13)

Rooted in truth (v. 14,17,20)

Involves sanctification (v. 17,19)

Is a witness to the world (v. 21)

Reveals God’s glory (v. 24)

Results in indwelling experience of God’s love and Jesus’ presence (v. 26)

Only a result of the Spirit’s work

- Ephesians 4:3

v. 12 - fulfilled - Psalm 41:9; 69:25; 109:8

v. 14 - your word - not OT…refers to Jesus’ own teachingv. 15 - in the world…our role is not to withdraw from world, but to influence for good

v. 16 - not of the world - have different desires, goals, God“In the world but not of the world”…not in Scripture, but this is where it comes from.

v. 17 - sanctify them…ongoing growth in holinessYour word is truthSpirit of truth/I am the truthDifference between true and truthTrue is an adjective; truth is a nounTrue means it adheres to the standard of truth. Truth is the standard.

John 17:20-26

Concern in his prayer for us is unity (v. 21-23) and love (v. 26).

v. 21 - in us…relationship. Purpose…that the world will believe

v. 23 - as Father loves the Son, he loves the believer

v. 24 - see…Greek theoreo (theory) - observe with sustained attentionBefore foundation of the world…eternal love of the Father for the SonIf called Father, always has to have a Son

v. 26 - I in them…recalls OT covenant…God promises to dwell with his peopleTabernacle, temple, Jesus, Holy Spirit, eternity

Application

do you ‘abide’ in Jesus? Speaks of relationship. Quality time, communication, etc.16:1 - his words keep you from falling awayUnity - Philippians 2:1-11Do you view the Bible as the standard by which you evaluate everything else?Mom - to each his own

- 16:33 do you have peace that Jesus has overcome the world?