JESUS PRAYS FOR ALL BELIEVERS - JOHN 17:20-23

 

17:20-23

Jesus Prays For Those Who Will Believe

Jesus not only prayed for the disciples, but for all who would follow in their footsteps believing in Jesus. He prayed that they would be unified, that they would be “one” and have the same union and unity as do God the Father and God the Son. In that unity they will show the lost that God loves those who believe in him and sent the Son for their salvation. 

This unity is supposed to be so strong as to be unexplainable by the world, leading the world to see that it only arises through and in Christ. 

Jesus has given us his glory in that he has revealed to believers his and the Father’s perfect and holy character. It is the knowledge of the Father and Son that unite us believers. 

This is complicated for us by those who claim to be Christians, but do not believe the gospel as handed down by the apostles. So, we do not give up the gospel for unity, as some ecumenical movements have done. Rather, in the truth of the Gospel, we love each other and live in unity. 

Jesus also prayed that believers would be allowed to be with Jesus in heaven, where he is. (24) He prayed that they would be able to see his glory that he had before the foundation of the world. That is our destiny as believers, to be with Jesus in heaven and to see his glory. It is part of our reward.

This will be wonderful for us, to see the one we have believed in and followed radiate with glory. His glory will be so magnificent that, in the new earth, there will be no need of sun or moon to shine, “for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb”. (Revelation 21:23) 

In contrast to believers, Jesus said the world does not know the Father. (25) He calls him “righteous Father”, which implies that those who do not know him are not righteous. And, if he is righteous, he has the right to judge the unrighteous. 

Also, in contrast to those in the world that do not know the Father, believers do know the Father because Jesus has made him known and will continue to make him known. (25) He will do this so that the same love with which the Father loves Jesus will be in us. 

So, we see that believers should manifest their knowledge of the Father, the unity that only comes through faith in Christ, and the love the Father has for us. 

THE PRAYER - JOHN 17

 

John 17

Having finished his last teaching (“these words”) of the disciples, Jesus prayed to the Father. This prayer is set out in this chapter. Some people call it the “High Priestly Prayer” because Jesus prays, or intercedes, for the disciples in addition to praying for himself.

But first, Jesus poured out his heart to God. And that makes this scripture just wonderful, for Jesus allowed the disciples into the intimate relationship between him and the Father. And since John wrote it down, we are allowed in as well. And this demonstration of the close relationship between the Father and the Son serves as an illustration of the relationship Believers will have with the Father through the Son. 

17:-5

Jesus Prays For Himself

Jesus began the prayer by saying “the hour has come”. All through John’s gospel, the “hour” meant the time when Jesus would be put to death, then raised, and ultimately ascended. Previously, though, he had said his hour had not come. 

Despite attempts to arrest Jesus or to kill him, no one had succeeded because the hour had not come. That hour was set by the Father in his sovereignty and it could not be changed by the will or actions of men or women. 

Now, however, the hour has come and no man or woman can stop it. And Jesus will not stop it because he is obedient to the Father, even to death.

The hour has come, not just for his death, but for his glorification. So, Jesus asks the Father to glorify him. He is, in effect, praying that the Father’s will be done. 

Jesus gave up his glory when he was sent by the Father to be born in the form of a man. Paul wrote about this in Philippians 2:

“…Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not county equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men”. Philippians 2:6-8.

We have seen that Jesus had glory. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple.”(Isaiah 6:1) John then tells us that the Lord Isaiah saw was the Lord Jesus. (John 12:41)

Despite the fact that he wants to recover his glory in heaven, Jesus’ ultimate goal here is not his own glory, but to glorify the Father. (1) Jesus wanted to glorify the Father because the Father had given him authority over all human beings (“all flesh”) so that he could give eternal life to those the Father gave him. (2)

That is what Paul referred to when he wrote that the Father chose us in Jesus before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:3) 

An additional point to note is that, since Jesus had authority over all human beings, and the sole authority to give eternal life, there is no other way to obtain eternal life. 

Jesus defined eternal life as knowing the Father and the Son. It is our having a permanent relationship with the Father, through the Son and with him. (3) That includes going to heaven when we die and living in the new earth. And it is the presence of the Father and the Son dwelling with us, and having a continuing relationship with us, that makes heaven, and the new earth, the place of delight and joy. All of this comes as we are reconciled to the Father because of the work of the Son. 

In verse 4, Jesus summarizes. He said he glorified the Father on earth by accomplishing the work the Father gave him to do. (4) That is what Jesus meant when he said, as he was dying, “it is finished”. All the work the Father gave him to do to accomplish salvation was done. And those who understand that God has accomplished his plan of redemption through Christ glorify the Father. 

Having glorified the Father on earth, and about to return to the Father in heaven, Jesus asked to be restored to the glory he had with the Father in heaven in eternity before the world existed. (5) 

We know that happened. Paul, in Philippians 2, wrote “Therefore God (the Father) has highly exalted him (the Son) and bestowed n him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

17:6-19

Jesus Prays for the Disciples

After praying for himself, Jesus prayed for his disciples. He called them the people whom you gave me out of the world. (6) They were the Father’s people (because he chose them) and the Father gave them to the Son. 

Jesus manifested the Father’s name to these people, meaning he revealed the Father’s character, his attributes, to them through his life and his teaching. (6) Jesus gave them the words the Father gave him. Remember he said only what the Father told him to say. They kept this word because they came to know that Jesus came from the Father and everything Jesus gave to them he received from the Father.  

So, Jesus was praying for these believing disciples. He prayed only for the disciples, the ones the Father gave to him, not for the world. (10) 

Jesus also said he is glorified in the disciples (10) He is glorified because they believe he is who he said he is, the Son of God. And he is further glorified as they tell others Jesus is the Son of God and relate the miracles he did and the truth he told. 

This is in contrast to “the world” which does not believe in Jesus.

The disciples certainly did not have full, mature, understanding. But they did believe in Jesus and committed themselves to him. When many so called disciples left Jesus after he said difficult things, the Twelve stayed and said “You have the words of eternal life. we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. (John 6:68-69)

Since the disciples remain in the world after Jesus goes to the Father, Jesus asked the Father to keep them in his name.(11)  He wants the disciples to be one as the Father and the Son are one. 

Jesus guarded and protected the disciples while he was with them. Jesus did not lose any of them except Judas, whom he refers to as the son of destruction. This destruction will come at the final judgment. 

Jesus let Judas go so that Scripture would be fulfilled. This is probably Psalm 41:9, which says “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me”.

Jesus did not ask that the Father take the disciples out of the world. Disciples are to invade the world with the gospel. The Great Commission is to go. (Matthew 28:18-20) 

The image of David and Goliath came to mind. David did not cower. He “ran quickly” to meet Goliath. (1 Samuel 17:48) David charged the enemy. 

Consider also the hymn “Onward Christian Soldiers” which says “gates of hell can never against the church prevail”. The image is not of the church guarding itself, but of the church storming the gates of hell, which cannot stand against the charge.

So, Jesus asks the Father to keep the disciples, excluding Judas, from the evil one, to protect them as they are hated by the world as those who follow Jesus, who was hated by the world. (15) Jesus will not be there to guard the disciples, so he asks the Father to do it. 

The defeated devil constantly tries to inflict damage on the church. Believers in all ages experience this. God does not take us out of this world, so we remain in it and witness to Jesus while we are. This causes a constant spiritual war. 

Some branches of the church surrender, adopting the contrary beliefs of the world in an attempt to join it, at least to a degree that will provide safety. But surrender to the enemy is defeat. Those churches die as they become more like the world that those chosen out of the world. 

While Believers are not removed from the world, Jesus prays that the Father sanctify them, or set them apart from the world with his Word, which is the truth. (17) The Father will send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to teach the disciples God’s word and help them to understand it. 

By doing so, the disciples learn to think like God and conform their lives to God’s word. This happens for us as well. They do not conform to the world, but are transformed by the renewing of their minds by the Holy Spirit. Renewed, they can discern the will of God. (Romans 12:1-2) Sanctified, they are sent by Jesus into the world, not to conform, but to invade and conquer with the word of God.

Jesus consecrated himself, focusing on his service to the Father in redeeming those the Father gave him. (19) And because he did that, they can be sanctified in the truth and continue the mission to spread the glory of God over the face of the earth.

17:20-23

Jesus Prays For Those Who Will Believe

Jesus not only prayed for the disciples, but for all who would follow in their footsteps. He prayed that they would be unified, that they would be “one” and have the same union and unity as do God the Father and God the Son. In that unity they will show the lost that God loves them and sent the Son for their salvation. 

Jesus also prayed that believers would be allowed to be with Jesus in heaven, where he is. (24) He prayed that they would be able to see his glory that he had before the foundation of the world. That is our destiny as believers, to be with Jesus in heaven and to see his glory. It is part of our reward.

This will be wonderful for us, to see the one we have believed in and followed radiate with glory. His glory will be so magnificent that, in the new earth, there will be no need of sun or moon to shine, “for the glory of God gives it light and its lamp is the Lamb”. (Revelation 21:23) 

SORROW, JOY, PEACE - JOHN 16:16-33

 

You Will See Me

16:16-24

Jesus continues his last teachings in this passage, preparing the disciples for what will come. So, he told them that, in a little while, they would not see him, but after another little while, they would. (16)

It appears that Jesus was speaking of his death which would, indeed, happen in a little while. Within hours he would be arrested, bound, and taken before the high priest. They would then take him to Pilate, hoping Pilate would sentence Jesus to death. Pilate would send him to the cross, where he would die.He would then be buried. 

They would not see Jesus while he was dead in the tomb only a little while after he spoke to them. But, in a little while after that, on the third day, they would see him again because he would be resurrected and would appear to them. 

The disciples did not understand. (17-18) They talked among themselves and wanted to ask him what he was talking about. Jesus knew this. (19) And so, he explained further.

He told them they would weep and lament. (20) Lamenting is a passionate expression of sorry. As they saw Jesus suffer and die, they would cry and grieve. They missed him as a friend and as their leader. They missed his protection and felt vulnerable and afraid.

They also grieved their personal failures. Those who scattered to their homes must have felt guilty and ashamed. Peter must have been devastated at his denial of Christ just in the way Jesus said he would and that Peter refused to believe. 

The disciples grieved, but the world rejoiced. The “world” is the part of humanity that is against God. The is the same world that God loved enough to send his son to. (John 3:16) 

As Jesus died on the cross, they jeered and taunted him as they rejoiced in his death. They rejoiced because they thought that they had defeated him.

But they did not defeat him. He defeated Satan and all of his followers. “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15)

The seed of the woman bruised the head of the seed of the serpent just as God said he would. (Genesis 3:15)

It must have been quite a shock to those powers and authorities of Satan when Jesus rose from the dead and they realized they were defeated! 

Jesus went on to say that the disciples’ sorrow would turn to joy. (20) He did not explain it, but he knew that, once they was he was resurrected and alive, they would be joyful. 

Jesus gave an example of a woman giving birth. She had sorrow, in the sense of pain, during the birth, but joy once the baby was born. (21)

Similarly, they would have sorrow for a while, then he would see them again, and they would rejoice. (22) Once this happened, no one could take their joy away. It was a joy they wanted to share with the world. 

And, from that point on, whatever they asked in the name of Jesus, the Father will give to him. He told them to ask. If they asked, the Father would give them their request and their joy would be full. 

Have you ever had joy in answered prayer? Have you prayed for someone to be saved and they were? Someone to be healed and they were? For God to provide for needs and he did? This is the joy Jesus was talking about. 

Speaking Plainly

16: 25-33

Jesus acknowledged that he had said things to them in “figures of speech” (25) That would include parables and metaphors, both of which he frequently employed. But he would later speak plainly about the Father. This would occur mostly through the Holy Spirit, who would reveal the full meaning of Jesus’ words as well as the words of the Old Testament scriptures. 

We see this in the amazing ability the disciples had to tie Old Testament scripture to Christ and to explain the revelation of God’s plan of salvation. We also see it in our own ability to read and understand Jesus’ words and the teaching of the disciples. 

In this moment, Jesus gave them a precious truth. They did not need to pray to Jesus and ask Jesus to ask the Father for them. The Father loved them because they loved Jesus and believed in him. Because he loved them, they could ask in Jesus’ name and the Father would answer their prayers. 

Jesus also told them plainly that he came from the Father into the world and was now leaving the world to go to the Father in heaven. (28)

The disciples know claimed to believe Jesus. But Jesus questioned this, telling them that the hour was upon them when they would abandon Jesus and scatter to their own homes. (31) It must have been a bitter experience to later realize that they had done just as Jesus said.

The final words of this discourse were words of encouragement. Jesus told them he said these things so they would have peace. They would fall away and scatter. They would mourn and grieve. They would be afraid. Then, they would realize Jesus’ truth that the world offered them tribulation. But they could have courage, because Jesus had overcome the world. (33)

Those encouraging words have traveled to us over centuries of tribulation, persecution, and trying times. In every age, some part of the church will experience it. But, none of it is outside the knowledge and control of the Lord. He has overcome the world. 

And the church will endure. 

Take heart in these words. 

THE WORK OF THE SPIRIT - JOHN 16:1-15

 

John 16

In this chapter, Jesus concludes his teaching of the disciples in preparation for his departure and their life without him. After this teaching, he will pray for them. Chapter 17 contains what we call Jesus’ “high priestly prayer”. Then, in Chapter 18, the events leading up to his death unfold.

The Reason For The Teaching

16:1-3

Jesus knew that the disciples would face hard times after his departure. By carrying on the message of Jesus and being known as his followers, they would become the object of all of the hate and anger that had been focused on Jesus. 

He has told them this truth. He said the world would hate them as it hated him. (15:18-19) The Jews would persecute the disciples as they persecuted Jesus. (20) The full meaning of this warning would only be known by the disciples after Jesus is tortured and executed. But, even at the point of telling, the words had to have sounded ominous.

So, Jesus said he told them why he told them these difficult things: it was to keep them from falling away when it happened. (1) Hard times can cause doubt. Hard times that are not expected can cause surrender and defeat. 

Jesus did not “sugar coat” it, or minimize it. He said they would be put out of synagogues and even killed. And those who did these things would think they were doing a service to God, (2), although Jesus pointed our that they did not know God the Father and they did not know him.  

The Book of Acts shows us that Jesus’ words were true. Peter and John were arrested during their second sermon on the temple grounds. They were jailed overnight, then required to appear before the high priest and the Sanhedrin. (Acts 4:5-6) This happened again in Acts 5, when many of the Sanhedrin wanted to kill them. (Acts 5:33) 

One of the great persecutors was Saul. He “ravaged” the church and put believers in jail. (Acts 8:3) Saul did this because he was “extremely zealous” for “the traditions of my fathers”. (Galatians 1:14) After his conversion, he then was run out of synagogues, stoned, beaten, and jailed several times before being executed. James the Apostle was murdered. (Acts 12:2) It went on and on. 

The assumption of Jesus here is that falling away is worse than death or persecution. Therefore, they must be ready. But, none of the Apostles fell away from the faith, because Jesus prepared them and the Holy Spirit helped them. By hearing these things in advance from Jesus, they knew that this persecution was not beyond the knowledge of Jesus and was not out of his control.

And that is a word for us. No persecution today is outside the knowledge of our Lord nor beyond his control.

The Holy Spirit

16:4-15

Jesus told the disciples again that he was returning to the Father (him who sent me) and that his talk of leaving made them sad. 

He challenged them on this point, saying it is to your disadvantage that I am leaving. It is to your advantage, because the Helper, the Holy Spirit, does not come to you until I return to heaven and send him to you. The Holy Spirit’s full time ministry in and with believers did not begin until Jesus’ earthly ministry ended.

The doctrine of the Trinity is displayed here. God the Son was with God the Father in heaven, then was sent into the world. When God the Son returns to God the Father in heaven, the Father sends God the Spirit into the world. 

What will the Holy Spirit do when he comes? Jesus said the Spirit will:

1. convict the world concerning sin because they do not believe in him;
2. convict the world concerning righteousness because Jesus returns to the Father and will no longer be with them; and
3. concerning judgment because the ruler of the world, Satan, is judged. (8-9) 

We probably think and talk more of the Holy Spirit’s work in believers, but here Jesus is speaking of the Spirit’s work in the world, meaning those who have not come to faith in Jesus. 

First, the Spirit convicts the world of the sin of unbelief. Jesus told the Jews several times that they did not know him and, therefore, did not know the Father and could not come to him. The Spirit continues that work in the world by convicting a person of their sin of unbelief, and the need to believe, when they hear the gospel. That is why we sometimes say a person is “under conviction” when he or she begins to wrestle with the truth of the gospel for the first time. 

Second, Jesus also confronted the Jews about their righteousness being false, driven as it was by ceremony and works rather than faith. The Holy Spirit took over that role when Jesus ascended to the Father, showing people that their supposedly good works are not going to get them to heaven. They are, in fact, the filthy rags (KJV), or polluted garments (ESV), of Isaiah 64:6. 

Third, the Spirit convicts the world of its wrong and false judgment. It is opposed to the true judgment of Christ. The minds of the world have become darkened by their rejection of God as they suppress the truth. (Romans 1) And the source of the false judgment is Satan, whom Jesus called the ruler of this world. (11) Satan was judged by Jesus’ life of obedience to the Father, his death for our sins, and his resurrection from death to glorification in heaven. 

In verses 12 through 15, Jesus spoke of the work of the Spirit in the apostles, and through them to us as believers. The Spirit guides us into all the truth because, like Jesus, he speaks, not on his own authority, but of what he hears from the Father. (13) As the disciples were guided into the truth, so are we as we read the truths they passed down to us. 

One of the things the Spirit would hear and declare are the things to come. The Spirit revealed to the disciples much of what would happen in the world in their time and in the distant future. He reveals it to us as we read the words of the disciples. 

The Spirit always glorifies Jesus. The Father gave truth to the Son and the Spirit will take that and declare it to the disciples, who declared it to us. 

The work of the Spirit in the world gives us confidence to proclaim the gospel. The work of the Spirit in us gives us confidence to know God and serve him faithfully. 

THE COMMANDMENT & THE OPPOSITION - JOHN 15:12-27

 

 The Commandment

15:12-17

Having told the disciples that they would keep his commandments if they loved him, Jesus now tells them what his commandment is. They are to love each other as he has loved them. (12) 

Jesus said this previously, as recorded in 13:34: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another”. The fact that Jesus said this twice, and that he called it his commandment, indicates the supreme importance of the command. 

The greatest expression of this love ss that a person lays down his life for his friends. (13) This is, of course, what Jesus did. He laid down his life for his friends. 

Jesus is speaking to the 11 apostles in this context. He says they are his friends if they do what he commands, if they obey him. This is another way of saying “if you love me you will keep my commandments”. 

Jesus then said these disciples were friends rather than servants. The difference between the two is revelation. Both servants and friends obey their master. But servants to not know the mind of the master. He does not explain to them why he wants them to do something. He tells them to do it and they obey. It is like your mother telling you to do something and when you ask why, she does not explain, but says “because I said so, that’s why!”. 

But, a master will tell a friend what is on his mind. Here, Jesus says he calls them friends because all he heard from the Father, he made known to them”. (15) Jesus loved and obeyed the Father and revealed to the disciples the things the Father revealed to him.  

And this explains the words “no longer”. In the old covenant, God’s people were given commandments to obey, but little in the way of information regarding God’s plan. In contrast, Jesus tells his new covenant disciples everything God revealed to him. 

The word “friends” is used here for the Greek word “philos”, which is a form of “philia”. “Philia” and “agape” are the two Greek words for love in the New Testament. It has been common to say that agape love is a higher form of love than philia. However, that is not consistently true in the New Testament and, specifically, in the Gospel of John.

At a minimum, philia means love for family members. For example, Hebrews 13:1 says “let brotherly love continue”. The Greek word for “brotherly love” is “Philadelphia”, a form of “philia”. 

That is why the city of Philadelphia Pennsylvania in the United States is called the city of “brotherly love”. So, it might be more appropriate to call the disciples “loved ones” than friends in our present use of those words. 

Jesus laid down his life for those whom he loved. Likewise, we should lay down our lives for our fellow believers. They are the ones we love if we are obeying Jesus’ command. 

So, Christians should be known for their love for Jesus, shown by their obedience to his commandments, and their love for each other, shown by laying down their lives for each other.

How do we lay down our lives for each other. Certainly, the ultimate expression of this is to die for someone else, as Jesus did. But, it can include anytime we give something of ourselves for each other. We give our time, our work, our energy, our prayers, for each other in love. 

The disciples have these revelations and understanding because Jesus chose them and set them apart to bear fruit. (16) In this context, “fruit” likely does primarily mean converts, people who will believe in Jesus. And he chose them and appointed them to bear fruit that would abide or last, meaning those who would believe in Jesus and follow him their whole lives, fruit that abides or lasts. 

Also, Jesus chose them so that whatever they asked the Father in Jesus’ name, the Father would give to them. (16) Fruitfulness still comes from the Father in response to our asking for it. 

The Opposition

15:18-25

In contrast to their love for each other, the disciples will learn that the world hates them because it hated Jesus. (15) Jesus chose and called them out of the world to be in his kingdom. They are no longer “of this world” they are “of Christ’s kingdom”. And, therefore, those of the world will often hate them for being different. They are not greater than their master in this sense; if they persecuted Jesus they will persecute his followers, those who identify with him.

Jesus said all of the things people would do to them on account of Jesus’ name was because they did know the Father who sent him. (21) This is particularly about the Jews, who claimed to know the Father, but persecuted Jesus and his disciples. But it is true of all people who deny Jesus as the Son of God. (Romans 1:18-23)

Since these people (the Jews) heard Jesus speak and saw him do miraculous works, they are guilty of sin by rejecting Jesus and persecuting him and his followers. (22) They show that they hate the Father by hating the Son. (24) This fulfills Old Testament scripture, such as Psalm 35:19.

The Holy Spirit will help them at these times. He will come to them and he will bear witness to Jesus. (26) The disciples will also bear witness to Jesus because they have been with him from the beginning. They are the ones who know Jesus best because they witnessed his whole ministry. (27) 

There are things given only to the apostles (the Twelve). But there are things here that apply to us as disciples, or followers, of Jesus: (1) we are to love one another:

(2) we have the Holy Spirit to help us; and

(3) we have a mission to bring the gospel to the world.

ABIDING IN CHRIST - JOHN 15:1-11

 

15:1-11

Vine & Branches

Chapter 15 contains two sections that are related. First, Verses Jesus uses a metaphor of vines and branches. Second, he gives an explanation. So, Jesus did not leave us to our own devices to interpret the vine and branches. He explained it.

This image of grape vines would be very familiar to the disciples, since grape vines were plentiful in Israel and vital as a source of food and drink. They would be at least somewhat familiar with the work of the vinedresser. They knew the vine grew up and put out branches. The branches draw life from the vine. And it is on the branches that the grapes grow. 

Jesus said he is the true vine. (1) Some people slide by the word “true” here to get to the metaphor. But we must assume that Jesus said it on purpose.

Jesus is the true vine in comparison to Israel. In the Old Testament, Israel was several times portrayed as a vine or a vineyard. But Israel did not fulfill its role as the vine. It did not bear fruit by loving God and keeping his commandments. 

Psalm 80 shows us this. The Psalmist says Israel was a vine God brought out of Egypt and planted. But God let the vine be cut down and burned because it did not bear fruit for him.

In contrast, Jesus fulfilled the mission where Israel failed. He loved the Father and obeyed him. He built a new people of a new covenant and gave them a way to live in love and obedience.

So, Jesus is the true vine. (1) And the Father is the vinedresser, the who tends the branches if the vine. He removes, or cuts off, the branches that do not bear fruit. (Because every one who is in Christ bears fruit.) And every branch that bears fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit. (2)

As the vinedresser, the Father prunes the branches that bear fruit. He does this in love so they branch can bear even more fruit. He often puts believers into situations where they learn to bear more fruit, such as learning to be patient by having to wait for something or learning to love by having someone not that lovable put into their lives. 

The Father also removes the branches that do not bear any fruit. There are no Christians that do not bear some fruit. If there were, Jesus could not be the true vine. Fruitfulness is the mark of true faith in Christ. 

John would later say this another way: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19)

Only when connected to the vine can a branch bear fruit. In other words, the vine bears fruit through the branches. Jesus had already told the disciples that they were in him and he in them. (14:20) He is now giving an illustration of this.

Jesus also told the disciples they were clean, repeating what he said when he washed their feet at the last supper. (13:10) Clean here refers to saved or being in Christ. They are clean because they have believed in Jesus and his word. (3) 

And so, being already connected to Jesus, he tells them to abide, or remain, in him. “Abide” means to dwell with, to stay connected with. Jesus makes it plain that they cannot bear fruit unless they are connected to him. In fact, they can do nothing on their own. (5) Notice that Jesus said this plainly and without metaphor so they would understand it. 

This shows us that we are not saved by grace to work on our own to bear fruit. It is Christ working in us that produces the fruit. So, by staying connected to him in prayer, in study of his word, and in worship, we experience the Spirit’s work in our life, producing fruit even as the Father works in us to make us bear more fruit. 

Paul wrote “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) 

I think it is the living without an abiding connection to Christ, and trying to work only in our own strength, that creates hypocrisy in the church. It allows our minds to be conformed to the world’s standards rather than the commandments of Jesus. We love only the lovable, we fellowship only with those who look like us or earn as much money as us. It allows us to be prideful about who and what we are and unsympathetic to those who stumble or suffer. 

In contrast to those who abide in Christ and bear much fruit, the one who does not abide in him is thrown away and withers, then is thrown into the fire. Those who are not in Christ cannot bear the fruit that Christ produces. They wither, a picture of spiritual death. And they are thrown into the fire and burned, a picture of judgment. (6)

Jesus may have been alluding to Ezekiel 15 here. In that passage God says he will take the vine, which is Israel, and give it to the fire. It was a picture of God giving Israel over to judgment by letting a nation conquer it and destroy it. 

Those who reject Christ, however, have a much greater judgment to face. Though many have sought to downplay this or deny the reality of eternal punishment, the Bible is clear that eternal punishment exists. Revelation 20:15 says, if anyone’s name is not found written in the book of life, he is thrown into the lake of fire for ever. 

But those who abide in Christ, there are many blessings. If we abide in Christ and his words abide in us, we may ask whatever we wish and it will be done for you. (7) When we abide in Christ, and his words abide in us, we will begin to think as he thinks and desire what he desires.

Because of that, we will not pray for a new Bentley automobile or to live in a huge house. We will pray for our needs to be met and trust God to do so. We will pray according to the Lord’s prayer, that his will be done and his kingdom come. We will pray for the salvation of souls and expansion of the kingdom. We will pray for our fellow disciples who are in trials. We will pray for Christ to make us more like him. 

When we abide in Christ, we also bring glory to the Father. Our love for each other and prayers glorify him. (8) Not only will we bring glory to the Father, we will prove that we are disciples of Jesus. Tertullian famously wrote that pagans would say “Look how they [Christians] love one another…and how they are ready to die for each other…” (Apologeticus, ch. 39, sect. 7)

Finally, as we abide in Christ we experience his love. He said he has loved us as the Father loved him. This is a perfect and complete love.  In that great love, we can abide. (9) We can feel happy and secure knowing he loves us. 

Part of how we abide in Christ is keeping his commandments. (10) This is how Jesus abided in the Father’s love. He was obedient to the Father. The Gospel of John repeatedly records Jesus saying he completely obeyed the Father in all he said and all he did. And again, we obey Jesus because we love him. 

And when we do this, we experience Christ’s joy in us and have it to the full. (11) Jesus’ obedience to the Father brought him joy. In fact, Hebrews 12:2 says “…Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God”. (Hebrews 12:1–2) 

We can have this joy to the full. All other joy in a fallen world is temporary and small compared to this. It only comes to those who abide in Christ.  

PROMISING THE HOLY SPIRIT - JOHN 14:15-24

 

Promising the Spirit

14:15-17

Jesus continued to prepare his disciples for their life after his departure. He taught them what their relationship with him would be like after he was physically gone. 

First, he said they would keep his commandments if they loved him. Our love for Christ compels us to obey him. There are people who will claim they love Jesus, but it has no effect on their lives. 

For example, Jesus had previously told the disciples he was giving them a new commandment: to love each other as Jesus had loved them. (13:35) So, if we love Jesus, we will obey his command to love each other. If we do not love each other, it is difficult to say we love Jesus since we do not keep his commandment.

There are other commandments given by Jesus. And we will keep them, or obey them, if we love him. 

Second, Jesus said he will ask the Father, who would send them another helper to be with them forever. He called this helper “the Spirit of Truth”. This is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be with them forever. This is true for all believers. The Holy Spirit comes to us when we come to faith in Jesus and he never leaves us. He dwells with us and is in us. 

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Romas 8:9)

As Jesus is the truth, so the Holy Spirit is the Spirit if Truth. He will always point us to the truth of Jesus through the Bible and through conviction in our spirit.

In contrast, the world cannot receive, see, or know the Holy Spirit.(17) He only comes to those who follow Christ. 

Jesus With Us

14:18-24

Jesus said he would not leave the disciples as orphans. The use of the term “orphans” may seem odd, since he has spoke on them becoming children of God. However, Jesus perceived their sense of abandonment and anxiety as he told them of his departure. Who would lead them? Who would teach them? 

Jesus said his leaving would be for a little while, then he would come to them. (18) They would see him, although the world would not.

The question is “when would they see him?”, or “when will he come to them?”. 

There are three possibilities: (1) his resurrection and appearances; (2) the coming of the Holy Spirit; and (3) his return at the end to receive his saints. For example, the ESV Study Bible says it refers to his resurrection. The Reformation Study Bible says it refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The NIV Study Bible says it refers to the coming of the Spirit, but mentions the other two comings. 

Jesus’ appearing to the disciples seems the most logical understanding. It happened “in a little while” after his departure and they saw him. The world did not see him because he only showed himself to believers. 

The coming of the Holy Spirit did not allow them to actually see Jesus; the disciples’ seeing would happen only metaphorically as they received the Spirit. The second coming does not seem likely for, although they will see him, it did not happen “in a little while” and would not counteract their feeling of abandonment as orphans.

Further, after the resurrection they will see that Jesus lives, as he says in verse 19. And because he lives, they will live. Jesus’ resurrection proves there is a resurrection unto eternal life. When they see Jesus, they will know that he lives eternally and they (and we) do also.  

Also in that day, the disciples will understand the relationship they have with Jesus and the relationship Jesus has with the Father. As Jesus is in the father, and the disciples in Jesus, Jesus will be in the disciples. Anyone who loves Jesus and keeps his word has the Father’s love in addition to the Son’s love. And both Father and Son dwell, or “make their home” with them. 

Additionally, as the Father showed the Son all things, the Son will show himself (“manifest”). 

The disciples did not understand how Jesus would manifest himself to the disciples but not to the world. (22) This is in context with the Jewish belief that Messiah would arrive in public splendor.

But we know that Jesus dwells only with believers just as the Holy Spirit does. Since the world does not know him or receive him, those of the world cannot experience this intimate relationship with Christ. And they do not want to. 

This relationship anticipates the relationship we will have with God in the new creation. Revelation 21:3 says “Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God”.