[0:00] Love Him is active and not just hearsay.
[0:10] It's not something we pay lip service to. That is to say, I show my love for God by following His commands. Similarly, I try, keyword try, to show my love for my wife by making her breakfast, just as one of many examples.
[0:35] And it's something I need to continue to do. Not only to show my love to her, but also to stay married to her, of course. And just as I need to continue to show my love for Janelle, the disciples' love needs to happen now and continue on.
[0:55] It does not stop. The disciples do not stop loving Jesus. The aspect of love has been added from verse 12, which Phil touched on last week, which was, Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works I do.
[1:18] Now look back at verse 15, which reads, If you love me, you'll keep my commands. Do the works I do, in verse 12, is equivalent in meaning to keep my commands.
[1:35] It's a continuous act. Do the works I do. It means keep doing it. But there's an additional motive for doing these works.
[1:46] And that's love. It doesn't stop when God's not around. Because love involves keeping his commandments.
[1:58] And we find out what his commandments are by reading the Bible. God's word. And that's where we find where all Jesus' commandments are recorded.
[2:11] And let me encourage you to do this, to keep doing this. But given that he was speaking to the disciples, what must the disciples have been thinking?
[2:24] How are we going to keep all these commands? There's so many of them. How are we going to love Jesus when he's gone? Jesus himself allays all these fears when he says these words in verse 16.
[2:41] And I will ask the Father and he will give you another advocate to be with you forever. Jesus, knowing that the world is hostile to him, is going to ask the Father to give them a helper who will be with them forever to help them obey his commands.
[3:05] In essence, one who has the spirit is one who genuinely and sincerely loves Jesus and keeps his commandments. That, my friends, describes the life of a Christian.
[3:19] But what or who is the spirit? Let's have a look at verse 17. This is the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him.
[3:33] You know him because he abides with you and he will be in you. It is the spirit of truth that's described here.
[3:45] Jesus tells us that the world cannot receive it because it neither sees him or knows him. Let me explain what that means. The world in this context and generally throughout other parts of the Bible refers to those who do not believe in Jesus and in fact have actually rebelled against him.
[4:07] Conversely, he is saying that the disciples are special because they have the spirit and it is in a personal way that the disciples have the spirit.
[4:24] They know him. The spirit walks with him. The spirit goes hand in hand with all that they do for God and is in them. The spirit that Jesus asks the Father to send will always be with the disciples for this reason.
[4:43] That they will be able to keep the commands of Jesus with love. Let me say that again. The reason being that they will be able to keep the commandments of Jesus with love.
[4:58] Therefore, it is only with the help of the spirit that those who know and love Jesus can keep his commands and love him. But it's not easy.
[5:09] Though the disciples followed Jesus everywhere, it is only through the spirit that they were able to keep Jesus' commands when he went to be with his Father. Two thousand years later, it's still not easy.
[5:26] In fact, it's even harder. And again, the same principle applies. It is only through the Holy Spirit that those who love Jesus can keep his commands.
[5:42] Previously, Jesus had been speaking about his departure. And now in verse 18, he resumes his discussion on this subject when he says, I will not leave you orphaned.
[5:53] I am coming to you. Jesus reassures them that he will not be alone. Leave them alone, let alone orphaned. The concept of being orphaned is significant because in the times when these great words were written, it referred to a slave-master relationship where the master leaves the slaves and leaves them to fend for themselves.
[6:20] It sounds like people who are looking after children who just walk out of them, walk out on them and leave them to fend for themselves.
[6:33] It's heartless. It's cruel. But Jesus was not going to leave the disciples to fend for themselves. He was not going to be heartless.
[6:45] He was not going to be cruel. He was going to be there to help them. But he then says, I am coming to you.
[6:56] But how? He says he's going to leave them, but then come to them. If I was one of the disciples, I'd be rather confused at this point. He's going to leave as in die.
[7:10] But then he says he's going to come back. Jesus tells us how in verse 19 when he says to the disciples, In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me.
[7:25] Let me try and explain what Jesus is saying here. The first part is a reference to Jesus' death. Jesus reminds the disciples that he's going. The world does not know Jesus in this context in the sense that they would only know him as a human being.
[7:42] Whereas the disciples know him as God's son and their saviour. And Jesus acknowledges the depth of their relationship in the second part of that verse which reads, But you will see me.
[8:00] How they are going to see him is the disciples' question. Could it be when the Holy Spirit comes? Possibly.
[8:10] Because this section introduces the coming of the Holy Spirit. Is it the second coming? No, because at this point Jesus hasn't gone yet. So that leaves the resurrection.
[8:23] Because in the first part of this verse Jesus is talking about his death. And secondly, in John 20 verse 19 and following, he appears, he comes back again and he appears only to the disciples after the resurrection.
[8:40] The disciples will see the bodily resurrected Jesus in the flesh. The last part of verse 19 Jesus says, Because I live, you will also live.
[8:56] Therefore, because of the resurrection, the disciples will also have life. This verse is a reminder of Jesus' words earlier in John when he says, I am the resurrection and the life.
[9:10] He who believes in me will live a new life. In other words, what Jesus is saying here to the disciples is this, Because I have risen, there is life.
[9:23] Because you believe, you will also have life. Jesus brought them and asked them to walk in him and with him.
[9:36] And they responded by believing in him. And as a result, the disciples, as well as those who are his now, have a close, personal relationship with him.
[9:49] How close and personal it is, is described in verse 20. On that day, you will know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.
[10:01] So what's happening here? Christ will be in his Father. So we have Christ in his Father. To illustrate this, it would be as if you've had three hands.
[10:14] The disciples in Christ, I'll use my watch to symbolise the disciples, and Jesus in the disciples. So there's all three working together closely as one unit.
[10:27] inside us. And it's symbolic of the closeness of Jesus with his people. And also shows because of Jesus, we can be with God and God can be with us on earth.
[10:45] This is great because while we're on earth here, Jesus and God together will always be with us. And boy, that's exciting. And what's the sign that Jesus is in the disciples?
[10:58] And what's the sign all of us here can look out for that someone is following Jesus? Look at verse 21. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me.
[11:13] And those who love me will be loved by my Father. And I will love them and reveal myself to them. Those who are in me love me.
[11:26] That's Jesus' message to the disciples. He goes back to the concept of love he mentioned in verse 15. But it's added something else. They're able to love because he's in them.
[11:45] Not only will Jesus continue to love the disciples, he will reveal himself to them. It is this revealing of himself that prompts Judas, who is James' brother and not the one who betrayed Jesus, to ask of Jesus in verse 22.
[12:06] Lord, how is it you will reveal yourself to us and not the world? Jesus' answer comes in verses 23 to 24. Those who love me will keep my word and my Father will love them and we will come to them and make our home with them.
[12:25] Whoever does not love me does not keep my words and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me. In essence, Jesus will come to those who love him and keep his word.
[12:41] He explains that by loving him, he will love us. And why do we love him? Because he first loved us in the words of 1 John 4.
[12:54] By loving Jesus, he and the Father will come and make their home in the disciples. In other words, those who reject Jesus will not have the Father living in them.
[13:07] The world won't know him but his disciples will. The key in this section is why the Spirit is sent and that's Jesus' love for us.
[13:19] It's a love that is centred on God's word. Jesus showing love to the disciples and them loving him. It's easy for them to love Jesus and his teaching while he's there to support them and especially given to the opposition to Jesus that was around at the time.
[13:40] Jesus is loved and was sent by his Father, a point Jesus constantly makes in the Gospel of John. It's a point that symbolises who he's representing and who he is.
[13:54] That is God. He shows his love to the disciples by not leaving them alone when he leaves. He does this by sending the Spirit to help them to love him, to obey his commands that are found in his word.
[14:12] It is the Spirit of Truth that helps us to love others as Jesus wants us to. It is this same Spirit of Truth that helps us to love Jesus the way he wants us to.
[14:24] I really wish that all in the world would come to know the Jesus I love. Not only is it the Jesus of the Bible but it's the Jesus that has changed my life from one who rebelled against him through apathy and bad language to one that loves him.
[14:45] And for that I am forever thankful. And I hope and pray that I will continue to show my thankfulness by following his word, showing his love for him and encouraging others to show their love for him as well.
[15:02] After answering Judas' question in verses 23 and 24 he goes back to the fact that he is going which he alludes to in verse 25. I have said these things to you while I am still with you.
[15:18] The phrase these things is a reference to verses 9 to 24. But what could be going on in the disciples' minds? Are they wondering why he has to keep reminding them that he is going?
[15:32] Are they that slow that they need this constant reminder? And the disciples just thinking as Jesus is speaking how are we going to remember all that he said?
[15:45] Is it because he loves us? Why is he saying all these things? What are you preparing us for? Well the answer to that question about preparation comes in verse 26 when it says, but the advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name.
[16:07] He is preparing us for the arrival of the Holy Spirit. We see here another and the most common description of the advocate here, the Holy Spirit.
[16:19] the use of the word holy here is significant as holy means set apart. But the Holy Spirit is set apart for whom?
[16:35] Well in verse 17 we see these words because it neither sees him nor knows him. The it in verse 17 refers to the world and it doesn't sound like the spirit of truth or the Holy Spirit was set apart for those who disobeyed him.
[16:55] But he is set apart for those who know him. Why? Because the spirit abides with you just like Jesus and he will be in you.
[17:09] The Holy Spirit of truth was set apart for those who are disciples of Christ. And boy for all of us here that's great news. The disciples especially should be comforted by this.
[17:22] That even though Jesus is going he is going to send someone the Holy Spirit who will teach them everything and remind them of all that Jesus has said to them.
[17:37] It is through the Holy Spirit arriving that we see some of the disciples that they're brilliant best. Especially Peter throughout his speeches in the book of Acts.
[17:48] And what is the Spirit going to do for the disciples anxiety when he goes? We see the answer in verse 27 when he says peace I leave you my peace I give to you I do not give to you as the world gives.
[18:07] He says this because the only way the Holy Spirit can come will be when he goes. more importantly Jesus' departure will enable them to trust in the Spirit that he sends.
[18:24] And as a result the peace he leaves them is the peace that the Holy Spirit will bring to their hearts. The peace he brings is not going to be the peace of the warring lands which is what the world in this context thinks peace will be.
[18:41] It will be a peace that brings comfort to them that alleviates their own internal anxieties as stated in the second part of verse 27 which reads do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let your hearts be afraid.
[18:58] Jesus does not want them to be concerned about the fact that he is departing. He wants them to be concerned about following his commands with love. So much so that he is sending the Holy Spirit to be with them so that his word is spread wherever it goes or wherever they go.
[19:19] In this section he may have told them this to alleviate any sort of anxiety but in verse 28 he again reminds them that he's going but adds they are to rejoice because he is going.
[19:35] But how can the disciples rejoice when the one they are close to and have lived in or lived with day and night hour and upon hour for three great years he's going to leave them.
[19:49] How will they grieve in this situation? It's only with the help of the Holy Spirit that they can do this. But they can also rejoice in the fact that their friend Jesus is going.
[20:09] Have a look at verse 2 of John 14. It says in my father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
[20:26] The disciples are able to rejoice because Jesus is going to prepare a place for them, his disciples. Imagine that. Jesus leaving this earth to prepare a place for his disciples who believe in him, near his father.
[20:46] Boy that's exciting for the disciples but it's not just exciting for the disciples it's exciting for those who are believers in Christ. The simple fact that Jesus is preparing a place for his believers is exciting.
[21:01] exciting for us and exciting for the disciples but they can also rejoice for Christ who is going to be with his father.
[21:13] So there's mutual rejoicing between both the disciples and all the disciples and Jesus. And he told them this for this reason that when all this happens being Jesus' death and resurrection that they may truly believe in Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
[21:36] And once these words occurred and happened many actually believed. In fact in Acts 2 it says that 3,000 believed in one day because of these words.
[21:48] When Jesus spoke it happened. His way and the way he said. the disciples response must be belief in Jesus.
[22:02] And he gives them an indication they need to believe rather quickly as in verse 30 he says I will no longer talk much with you because the ruler of the world is coming.
[22:18] The devil is coming through Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus and assist in his crucifixion on the cross. Not only to take the punishment for our rebellion against him but also to enable the Holy Spirit to come.
[22:33] But he also says that this ruler that is coming has no power over him because he's doing as the Father commanded. Jesus here is showing his love for the Father.
[22:49] Wow. He's giving up his life because his father said to. That's amazing. How many of us would do that for our fathers?
[23:01] Give up our lives because they said to. I know I would and I wouldn't but I don't think I'm alone. but just as he commanded the disciples to show their love for him Jesus models this in the most significant way by dying for his people so that the world knows that he loves the Father.
[23:24] In other words Jesus' words aren't hearsay. He's in fact modelling what he expects of the disciples knowing that he's going to be crucified by obeying the Father, his Father.
[23:36] our love for Jesus involves our whole life. Not just the teeny little bit. Not just the time we're spending here.
[23:47] Not just the time we spend at another service. Not just the time that we're reading our Bibles. But the whole lot. Now that may seem a hard battle on our own.
[23:59] It's still a hard battle in the environment we live in today. But that battle has been made easy with the help of the Holy Spirit if and only if we trust in the Holy Spirit to help us.
[24:16] Therefore Jesus loved us so much that he gave his whole life for us. Our only response is to do the same. In this passage not only have we had the first mention of someone coming after Jesus we have also had a mention of the attitude that the disciples need to have when they follow Jesus and that's love.
[24:42] And we show that love by obeying the commands of Jesus. Jesus recognises that in this hostile world that this is not going to be easy.
[24:53] So he sends him the Holy Spirit to help his disciples then and now but only to obey his commands but to comfort them when he leaves.
[25:06] Only the great Christian God has sent someone to help us to obey his commands with love. No other religion can boast that fact. He's the one to obey no other God.
[25:20] And not only that he comforts us in doing so. And how does he do that? Through the sending of his Holy Spirit whom he sent out of love for his people.
[25:33] Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the love you have for us.
[25:44] We thank you that you loved us so much that not only did you die and rise again from the cross, that you gave us your Holy Spirit to help us to obey you.
[26:00] Father, I pray that all of us will get to know you. And we ask the Spirit to help all of us to get to know you. And we pray this in your Son's great name.
[26:12] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.