It's Better That We Have The Spirit, Than Have Jesus Physically With Us (John 14:15-30) Series

Let's start today, again, by reading from John 13:31-14:14:

(31) Then, when he had gone out, Jesus says,

"Now the Son of Man was glorified,

and God was glorified in him.

If God was glorified in him, also, God will glorify him in himself,

and immediately/at once He will glorify him.

(33) Little children, yet a little time with you, I am.

You will seek me,

and just as I said to the Judeans,

that where I am going, you aren't able to come,

also to you I say now.

(34) A new command I give you: that you love one another.

Just as I loved you, that also you shall love one another.

(35) By this all will know that my disciples you are: if love you have for one another.

(36) He says to him-- Simon Peter--

"Lord, where are you going?"

He answered-- Jesus--

"Where I am going, you aren't able, me now, to follow.

Now, you will follow later."

(37) He says to him-- Peter--

"Lord, why am I not able, you, to follow now?

My life for you I will lay down."

(38) He replied-- Jesus--

"Your life for me you will lay down?

Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will absolutely not crow until you have denied me three times."

(14:1) They must not be troubled-- your hearts.

[You] Give allegiance to God.

Also, toward me, give allegiance.

(2) In my Father's house, many rooms, there are.

Now, if not, I would've told you,

because I am going to make a place for you,

and if I go and I make a place for you, again I am coming,

and I will receive you toward myself,

in order that, where I am, also you shall be,

(4) and where I am going, you know the way."

(5) He says to him-- Thomas--

"Lord, we don't know where you are going.

How are we able, the way, to know?"

(6) He says to him-- Jesus--

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes toward the Father,

except only through me.

(7) If you had known me, also my Father, you would've known.

From now on, you know him,

and you have seen him."

(8) He says to him-- Philip--

"Lord, show us the Father,

and it is sufficient for us."

(9) He says to him-- Jesus--

"For such a long time, with you, I am,

and you haven't know me, Philip?

The one having seen me, has seen the Father.

How can you say,

'Show us the Father'?

(10) Don't you believe that I [am] in the Father,

and The Father, in me, He is"?

The words that I speak to you, from myself I don't speak.

Now, the Father in me abiding, He does his works.

(11) Believe me, that I [am] in the Father,

and the Father [is] in me.

Now, if not, because of the works themselves, believe.

(12) Truly, truly, I say to you, the one "believing"/giving allegiance to me, the works that I do, also that one, he

will do,

and greater than these things, he will do,

because I toward my Father am going,

and whatever you ask in my name, this I will do,

in order that the Father would be glorified in/through the son.

(14) If, anything, you ask me in my name, I will do it.

New stuff:

Verses 15-17:

(15) If you love me, my commands you will keep,

(16) and I will ask the Father,

and another Advocate/Helper He will give to you,

in order that he may be with you forever--

(17) the Spirit of truth,

whom the world isn't able to receive

because it doesn't see him,

nor does it know [him].

You know him,

because with you (plural) he abides,

and in you (plural) he will be.

When you come to Jesus, there is a cluster of discipleship verbs that are involved in that. It's not just about "believing in" Jesus, or "believing that" certain things are true about Jesus. It includes that, but it's more than that. It's also about "coming toward" Jesus, and "abiding in" Jesus, and "confessing" Jesus (John 12:42-43) and serving Jesus, and following Jesus (John 12:26).

Here, we add to our cluster of discipleship verbs. Part of what it means to be Jesus' disciples, is to love Jesus.

But how do you know if you love Jesus? What does it look like to love him? Jesus says, you can tell if you love him, because you keep his commands. Loving Jesus, and obeying Jesus, go hand in hand.

And when we think about what Jesus has commanded in the gospel of John, it's not very complicated. Jesus' commands are straightforward: You die to yourself, and live for Jesus as his disciple (John 12:25). And, second, you serve and love each other-- the people in this room (John 13:14, 34-35). If you truly love Jesus, this is what you will do.