JOHN 14: 25-31
THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT
[Philippians 4: 6-7]
This section continues to prepare Jesus’ disciples for His departure and its consequences for them. The consequences of Jesus’ departure are not to be sorrowful but a release of blessings. For unless Jesus leaves the Spirit of God will not come to indwell true believers in Jesus.
This promise of the Paraclete brings further clarity to the role of the Spirit, since now He is described specifically as the “Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the interpreter of God to us and the One who brings God’s peace to us. Jesus’ parting words of the coming of the Spirit let us know He will be with us to lead, guide, and help us throughout our life. The disciples should thus rejoice at their coming blessing, not sorrow at their present loss.
I. THE TEACHING SPIRIT, 25-26.
II. THE SPIRIT OF PEACE, 27-28.
III. THE SPIRIT OF REJOICING, 29-31.
Jesus knew that He must be the One to disclose the teachings of this section on the work of the Spirit so that they would not be discounted by man as verse 25 infers. “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.
What Jesus did and said in the days of His earthly ministry was only partially understood. Though they did not understand His teachings, it needed to be the Lord Jesus who revealed them. Three things were needed for the apostles to understand Jesus’ person, words, and mission. (1) He had to die for them. (2) He had to rise again to vindicate His claim and demonstrate His victory. (3) The Spirit had to come and interpret the meanings of Jesus’ words and deeds. [Walvoord & Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 323.]
Jesus emphasizes the teaching and prompting role of the Spirit in verse 26. “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 said to you.
Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them & help them remember His teachings. [The context limits the “all things” to the interpretation and significance of His person and work.] The Spirit worked in their minds, reminding them of His teaching and giving them insight into its meaning (2:22; 7:39; 20:9).
The emphasizes is on the teaching and remembering role or function of the Spirit. [The concept of “remembering” occurs multiple times in John (2:17, 22; 12:16; 14:26; 15:20; 16:4, 21).] During the earthly ministry of Jesus, understanding was difficult. Jesus now promises that the Spirit-Paraclete will recall the things He has done and said and fix them in their minds and help them understand them.
[The Holy Spirit helped the disciples remember without taking away their individual perspective. We thus can be confident that the Gospels are accurate records of what Jesus taught and did (1 Cor. 2:10-14). [Application Bible, 1912]]
The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way. The Holy Spirit and the Word work together to give us correct meanings for what Jesus did in history and correct applications as to what we should believe and do today. As we study the Bible we can trust the Spirit to implant the truth in our heart and mind, convince us of God’s will and remind us when we stray from it. Alexander MacLaren said, “He who has the Holy Spirit in His heart and the Scripture in his hands has all he needs.”
Note that Jesus calls the Spirit Holy. The purity of God sets Him apart and He sets apart for God those who obey Him. Also note that the Father sent the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. The Spirit is God’s officially delegated representative who will act in Jesus’ behalf. He will make Christ real to His followers. [Expositor’s Bible Com. John, Tenney, 148] If Christ is not real enough to you, you need to being listening to the Spirit speak to you through His Word.
II. THE SPIRIT OF PEACE, 27-28.
Verse 27 tell us of Jesus’ gift of peace. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
In New Testament times the normal way to say good-bye was Peace (šālôm). In His death Jesus provided a legacy for His disciples: My peace I give you. They would have “peace with God” (Rom. 5:1) because their sins were forgiven and the “peace of God” (Phil. 4:7) would guard their lives. Jesus’ shalom brings an end to the brokenness and separation caused by sin. Nothing in the world can offer such a gift. The world false peace comes from blinding us to our peril or blinding us with our pride. It’s unable to give this shalom kind of peace that allows us to face the stark realities of life in calm assurance. Even the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15) and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him and live in the fruit of the Spirit (20:19, 21, 26). Thus they need not be troubled ( John 11:33; 13:21; 14:1).
The ultimate outcome of the work of the Holy Spirit in our life is deep and lasting peace. Unlike the lack of conflict which the world calls peace. It is something deeper and far more lasting. It is a peace in the heart and mind which banishes anxiety and fear. Jesus’ peace is confident assurance and calm in any circumstance. With Christ’s peace we don’t fear the present or future. If your life is full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ’s peace (Phil. 4:6-7).
[There are times when our peace is based upon ignorance, but when we awaken to the facts of life, inner peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus. It is a peace which comes from looking into His face and realizing His undisturbedness.
Are you painfully disturbed just now, distracted by the waves and billows of God’s providential permission? Is your faith providing peace or joy or comfort or is all barren? Then look up and receive the undisturbedness of the Lord Jesus. Peace is the proof that you are right with God because you can turn your mind to Him. If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself. If you allow anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you, you are either disturbed or you have a false security.
Are you looking to Jesus now, in the matter that is pressing and receiving from Him peace? If so, He will be peace in and through you. But if you try to worry it out, you obliterate Him and deserve all you get. We get disturbed because we have not been considering Him.
When one confers with Jesus Christ the perplexity goes, because He has no perplexity, and our only concern is to abide in Him. Lay it all out before Him, and in the face of difficulty, bereavement and sorrow, hear Him say, "Let not your heart be troubled."]
Many of our troubles occur because we fail to take counsel from the Holy Spirit and the Bible. Instead of first praying and seeking guidance, we act and then ask God to bless our actions. We must learn the lesson continually that effective Christian living is totally dependent upon the Holy Spirit’s leadership in our lives. We must have a willingness to be directed and controlled by Him. When vital decisions must be made, the Holy Spirit can open the Scriptures to us and illuminate our minds. By this faithful guidance of the Holy Spirit, we come to love and follow the will of God for our daily life.
[The peace of Jesus weathers the storms of life. The great eagle sees the storm coming, but he does not try to evade it. He stretches his wings wider, and the wind that would have destroyed him now lifts him higher than he was before. This is the peace Christ brings to every child of His. Pray that God will give you the peace to weather the storms of your life today.]
[Tense? Uptight? Stressed out? Well, friend, just let me tell you what an enterprising real estate company promises to do for you: "Leave the frustrations of the city behind," the newspaper advertisement says. "Nestled beside the sea, yet freeway close, this charming village is the answer to your dreams. You’ll never be lonely again. Perfect security. You’ll be watched over day and night by our competent, faithful guard service. Restful nights guaranteed." Wow! What a deal!
I wonder how that realtor plans to guarantee restful nights to asthma sufferers, parents with colicky babies, the spouses of problem drinkers, people with guilt-ridden consciences and poor souls whose insides are dying of loneliness?
The realtor can’t really deliver the goods; not for any amount of money. That’s because restfulness isn’t a place; it’s a relationship. An intimate relationship with Him, who said, " My peace I give you. "
Ask Him to give you rest-in body, mind and spirit.]
In verse 28 Jesus again reminds them He is returning to the Father. “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
If the disciples had been more mature in their love for Jesus, they would have been glad for His departure and return to the Father. The Spirit and His accompanying gifts could only come with the fulfillment of the gospel and the victorious departure of Jesus. To receive the Father’s gifts on earth is great blessing. To return to live at the right hand of the Giver is beyond comprehension.
Jesus would leave His earthly humiliation and by going back to the Father He would be exalted in glory (13:31-32), and the Father would send His Spirit to indwell His people. If they loved Him, meaning if they wanted the best for Him, they would rejoice because of the reuniting of Jesus with the Father.
Arians and Jehovah’s Witnesses argue from the statement, The Father is greater than I, that Jesus is a lesser god. But this would make Jesus a created being or would lead to polytheism, both of which are clearly unbiblical. The Father and the Son share the same essence (1:1-2; 14:9; 20:28). The Father and the Son are “One” in purpose and essence (10:30). The Father was greater in office or glory than the Son was in His emptying or humiliation (Phil. 2:6-8). “Lesser” status refers to Jesus’ humanity limited in His Incarnation. The incarnation required a certain subordination of Jesus to the Father. By operating under the Father’s authority and fulfilling the Father’s commands, Jesus set the example of submission for His followers. True love would recognize this voluntarily submission.
III. THE SPIRIT OF REJOICING, 29-31.
Jesus prophesied His departure and the coming of the Spirit to encourage the disciples faith in verse 29. “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
Fulfilled prophecy is a great comfort and support to believers (Isa. 46:8-10). Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection many times (Mark 8:31-32; 9:31). When Jesus’ suffering and death came to pass it would shake their faith to its foundations. Yet after their initial shock, because of Jesus preparation for these events, it would greatly help their faith. “They will trust their Master all the more when they see His words verified.” [John, NIC, Morris, 659]
Not only should the disciples take comfort and rejoice because Jesus is returning to His origin (and then sending gifts), but they should realize that the events unfolding in Jerusalem for Him are not controlled by Satan. Verse 30, “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;
The reason for Jesus ceasing His teaching is the coming of Satan. His teaching time was now limited because Satan, the prince of this world (John 12:31; 16:11), was moving his forces against Jesus through Judas (13:2, 27). Jesus did not fear Satan because Satan had no hold or claim on Jesus. Why? Because Jesus was perfectly obedient to the Father. Disobedience is sin. Sin leads to death (Rom. 5:12, 21a; 6:16), and sin and death give Satan a hold over people (Heb. 2:14-15; Rev. 12:10). But since Jesus is sinless, Satan cannot claim Him for his kingdom of darkness. Satan thought Jesus’ death was a victory for him, but actually it was Jesus’ victory over Satan (John 16:11; Col. 2:15). Jesus’ vindication and the discrediting of the ruler of this world before all the spiritual entities of the universe is about to be accomplished.
If we love Jesus and obey His Word Satan will have no power over us either. If We walk in the Spirit we can live in Christ’s victory over Satan also.
Jesus says in verse 31 that His obedience to the Father is motivated by His love for Him. but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.
Because Jesus loves the Father, He did exactly what the Father . . . commanded (John 10:18; 12:49-50). Jesus’ obedience was so perfect it included being “obedient to death” (Phil. 2:8). Jesus was going to be obedient to the Father’s purposes no matter what it might cost Him personally.
[Jesus then said, Come now; let us leave. Jesus had been with the disciples in the Upper Room. He now prepared to go to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Whether Jesus’ words in John 15-17 were spoken in the room or on the way to the garden is uncertain, but probably they were given in the room. [Walvoord & Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 323.]
[Since Jesus teaches for three more chapters some suggest that we should take the text as it is. Jesus leave the room at 14:31, so that the words spoken in chapters 15 – 17 take place en route to the Kidron Valley. Perhaps Jesus even enters the temple and sees the golden vines on the temple gates, which then inspire his discourse in chapter 15. [Burge, Gary. NIV Application Commentary, John, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 2000, 402]
CONCLUSION
To receive Jesus, to “have Jesus in your heart,” is to experience the Spirit dwelling within. The work of the Spirit-Paraclete is to bring into our hearts the ongoing life and presence of Jesus.
Is the Spirit teaching you the Word? Is He recalling it to your mind as you walk through life? Do you experience His deep abiding peace? Even in distressing situations?
Don’t miss out on this great gift of the Spirit-lead life. Fully surrender you life to Jesus today.
