Sermon Central
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That You Might Believe.
Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jan 19, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Jesus faces His destiny.
THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE.
John 14:27-31.
Jesus reiterated: “Let not your heart be troubled,” and He added, “neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27b).
*Well, why should the disciples not let their heart be troubled: after all, Jesus kept saying He was going away? Jesus did not deny saying this, but He added: “If you loved Me you would rejoice because I said I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I” (John 14:28).
As touching His Godhead, Jesus had taught earlier, ‘I and the Father are One’ (cf. John 10:30). But here He says, “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28c). This is the mystery of the incarnation, the Word becoming flesh (cf. John 1:14).
Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be selfishly held on to, but ‘emptied Himself’ and took on the form of a servant (cf. Philippians 2:6-7). This was a temporary situation, so Jesus’ going back to the Father (John 14:28) was a good thing, because then He could resume ‘the glory which (He) had with (the Father) before the world was’ (cf. John 17:5).
“I have told you all this before it takes place,” Jesus said, in effect, “so that when it happens you might believe” (John 14:29). Which is right where this chapter began (John 14:1).
*As we draw to the end of this wonderful chapter, we see something of the sinlessness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Only the man Christ Jesus could ever say, “the prince of this world cometh, AND HATH NOTHING IN ME” (John 14:30). When the devil assaults any of the rest of us, even the ‘best’ of us outside of Christ, he finds plenty to grasp a hold of. Jesus alone is found to be the spotless “Lamb of God” that “taketh away the sin of the world” (cf. John 1:29).
The momentary surrender of Jesus into the hands of His nemesis is a part of Jesus’ obedience to the Father, arising first from His love to the Father (John 14:31) – but also from His love to us. “Arise, let us go hence” (John 14:31) introduces the idea that Jesus is going out to meet his destiny, and invites the disciples to go along with Him.
