Will be finishing John chapter 14 today. We get right into our study beginning with John 14:22.
The conversation takes a turn when Judas, not Iscariot, asked Jesus to clarify a point of curiosity. Why disclose his true identity to the disciples, and not the world?
J Vernon McGee points out that this particular Judas is only mentioned here. He may be known and other listings of the disciples as Bartholomew.
Regardless of who he was, he asked the profound question, what happened? Why are we different than the world? Why do we know you, and they do not? What’s the condition, or qualification that makes believers special?
Jesus repeats himself, and tells him it’s all contained in that love relationship that draws us to keep his commands. Obedience to the commands as a tangible proof of the depth of our internal, intangible measure of love for him.\
Again, Jesus states the resulting benefit. The father will love him. The father and Jesus will come to him. The divine will all abide together with men.
The world here’s the same words of Jesus that believers do. Even though they hear, they do not love him. They do not obey his commands. Some may play down the role or authority of Jesus. It’s easy to ignore, deny, or disobey someone who is perceived as a loving pushover.
But the commands Jesus gives to the world are not from them alone. Countless times he said that he does only what the father shows him. He says only the things that the father tells him to say. He taught that the commands that he follows are the commands that God himself has set forth. Not a jot or tittle will pass away until heaven and earth pass away. He came to fulfill the law, not abolish the law.
In this brief discourse, Jesus is not taught his disciples anything new. This is the type of thing he has continuously taught them their entire time with him.
Jesus again assures his disciples. Although he needs to leave them in bodily form. They will be given his spirit to teach them in the future. A spirit that will lead, guide, illumine and call to remembrance the things that were taught during his time with them. Times that they experienced, but that we currently have in the form of Scripture.
Jesus wanted to leave them with peace. Not the turmoil and uncertainty of orphans. Not just any kind of peace, but his peace. Not the peace of the world, which may be temporary, or have strings attached, or be of lesser quality. Jesus did not want their hearts to be troubled at all, even though troubling times were shortly ahead. He wanted them to have peace, and not fear in their heart. Even though terrifying times were shortly coming.
Earlier, the disciples had been troubled when Jesus told them he was going away, and they couldn’t follow. They would indeed experience troubling moments before Jesus came back to them. Jesus assures them that if they knew the outcome they would be overjoyed.
Paying the price for sin, and experiencing God’s wrath is probably the most troubling thing imaginable. Without it, no one would be able to experience the joy of being with Christ forever.
Jesus again states he is sharing this prophetic word, so after the experience the ordeal they will remember. He didn’t want the horror or shock of his crucifixion to shake their faith.
time is short. The ruler of this world, Satan, is about to have his day. There will be no room for forgiveness for Satan and his fallen angels in the kingdom of Christ.
God commands. Jesus does it. Does the world really see and understand Jesus’ obedience? Does the world know and understand that his obedience was a victory, or do they see it as a loss? At any rate, it was time to move on from the upper room.
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