Bible Study Notes - John 14:15-31

Bible Study Notes  - John 14:15-31

This week, we continue our study in the gospel of John, “Encountering Jesus.”  In this passage, Jesus continues comforting His disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit who is a Teacher, Counselor, Comforter, Helper and Friend to all disciples.  We will discuss thoroughly the Person and role of the Holy Spirit in the Church today.  Defining the character and workings of the Holy Spirit creates tremendous controversy in many church circles.  Let’s seek the Holy Spirit for revelation and clarification.

This lesson on the Holy Spirit follows Jesus prediction of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial not to mention the forthcoming desertion by the remaining disciples.  Those two dastardly events foreshadow Jesus’ death on a cross which will inaugurate the kingdom of God after the resurrection.  Preconditioned psychologically and historically to expect a Messiah in the image of King David, the disciples retain their expectations of a militaristic and warrior Savior who will liberate Israel from the Gentile rulers of Rome who continue to subjugate, exploit and oppress them.  In the corners of their minds, the disciples patiently harbor dreams of positions in the new government which they believe Jesus will implement once the final revolution occurs imminently.  They do not understand the kingdom which Jesus came to establish.  In this final meal with them, He reassures them that He will not leave them alone.  Actually, His death will be an ironic blessing as it will enable the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Meanwhile, they maintain their literal expectations and hopes about a new political and economic regime which will restore Israel to her former days of glory during the reigns of David and Solomon.  Lovingly, Jesus prepares them for the tremendous loss He knows they will experience.  He tells them He will send a Friend, Helper, Comforter and Counselor who will lead them.

Contemporarily, debates about the Person and purpose of the Holy Spirit threaten to divide the Church.  These arguments substantially undermine the evangelistic mission of the Church; as disciples fight with each other, we are unable to fulfill “The Great Commission.”  Some denominations adhere to a traditional teaching that a believer receives the Holy Spirit upon baptism.  Others insist the impartation of the Holy Spirit occurs subsequent to a salvific experience as a new believer asks for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Yet, others teach the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” is a separate event; its surest evidence is the practice of “speaking in tongues.”  Mostly, adherents of these myriad doctrinal camps appeal to the Pauline (1 Corinthians 12 and 14) and Lucan (Acts) traditions to support their claims.  However, emphasizing those New Testament passages overlooks the very important Johannine teachings about the Person of the Holy Spirit.  John chapters fourteen, fifteen and sixteen (14, 15 and 16) contain very important information about the Holy Spirit.  I strongly recommend we juxtapose these three definitive strands of New Testament teaching about the Person of the Holy Spirit.

Pastor David Yonggi Cho reminds us in his numerous books that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity.  He suggests we establish a vibrant and daily relationship with the Holy Spirit similar to the investment we make in any other relationship.  Cho suspects many disciples lose the power and access to the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit because they objectify Him as a doctrine, goal or experience.  Rather, John teaches us that the Spirit leads and guides into all truth.  As we more rightly relate to Him, the Holy Spirit graciously reveals divine wisdom and knowledge for our daily living.

Consider the following thoughts, ideas and questions as you study this passage.

·         John 14:15 expands the new law of love.  Jesus says “If you love me, you will obey what I command.”  Love compels obedience, truth, respect, integrity, honesty and justice which are the enduring principles of Christianity.  Correct doctrine can never coerce anyone allegiance.  “Where there is love, there is no burden.”  Love surmounts adversities, expense, time, challenge and all other impediments.  It is simply amazing what we do for people whom we genuinely love.  It is equally amazing the barriers we overcome when we commit to someone or something.  Our wholehearted love defeats any difficulties in order to enrich the lives of the people whom we love.  Accordingly, Jesus teaches His disciples that their love for Him will enable them to adhere to the principles of His teachings.  Knowledge of traditional religious beliefs will not compel their obedience any more than it did for the Pharisees and Sadducees.  More practically, love for one’s spouse compels fidelity rather than moral obligations or state laws.  Genuine love makes a person obey his or her marital vows.

·         In John 14:16, Jesus characterizes the Holy Spirit as a Counselor who will be with us forever.  William Barclay translates this word as “Consultant.”  Pragmatically, the Holy Spirit abides constantly with us as He gives to us the most excellent counsel of any superlative attorney or the enduring wisdom of an older, more experienced and knowledgeable senior colleague.

·         In the next verse, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit or Truth.”  He guides us toward the truth in every situation.  He helps us navigate the complexity of the “truth” we understand and experience.  Ultimately, the Holy Spirit leads us toward divine truth as the Lord reveals His “good, pleasing and perfect will” in our daily lives.  The correctness of divine truth depends heavily upon the relationship we cultivate with the Holy Spirit. 

·         Moreover, the “Spirit of truth” guides us toward the fulfillment of Scripture, the revealed Word of God.  His revelation of “Truth” equally honors and glorifies the Name and character of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

·         The dominant culture of secular humanism, Darwinian science and empirical technology belittles any notions of divine revelation.  Jesus encourages the disciples to ignore the cacophony of doubt, suspicion and cynicism which surround them.  The carnal person cannot comprehend the values, actions and choices of a spiritual man.

·         In a most comforting manner, Jesus reassures the disciples “I will not leave you as orphans.”  He remains with them in the Person of the Holy Spirit.  His physical absence will not end their relationship.  The emergence of the Holy Spirit actually extends it.  In death, we grieve partially because we fear we have lost the love, creativity, legacy, laughter, and essence of a loved one or friend forever.  It is difficult to accept that we will not see them again.  We long to be with them.  We would like to pick up where the last conversation ended.  The sheer thought that we cannot do so greatly bewilders us.  Knowing this potentially paralyzing pain, Jesus prepares the disciples for His departure by promising the gift of the Holy Spirit who resides within them. 

·         Further, He says “I will come to you.”  The Spirit reminds them of Jesus.  Through the Spirit, they can feel the presence and love of Jesus.  This relationship transcends the limitations of human memory which fades with each day as a person struggles to recall the actual voice and mannerisms of a deceased loved one or friend.  The Holy Spirit supernaturally reminds the disciples of Jesus as if He were in their actual presence.  They shall not be alone as if they were fatherless and motherless.

·         The Holy Spirit seals the disciples’ relationship with Jesus and enables them to relate directly to the Father through the Son.  As Jesus is in the Father and the disciples are in Him, they then are connected rightly and directly to the Father.  This “triangular” relationship reminds me of an elementary algebraic equation.  If a = b and b = c, then a = c.

·         In the twenty-first verse, Jesus returns to the necessity of demonstrating their love through faithful obedience to His commands.  It is not possible to insist upon your love of Him if you consistently ignore and disobey His commands.  Being a “Christian” is a lifestyle not a label.  Integrity in thought and action is the determining factor as to whether one is a Christian or not.  The new command which Jesus imparts to the disciples earlier during “The Last Supper” is “love one another.”  He says the world will know His true disciples by the love they share toward and with each other.  Religious adherence to Jesus’ teachings will not endure.  Love of Him will compel disciples to share their time, talent, treasure and temperament with seekers in order that they may know Christ’s unconditional and unfailing love.

·         Love of Jesus through practical, pragmatic and purposeful obedience yields the love of the Father.  Sons-in-laws and daughters-in-law who exhibit genuinely love for their spouses usually attain the love of their spouses’ parents. 

·         A few verses later, Jesus straightforwardly declares “He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.”  The Lord concludes the Sermon on the Mount with a stern warning against people who praise Him with their lips but whose hearts do not love Him.  With the interim of more than two millennia, this exhortation remains as relevant today as when Jesus originally issued it.  He cautions twenty-first century disciples against the fallacy of believing an orthodox doctrine which creates a warm, fuzzy feeling in the heart suffices for authentic Christian faith.  Likewise, it is superfluous to think occasional good deeds on a collective level negate personal moral failures and libertinism.  Again, symmetry of principles and practice resulting in faithful adherence to Christ’s teachings is necessary to undergird anyone’s profession of faith.

·         Jesus reminds the disciples that His teachings originate from the Heavenly Father who sends Jesus into the world to reveal and reflect perfectly the Father’s image and love (Colossians 1:15-20, John 1:1-18, I John 1:1-4 and Luke 1:1-4).  The Incarnation establishes a final and new covenant as the totality of the ones with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon and the Law was insufficient to obtain humankind’s fidelity and obedience.

·         The twenty-fifth is a reminder relating to the three and a half years of “the Jesus seminar” which the disciples enjoyed amidst Jesus’ public ministry.  The traditional Passover Seder from the night of the Exodus to the celebration of “The Last Supper” was utilized to remind Israel that Almighty God kept His promise relating to her liberation from four hundred and fifty years of Egyptian slavery.  Interspersed between the various courses of delicious food, lessons detailing the promise and the blessings afterwards remind posterity of the necessity of obeying and worshipping God in gratitude for His enduring faithfulness.   Jesus utilizes this particular Passover to remind the disciples of His most essential teachings as it occurs on the night preceding His death.

·         Yet, Jesus undoubtedly realizes the disciples’ imminent grief will rob them of these lessons.  In consequence, He asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit who abides with all disciples to remind them of Jesus’ teachings and maintain the essence of His presence.  Through the Holy Spirit, the disciples continually converse with Jesus.  Imagine if you were to be given the opportunity to have another conversation with a dear loved one who died years ago.  There are so many issues you would probably cover.  As we learn to relate to the Holy Spirit, He enables such conversations with our Lord.

·         John 14:16 clearly delineates the functions of the Holy Spirit.  The Father sends Him in the Name of Jesus.  He teaches the disciples “all things.”  The Holy Spirit provides divine wisdom, the practical application of spiritual knowledge within any situation.  Furthermore, the Holy Spirit reminds the disciples of everything Jesus taught them.  Through these three practical functions, the Holy Spirit encourages and empowers disciples to live as Christians with integrity.  He helps us to demonstrate our love for the Lord through daily and faithful obedience as the Lord insists earlier in this passage.

·         Next, the Spirit graciously facilitates the gift of the Father’s peace.  Practically, peace enables disciples to trust genuinely God’s faithfulness notwithstanding adversarial circumstances.  Divine peace empowers bereaved persons to progress beyond the depth of their pain and loss.  Disciples stand firmly upon the Word and promises of our Lord and move forward in faith toward a new life.  Although we tremendously miss the physical presence of loved ones and friends, we do not lose heart.  We equally do not surrender to emotional and existential paralysis. 

·         The Lord’s peace is not conditional upon our emotions or favorable variables.  He says “I do not give you as the world gives.”  Peace that results from the daily activities of the New York Stock Exchange is temporary.  Peace similarly evaporates once the emotions of a good movie wear off.  Buyer’s remorse usually undermines weekly trips to the mall.  The uplifting feelings of a new outfit or trinket quickly dissipate upon receipt of the credit card bill.  Thus, the Lord reiterates His encouragement at the beginning of the chapter.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

·         In the concluding verses of this passage which equate with the end of this Passover meal, Jesus lovingly shares with the disciples the necessity of His physical departure albeit via the cross and crucifixion.  The betrayal, denial, desertion and crucifixion combine to actualize Almighty God’s eternal plan of salvation.  Again, their psychological and emotional preconceptions prevent them from understanding the realties that will unfold within the next few hours.  As the personification of sacrificial, selfless, redemptive and healing love, agape, Jesus prepares the disciples for their forthcoming grief following His crucifixion and even during the embryonic days of the early Church. (John 14:28-31)

·         For contemporary disciples, we have the assurance of the Holy Spirit who sustains us during our earthly pilgrimage until we arrive at the New Jerusalem where we can be with Jesus for eternity.  The Holy Spirit helps us to persevere as we strive to live with Christian integrity.