John 14:15-31 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.** The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.** 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.**20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”**22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.**24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.** 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.**29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.
Vs15 “If you love me, keep my commands.
Vs21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me.
Vs23a “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.
Vs24a Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.
Jesus gives us a simple way here to measure how much we love Him. Our love for Jesus is measured by our obedience. It’s wonderful when our love for Jesus has passion and emotion, but it must always be connected to keeping His commandments, being obedient, or it isn’t love.
To say, “I love you, Jesus, but I just don’t want you to tell me how to live my life” contradicts the love we say we have for Him. Commands?
(Washed the disciples’ feet) John 13:14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (No servant is greater than his master) (Servanthood)
(2nd death prediction) Mark 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Matthew 20:26-27 “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” (Note easy)
John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
(Greatest Commandment) Matthew 22:37-40 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Jesus promises to give the Holy Spirit because Jesus knew that His disciples (both those with Him now and those across the centuries) would need God’s presence and God’s power to keep His commandments. And the Holy Spirit would be given to all who believed in Him to help them accomplish this.
The bible says we can GRIEVE, QUENCH, and RESIST the Holy Spirit, and none of these are good, but Jesus here promises that the Holy Spirit will be with us forever. So, the Spirit once given will not be taken away. (Never give up on us)
This was fulfilled when Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit: (Behind locked doors for fear of the Jews) John 20:21-22 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
A beautiful picture of the Trinity. Jesus says, “I’m going to pray to the Father. He will give you another Advocate/Helper, the Spirit of truth, that He may abide with you forever.” Vs23 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I would love to be able to explain this Peace of Jesus to you, but that’s not even possible. There are no words or enough words to do that.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends/surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Let me try:
When we think about peace, we might picture a serene landscape, a quiet place (PIC) or for you parents a moment without the little ones.
However, the peace Jesus offers us does not depend on a physical place or our circumstances. It’s not about the absence of trouble, but the presence of God. It’s about trusting God’s sovereignty, even when life is chaotic and uncertain.
This is a powerful promise. Jesus says, “I’m leaving you with my peace. Jesus has given us something of Himself, a piece of Himself. It’s a gift. It comes from the Holy Spirit and it’s yours to keep. It’s not like the peace that the world offers. It’s different. It’s better. It’s spiritual and eternal.”
This Peace of Jesus is something you and I can experience, and we can find our rest in it no matter what we’re going through. No matter how hard life gets or how much we’re hurting, the peace of Jesus is always available for us. (within)
It’s like a perfect refuge. It’s a place of safety and security in the midst of the storms of life. When everything around us is falling apart or feeling overwhelmed or afraid, we can find peace in Jesus.
I may not be able to explain this indescribable peace that surpasses all understanding, but I can tell you how to get there:
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Church in Ephesus)
Revelation 2:2-4 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.***
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.***
Amazingly, this church could do all these things in obedience to Jesus, yet it does not have an adequate/acceptable love for Jesus. Here’s why:
Our obedience does not produce a love for God; our love for God produces obedience. So, when we love God, we Obey God, Serve God, and it is in that order, it’s in that place we will find the Peace of God. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
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