The Gospel of John: John 14.15-31
Read and meditate on John 14.19-21.
Jesus was going away, but He promised His disciples they would see Him again. They were surely wondering, “What can He mean?”
19“But a little, then
the world no longer will see Me. But you
will see me. Since I live, you will live, too.
20On that day you will know that I am in
the Father, you are in Me, I am in
you. 21He who My commandments has, and does
them, he it is who loves Me. And because
he loves Me, then My Father will love him,
and I will manifest Myself to him,
and love him.”
- John 14.19-21
Reflect
1. In just a “little while,” Jesus said, the world would see Him no more, but His disciples would see Him. It seems to me Jesus was using that verb in a twofold sense. Explain. Would you say this describes the situation in our world today? Is there a remedy for this? Complete this prayer: Lord, I don’t see You with my eyes, but I see You with…
2. In the second part of verse 19, Jesus used the verb live in two senses, in the present tense with respect to Himself, and in the future tense with respect to His disciples. He was living as He spoke this, but weren’t His disciples living also? Why do you suppose He didn’t say, “Because I will live, you will live also”? Jesus chose His words precisely. What was He saying here? You live forever, Lord; not even death could deprive You of life, and because of this…
3. “At that day…” (v. 20). Which day? Why was Jesus being so cryptic? Why didn’t He specify the day He had in mind? On which day did everything finally “click” for the disciples? What did they know, and how did they know it on “that day”? Lord, surely the most precious thing I can know is that You are…
4. In verse 21, Jesus returned to a theme He broached in verse 15. Here, He enlarged on that theme by bringing the Father into it. He will enlarge on this idea a bit more in verse 23 and again in chapters 15 and 16. How would you explain the relationship between God’s love for us, our love for Him, Christ’s manifest presence with us, and the commandments (Law) of God? Can we know God’s love apart from His Law? Can we love God apart from His Law? Can we know the manifest presence of Christ apart from His Law? Lord, You have told us that greatness in Your Kingdom is related to knowing, keeping, and teaching Your Law (Matt. 5.19), so help me…
5. How does Jesus manifest Himself to us? How do you expect Jesus to manifest Himself to you today? How will Jesus manifest Himself to the people in your Personal Mission Field? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote from questions 1-4.
Summary
“But why does he speak of life as present to him and future to them? Because his resurrection preceded, and theirs was to follow. His resurrection was about to take place so soon that he speaks of it as present, theirs being deferred till the end of the world. He does not say ‘you live’ but ‘you shall live.’ … Because he lives, therefore we shall live: ‘As by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.’” Basil the Great (330-379 AD)
Life, love, righteousness, and joy are where Jesus is, where He makes Himself at home and manifest. He has commissioned us to be His witnesses, and we will know these great promises only to the extent that we embrace this calling and pursue it continuously. What are the greatest hindrances that can keep us from living as Jesus promised we would live?
Closing Prayer
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16.8-11
Psalm 16.8-11 (All to Christ: Jesus Paid It All)
You are ever with me, Lord; in You I shall not fall.
But rejoicing in Your Word, I abide within Your call.
Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.
Soon Your glory I shall see, for as Jesus rose again,
You will come to gather me to my home with You in heav’n.
Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.
T. M. Moore
Each of us has a Personal Mission Field to which we are called to be and make disciples. Watch this brief video (click here), then download the worksheet and map out your calling to follow Jesus.
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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.
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