The Gospel of John: John 14.15-31

Read and meditate on John 14.15-31.
Jesus was going away, but this was good news. Because by returning to the Father, the Helper would come, and with Him comfort, instruction, and peace.

                     ¹⁵If you love Me, then keep My
commandments. ¹⁶I will pray the Father, and
He will give you another Helper, and
He will abide with you forever.  ¹⁷Though
the world cannot receive Him, since it knows
Him not, nor sees Him – the Spirit of truth – but you
know Him, for He dwells in you, and in you
abides. ¹⁸I will not leave you orphans, friends;
I will come to you. ¹⁹But 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.”

                        ²²Judas (not Iscariot) to
Him said, “Lord, tell us how it is that You
will show Yourself to us, but not unto
the world.” ²³Then Jesus answered and said to
him, “Anyone who loves Me will obey
all My commandments.” He went on to say,
“My Father will love him, and We will come
to him, and with him We will make our home.
²⁴But he who does not love Me, does not keep
My words, and you know all the words I speak
are not Mine, but the Father’s, Who has sent
Me. ²⁵I have said these things to you while yet
with you. ²⁶The Holy Spirit, Who will be
your Helper, Whom the Father sends to be
with you in My Name, He will teach you all
things; He will bring to your remembrance all
that I have said to you. ²⁷I leave My peace
with you; I give it to you – not a peace
such as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled; nor should you
fear anything. ²⁸For you have heard Me say
to you that shortly I must go away,
but I am coming back again. If you
loved Me, you would rejoice to hear this, too,
for I am going to the Father, Who
is greater than I am. ²⁹I’ve told this to
you now, before it comes to pass, that when
it comes to pass, you will believe it then.
³⁰I will no longer talk much with you, for
the ruler of this world is coming for
Me, though he nothing has in Me. ³¹But so
the world may know the love I ever show
unto the Father, I will do as He
commands. Arise now, let us go.”

- John 14.15-31

Reflect
1. We’re beginning to see more clearly the role of each Person of the Godhead in the plan of redemption and salvation. God conceived it, Christ accomplished it, and the Holy Spirit applies it. The Father sent the Son, the Son and Father send the Spirit, and the Son sends us, indwelled by the Spirit, as He Himself was sent. What is our role in this great saving plan? Complete this prayer: Lord, thank You for the gift of salvation and eternal life. Help me daily to…

2.  Jesus’ instructions to His disciples emphasized the importance of keeping His commandments and Word (vv.  15, 21, 23). How does the Holy Spirit help us in this calling (v. 26)? How can we know when we are being taught by Him? Lord, I know I have learned what You want me to learn when…

3.  Jesus associated the coming of the Spirit with help, truth, divine presence, and peace. How can someone know when the Spirit has come to dwell with him? What should we do to make the most of that indwelling presence? Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord, and let Him lead me, so that I walk with Him. Then I will…

4.  Jesus’ teaching implies that His disciples will learn righteousness, and will know peace and joy as a result. This is the work of God’s Spirit in our lives. Meditate on Romans 14.17, 18. What is the Kingdom of God? How can we know when we have come to the Kingdom? When we are seeking it as Jesus commands (Matt. 6.33)? You have made me a citizen and ambassador in Your Kingdom, Lord, and this means…

5. Jesus loved His Father so much that He was willing to give up His life to accomplish the Father’s plan of salvation (v. 31). How can we know when we love God? When we love our fellow believers? When we love our neighbors as ourselves? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Earlier he had said, ‘Where I go you shall come’ and ‘In my Father’s house there are many mansions.’ But since this was a long time off, he gives them the Spirit in the intervening time. They did not know what that [Spirit] was, however, and so they derived little comfort from what he said.… And so he promises them what they required most: his own presence. He says, ‘I will come to you.’ But he intimates at the same time that they are not to look for the same kind of presence all over again. ‘Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more,’ as if he said, I will come to you but not to live with you every day as I did before.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

The life of discipleship is a life of intimacy with God. He dwells in us, teaches us, helps us, and gives us peace, and we live in the world as His children, citizens, and ambassadors. How do you experience this intimate life of following Jesus? How would you explain it to an unsaved neighbor?

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
We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

Men, God is calling you to pray. Watch this brief video, then seek the Lord about joining our Men at Prayer movement.

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.