John 14:27–31

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.”

It sounds blunt when Jesus says, “If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.”

It is blunt. It makes a strong point that needs to be made. This is part of Jesus preparing the disciples for the immense trials they will be enduring soon.

He’s emphasizing the word “love” (agapé). Agapé isn’t about feelings; it’s about putting someone else’s well-being above your own. Jesus is saying, “If you cared about Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.”

Okay, but is this criticism really what they need to hear right now?

Yes. This helps steel them for what’s coming. Loving Jesus in this way shifts their focus from themselves to Him and His priorities. That’s what they’ll need in order to not lose faith in the coming trials.

And that’s what the next paragraph fills in. Jesus points out that they’ve now been given advance notice and that the conversation is about to end. I will no longer talk much with you. Furthermore, He’s doing this so that the world may know that I love the Father.

Lesson over. “Arise, let us go from here.”

Even though Jesus is preparing His disciples for the coming trials, that’s not the primary purpose. It’s that they will believe.

“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.”

They need to get through the coming trials, keeping their focus on Him and His priorities, but their faith is the true objective. These guys will be called on to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. If they have any doubt that their message is true, they’ll be worthless.

But they won’t have any doubt. They’ll know that Jesus called everything in advance. And if they forget, the Holy Spirit will, “bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” — John 14:26b

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

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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. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.