Guest Contributor: Carmen Gasilao Ph.D
John 14: 1-31
In John 13, Jesus revealed things to His disciples that made them anxious and fearful.
-He was about to leave them and that He was to suffer and die.
-He was going to be betrayed by one of them.
-He was to be denied three times by Peter.
The chapter starts with Jesus giving a command: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.”
Jesus knew what they were experiencing, for He Himself was deeply troubled in His spirit – when He saw Lazarus (John 11:38), when He talked about His death to the crowd (John 12:27) and when He told tell that one of them was to betray Him (John 13:21).
It is not wrong for Christian to feel pressured or fearful, puzzled or confused. What the Lord teaches His disciples is that while we cannot prevent stressful situations, plus the devil has always an agenda to “kill, steal and destroy”, we should never give in and give up our faith. Rather, we are to overcome, conquer, subdue, defeat and beat our fear, take control of our emotions and still reflect what is good and pleasing and acceptable to God.
How Jesus conquered His stress and pain is what He teaches us today.
We can subdue our distress because of WHO we know.
Trust in God, trust also in Me. Believe in God, believe also in Me.
All throughout Jesus humanity, He depended on the Father. And Jesus is telling us that we can also know the Father because He is the Ultimate revelation of the Father.
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
Knowing God for who He is can truly change, transform your mind and attitude altogether. Let us not leave God in the church, or in our Bibles, in our prayer meetings– let His Truth fill our mind, our lives. Let us not leave Him out of our lives.
Jesus did not rebuke Thomas but simply replied with the greatest revelation about Himself. He did not say: I will show you the way, I will teach you the truth, I will give life. He said: I am the way. (Follow Me.) I am the truth (Know Me) I am the life (Hope in Me)
Did you know that what God intends for each us – is to be like His Son?
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:28-29
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5: 1-2
As a Christian for 45 years now, I am definitely far from being God-like in all my actions and reactions. But this I have learned – every time I let my ego, myself go before what God wants – whether it be in what I think, my reaction, my plan, my words – I feel miserable inside. It does not give me any peace. I may carry on – still do my regular thing or business – but I lose the joy of fellowship with God and my prayers become stale, my Christian life becomes so heavy. Until I humble myself, and repent and let God be God in my life – then I once again have the joy and strength to carry on. — TRUST GOD, TRUST JESUS.
We can subdue our distress because of WHERE we will go.
2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
Heaven is mentioned more than 500 times in the Bible – it is a real place.
Jesus didn’t refer to it as a geographical place, but relationally as “My Father’s home”
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” (Revelation 21:2).
“The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. The wall was made of jasper” A wall standing at 144 cubits—that’s 216 feet high! — surrounds the city. The wall is made of solid jasper, with a radiance and beauty beyond description. (Revelation 21:17, 18 NIV).
More than anything, it is the place where He will be.
Now the disciples were fearful because Jesus was going away. But He says He’s coming back for them (us). Just to be with Jesus is all we need and all we want.
There may be incomprehensible pain and suffering here but our eyes need not be settled with the here and now.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
For all truth and practicality, it is unhealthy to put all our energies on the pleasures of this earth or to prioritize our attention on wealth, on human relationships (idolizing people or ourselves), on politics… mind you, no president or politician can do anything to satisfy our lives, our hearts… only Jesus can! This world is not our home.
We can subdue our distress because of WHAT the Holy Spirit achieves.
A promise to claim. A lifestyle to develop.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Jesus expects His followers to do the same works and even greater. Why? Because He goes to the Father and He tells us and we not left as orphans.
Can anyone do anything greater than Jesus?
Never in quality but in quantity. Jesus’ ministry was confined to Judea, Jerusalem and Samaria. But we have seen how millions all over the world have heard and received the Gospel because of the ministry of believers.
A lifestyle of prayer is how we can ever do greater works for the Kingdom.
“In Jesus’ name” is greatly misunderstood as a “magical formula” – No.
“In Jesus’ name” means that you are tapping into the will and character of Jesus. This is not a “gimme-kind-of-prayer” but for Your glory!
Jesus may be physically absent but it does not mean He is not available.
Prayer closes the gap between heaven and earth.
The moment you pray it removes the distance and opens the floodgates for the resources of God.
The promised Holy Spirit is with us!
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” 23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
In several sections before this, Jesus has spoken about the Holy Spirit.
Here in verses 16, 17 Jesus tells His disciples more about the Holy Spirit.
Given by the Father – not earned by us but as a result of Jesus’ work (also v26)
Another Advocate – another of the same kind, Counselor, Helper, Comforter, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby (v26)
He will never go away (Person, not a force…God the Holy Spirit) (v18)
Spirit of truth – who unfolds the meaning of Jesus’ teachings (v26)
The world has blinded its eyes to the existence of God and refuses to acknowledge Him
The disciples knew the Spirit – He lived with them (in Jesus), later He lived in them
The mark of a Spirit-filled life is not about signs or wonders or tongues but an ever-deepening consciousness of the reality of Jesus Christ. (Ray Stedman)
And the knowledge of Jesus gives us so much peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives.” This peace (SHALOM) is given by the Spirit.
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
What peace does the world offer? Escapism – run away from the problem, cover it up with liquor, drugs, vacations, food etc.
Jesus’ peace (personalized peace) can be described as the “ability to cope”. His peace under any circumstance. As Paul said “the peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7) Events do not affect it, it is internal and not subject to external pressure. The circumstances may not have changed, but there has been given to you a consciousness that the One who indwells you is able to handle your problem.
So, you don’t need to be troubled or afraid. Peace has been supplied to you.
We can subdue (overcome) distress and cope with adverse circumstances because of:
WHO we know.
WHERE we’ll go.
WHAT the Holy Spirit does.
FINALLY, Jesus says, LOVING OBEDIENCE is the key to progressive intimacy with Him.
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.
Obedience is not difficult to those filled with love.
“And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” — keep on revealing myself to him.
That is intimacy. That is the longing of every Christian heart — to know him better, to go deeper and deeper into the love of Jesus which passes knowledge.
Loving obedience brings a deepening knowledge of Jesus that enhances the beautiful attributes of Christian character.
Howard Hendricks says: “The opposite of ignorance is not knowledge, but obedience.”
It is obeying truth, not merely filling your head with facts, that brings the refreshing knowledge that cancels out ignorance. Our Lord points out that, because the world does not know him, and does not obey him, it is impossible for non-Christians to understand this deepening quality of intimate fellowship. As long as anyone remains in and of the world, he will never know these remarkable secrets.
Let us stay in the safest place to be and that is in the centre of His will.
revdotdavid 