JOHN 14:25-26, 28-31
Prepared by Dr. John E. Marshall
John 14:25-26 (Holman) AI have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit B the Father will send Him in My name B will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.@
For three years Jesus had been the disciples’ Teacher. This role would now be continued by Another. In the future, Christ=s words would be the primary lesson book; the Holy Spirit would serve as Teacher.
The Holy Spirit became their Illuminator. After Jesus left them, words that had been obscure to them became prominent, and words that had been unintelligible were understood.
The Spirit aided their memory, bringing to mind words Jesus had spoken.
The Holy Spirit=s work of illumination and memory made the New Testament possible. The Gospel story could be written only after the Holy Spirit gave the disciples a precise remembrance and understanding of Christ=s words. Our New Testament is evidence God fulfilled this promise of One who would bring all things to remembrance.
The New Testament’s authority is based on our belief that it is the Holy Spirit=s book. Paul=s warning about his own writing is still valid today, and applicable to all Scripture, AIf anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord=s command@ (I Corinthians 14:37).
We still need the Holy Spirit to illuminate and remind us. The Bible helps us with the remembering, but we need illumination desperately.
By nature people do not easily comprehend spiritual truth. Yet one of our main needs in our spiritual struggles is to have a firm, clear understanding of Jesus= teachings. Proper theology helps us have proper morality.
The ultimate need is not to discover truth. We already know truth. We already have that. Jesus provided that. What we need most is for someone to repeatedly tell us the meaning of words we=ve already been taught.
All experience shows the outward presentation of truth is inadequate. Our knowledge always stays ahead of our inward conformity to it. Accepting truth, and complying with it, can be slow.
Even when people seem to receive and believe truth, we cannot always assume they really understand it. We can ever use more light to help us discern the fulness of truth=s meaning.
John 14:28 AYou have heard Me tell you, >I am going away and I am coming to you.= If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father because the Father is greater than I.@
Jesus here was describing one continuous process. AI am going away and I am coming to you.@ There would never be even one moment of real absence. His going made His coming better.
The Father was greater than the son in that Jesus had voluntarily taken a servant’s role. The garb of lowliness He had donned would soon fall from Him.
John 14:29 AI have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe.@
Jesus forewarned them to forearm them. Difficulties continually come against us. Be forewarned. Stay on guard.
John 14:30a AI will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming.@
There would be more talking later, but little in comparison to what he had already said.
Christ=s sensitive nature comprehended evil approaching. He senses a coming storm, and recognized the source of the tempest.
There was a personal source and center to all the treachery Christ was about to confront. The prince of this world was coming. Not only were Judas, the soldiers, Herod, Caiaphas, and Pilate coming. Jesus knew the one inspiring and directing it all was Satan himself.
John 14:30b AHe has no power over me.@
Since sin gives Satan his grip on people, there was nothing in Jesus he could take hold of. As the conflict approached, Jesus stated in no uncertain terms His invulnerability against Satan.
The Devil=s dominion stopped outside the breast of Jesus. There was no weak spot in Jesus on which the evil one could gain a foothold.
No other person could ever make the claim as Jesus did. No one would dare profess that within their breast Satan had no beach-head. In each of us is something on which Satan can plant his feet and say, AThis is mine.@
Something flammable is always within us which the Afiery darts of the wicked@ can ignite. His seductions too often find a responsive chord within us.
John 14:31 AOn the contrary, I am going away so that the world may know that I love the Father. Just as the Father commanded Me, so I do. Get up; let’s leave this place.@
Having said the disciple’s love for Him would be proven by their obedience, Jesus now said the same criteria would be applied to Him. He would prove His love to the Father through perfect, absolute obedience.
Jesus awaited the conflict, knowing the forces of His enemy would be broken at Calvary. He knew triumph would be His forevermore.
Jesus would die not of physical necessity, but by His own free choice. He alone chose when and where to be born, plus when and where die. He chose to be born in humiliation, and chose to die in even deeper humiliation.
Jesus was not dragged into the realm of death. He voluntarily invaded the domain of Satan. The King of Glory entered the Devil=s own pit, and vandalized it irreparably as He came out of it.
Christ faced His conflict with courage and confidence. His followers should imitate His example.
The Earl of Dundonald’s ship once came under such intense fire that his men refused to man their guns. Knowing the courage of his wife, he asked her to fire one of the guns, thereby showing his men how to do their duty. The moment she started firing, the men were shamed into returning to their posts, and won the day.
We, too, should be ashamed if we quiver before the forces of evil. Our Master met them alone and won the victory. His strength is now our strength. May His bravery make us bold.