John 18:15-18

Two disciples followed Jesus to the house of the high priest. Peter went there, of course, but there was another disciple, too, who was known to the high priest and was able to get into the high priest’s court. Peter was stuck outside. It was the other disciple who was able to get Peter in. So Peter was not the only witness to the events that took place that night. The other disciple saw everything, too.

 

Even as the other disciple was bringing Peter in, the doorkeeper maidservant thought she recognized Peter as one of Jesus’ disciples. But when she asked Peter about this, he denied it – even though another of Jesus’ disciples was there with him and heard him. Since the other disciple was known to the high priest, it may well be that the high priest and the doorkeeper knew this other disciple was, in fact, Jesus’ disciple. Which would be why they didn’t ask him. But when they asked Peter whether he was also a disciple of Jesus, he said no.

 

But now Peter was inside. He was able to watch what was going on, and he stood near the fire with the others who were there.

 

Father, I have often thought of Peter as being there alone, as though his denials were just between him and Jesus. But Peter was with another disciple who was probably known as Jesus’ disciple. Even with his companion disciple standing there with him, Peter denied being Jesus’ disciple. This reminds me of my own weaknesses. It is so painful to be in a situation where I could live boldly for Jesus and encourage a believing brother or sister to stand firm in faith, but to fail. Father, teach me and all your children to be faithful to Jesus. Teach us at least to say yes when people ask us whether we follow Jesus, even in the most stressful, fearful times. And may we encourage each other in faith as we identify ourselves with Your Son Jesus Christ.

 

John 18:10-14

 “Simon Peter therefore having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave's name was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to Peter, "Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?"

 

“So the Roman cohort and the commander, and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.”

 

Although Jesus was in control and was voluntarily handing Himself over while protecting His disciples, Peter felt that He needed to do something. He did not understand what Jesus was doing, so He took a sword out to protect Jesus and attacked Malchus, the high priest’s own servant, cutting off his right ear.

 

But Jesus was in control. He was not defending Himself, nor did He need Peter’s defense. So He commanded Peter to sheath his sword. He was fully willing to obey His Father’s commands. In this case, Jesus intended to “drink the cup” His Father had given Him. Jesus intended to go to His death.

 

And that is where Jesus began to go. He handed Himself over to the Romans and the Jews who had come to arrest Him. They bound Him and led Him away to Annas. And Jesus was now in the hands of those who wanted to kill Him. Annas was father-in-law to the high priest, Caiaphas. And Caiaphas was the one who, because the Sanhedrin was worried that the Romans would respond to the Jews’ belief that Jesus was the Messiah, advised the Sanhedrin that they would all be better off if Jesus were dead (John 11:47-53). If Jesus intended to drink the cup His Father had given Him, He had come to the right place. Again we see how completely in control of His destiny Jesus was. His choices led Him straight into the hands of those He would permit to murder Him.

 

Father, as men who love Jesus, our perspective is so often limited. We do not know the good that Jesus intends to do. We see only the evil and the pain at hand. Thank You for teaching us and reminding us that Jesus really is in control. Help us to act as You have taught us to act, and to accept Your directions even when they seem contrary to our understanding. Thank You that You accomplish what You plan to do. Thank You that Jesus was in control, even placing Himself in the hands of those who intended to kill Him. Thank You that He was in control even in death. And thank You that He lives, and is still in control!

           

Devotions: Prayer "versus" Scripture

In my devotional life – my life listening and talking to God – finding the right balance between prayer and Scripture reading has frequently been a challenge. Even the question of which one goes first is problematic.

 

I love to put Scripture first so that my prayers come as a response to what I hear from God. But too often, when I put Scriptures first I cut my prayer time short.

 

I also love to put prayer time first. This makes certain that I spend a significant time in prayer for people I care about. But when I put prayer first my prayers often lack the substance and depth that is provided by responding to the Scriptures.

 

I’m probably silly, and this is probably obvious, but I think I’ve finally realized the way to sort this out (maybe I’ve realized it before, but forgotten because it seemed to be so common sense?). Prayer time should go first, to make certain that it gets done. But it should always be a response to the Scriptures, too. How? By continuing to respond to the Scriptures I studied the day before. So I begin with prayer, and my prayers for myself and others are filled with the truths, promises, and training God taught me the previous day. And then I continue into the Scriptures, hear from God, live for God according to what He teaches me, pray throughout the day according to what I have heard, and continue the conversation the next day on the basis of what God has said the day before. I think this is the pattern that will work best with my personality.

 

But the point for everyone is that our conversation with God is continuous. It does not start new every day, as though we haven’t heard anything from God before. We can begin each day remembering what God has already said to us and depending on those “past” teachings, because they are not past, but current. Everything God has taught us matters every day. So let’s not reinvent our relationships with God every morning, acting as though we have nothing for the day until we have heard a “new” word. We have a relationship with God through His word, and His word is “living and enduring” (1 Peter 1:22-25). So our relationship with Him endures from day to day forever.

 

 

John 18:4-9

“Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth, and said to them, "Whom do you seek?" They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also who was betraying Him, was standing with them. When therefore He said to them, "I am He," they drew back, and fell to the ground. Again therefore He asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; if therefore you seek Me, let these go their way," that the word might be fulfilled which He spoke, "Of those whom Thou hast given Me I lost not one.”

 

First of all, Jesus was not surprised to see Judas coming His way with a horde of men. He rose to meet them, knowing all the things that were about to happen – something only God could know. He initiated the conversation, asking them whom they were seeking. Jesus was not a helpless victim. He was God, and He gave Himself up.

 

Secondly, when Jesus identified Himself to Judas and those with Judas, Jesus said, “I am.” Yes, this identified Him as Jesus of Nazareth, but Jesus was saying more than that. Jesus was identifying Himself, Jesus of Nazareth, with God. And the response of Judas and those with Him is the usual response of people who encounter God. They drew back and fell to the ground (compare Abraham in Genesis 17:1-3, 15-17; Moses in Exodus 3:4-6; the Israelites in Leviticus 9:23-24; etc.). It was not merely Jesus the man who stood up to face the cross. This was Jesus, God in flesh.

 

Thirdly, Jesus was still able to protect His disciples in this situation. He was in control in a way that no mere man could be in control. He asked the men again whom they were seeking, heard them answer again that they were seeking Him, again identified Himself, and then commanded those who had come to arrest Him. He commanded them! “If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way.” This was not the plea of a man scared for His life and the lives of His disciples. This was the command of Jesus the Nazarene, the God-man who knew all that was about to happen and who had just prayed to His Father about losing none of those given to Him. Jesus gave this command, preserving all the disciples but Judas the betrayer, who had already placed Himself into the hands of the enemy.

 

Lastly, notice that John treats Jesus’ words like Scripture here. Jesus words are God’s words. John writes that Jesus gave this command to fulfill His own words. Nowhere else in John are words said to be fulfilled that are not clearly the words of Scripture… except where they are Jesus’ own words (John 12:38; 13:18; 15:25; 17:12; 18:9, 32; 19:24, 28, 36; Jesus’ words are fulfilled in the texts that are bold).

 

This begins John’s description of Jesus’ suffering on the cross. And everything that John writes is intended to communicate two things. 1) Jesus was heading to the cross, betrayed by one of His own. However, 2) this Jesus was no mere man, but was God in the flesh, and He knew what was coming, He could have caused His enemies to withdraw, He was able to protect His disciples, and He was fulfilling His own words. This Jesus who would die on the cross was (and is) God Himself. And this truth changes everything, because God cannot be overcome by men. Therefore, God was doing something wonderful, something men could not have imagined on their own, something God Himself had chosen to do… something good.

 

Father, thank You for sending Jesus. Jesus, thank You for coming. Thank You for speaking. For introducing us to Yourself and, through You, to the Father. Thank You for voluntarily going to the cross, where You defeated sin and offered a relationship with God to everyone who trusts in You. Thank You that You are God, and that Your death was not meaningless.

 

Social work and gospel proclamation

As to Jesus’ miracles, etc., and whether they are “social gospel” or not, here are my two cents. Matthew 5:38-48 is the passage you ought to read before completing my thoughts, actually. What I see in that passage, basically, is Jesus teaching us that whatever good provisions there are in the world, they come ultimately from the hand of God. Crops need rain? God sends it… for both good people and bad. Crops need sun? God sends it… for both good people and bad. So when Jesus says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect,” He means that we are to be “perfect” with regard to the way we love people. Our love shouldn’t be expressed only toward those who love us, but also toward those who don’t love us. Our love shouldn’t be expressed only toward those who love God, either, but also toward His enemies. Not our devotion, mind you. That’s reserved for Jesus, as we can see in other passages (e.g., Matt. 10:34-39). But our love – our willingness to meet people’s needs and overcome people’s obstacles – our love should be expressed to everyone, just as our Father’s is.

 

This is obviously social, but in what sense is it gospel? It is gospel first of all in the sense that it communicates to people what kind of God we serve. We truly serve a God who loves all of His creation, and despite the presence of real pain, suffering, decay, sin, and death in the world, God works to provide for and sustain His creatures – especially people. But someone might respond with a statement such as, “You THINK that’s what you’re communicating. But you’re really just showing that your decent human beings, like other decent human beings from other cultures and religions. A lot of people who aren’t Christians recognize that we ought to do good to each other, and a lot of people do more good than most Christians I know! So how does that prove that Your God is good, loving, or even real?” I think this is an important question to grapple with. Because ultimately, what matters is that we communicate the gospel clearly because the gospel is eternal and can lead us to eternal blessings (1 Peter 1:23-25). I think this objection is what makes it clear that social action is not evangelism on its own. It is a part of evangelism, because it is a picture of our God sacrificially loving His enemies (Romans 5:8). But if a picture is left unexplained, then people can give the picture any interpretation they want to.

 

This is why the gospel must also be proclaimed in words. Words leave no doubt as to what we mean by our activity. They define what we’re doing, and they let people know where we stand. They distinguish between those who are doing purely social work and those whose whole lives are devoted to God. In fact, those who do social work without being devoted to God’s words are actually in opposition to God, claiming to be doing social work out of their own goodness or out of devotion to another god (both of which oppose God’s will). Deuteronomy 13:1-5 gives a good description of how deeply it matters to God that His people walk with those whose actions AND words come from Him. Even if God permitted a man to do seemingly good works – even miracles! – the people were not to follow that man if He taught devotion to someone other than God Himself. And the New Testament describes people who say and hold to the right words without appropriate lives of goodness (1 John 2:9-11; 3:14-15; 4:19-21; James 2:14-26). Such people are lost in their sins, and their knowledge of God’s words is useless… because their lives demonstrate that they don’t really believe the words are God’s. Otherwise, they would take the words seriously.

 

So that’s my understanding. In a lot of ways, I wouldn’t really call it “social gospel” at all. What Jesus teaches us is that our words and our deeds go hand in hand. If either of them is rebelling against God, WE are rebelling against God. Only when we are seeking to serve God with our entire lives – words and deeds – are we responding to Him in love. We all stumble in many ways (James 3:2), so we must remain humble and thank God for His grace through Jesus Christ toward us – and toward others around us – whenever we see how far short we fall. But His grace calls us to try, for He covers our failures.

 

John 18:1-3

“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He Himself entered, and His disciples. Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place; for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having received the Roman cohort, and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.”

 

Jesus had known all along that the time of His betrayal was approaching. After all, that’s what He had been comforting the disciples about and praying about. Jesus’ last words – His last teachings – to His disciples before His death were these words of comfort and of petition to God for the disciples’ benefit. When this time of teaching and petition was completed, Jesus went to the garden where He would be betrayed.

 

Of course, Judas knew about the garden. And Jesus knew that Judas knew about the garden. It is not as though Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him and was, therefore, trying to hide. No, Jesus went boldly to the very place where He knew Judas would betray Him. And Judas came with the Romans and with the Jews. He came at night with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus was not only aware that He would be betrayed by Judas, but Jesus walked knowingly and willingly into the betrayal – knowing that through it Jesus would be glorified, and would glorify the Father.

 

Father, thank You for sending such an obedient Son to do Your will. One who did not shy away from what He knew was coming, but who loved You and glorified You. May I live like Jesus lived, to love You and glorify You and obey You wholeheartedly.

 

John 17:24-26

 “Father, I desire that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am, in order that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me; for Thou didst love Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, although the world has not known Thee, yet I have known Thee; and these have known that Thou didst send Me; and I have made Thy name known to them, and will make it known; that the love wherewith Thou didst love Me may be in them, and I in them.”

 

Jesus is coming to the conclusion of His prayer. He has been praying for His disciples, and He has been praying for those who would believe on Him through His disciples’ testimony. That includes today’s believers. What does Jesus ask the Father for with respect to all of these believers?

 

Jesus asks that we might all be with Him. That is Jesus’ desire. Why? Because Jesus wants us all to see His glory – the glory the Father gave Him because He loved Jesus before the foundation of the world. And we have already learned that Jesus’ glory points to the Father’s glory, so we know that this prayer is in line with the Father’s will. When we all are with Jesus and see His glory, then we will all glorify not only Jesus, but the Father! So Jesus’ desire is that we may be with Him. And knowing the glory that it will bring to Him and the Father, this should be our desire, too.

 

How can this happen? Jesus concludes His prayer by talking about His relationship with the Father – His righteous Father. Unlike the world, Jesus actually knows the Father. And the disciples have come to know that the Father sent Jesus. Through His time with the disciples, Jesus has made the Father’s name known to them. The disciples, in other words, have come to know the Father as they have come to know Jesus. And Jesus promises that He will keep making His Father’s name known. Jesus will keep putting the Father’s words into His disciples lives, and the Father’s love accompanies His words. Because the disciples bear the Father’s words, the Father loves them as He loved Jesus. Because the disciples bear the Father’s words, Jesus is in them, because Jesus came to proclaim the Father.

 

Father, thank You for sending Jesus, who so clearly showed us Your will in His prayer. Thank You that He spoke Your will, and that Your will is that we may be with Jesus. You deserve all the glory I can give, and far more. So please do what will glorify Jesus and what will glorify You – draw people to Jesus! Thank You for sending Jesus, who knew You, to teach us that we may know You, too. Thank You that Your love rests on us who believe in Jesus just as it rests on Jesus. What grace! Thank You that Jesus is with us – that God is with us. What joy! Father, thank You for all the comfort You have given us while You have left us in this world.

 

John 17:20-23

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

 

Jesus prayed for us, too. Yes, for us who believe in Jesus Christ now, in the 21^st century. He prayed for all who would believe in Him through His disciples’ words. The disciples words are recorded in the New Testament; they are the only way that we have to know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believe in Him. So we qualify. We believe in Jesus through the disciples’ words.

 

Jesus prayed primarily for unity. He prayed for the same unity that exists between the Father and the Son. We saw earlier that Jesus defined that unity as existing because the Father gave Jesus the Father’s words to speak and the Father’s work to do (John 8:28; 10:25-38; 14:8-21; 15:9-10) . That’s the unity they share. And Christ prayed that we would share that same unity with each other – ultimately, with Him and the Father. Why? So that the world might believe that the Father sent Christ.

 

In this prayer, Jesus also declares that He gives His glory to those who believe in Him through the disciples’ testimony – to us! We have the glory of Jesus! What was that glory? It was the glory of bearing His Father’s words in His mouth and life to such an extent that He was put on display before the world on the cross. In the world’s eyes, it was not glorious. But Christ still received the world’s attention, and that same attention will come to those who believe in Him, carrying His words and deeds into the darkness. Again, what is the purpose of this glory? That we might be united with each other, with Jesus, and with the Father – Jesus’ words in us, the Father’s words in Jesus.

 

And why is this unity so important that God would give us His glory? First, so that the world may know that the Father sent Christ. If it is clear that Christ sent us by the way we bear His words and deeds into this world, then the world must also know that the Father sent Christ. So the world will encounter God through us, and the goal is that the world will know Him. Second, so that the world may see that the Father loves those who believe in Him just as the Father loves Christ. Our unity is supposed to testify to the world not only that the Father sent Jesus, but that the Father loves those who believe in Jesus enough that the Father glorifies them. If the world would recognize these two things – that the Father sent Jesus and loves those who believe in Jesus – then the world would have no good reason to reject the Father any more, but every good reason to seek to know Him.

 

Father, unify us with You and with each other like this. Those of us who believe in You, may we unite in Your words and Your deeds (which You command through Your words). And may our unity in these things testify to the world that You sent Christ and that You love those who believe in Jesus. May the world be drawn to Your love. May the people of the world become believers, too.

 

John 17:6-19

 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be sanctified in truth.”

 

Certain things have happened to the disciples because Jesus is in the world. For one, Jesus revealed the Father’s name to them. They were the Father’s, the Father gave them to Jesus, and they kept the Father’s word that Jesus gave them.

 

For another, they understand the Father gave Jesus everything. Jesus gave them the Father’s words, and the disciples therefore heard that Jesus was sent by the Father – and they stuck with Jesus, so they believed it. They knew it was true.

 

So regarding these disciples who have received the Father’s name and the Father’s words, Jesus asks. He’s not asking for the world in general, but for these disciples, because they are the Father’s, the Father has been glorified in them through Jesus, and Jesus is leaving them in the world as He returns to the Father. Jesus knows that the disciples will need help, so He asks the Father.

 

What does Jesus ask for? He asks that the Father will keep the disciples in the Father’s name that the Father gave Jesus. Why? So that they may be one just as Jesus and the Father are one. So that the disciples may enter into a unified relationship with God and each other.

 

While Jesus was with them, He did exactly what He is now asking the Father to do. He guarded them, and lost only the one that God had already predicted would be lost.

 

But now Jesus is leaving. He’s going to the Father. And He is praying these things to the Father, even while He’s on earth, so that the disciples will have His complete joy.

 

What precisely is Jesus asking for? What does it mean to “keep the disciples in the Father’s name that was given to the Son.” What did Jesus do while He was with His disciples? What is He now asking the Father to do?

 

While Jesus was with the disciples, He gave them the Father’s word. The world hated them, because when they received the Father’s word – when they listened to it, grasped it, believed it, obeyed it, thanked the Father for it – they were no longer a part of the world. They were like Jesus, strangers and aliens on earth, because they clung to the word of the Father. But Jesus was not asking the Father to take them out of the world even further.

 

What was He was asking for? He was asking the Father to guard them from the evil one, from the evil in the world. How? The same way Jesus did: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” Sanctify them, set them apart, guard them from evil, protect them and keep them in Your name which You gave Me – How? By the truth! By the word of the Father! Jesus had sanctified the disciples, setting them apart from the world by the word of God. He guarded them by the word of God. He protected them by the word of God. He kept all of them – except the one destined to perish beforehand – by the word of God, by the truth! Jesus was asking God to continue the ministry of the truth among the disciples. Jesus was asking the Father to send them the Holy Spirit, to send them His words, just as Jesus had promised the disciples He would do (John 14:16).

 

This is precisely how Jesus guarded Himself from evil and from the evil one throughout His time on earth. That’s what He says here. He did this for His disciples: “For them I sanctify myself, that they may also be sanctified by the truth.”

 

Father, thank You that Your disciples may have a relationship with You, may be kept in Your name, may be guarded, may be protected, may be set apart from the world, the same way that Jesus did. Thank You for Your powerful word. Thank You for the truth. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to continue Your ministry of truth in Your disciples’ lives. You are so good!

 

John 17:1-5 - Understanding the glory of Jesus and the glory of God

“These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee, even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life. And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do. And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.”

 

For quite a while now, Jesus has been speaking to His disciples, seeking to comfort them and prepare them for the trials ahead. Now Jesus begins to pray to God His Father. But this is not to say that His words are useless for the disciples. By hearing Jesus’ words, the disciples are learning the passions of Jesus’ heart and the goals of God.

 

The beginning words focus on the glory of two: the glory of the Father and the glory of the Son, Jesus Christ. Their glory has been their goal all along. Jesus knows that the time has come, and so He asks the Father to glorify Him. But why does Jesus seek glory? So that Jesus can glorify the Father. How does this work?

 

When the Father gave Jesus authority over all flesh, Jesus glorified the Father by giving eternal life to all those the Father gave Him. This is a picture of the most glorious kind of relationship, with both people seeking each other’s very best and sharing the same passions and goals. This is a picture of mutual love. Rather than grasping for His own glory, God loved Jesus enough to glorify Him. Jesus loved the Father enough to glorify Him, rather than grasping for more glory of His own. Because both Father and Son truly love each other and truly care about each other’s glory, they promote each other, and in so doing both are glorified!

 

Jesus specifically said that He glorified the Father by giving eternal life to men. How does eternal life glorify the Father? Eternal life glorifies the Father because eternal life is knowing the Father and knowing Jesus Christ. Knowing the Father glorifies the Father, as we recognize how great and good and loving and just and powerful and honorable He is! Knowing Jesus glorifies the Father, because Jesus points all men toward the Father! Jesus came to earth so that men could know the Father! Anyone who wants to glorify God should seek this same goal. First, anyone who cares about God’s glory should seek to know God and Jesus Christ, personally bringing glory to God by seeking this relationship. Second, anyone who cares about God’s glory should seek to lead others to know God and Jesus Christ, because this glorifies the Father. Eternal life is not only in the best interests of men. It is not only good for men. It is not just so that men don’t have to burn forever in hell. Eternal life glorifies God, because eternal life is knowing God!

 

Jesus again says to His Father, “I glorified You on earth.” How? By completing the work the Father gave Him to do. As Jesus obeyed the Father, He honored the Father and loved the Father, and this glorified the Father. The works Jesus did promoted the Father. And Jesus completed these works.

 

So what is Jesus’ request, now that He has glorified the Father? “Glorify me with You by the glory I had with You before the world began.” What will that look like? Believe it or not, the glory Jesus is asking for is the cross. He knows it is time, as He has already said. And He has glorified the Father through His works and His teaching. But what is it that ultimately brought fame to Jesus? It was His death on the cross. Since Jesus died on the cross, men have been talking about Him, debating about Him, trying to learn whether He was just a good man or whether He was God. The cross is what made Jesus extraordinary. Furthermore, when Jesus was glorified on the cross, He glorified the Father. If the Father is glorified by Jesus bringing men to know the Father, then where was that made possible? Where was the message that men could know God proclaimed the most loudly? This is the glory Jesus had before the foundation of the world, a glory that pointed to God. Whether this means something that has not been revealed to us, whether this points to Jesus’ activity before the world began in preparing to create a world that would bring God glory, or something else, I do not know. But the glorified Jesus has always glorified the Father. And He does this now by bringing eternal life to men through His death on the cross. We know that He prayed about the cup being taken from Him, but Jesus begged for the cross in the sense that He begged for glory that would bring God glory. Jesus’ loves the Father.

 

Father, teach us to love You the way Jesus does. Teach me to see pain as personally glorious if it will draw men to know You.  

 

John 16:29-33

His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly, and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God."

Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

 

The last bit of what Jesus said, the disciples understood. They understood that they would have a time of weeping that would turn to joy. They understood that they would see Jesus again and no one would take their joy away. They understood that they would ask the Father directly, and the Father would give them in Jesus’ name what they asked. They understood that Jesus had come from the Father and was returning to the Father. They may not have understood yet how all these things would happen, but they understood that Jesus was teaching them these things. It was clear to them.

 

Even more, the disciples realized that Jesus had said all these things as a response to their questions – questions they hadn’t asked Him. They understood that Jesus knew all these things, and even knew their unspoken questions. These things made the disciples believe that Jesus came from God.

 

Jesus’ response is further encouragement. He seems to question the extent of their faith, because after asking, “Do you believe?” He predicts that they are all about to be scattered to their homes, leaving Him alone. Their faith is not yet strong enough to produce complete faithfulness in times of trouble. But Jesus will not be alone, because the Father will be with Him. And Jesus says again that He has told the disciples these things so that they may have peace in Him – even in the midst of trouble. The trouble is coming, and the disciples will scatter. But Jesus wants them to know that He loves them, that He is still offering them peace, and that there is comfort in all of what is about to happen. He has overcome the world! It is what Christ does that the disciples will be able to take comfort.

 

Father, thank You for having Jesus prepare the disciples for this time of hardship and pain. Thank You that You have left many words of comfort even for us today, as we go through pain and trials. Thank You that Your words of comfort and joy encourage us to look to You and to what Jesus has done, overcoming the world. We are so easily discouraged and distracted by the troubles of this world, but Jesus is faithful, and His faithfulness means that we – the weak and unfaithful – will one day be able to rejoice forever! Help us to remember that Jesus has already begun to overcome the world – that His death and resurrection have defeated sin and death – and help us to joyfully anticipate the day when Jesus returns to set all things right. Help us to be comforted by Jesus’ work in the past and in the future, and to be joyful because of Him.

 

John 16:25-28

"These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; an hour is coming when I will speak no more to you in figurative language, but will tell you plainly of the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father, and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again, and going to the Father."

 

We must remember that Jesus knows His death is coming, and throughout the last several chapters He has been trying to encourage and comfort the disciples. But His comfort is only partially comprehensible to them. Here Jesus tells them why: He has been speaking in figurative language. This does not make it so that all of His comforting is worthless. The disciples should still be able to understand that something good is about to happen and that everything will turn out well in the end, something good that involves Jesus being gone, but the Spirit of truth being with the disciples. They may not understand everything Jesus is predicting, but they can still take comfort in it because Jesus has clearly taught them that what is about to happen will be for their good. Still, it has been difficult for the disciples because Jesus has been speaking figuratively.

 

But Jesus promises that this won’t be the case forever. An hour is coming when He will teach the disciples plainly about the Father. The things they need to know will be clear.

 

And in that time, the disciples will ask the Father directly. They will ask things in Jesus’ name, but they will not necessarily be asking the Father through Jesus. This text doesn’t answer the question of whether Jesus Himself asks for things for them, without their prompting (which He does; e.g., Romans 8:34). Jesus is not saying, “I won’t pray for you.” What He is saying is, “You will go directly to the Father in prayer. You won’t pray to me and ask me to ask the Father for things. You will pray to Him yourselves, asking for things that will honor Me (‘in My name’).” The disciples will be able to ask the Father for themselves because the Father loves them. The Father loves them enough to listen to their prayers because the disciples have loved Jesus and have believed that Jesus came from the Father.

 

Jesus ends by stating again that He did, indeed, come from the Father and that He is leaving the world and returning to the Father. This is the reason He has been trying to comfort the disciples.

 

Father, thank You. Thank You that we are living in the time when Jesus has spoken clearly, and that we have those clear teachings passed on to us from the disciples in the Scriptures. Thank You that we are living in the time when we may approach Your throne of grace with confidence as those who love and believe Jesus, the One You loved us enough to send into the world. Help us to take advantage of the clarity of Jesus’ post-death teachings and to listen passionately so that we can live zealously and know that we are pleasing You. Help us to take advantage of the open door we have to approach You directly, for You are the source of all good things. We need You.

 

John 16:20-24

“Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned to joy. Whenever a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a child has been born into the world. Therefore you too now have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy away from you. And in that day you will ask Me no question. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.”

 

Not only did Jesus recognize the disciples’ confusion and let them know He understood that they were confused, but He sought to help them understand – even in their confusion – that what He was talking about would be a good thing in the end. He sought to comfort them.

 

Yes, He said, there will be a time of sorrow. But it will be followed by a time of joy. To show them how a time of sorrow could turn into joy, Jesus used the example of childbirth. A woman going through childbirth endures great pain, but when the child is born, she rejoices. The pain is painful for sure, but it is insignificant compared to the joy produced by a newborn child.

 

Jesus does not deny that the disciples are about to endure significant pain. He wants them to be prepared for it. At the same time, although they do not yet understand how it could be so, Jesus teaches them that enduring the pain will be worth it all. His goal is to give them hope, to strengthen their hearts so that they can endure the pain. It is clear that they will be separated from Jesus for a while, because the contrast to their sorrow is the joy that comes when Jesus sees them again.

 

The joy that follows this trial involves several elements. For one, it is permanent. When the time of sorrow is over, there will be a joy that cannot be taken away. For another, it is clear. Although the disciples do not understand what Jesus is predicting here, they will understand exactly what the pain was all about and why they had to go through it; they will not need to ask any more questions. Finally, it will change part of their relationship with the Father. Before, the disciples did not ask for anything in Jesus’ name; after the pain, the disciples will ask the Father for things in Jesus’ name, and they will receive what they ask for! Jesus says that this will complete their joy. Everything the disciples could ask for, they will have. They will see Jesus, their joy will be permanent, they will understand the goodness of what God has done, and they will continue to receive every good thing they ask for in Jesus’ name! Their joy will, indeed, be complete!

 

Father, that joy has proven to be permanent. We still have it today. And there is a clear reason for joy: Jesus died to save us from our sins, and He rose from the dead to defeat death! The curse on this world has been conquered! And we can still ask for the things Jesus taught His disciples to ask for and receive them from the You – You give wisdom, understanding, peace, forgiveness, new hearts with which to love, new desires and inclinations – everything we need for life! And when it is Jesus’ will and we ask for what Jesus wants, we even receive renewed health, new jobs, and various other physical provisions for this earthly life, even though these things are only temporary until Jesus comes again! Father, thank You for such a complete joy! You are so good to us, Jesus’ disciples.

John 16:16-19

“A little while, and you will no longer behold Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” Some of His disciples therefore said to one another, "What is this thing He is telling us, `A little while, and you will not behold Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, `because I go to the Father'?" And so they were saying, "What is this that He says, `A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about." Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, "Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, `A little while, and you will not behold Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me'?

 

Jesus continues to prepare His disciples for the near future. He tells them, “A little while, and you will no longer behold Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

 

But the disciples are understandably confused. Looking back across two thousand years of church history and through the teachings of the New Testament that these disciples would later write once they understood, we see clearly. But the disciples at that point had not experienced the history Jesus was predicting. They felt that Jesus was speaking somewhat vaguely. In fact, he admits that He has spoken figuratively (and therefore less-than-clearly) in John 16:25. They didn’t understand what Jesus meant by this peek-a-boo prediction. And they didn’t understand why He was tying these predictions to a journey to the Father.

 

Jesus knew that His disciples were confused. He knew that they had questions. And while it is good for disciples to ask their questions, Jesus did not wait for them to ask a question. He spoke to them.

 

Father, thank You first of all that Jesus teaches the truth even when we disciples do not understand. Thank You that Your teachings are always trustworthy. Help me and other disciples when we are confused by Your teachings. Your ways are above us, and we are limited. We are not wise like You are wise, we do not know like You know, and we do not reason the way that You reason. Even worse, our sinful minds tend to distort the truth. Please bear with us in our confusion, and teach us to trust You and ask You for clarification when we do not understand Your teachings. Thank You that Jesus did not wait for the disciples to voice their confusion. Thank You that He spoke to them first – that You are a God who does not leave Your people alone in their confusion. Thank You for loving us and patiently continuing to teach us. Thank You for showing us that You understand our weaknesses, and that You care for us anyways.

 

John 16:12-15

12 "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 "He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. 15 "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you.

 

In addition to convicting the world, the Spirit will minister greatly to the disciples. How so? By completing the teachings of Jesus.

 

Jesus could not teach His disciples completely. They simply were not ready for all of His teachings. Especially here, prior to His death, they could not understand all that He would have liked them to grasp. But this did not mean that Jesus would never complete His teachings. He intended to do so when His disciples were ready. And He would do so through the Holy Spirit.

 

When the Spirit came, He would guide the disciples into all truth. How? On His own? No, but by speaking what He heard and announcing the things that were coming. Where would this teaching come from?

 

Well, the Spirit would glorify Jesus by teaching the disciples because the teaching would still be coming from Jesus. The Spirit glorified Jesus by teaching to the disciples what He heard from Jesus. And ultimately, these teachings came from the Father. This is not surprising, because Jesus has consistently taught the disciples that He is passing on God’s words and teachings. Even Jesus’ teachings are from the Father. But all that the Father has belongs to Jesus. So the Spirit is passing on Jesus’ teachings.

 

What a blessing! Jesus was providing His teachings to the disciples even after His departure. His complete teachings, which they still didn’t have. How? Through the Holy Spirit! Which is why we now have a New Testament. Because the Holy Spirit taught the disciples everything they needed to know and understand, and they recorded these things in the Scriptures. Not only the disciples, but we, too, have access to the complete teachings of Jesus! Everything we need to know, taught by the Spirit, through Jesus, from the Father. In our hands. What a good God!

 

Father, help me to receive the teachings of the Holy Spirit. Help me to read the Bible understanding that although men wrote the words, the words came by the Holy Spirit through Jesus from You. You are still teaching us today, because we still have Your teachings! Help me to depend on them. Completely. To understand them, and how to live because of them. Help me to trust them, even when I don’t understand entirely. Help my attitude toward Your words to be an attitude of trust, and help me to demonstrate my trust as You teach me to understand more and more by the way that I live.

 

John 16:8-11

8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

 

As Jesus continues to teach His disciples why they should be glad that the Holy Spirit is coming, He explains that the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. Jesus also explains why this is true.

 

The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin because the world does not believe in Jesus. The Holy Spirit has been sent, though, to carry on the words of Jesus (John 14:25; 15:26). And Jesus’ words were constantly pointing out the sins of those who falsely believed they were innocent. The Holy Spirit Jesus would send to the disciples was coming to keep convicting the world of sins, because the world did not believe in Jesus and was still lost in sin as a result. Conviction of sin is an important aspect of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

 

The Holy Spirit will also convict the world of righteousness, but not in the same way as He convicts the world of sin. The sin is their own; the righteousness is from Jesus. Because Jesus is going to the Father so that the world (and even the disciples) can no longer see Him, the Holy Spirit has been sent into the world to convict people that righteousness exists – that true righteousness can be found in Jesus Christ. Because of the Holy Spirit, true righteousness can still be seen in the world, even though Jesus is with the Father.

 

Lastly, the Holy Spirit will convict the world of judgment. We seem to live in an age, at least in America, when many people agree about sin. Many people are willing to say that everyone sins. But sin is minimized. It is considered to be no big deal. Why? Because it is “human” and “common,” and therefore many people refuse to believe that there is any judgment for sin. Everyone sins, and “it’s crazy to think that everyone would be judged for being human” – that’s the attitude. But the Holy Spirit will come into the world, says Jesus, to convict the world of judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. If Satan has been judged – and by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he has been judged – then all who continue to align themselves with Satan rather than with Jesus Christ should expect judgment for their sins.

 

The Holy Spirit has come. He has come to continue to teach the message Jesus taught. Men are sinners. Jesus is righteous. And Jesus is our only hope, because sinners will be judged. The Holy Spirit has come to warn people. He lived in the disciples. And He still lives in Jesus’ disciples. So we are to participate in this ministry. Part of our work in this world, by the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, is a ministry of warning this sinful world of people about the judgment that is coming on them because they sin against our perfectly righteous Savior, Jesus Christ. We are to point to His righteousness as proof, by contrast, of the world’s sinfulness.

 

Father, it is a scary thing to push against the world, to know that the message I should proclaim is offensive to them. But You are God, while the world is full of mere men, and its ruler has already been judged. Help me to be faithful to proclaim Jesus’ righteousness and live within the hope that Jesus’ righteousness has brought to me while also being very honest about the sins within this world. May the Holy Spirit be the One convicting people, and may I speak only what He says, which is what Jesus says, which is what You say. May I faithfully carry Your words to people as the Holy Spirit guides me to understand what You have taught by Your words in the Bible.

 

John 16:5-7

5 "But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, `Where are You going?' 6 "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

 

Not to minimize the rest of this text, but I want to emphasize Jesus’ main point. The disciples were sad that Jesus was going away. But Jesus says that His going is beneficial to them, because He will send the Holy Spirit to them.

 

That’s it. That’s the main point. We sometimes wish that Jesus were still physically walking on earth now. And we look forward to His return – as we should! But until He returns and sets all things right, it is actually better for us to have the Holy Spirit with us believers than it would be to have Jesus physically here while the world has not been made new. The Holy Spirit is present with all believers everywhere, and He is doing Jesus’ work all over the world! We should be grateful that, as long as Jesus has not set all things right, He has put us in the best possible situation for us by sending the Holy Spirit. According to Jesus’ own words, we believers are better off to have the Holy Spirit with us than we would be to have Jesus physically with us. Jesus has left us in the best possible situation in this life!

 

Thank You, Father and Jesus, for sending the Holy Spirit to us. Thank You for not leaving us alone. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to be with all believers everywhere!