A.
Jesus the way to the Father (Jn 14:1-14)
B.
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit and gave His peace (Jn.14:15-31)
1.
Introduction
– background – disciples’ understanding, perception and expectations of the
Messiah
The disciples, 11 of them
(Judas Iscariot had left-see Jn 13) were truly troubled and actually very
depressed.
Why?
-
They had all the time thinking their Lord is the Messiah who will
deliver them from the rule of the Roman Empire and establish and restore the
glory of the kingdom of Israel just as they had before during the time of King
David. They had left their jobs, families and followed Jesus for more than 3
years.
-
They were hoping to get a position of authority in the new kingdom
(John and James had asked for seats one at the left and one at the right of
Jesus). Theey were disouting who is the greatest among them!
-
Now they heard Jesus telling them He is going to die! What a blow
to their hope!
-
Then they were told one of them is going to betray Him – they
could not think it is possible and reasonable
-
Then worst still Jesus said Peter is going to deny Him 3 times.
What?
In fact the disciples were truly depressed and afraid because what
they had been hoping for now collapse just before their very own eyes.
They dreamed of being great people reigning with their Master
Jesus, James and John even asking to be seated one on the left and one on the
right hand of Jesus when He comes in His glory.
If you have been hoping that God will do something but after a
long wait, something happens that were not in accord with what you wish, what
will you do?
Even after resurrection and before Jesus ascended
to the Father, the disciples still thinking about the restoration of the
kingdom of Israel and asked the Lord, the Messiah Acts 1: 6-11
2.
John
14:3 – 7 Jesus comforted them and assured them of His coming back to take them
to be with Him where He is – He is the way to the Father
Jesus is the way to the Father
Nobody can and had said
that he is the way to God.
Both Jesus’ words and
His works were a perfect revelation of His Deity.
Acts 4: 12:
Peter
when confronted by the religious rulers after the healing of a cripple declared
salvation only in Jesus.
Jesus is going to take us to
Him so that where He is we are
I think if we can be
personally present with Jesus, it wouldn't really matter where we were.
3.
John
14:10-11, 18-20 – Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Jesus
Answer
to prayer is not to satisfy our fanciful or selfish desires but the primary
purpose and goal is that the Father is glorified, that God the Father is
honored and when that happens, actually that’s when we are truly blessed.
They
would not die then, they would continue to live and be witnesses for Jesus.
More than that they will truly live as Jesus is alive forever.
4.
John
14:15–17; 21-26 Jesus promised the Holy Spirit – who is another Counselor
exactly like Him to be with them and in them all the time
The
key is to know Jesus - if we truly know Him, we will Love Him and if we love
Him we will obey or keep His commandements and His words – this is true faith
and trust
5.
John
14:27 Jesus gave them His peace – not as the world gives
How to have true peace? Rom 5:1; Col 3:14-16; Isa 26:3; Rom 12:18;
Heb 12:14; Mat 5:9
6.
Conclusion
– we need to know and love Jesus – trust Him in all circumstances all the time
John 14:15, 21, 23, 24, 28, 31
When we grow in knowing God and Jesus, we will love and experience
and know more and more, and will have deeper relationship with the Father and
Jesus and we will trust Jesus more and more.
The Lord here repeats that God has fellowship only with those
whose hearts welcome Him, who love Him, and whose love is manifested by
submission to His Word
We are asured that “Nothing
can separate us from the love of Christ for us!” (Rom 8:35-39)
What & how to live
We live for Christ who lives in
us
"Therefore we have been buried
with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead
through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life"
(Romans 6:4).
Love and obedience
Jesus
shows what an inseparable connection there is between love and obedience; love
is the root, obedience is the fruit. Developing a loving and deep realtionship
with Jesus is the key.
The
Lord Jesus do not force people or us to love and obey His words. Jesus cannot
manifest His love to those whose hearts are closed to Him. We have to open our
hearts to believe and accept what have been freely given to us.
Walk a life of righteousness by loving Jesus.
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