John Chapter 14:15-31 by Mark Dunagan

The Gospel Of John Chapter 14:15-31

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” “If you love Me”-love is a choice, love is an act of the will. ‘it..bids the disciples to question themselves whether they have it and show it as they should’ (Lenski p. 994) The present tense is used in the above verse, ‘Jesus is talking about a continuing attitude of love’ (Morris p. 648). Literally, ‘if you keep on loving Me, you will keep My commandments.’

“you will keep”-The commandments of God can be kept! Which means that the commandments of God are understandable and the commands of God are fitted for the man that God made (1 John 5:3).

“My commandments”-Note the plural word “commandments”. We cannot accept the argument that the only commandment which we need to keep is the command to love each other (13:34). In fact, even this commandment contains many other commandments (Romans 13:9-10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Also note that Jesus didn’t talk about keeping the Law of Moses. A definite change is going to take place in the near future, these men are going to be soon living under the Law of Christ, the New Covenant. Points To Note: 1.

Barclay notes, ‘John never allowed love to devolve into a sentiment or emotion. Its expression is always moral and is revealed in obedience. We know all too well how in life there are those who protest their love in words, and who use the outward actions of love, but who, at the same time, bring pain and heartbreak to those whom they claim to love. There are children and young people who would say that they love their parents, and who yet cause grief and anxiety to them. There are husbands who say that they love their wives, and wives who say that they love their husbands, and who yet, by their inconsiderateness and their irritability and their thoughtless unkindness bring pain the one to the other.’ (pp. 193-194) 2. To Jesus, the words ‘obedience’ or ‘commands of God’ where not unspiritual concepts. Rather, they were the genuine proof of real love (14:21, 23-24; 14:15; 1 John 2:3-5; 5:3). He demonstrated His love for His Father by keeping the will of the Father, by doing what was pleasing in the sight of the Father. He expects us to do the same thing. 3. ‘The existence of love for Jesus is easy to determine, “my precepts will you guard”. The entire statement is like an axiom; nor is there an exception.’ (Lenski p. 995) 4. At times people will object to the above comments, and will say, ‘Well, I know someone who is very strict with the Bible and yet is a terrible example.’ Note: Jesus didn’t say that love is shown by the 1

person who keeps a couple of requirements (the Pharisees did that), but one who keeps the commandments (plural) of Jesus, which include faithfulness and submission to all areas of the Christian life.

John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” “another”-This word suggests that Jesus Himself had been the First Helper. The Holy Spirit (14:17) would be “another” Helper. The word translated “another” in this verse, means “another of the same kind”. It is not the word “heteron” which means another of a different kind or class. Thus the clear inference is that the Holy Spirit is of the same nature as the Son, that is, the Holy Spirit is also Divine (Acts 5:3-4). Therefore, the Holy Spirit is also equal with the Father, equal in honor, equal in power, eternal, and the exact representation of the Father’s nature (Hebrews 1:3; John 1:1; 5:18-23). The Holy Spirit is also “one” with the Son and the Father (John 10:30).

“Helper”-the Greek word is here “parakleton”. Literally it means “one called alongside to strengthen or help”. The Greeks used the word in a variety of ways, ‘A parakletos might be a person called in to give witness in a law court in someone’s favor; he might be an advocate called in to plead someone’s cause when someone was under a charge which would issue in serious penalty..He might be a person called in when, for example, a company of soldiers were depressed and dispirited to put new courage into their minds and hearts…is someone called in to help when the person who calls him is in trouble, or distress or doubt or bewilderment.’ (Barclay p. 194). Many note that the word ‘Helper’ or ‘Comforter’ means more of an advocate, a legal friend. Carefully note that the disciples are not calling the Spirit to their side, but Jesus is. Jesus called Himself a ‘Helper’ (1 John 2:1).

“that He may be with you forever”Points To Note: 1. Harkrider notes, ‘This promise of the Holy Spirit does not imply that He was not on earth already. He had revealed truth and guided God’s people in ages past (2 Peter 1:20-21). But Jesus was promising the apostles that they too would have the Holy Spirit at their side to comfort, encourage, aid, counsel, and assist them in the preaching of the risen Savior (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-13).’ (pp. 98-99) 2. Woods notes, ‘He would be with them as a comforter unto the ages. That is, so long as they continued their work on the earth. He was with them in the same sense that Christ promised to be with them “unto the ends of the world” in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)…It is, of course, quite true that the teaching which the Spirit would do through the apostles would continue with faithful saints, and remain in the world forever (1 Peter 1:23-25).’ (p. 312) 3. From other passages it is clear that the Spirit would not continue to reveal new truth forever, or new truth to each generation (Jude 3; 2 Peter 1:3). All truth, would be revealed through these men (John 16:13).

“He”-The Holy Spirit is a Person. He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30); lied to (Acts 5:3) and so on. The Holy Spirit is not some mysterious influence and neither is the Spirit the impersonal “power” of God.

John 14:17 “that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.” “the Spirit of truth”-The ‘Helper’ in the previous verse is the Holy Spirit (14:26). He is called the ‘Spirit of Truth’, because He is the revealer of all Divine Truth (John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:11-13). His nature is also that of truth, just like the Father and the Son, there is no darkness in the Holy Spirit either (1 John 1:5).

“whom the world cannot receive”-This statement is not saying that people in the world cannot be influenced by the teachings of the Spirit, for they can (Acts 2:37; Romans 1:16). But as long as people want Satan’s lie instead of God’s truth, one cannot receive the truth. The “world” in the above verse, refers to those who are hostile to God, those who refuse to have God in their knowledge (Romans 1:18-32), people who refuse to receive a love of the truth (2 Thess. 2:10-12); those who love darkness more than light (John 3:19-21). The reader needs to be impressed that the ‘unspiritual person’ or the ‘natural man’ (1 Cor. 2:14), isn’t someone born depraved, but rather, someone who deliberately is choosing to remain unspiritual, someone who doesn’t want to see or hear the truth.

“because it does not behold Him or know Him”-a case in point, the Pharisees ascribed the Spirit’s actions to Beelzebub (Matthew 12:22-27), and some on Pentecost, to ‘new wine’ (Acts 2:13).

“but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you”-in a sense the Spirit had already been with them in the teachings of Jesus. And they already knew Him or acknowledged Him in that they were yielding to what Jesus was teaching. And the Spirit would simply reveal to them, what Jesus had already taught (14:26). On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), the Spirit would come upon them, and they would be baptized in the Spirit (Acts 1:4-5,8).

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Points To Note:

1. Though, He would soon be physically removed from their presence, they would not be abandoned. Only a little while would they be by themselves (the time He was in the tomb). 2. What coming does Jesus refer to at the end of this verse? Jesus would spend 40 days with the disciples after the resurrection (Acts 1:3), about ten days after that, they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). But the post-resurrection appearances only lasted for a short-time, thus the ‘coming’ under consideration seems to be the ‘coming of the Spirit’. ‘He would come to them in his agent, the Holy Spirit’ (Woods p. 313). ‘The death of Jesus means his return, a return for a higher and a richer union than that before his death and departure. This return is connected with the gift of the Spirit.’ (Lenski p. 1002)

John 14:19 “After a little while the world will behold Me no more; but you will behold Me; because I live, you shall live also.” “After a little while”-By late afternoon on the next day, Jesus would be in the tomb. While Jesus appeared to His disciples, He didn’t appear to His enemies.

“but you will behold Me”-They did see Him physically before He ascended into heaven, but more could be under consideration. In a figurative sense, through the inspiration given them by the Holy Spirit, they would continue to behold Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). The phrase “a little while” makes it clear that Jesus isn’t talking about events in the distant future, such as the Second Coming, or what will happen when they die.

“because I live, you shall live also”-Our spiritual life is directly tied to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Another verse which makes it clear that without the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, there would be no salvation. Paul made the same point in 1 Corinthians 15:12-20.

John 14:20 “In that day you shall know that I am in the Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” “In that day”-that is, in the day when Jesus lives and they live. We can say for certain that on the Day of Pentecost, that the disciples understood the above truths, especially the relationship that Jesus has with the Father (Acts 2:36).

“you in Me, and I in you”-obviously, we don’t indwell Jesus’ person, hence the verse isn’t teaching a personal indwelling of Jesus Himself in our bodies. But it does reveal the close, tender and intimate relationship that will exist between Jesus and His disciples. As there is a ethical and spiritual unity between the Father and the Son, there should also be such a relationship between Jesus and His people (John 17:21). This also includes a unity of attitude and beliefs. The believer must be submissive to Jesus and so in tune with Jesus,

that one could say that they have the attitude that was in Jesus (Philippians 2:5) or that Jesus is living in them (Galatians 2:20).

John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will disclose Myself to him.” “has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me” Points To Note: 1.

First of all, the verse infers that believers will have the “commandments of Jesus”. That the commandments will be accessible to all. This clearly means that the commands of Jesus will be written down and preserved for all time in the Bible (1 Peter 1:23). 2. Secondly, the verse admits that such commandments are not only understandable, but capable of being observed. 3. Thirdly, that such commandments are reasonable, even delightful, for they reflect a love for Jesus (1 John 5:3; Romans 12:1-2). 4. From the above verse it is clear that the Holy Spirit would never move anyone to disobey the will of Jesus or argue that the commandments of Jesus are optional. Or that stressing obedience to the will of God is being a legalist. 5. It is also clear that ‘there can be no mistake about how men and women are to show their love to Christ—by keeping His word.’ (Butler p. 255) 6. The mere possession or contemplation of such commandments isn’t enough. Morris notes, ‘once again love to Christ is expressed in ethical terms…The meaning appears to be to make the commandments one’s own, to take them into one’s inner being…to observe them in daily life is more than to have a firm intellectual grasp of their content…The lover keeps the commandments of the loved one. He is also saying that the Father is not indifferent to the attitude men take to the Son.’ (pp. 652-653) Woods notes, ‘To have the commandments is to treasure them in one’s heart; to keep them, is to obey them fully. Thus, the requirement is more than a slavish adherence to a set of rules or the outward mechanical conformity to a plan neither understood nor appreciated, but an intelligent, meaningful and precious conformity to the commandments because of him who imposed them.’ (p. 314) I like that last comment. The person who truly keeps the commandments of God is the person who has learned to value and cherish them, to appreciate their wisdom and to love what God is trying to accomplish.

“he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father”-that is, he who loves Jesus by keeping Jesus’ commandments will be loved by the Father. Which means that the opposite is also true. One cannot treat Jesus will disrespect or apathy and expect to have the approval of the Father.

“will disclose Myself to him”-‘does not refer to revelations in a special feeling of the nearness of Jesus, or to a consciousness of spiritual power..or to direct inner impressions of Christ’s glory in glimpses of the other world.’ (Lenski p. 1008) If this is a promise to 5

all the faithful, then the person who keeps the commands of Jesus, because they love Jesus and appreciates all that He represents, will understand Jesus, will get a clearer view of Jesus than those who are merely giving Jesus lip service, or those who are being obedient but are resenting the rules that they must obey. For all practical purposes, those in the New Hermeneutic, are the type of individuals who profess a love for Jesus, all the while resenting the commands of Jesus. When we start trying to separate Jesus from the commands in the New Testament, we have just fallen out of love with Him.

John 14:22 ‘Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world?”’ ‘Judas (not Iscariot)’-Note that God is helping us so that we don’t misunderstand. ‘No one is to suppose that the traitor had possibly come back.’ (Lenski p. 1009) Judas was one of the twelve apostles (in contrast to the physical brother which Jesus had who bore the same name, and who didn’t believe in Jesus, even after Jesus had chosen His apostles-John 7:5), he is called the son of James (Mark 6:16; Acts 1:13) and is probably the same individual as Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3). Morris notes, ‘Incidentally the repeated interruptions of this solemn discourse, as the disciples put the questions that puzzle them, illustrates graphically the fact that they were indeed the “friends of Jesus” (15:14f.) and were perfectly at home with Him.’ (p. 654)

“what then has happened”-Clearly, Judas understood the word “manifest” or “disclose” as to mean a physical manifestation of Jesus’ power and glory. ‘Like the Jews in general he expects the Messiah to stand forth in all His glory before all mankind. The way he puts it seems to imply that he now thinks that something has happened to disrupt our Lord’s planned program.’ (Morris p. 654)

John 14:23 ‘Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.”’ “If anyone loves Me”-Salvation will be open to all, membership in the kingdom of God, will be available to anyone who wants to love Jesus. Jesus is answering Judas’ question: 1. The Kingdom of God, the Messianic Kingdom will be for those who obey Him, physical ancestry will mean nothing, in and of itself. 2. The ‘manifestation’ or ‘disclosure’ that Jesus is talking about (14:21), isn’t a manifestation in the physical sense of Him ruling over an earthly empire. Rather, it is a spiritual manifestation—which is only given to the obedient. This disclosure is a relationship, a relationship between God and His people, a relationship based on the sacrifice of Jesus and the believer’s acceptance and obedience to the will of Jesus. 3. Once again, the acid test of love is obedience to the commands of Jesus (1 John 2:3-5; 5:3).

“We will come to him, and make Our abode with him”-Only the obedient can have a relationship with God. Which means, that obedience is a condition of salvation. One isn’t saved, one doesn’t have a relationship with the Father prior to obeying the will of Jesus, which includes submitting to baptism (Mark 16:16). The phrase “make Our abode with him”, indicates a very close and intimate relationship. It doesn’t mean a literal or personal indwelling by the Father and Son in the believer, for the believer is also said to dwell in God and Christ (John 15:4; 1 John 4:13). Rather, it is the language of a close relationship, a unity between the obedient believer and all the members of the Godhead.

John 14:24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” “does not love…does not keep My words”-We may try to blame other things, such as circumstances or environment for our lack of submission to the will of God. But we typically disobey Jesus, when we love something more than Him, like ourselves, pleasure, money, status, and so on.

“the word which you hear is not Mine”-‘Love is not regarded in this Gospel as an abstract emotion. It is something intensely practical.’ (Morris p. 655) Therefore, to ignore or downplay the words of Jesus, the commands in the New Testament is a direct insult to the Father’s authority. Any theory which attempts to justify the person who sets aside the commands of God is a slap in the face to God. ‘Refusal to cherish the Word means rejection of the Father with all the consequences this involves.’ (Lenski p. 1012) Be impressed that only two classes of people exist. Those who obey and those who don’t. Often people complain that we worship the New Testament instead of worshipping Jesus. While Jesus must always remain the Savior, Jesus inherently connected the worship of Him, love for His Father and Himself, with obeying the commands in the New Testament. Jesus didn’t say, ‘Preach the man, not the plan.’

John 14:25 “These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you.” “while abiding with you”-‘The statement of verse 25 puts in contrast what the Lord had said to them while yet with them, and that which would be revealed to them through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit in the days to come (14:26).’ (Woods p. 316) ‘”While yet abiding with you” indicates that the earthly abiding was near it end.’ (Morris p. 656)

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

Points To Note: 1.

The above promise is not a promise for all believers to be miraculously guided into the truth. The verse clearly limits the application to those who had previously heard Jesus teach, those who had been with Him, i.e. the apostles. 2. The above verse clearly helps us understand the process of inspiration and why we have a New Testament. 3. The Apostles would be guided into all the truths which Jesus wanted revealed (John 16:13), all truths necessary for our salvation (2 Peter 1:3), all truths which are part of the “one faith” (Jude 3). 4. In recording the life of Christ, they would not be left to their own fallible memories. Therefore, the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are an inspired and infallible account of what Jesus actually said and did. And the Epistles “teach you all things” are just as infallible. Carefully note, in one verse Jesus places on an equal status of importance and inspiration, both the Gospels and the Epistles. Who is man to say that the information in one group is more important than the information in the other? Jesus didn’t believe that one group was the ‘gospel’ and the other wasn’t. 5. In light of the above verse, we must reject those who claim that the opinions, prejudices, preconceived ideas and ignorance of the apostles tainted what they wrote. Rather, if anything is tainted, it is the writings the so-called scholars who criticize the writings of the Apostles. Their is a tremendous amount of biblical ignorance, prejudice and dishonesty in the writings of those who claim to be experts. I have found that the goal of certain scholars seems to be to interpret the teachings of Jesus as meaning that we don’t have the change the way we are presently living. 6. Note, each believer would not be guided by the Spirit. ‘When men began to imagine that their hunches, their intuition and their dreams are leadings of the Holy Spirit, they do not hesitate to renounce the clear, plain teachings of the Spirit…’ (Woods p. 317). 7. Seeing that the Holy Spirit revealed the New Testament, it must be self-evident that the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with the religious teacher who is teaching something which contradicts the New Testament. The ‘Spirit-led’ congregation is the congregation which is content to follow the teachings of the New Testament.

John 14:27 “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, nor let it be fearful.” “Peace I leave with you; My peace..not as the world gives” Points To Note: 1. The subject of “peace” naturally follows that of keeping the commands of Jesus, for there is no real peace for the person who rebels against God. 2. Jesus knows that the word “gives” a type of peace. But it is a temporary and shallow peace, a peace often dependent upon outward circumstances. The world tries hard to push it’s variety of peace. Society tries to convince us that safety is found outside of Christ, that God will automatically save everyone, that the next life for just about everyone will be pleasant. 3. Barclay notes, ‘The peace which the world offers us is the peace of escape, the

peace which comes from the avoidance of trouble, the peace which comes from refusing to face things.’ (p. 199)

“Let not your heart be troubled”-‘Do not allow your hearts to be unsettled or intimidated’ (Ber). Notice the word “let”. The peace which Jesus brings isn’t forced upon the believer. Jesus offers such peace, but we must accept it, we must believe it. An automatic condition of tranquillity doesn’t fall upon the individual who becomes a Christian. Rather, the child of God must believe that all will be well with those who obey Jesus, regardless of how distressful things might be in their daily lives (John 16:33; Acts 14:22). Jesus described what should be a part of this peace in Matthew 6:25-34 and Philippians 4:4-8. Point To Note: The above peace also includes peace with God (Ephesians 2:13ff). ‘There is, as Jesus implies, a peace which the world can give. Temporary freedom from distraction, anxiety, and strife, is often obtainable, enabling men to settle down for a short time at least to do what they want to do, and live their lives in their own way with relatively little inference… the is the peace of false security (Jeremiah 6:14).’ (Tasker p. 168) The peace from God is a peace which can exist even when there is no comfort in body. A peace which can face persecution, pain, torture and death. ‘His peace did not consist in freedom from turmoil and suffering, but in a calm undeviating devotion to the will of God.’ (Tenney p. 225)

John 14:28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.” “If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I go to the Father”-‘Had they loved him sufficiently, they would have realized that this departure would bring glory to Him!’ (Hendriksen p. 288)

“for the Father is greater than I”-Obviously, not greater in nature, essence, or power. For Jesus has already clearly asserted His equality with the Father (John 5:23; 10:30; 1:1). Jesus had come to this earth, and came as a servant (Philippians 2:5-8). The Father was greater in the sense that Jesus had voluntarily taken a submissive role, in becoming flesh (John 1:14). He chose the role of being in subjection to the Father and manifesting dependence upon the Father while upon this earth. Harkrider notes, ‘we can conceive how two can be equal in nature, yet one be in subjection to another. A wife is in subjection to her husband, yet both are equal before God (equal in nature) (Ephesians 5:22-25; Galatians 3:26-27). The president of the United States is greater in authority, but he is only a man equal in nature with all men.’ (p. 100)

John 14:29 “And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it comes to pass, you may believe.” “when it comes to pass, you may believe”-This is the reason as to why Jesus gave them information which as yet they weren’t comprehending. God can use the present confusion and ignorance of these men to strength their faith in the future. ‘Jesus’ words will have a greater effect in the future…They will trust their Master all the more when they see His words verified.’ (Morris p. 659) ‘How deeply must these men have probed their memories and reflected on his teaching in the weeks and months following as they observed his predictions, one by one, come to pass!’ (Woods p. 319) In addition, when the Holy Spirit started to guide them into all truth, imagine the times they kicked themselves and thought, ‘How could we have been so blind? What Jesus was saying was so obvious!’

John 14:30 “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;” “I will not speak much more with you”-Following His words in the Garden (chapter 18), that will basically end all communication between Jesus and the 12 as a group, until the events following His resurrection.

“ruler of the world is coming”-that is, Satan. Which means that Judas and the group that came to arrest Jesus was siding with the will of Satan. ‘In the coming of Judas and the soldiers Jesus saw the coming of the evil one…There the forces of good and evil were engaged.’ (Morris p. 659)

“he has nothing in Me”-‘He has no hold on me’ (Mof); ‘no rights over me’(NEB); ‘He has no claim on Me’ (Beck). ‘It is sin which gives Satan his hold on men, but there is no sin in Jesus…”There is no point at which He can take hold”’ (Morris p. 660) Points To Note: 1.

‘There is no doubt from this passage and others that Jesus was aware of His own sinlessness. No critic of the Bible has the right to say that Jesus did not know whether He was sinless or divine—or, that He never said he was without sin.’ (Butler p. 264) 2. It would appear that Satan also knew the sinlessness of Jesus, and yet Satan proceeded in his attempt to destroy the Son of God. Satan doesn’t care if one is innocent or not! Satan could care less about justice or mercy.

John 14:31 “but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.”

“but that the world may know…..even so I do”-Notice the courage of Jesus and His love for mankind. His death was completely voluntary, the innocent for the guilty. Being sinless, He would die anyway. His determination to meet the forces which would have Him put to death, was an expression of His love for the Father. The verse also says something about the person who reads about the death of Jesus and isn’t impressed.

“Arise, let us go from here”-Which means the material which composes chapters 1314 had been spoken while Jesus and the disciples were still in the upper room. Point To Note: Chapter 18:1 reads, ‘When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden’. Thus the words found in John 15-17, including Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17 took place somewhere between the upper room and the garden of Gethsemane. Morris notes, ‘Anyone who has tried to get a group of a dozen or so to leave a particular place at a particular time will appreciate that it usually takes more than one brief exhortation to accomplish this. There is nothing at all unlikely in an interval between the uttering of the words and the departure of the group. And if an interval, then there is no reason why Jesus should not have continued to speak during it.’ (p. 661)