13 day plan

Parting Words: Jesus’ Insights for his Disciples

Day 9 of 13

NIV

John 14:22-24

22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

Reflection:

Judas (Thaddeus, not Iscariot) asks an important question, ‘Why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ (verse 22). There was an expectation, common at the time, that when Messiah came, he would reveal himself with a startling display of power. He would establish an earthly rule and drive out the Roman rulers.

Jesus insists that his appearing will be in people’s hearts and lives. ‘My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them’ (verse 23).

To just reflect on this one verse is ample for today. If we are obedient to Jesus’ teaching, hearing his word and responding to it by following him, amazing promises flow.

God the Father loves us and comes to us, along with the Son, and they make their home in our lives. While Jesus will leave the disciples to go to prepare an eternal dwelling place for them, at the same time, he joins with the Father to make a dwelling place in the heart of the believer today and every day. This dwelling takes place through the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus coming and living in our hearts.

In Ephesians 3, Paul puts it this way. ‘I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith’ (Ephesians 3:16-17a).  The Holy Spirit lives in our inner being; this is described as Christ dwelling in our hearts.

All of this anticipates the end of time when, as John puts it, ‘Now the dwelling place of God is with human beings, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God’ (Revelation 21:3).

The great joy of the Christian is the knowledge of God living with us. His personal presence is a great source of assurance and inner confidence. Our response is one of love and obedience.

Prayer:

Give thanks that God has made his home in your heart along with Christ and the Holy Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill your heart afresh today and to reassure you of his presence, wisdom and help.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.

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John 14:1-31

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus the Way to the Father

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15“If you love me, keep my commands. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.