The Father And Son At Home With - John 14:22-27
Jonathan Stephen -
In
the Upper Room, as Jesus begins to explain more about his departure, there is a
growing sense of anxiety and bewilderment among the disciples. Judas is the
latest to betray his confusion, in verse 22. It is hardly surprising. Jesus has
already spoken of two different 'comings' in Chapter 14. (Verse 3 refers to his
coming at the end of the world, while verse 18 refers to his resurrection.)
Then, in his answer in verse 23, Jesus introduces a third 'coming' (by the
Spirit after the Day of Pentecost).
The Holy Spirit at work in us
No
wonder Jesus reassures Judas that all will be made plain when the Holy Spirit
comes and tells them all they will need to know (verses 25-26). In a less
exalted sense, this promise is ours as well. The Holy Spirit tells us everything
we need to know to understand the Bible and to live a holy life. He will also
be pleased to remind us of appropriate Scriptures. (Of course, he cannot remind
us of anything we have not previously read and considered!) So, let's see if we
can be helped to understand what baffled Judas at the time.
Read verses 23-24. There can be no doubt about the
connexion between love and obedience in this passage. (Compare verses 15 and
21, considered last week.) Clearly, anyone who imagines that he loves Jesus
while neglecting his word is deluded. But we also learn here that the Lord will
reveal himself to those who truly love him and that both he and his Father will
make their home with them.
The Father and the Son at home with us
The
Father - and Son, compare John 15:26 – have sent us the Holy Spirit, to convict
and reassure, to warn and to guide, to make us more like Christ and prepare us
for glory. But somehow, in a way no theologian can fully explain, the Father
and Son indwell us too! The believer is home to the Triune God!
This
is a foretaste, an anticipation, of the glorious future that awaits the
universe. Read Revelation 21:1-4. One day, God-will dwell in his creation as he
did at the beginning (Genesis 3:8). Until then, as a pledge of what will be, he
chooses to dwell in the only part of the redeemed new creation that already
exists: the Church of Jesus Christ. In answer to Judas' question (verse 22), of
course the Lord could not entrust himself to a sinful, God-hating world in this
way.
Are
you part of the
The peace of Christ assuring us
This
section concludes with one of the Saviour's most famous sayings. Read verse 27.
This verse finishes with the same consoling command as opens the Chapter. The
verse is clearly a verse of farewell but, equally clearly, he cannot yet bring
himself to part from them! Peace is Jesus' great legacy to his people. It is
the fruit of the cross, where he secured peace between God and sinners. This
peace becomes ours the moment we trust Christ for salvation (Romans 5:1). But
here in John 14 it is the experience of this peace in our lives that
Jesus is speaking about.
The world's peace is merely outward and transient;
the peace that Jesus gives is inward and permanent. He is the Prince of Peace
(Isaiah 9:6). He has established an everlasting covenant of peace (Ezekiel 37:26).
This peace is to have a life-changing impact upon the way we think, speak and
behave (Philippians 4:6-7; Colossians 3:15). When you know the peace that Jesus
gives, you know Shalom. You are filled with the assurance of salvation
and rejoice in God's promises to his children. Ultimately, it means you know
that wherever you are led, and whatever happens to you, it is well with your
soul.