There are two sermons here...

John 14:15-21

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever, 17 the 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. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

PRAY

Was night before Jesus was crucified. He had predicted his crucifixion and his betrayal by Judas who had already left. Disciples were confused, upset, insecure about what would happen. They had hoped Jesus would lead them to military victory over Rome. Not die on a cross. Jesus promises 'another counsellor', verse 16 who will be with the disciples. He talks of unity. The unity of believers through a bond of love. The unity of the Father, Son, and believers through the bond of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus talks of the presence of God through himself, and through the Holy Spirit, neither of whom can be seen by 'the world'.

( Illustrate ) imagine I have just told you I am going to leave. God has called me to serve him a long way away. Yet replaced by new minister who will be able to be with every one of you all of the time. Who will be with you and inside you all of the time rather than with you for an hour or so on a Sunday, and occasionally mid-week ! I say would like to stay but I have to go in order that the new minister can come. My final command to you is to love each other.

This is what Jesus is doing here, in some senses.

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.

Frustrating thing about being a parent is that we tell children what to do for their own good. Motivated by love & their interests. Yet they don't do it !

Jesus says the true evidence of a mature love for him is to obey his command. What command ? See 13:34. Future of gospel will depend upon the unity of these eleven remaining disciples.

Love is to be sacrificial, putting others interests before one's own as evidenced by Jesus washing the disciples feet earlier that evening, and by Jesus' death on the cross the next day.

The unity of the disciples should be a mirror of the love and obedience that exists between God the Father and God the Son. See verse 21, " Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Starts off the same as verse 15 but expands this to show that the disciples will love and obey Jesus and he will love them, just as Jesus obeyed God the Father and is loved by him.

It is not that we have to earn God's love. Romans 5:8, 'For God showed his love for us in this, whilst we were still sinners Christ died for us.' But true love shows itself in action.

Verse 16, " And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever, 17 the Spirit of truth."

'another counsellor' = paracletos. Legal assistant, or advocate, call alongside to encourage, help, defend, strengthen.

Another, like Jesus, but different. Jesus restricted whilst on earth by human body. Only be in one place at one time, speaking to one person or group, healing one person or group, leading one person or group. Yet Holy Spirit can be anywhere and everywhere, speaking, healing, leading. Currently ministering all over the world in churches like ours as well as individual's lives.

Spirit of truth. Verse 6, Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life'. Shows unity. Spirit leads us into all truth. Do not have to be afraid of the truth as Christians. Our faith can stand up to examination, and so should we be able to, even if that truth leads to contrition, confession of sin and repentance.

Western world contradiction. Science says prove it. For something to be real it must be seen, touched, measured in some way. Yet today's society is very subjective. It is about what pleasure I get from something. Yet this attitude is devastating our community and family lives. People are scarred by relationships built on pleasure which amounts to selfishness, rather than true love. Children are missing a father, or perhaps they have several, leaving them confused, angry, unstable.

17 "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. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me."

The disciples would feel very alone after the crucifixion, like orphans. Without their leader who they had followed for 3 years. Fearful of the authorities who might persecute them. Jesus says I will come to you. Come to you as a risen saviour. Come to you as the Holy Spirit.

'The world' is those who reject God, in Jesus. After his resurrection Jesus appeared to those who were his followers. After his ascension Jesus is seen through the eyes of faith by the work of the Holy Spirit who works on those who are coming to faith, and who works in those who have come to faith. That is a true and living reality. It will be observed by unbelievers in the way that Christians live and relate to one another. 13:35 'By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.'

Verse 19b, "Because I live, you also will live."

Our whole faith rests upon a saviour who lives. If Jesus had not conquered death his self-sacrifice on the cross would have been worthless. We could not have a personal relationship with him and with God the father. He would not be interceding on our behalf and be able to sympathise with our difficulties.

In John the word for life, 'zoe' is not just about keeping breathing. It is about a life lived in a right relationship with God. This is the life that Jesus gives to his followers. 'Life in all it's fullness'. It is a resurrection life that has conquered death and will result in us having perfect resurrection bodies and being with God into eternity.

20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Jesus is emphasising not only the oneness of the Godhead, but also the unity of believers with God through the work of the Holy Spirit. That will dawn upon the disciples, and ourselves when we encounter the risen Lord Jesus. That realisation will come to fulfilment when all believers throughout salvation history are brought into God's presence by Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit.

What can we take from this passage today ?

Thank God for Jesus and his Holy Spirit in bringing us to faith and living in us.

Rely on God's Spirit to live for God. To develop the fruit of the Spirit :- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. To give the gifts of the Spirit to build up the church to minister to the world.

Obey Jesus' commands. Both ethically, in obeying his teaching. But especially in loving our fellow Christians because this is the evidence that we truly do love God.

PRAY

John 14:15-31

PRAY

Was night before Jesus was crucified. He had predicted his crucifixion and his betrayal by Judas who had already left. Disciples were confused, upset, insecure about what would happen. They had hoped Jesus would lead them to military victory over Rome. Not die on a cross. Jesus promises 'another comforter', verse 16 who will be with the disciples. He talks of unity. The unity of believers through a bond of love. The unity of the Father, Son, and believers through the bond of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus talks of the presence of God through himself, and through the Holy Spirit, neither of whom can be seen by 'the world'.

( Illustrate ) imagine I have just told you I am going to leave. God has called me to serve him a long way away. Yet replaced by new minister who will be able to be with every one of you all of the time. Who will be with you and inside you all of the time rather than with you on a Sunday, and occasionally mid-week ! I say would like to stay but I have to go in order that the new minister can come. My final command to you is to love each other.

This is what Jesus is doing here, in some senses.

Verse 15

Frustrating thing about being a parent is that we tell children what to do for their own good. Motivated by love & their interests. Yet they don't do it !

Jesus says the true evidence of a mature love for him is to obey his command. What command ? See 13:34. 'A new commandment I give to you: Love one another as I have loved you.'

Future of gospel will depend upon the unity of these eleven remaining disciples. Love is to be sacrificial, putting others interests before one's own as evidenced by Jesus washing the disciples feet earlier that evening, and by Jesus' death on the cross the next day.

The unity of the disciples should be a mirror of the love and obedience that exists between God the Father and God the Son. See verse 21, Starts off the same as verse 15 but expands this to show that the disciples will love and obey Jesus and he will love them, just as Jesus obeyed God the Father and is loved by him.

It is not that we have to earn God's love. Romans 5:8, 'For God showed his love for us in this, whilst we were still sinners Christ died for us.' But true love shows itself in action.

Verse 16, 17b. 'another comforter' = paracletos. Legal assistant, or advocate, call alongside to encourage, help, defend, strengthen.

Another, like Jesus, but different. Jesus restricted whilst on earth by human body. Only be in one place at one time, speaking to one person or group, healing one person or group, leading one person or group. Yet Holy Spirit can be anywhere and everywhere, speaking, healing, leading. Currently ministering all over the world in churches like ours as well as individual's lives.

Spirit of truth. Verse 6, Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life'. Shows unity. Spirit leads us into all truth. Do not have to be afraid of the truth as Christians. Our faith can stand up to examination, and so should we be able to, even if that truth leads to our contrition, confession of sin and repentance.

Western world contradiction. Science says prove it. For something to be real it must be seen, touched, measured in some way. Yet today's society is very subjective. It is about what pleasure I get from something. Yet this attitude is devastating our community and family lives. People are scarred by relationships built on pleasure which amounts to selfishness, rather than true love. Children are missing a father, or perhaps they have several, leaving them confused, angry, unstable.

Verse 17 The disciples would feel very alone after the crucifixion, like orphans. Without their leader who they had followed for 3 years. Fearful of the authorities who might persecute them. Jesus says I will come to you. Come to you as a risen saviour. Come to you in the Holy Spirit.

'The world' is those who reject God, in Jesus. After his resurrection Jesus appeared to those who were his followers. After his ascension Jesus is seen through the eyes of faith through the work of the Holy Spirit who works on those who are coming to faith, and who works in those who have come to faith. That is a true and living reality. It will be observed by unbelievers in the way that Christians live and relate to one another. 13:35 'By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another.'

Verse 19b, Our whole faith rests upon a saviour who lives. If Jesus had not conquered death his self-sacrifice on the cross would have been worthless. We could not have a personal relationship with him and with God the father. He could not have sent the Holy Spirit. He would not be interceding on our behalf and be able to sympathise with our difficulties.

In John the word for life, 'zoe' is not just about keeping breathing. It is about a life lived in a right relationship with God. This is the life that Jesus gives to his followers. 'Life in all it's fullness'. It is a resurrection life that has conquered death and will result in us having perfect resurrection bodies and being with God into eternity.

Verse 20 Jesus is emphasising not only the oneness of the Godhead, but also the unity of believers with God through the work of the Holy Spirit. That will dawn upon the disciples, and ourselves when we encounter the risen Lord Jesus. That realisation will come to fulfilment when all believers throughout salvation history are brought into God's presence by Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit.

What can we take from this passage today Pentecost Sunday, when we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus ?

Thank God for Jesus and his Holy Spirit in bringing us to faith and living in us.

Rely on God's Spirit to live for God...

To develop the fruit of the Spirit :- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control.

To give the gifts of the Spirit to build up the church to minister to the world.

To obey Jesus' commands. Both ethically, in obeying his teaching. But especially in loving our fellow Christians because this is the evidence that we truly do love God.