"A Promise of Hope For The Future Because of His Resurrection" John 16:25-28

What We Learned Together Today  Sunday  August 6, 2023
INTRODUCTION
​The title of the message today is A Promise of Hope for The Future Because of His Resurrection. Jesus comforts His disciples at the time with His words about the future so that they would have hope and peace as His disciples.  Look at how Jesus encourages His disciples throughout this chapter knowing their situation [16:1, 7, 20, 23, 25, 33].  We have seen the blessed understandings in these words of Jesus.  Now there are the blessed assurances with the words of Jesus. In this final section of chapter sixteen in these final words by Jesus he repeats His teaching about the Father.  Jesus states, “ . . . the Father . . .”  [vv .25, 26, 27 [2x], v. 28 [2x], v. 32].   The main teaching in this first section would be A Promise of Hope for The Future By Believing What Is True According to the Words of Jesus [16:25-28].   Next week A Promise of Hope for the Future by Experiencing What Is Real According to the Words of Jesus [16:29-33].  Both Understanding What Jesus Has Said and Knowing What He Has Done.  Three themes for believing what is true:  deeper knowledge, higher privilege, and greater advantage.
 
In verse 25 there is the Deeper Knowledge of Truth About The Father [16:25]  Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language . . .”  Transition to a change and how things will be different in the days ahead for His disciples.  Also Jesus said, “an hour is coming . . . but will tell you plainly of the Father.”  See also John 16:32 His reference to the Father [cf. John 1:18; 4:25; 10:6; 16:12, 29].  This is an unique word used only here by Jesus “to announce or inform, with possible focus upon the source of information—‘to tell, to inform.’ Their Future and The Hope in Jesus as His Disciples is this Christian Clarity promised by Jesus.  For the disciples ot have hoper for the future there will be increased knowledge of God the Father.  Consider all that we learn about the Father through the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels.  What it means that He is the Father revealed by the Son.  Who He Is as the Father connects with what Jesus says next in verses 26-27.
 
In verses 26-27 there is the Higher Privilege of Prayer To The Father [16:26-27] Jesus says, “In that day you will ask in My name.”  Such personal requests and present needs of His disciples brought to the Father. Again all that He is and what He has done “ask in My name.”  He states they have personal access to the Father.  A future day after His cross and His resurrection—in that day.  Look at verses 23-24 as Jesus repeats Himself putting emphasis on this matter for His disciples. As one commentator wrote, “all Christ’s disciples give themselves to prayer.”  [Matthew Henry]  Their Future and The Hope in Jesus as His Disciples is this Real Relationship promised by Jesus. And then Jesus says, “and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf.” Jesus does intercede on our behalf as our High Priest in heaven before the very presence of God the Father in heaven.  Here His words emphasize how personal their relationship is with the Father as the Father they ask and that Jesus does not need to speak on our behalf or assist their prayer to be heard by the Father.  The disciples of Jesus do not need the arm of Jesus for their prayers to get to the ear of the Father.  And then in verse 27 Jesus adds, “for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me . . .”  The word here is phileo meaning love of affection and delight, association and friendship.  Different from agapao meaning love of action and decision usually based upon sacrifice.  See the use by Jesus in previous teachings in the Upper Room Discourse [John 14: 21, 23; 15:13-14 17:23].  Two-fold emphasis by Jesus describing His disciples as “have loved Me . . . have believed . . .”  Literally translated, “for the Father Himself loves you because you yourselves me have loved and have believed . . .”  In contrast to the world hating the disciples of Jesus and Jesus Himself [cf. John 15:18-20].  Jesus knows who His disciples are, and His disciple know they are His disciples because they love Him and believe Him.  This relationship then shows heart of the disciples of Jesus toward the place loving Jesus. This relationship then reveals feet of the disciples of Jesus on the path following Jesus.  This relationship then informs the mind of the disciples of Jesus for the promise knowing Jesus.  And this relationship then manifests the hands of the disciples of Jesus in the position serving Jesus.
 
In verse 28 there is the Greater Advantage of The Certainty About Jesus [16:28].  Jesus summarizes the accomplishment of His mission and fulfillment of His promises by the whole personal promise of these actions as the Son of God. “I came forth from the Father and . . .” Their Future and The Hope in Jesus as His Disciples is this personal promise by Jesus. Remember what Jesus said back in John 16:7. And Jesus said, “I am leaving the world again and going to the Father.” Remember what John wrote about Jesus at the beginning of this Upper Room Discourse [John 13:1, 3].  His words in verse 28 include His Incarnation, His Resurrection, and His Exaltation [cf. John 18:37].  All that He has promised His disciples in this Upper Room Discourse delivered by His victory and majesty as the Son of God demonstrated in these actions.
 
CONCLUSION
A Promise of Hope for the Future by Believing What is True. The lesson of crocus flowers.  These wonderful bulbs herald the end of winter. They often bloom just as the snow melts, before winter finally retreats.  “If you have ever lived in a place with harsh winters, you know that the coming spring is welcome with great anticipation. In some places, winter can last for around half the year, with bitter cold, snow, and dead vegetation. However, when winter is fading away the crocus appears. Even during an early spring snowstorm, this flower will still bloom. It is a sign of winter ending and spring beginning, even when there is still snow on the ground.”  These final words of Jesus picture this great anticipation of what is next for His disciples.  We can understand the truth in Jesus and about Jesus because of His words given to us by the ministry of the Spirit of truth. Being a disciple who is asking the Father in the name of Jesus holding to these words of Jesus are yours because you are His. Being a disciple who is knowing, asking, believing because of what is real.  It is true that my relationship with the Father is not based on anything about myself but everything about Jesus Himself. Therefore He is exalted as the Son of God, Savior of the world, and the resurrected Lord in my life!  Having Love for Jesus as His disciple because you are believing His words telling us that the Father loves us.  It is not based on my experience alone and my feelings only in knowing the Father loves us.