"Final Truths About Jesus for the Changes Coming" April 16th, 2023

What We Learned Together  Sunday April 16, 2023​
INTRODUCTION We return to John Chapter Fourteen seeing Jesus teaching His Disciples.  These words by Jesus are unique to the Gospel of John in this Upper Room discourse. Here is the teaching by Jesus for His disciples.  Through Chapter fourteen Jesus teaches us about The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The words from Jesus for His disciples because of His departure in this section of the Upper Room discourse in John 13:31-14:31. Jesus speaks departing words of comfort and care. Jesus gives His words of instruction and direction.  Let us remember John 13:19 and see John 14:29 and know John 20:30-31.  We are to be believers in Jesus hearing His words. In this chapter Jesus teaches three important truths for His disciples: 1) A Place Where He Goes & Prepares for Them To Be With Him, 2) The Promise Which He Gives & Proclaims to Them To Be About Him, and 3) The Person Who He Sends & Describes To Them To Be From Him. In this Scripture passage this morning we hear truths given to His disciples by Jesus Himself in four main areas: Knowing Him, Believing Him, Praying to Him, and Loving Him. 
 
First, Have Completely in Jesus The Personal Knowledge of God [14:7-9] In verses seven to nine these words emphasize knowing the truth about Jesus.  In verse seven we see In Jesus Knowing and Understanding The Father  [14:7]  “ . . . now you know Him and have seen Him.” [John 1:18; 14:1]   Who He Is in His Identity as the Son of God! To know Jesus means you know the Father!  At the beginning of the Gospel of John we read,  “No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.” [John 1:18] Here is teaching for His disciples as learners and followers.  In verse eight we see From Jesus Having and Showing the Father [14:8].  As Philipp requests of Jesus “Lord, show us the Father . . .”  In verse nine we see With Jesus Revealing and Seeing The Father [14:9] In another place in the Gospel John, Jesus also stated His relationship with the Father directly.  In John 12:45 He says, “The one who believes in Me, does not believe only in Me, but also in Him who sent Me. And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.” And in John 13:20 Jesus said, Truly, truly I say to you, the one who receives anyone I send, receives Me; and the one who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”  As one commentator wrote, “In Jesus God has made Himself known.”  This means Jesus is the revelation of God.  He is teaching that He Himself is the perfect revelation of God.  Knowing Him means personal knowledge of God.  Therefore, someone who claims to know God must know Jesus.  And if one does not know Jesus then they do not know God for Jesus is God!   Such knowledge of God in Jesus is the basis for what Jesus says in this passage of Scripture filled with promises!
 
Second, Believe Fully in Jesus The Personal Work of God [14:10-11].  In verses ten to twelve these words emphasize believing the truth about Jesus [cf. 3:32; 7:16; 8:28; 10:25, 38; 12:49].  In ten we see In Jesus Believing & Hearing the Words of God [14:10]. In His own words Jesus in the Father and The Father in Jesus.   Jesus’ words demonstrate that the Father spoke through Him and that is the basis for believing His claim to be in the Father and the Father in Him.  A divine relationship between the Father and the Son.  With Jesus claiming the proclamation of God in His words. In verse eleven we see In Jesus Believing & Understanding the Works of God [14:11].  Here The Father abiding and working in Jesus.  Jesus commands again, “Believe Me . . . believe because of the works themselves.”  [cf. John 5:16-20 and John 10:24-33].  In verse twelve we see In Jesus Believing & Doing the Works of God [14:12].  Again the words of Jesus, “Truly, truly, I say to you . . .”  Here John places attention on the words of Jesus as Jesus teaches His disciples.  The important place His words have in our believing Him and understanding Who He is according to His words.  The present active participle describes the present character of “he who believes in Me . . .” The repeated emphasis on believing in the words of Jesus.  And His promise “ . . . he will do also . . . these he will do . . .” The words of Jesus in this context speaking to His disciples about the future plans because of His work. Does this promise cause you to do greater things for Jesus? This is going to happen “ . . . because I go to the Father.” His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension causes a new ministry for His disciples. Greater ministry not in power nor in kind but extent.  For no disciples would do or could miracles greater than Jesus!  The sign gifts of miracles were also only for authenticating the ministries of the apostles and the prophets.  Consider all that would be accomplished in the Name of Jesus because He is resurrected from the dead and that the Holy Spirit has been sent.  
 
Third, Live Faithfully in Jesus The Personal Relationship With God [14:13-15]. In verses thirteen to fifteen  these words emphasize praying the truth about Jesus.  In verses thirteen and fourteen In Jesus Asking and Praying [14:13-14]  “And whatever you ask in My name this will I do.”  What a promise by Jesus! Asking in His name means that Which Is Done for & Because of Jesus.  In these verses what He does and His ability as the Son of God being taught to His disciples.  With the purpose of praying in Jesus’ name  “so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” As in the Old Testament the Name of God on display in His guidance, His deliverance, and His power. So, praying thinking Is the Father glorified in this? How are you pursuing the glory of the Father in the Son in your praying? What are you asking to be done in the name of Jesus? In prayer Jesus promises to answer with His personal guarantee!   And then in verse fourteen says, “If anything you ask Me in My name, I Myself will do it.” [cf. 10:25; 14;26; 15:16; 16:23-24] Some points to make with these words of Jesus. Being Such Ones Who these words of Jesus Direct Us As His Disciples. See His words “And whatever anything you ask in My name that will I do.”  Believing these words of Jesus means you will be a person of prayer.  And holding these words of Jesus means you will pray to Him as God.  In verse fifteen we see With Jesus Loving and Obeying [14:15].  Here Jesus gives a third-class conditional sentence which examines the truth of this matter for each of us.  This is true for some and not true for others.  So, these words of Jesus cause us to look at our lives in light of His words seeing if these things are true about us. In these chapters we have seen commands by Jesus for His disciples [13:14-15, 34-35; 14:1, 11].  Different aspects of our personal relationship with Jesus and therefore our personal relationship with God.  Moreover, these words by Jesus describing more works to be done with His testimony of believe and do.  Also, a real relationship continues as we pray and Jesus will do.  And present love remains with our love and obedience because of Him and what is His requirements for us as His disciples.  The great commission summarized in these words of Jesus asking and praying, believing and doing, loving and obeying.
 
CONCLUSION
In even fuller measure with ministry of the Spirit in John 14:16-24 our study for next week.  Here are some thoughts for remembering these truths about Jesus.  The truth about Jesus is our dependence upon Jesus for having personal knowledge of God and believing the personal work of God.  Being such a one who is asking and praying with understanding according to the words of Jesus as His disciples because of changes coming. May we go to Jesus asking in His name to accomplish His work. May each of us in knowing and believing also be praying that the greater things promised by Jesus for “the one who believes in Me” be accomplished in and through New Life Fellowship. May we seek to be His disciples by seeing the Gospel going forth through our teaching and proclaiming of His words and His works. These great truths from our Savior encourage our hearts as His disciples in these days as we seek to serve Him through the ministry, He has called us in these days of our lives and as His people here at New Life Fellowship.