“A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF JOHN” ST. JOHN 14:12-20

The Wonderful Paschal Discourse – Christ Comforts His Own

As we continue this superb discourse, it bears repeating that Christ is offering encouraging words to His disciples in view of the fact Judas Iscariot will betray Him (St. John 13:21); Peter will ultimately deny Him (St. John 13:38); and the disciples will forsake Him (Matthew 26:56).  Yet, our blessed Lord exhibits His unending love for His disciples, for He arrests their agitated hearts in the opening verse of St. John 14:1 by saying – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”  In this life, there are numerous circumstances that would cause our hearts to be distressed, such as: the loss of job; the departure of a loved one; the announcement by a doctor of a menacing disease attacking the body; the threat of a nuclear war, to name a few.  These issues can cause us to be alarmed to the degree that we become unusually desponded, sensing that there is no hope.  It is awfully comforting to know that in this Paschal discourse that our Lord exhibits concern for His own, even in view of the fact that the cross awaits Him.  On the night of His most awful trial of becoming mankind’s Paschal Lamb, we find Him comforting the hearts of His bewildered disciples; thus, He was concerned about their interest, placing their interest before His interest, conveying His unending love for them, for “He loved them unto the end” (St. John 13.:1).

As the second section of this discourse continues, the Lord offers an unusual promise, promising that the apostles would be able to do a greater work in relation to Christ’s works (v. 12).  In extent of gospel outreach, Christ promises that His disciples would do greater works, for this fact was seen in Peter’s one sermon on the day of Pentecost, resulting in 3,000 souls being saved!  Certainly, their success will be due to the fact that Jesus would go to the Father and that the Holy Spirit would be sent to empower them.

In verse 13, we see the importance of prayer in the greater works to which the disciples would do.  Even though Christ was absent from them, prayer connected Christ and the disciples in the accomplishment of the greater works.  Faith in His Person was to be manifested by prayer in His name.  The promise of answered prayer in verse 14 is based on one praying according to God’s will.  The goal of prayer is that the Father would be glorified in the Son.  It is God’s will in praying that every believer should want; not the will of the believer, but God’s will.   According to verse 15, true love for Christ is marked by obedience.  Obedience to the commandments of Chris is the genuine test of love.  In verses 16-18, the Lord promised further that the Holy Spirit will be the disciples’ Comforter, One who will be with them; more importantly, He will indwell them (v. 17).

Christ did not leave His disciples as orphans (v. 18), and He has not left us as orphans as we face unusual trials in this life!  The Lord is with us in every circumstance of life – What an interesting thought!  In verse 19, our Lord says: “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more.”  The last time the world saw Him was on a cross of degradation and shame.  But, His disciples saw Him after His resurrection, even witnessing His ascension as a cloud received Him out of their sight (Acts 1:9-11).  In the latter part of verse 19, the resurrection of Christ guaranteed the resurrection of all believers who have died, and this verse is the basis of a new life.  As we conclude this section of the Paschal discourse, verse 20 was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, for the advent of the Holy Spirit taught the disciples the wonderful union that had with Christ.  May God bless!