As we have been working our way through the gospel of John, we have seen Jesus communicate through signs, and we have heard Him teach authoritatively. The focus of this message has been: I am God, come to earth, to save my people. As we got to chapter 13, we saw Jesus’ tone change a bit. He went from speaking to a larger crowd to speaking to His disciples alone; He goes from teaching generally, to getting very specific about what they need to know to survive in this world once He is gone. Chapter 13 begins: Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, the next 3 chapters are providing His disciples with the information He deems important for them to navigate this world. I want to do a quick summary of these teachings, because I believe that in them Jesus has provided a theology for the Christian life:
HUMILITY: Jesus washes the disciple’s feet (13.1-20)
Jesus gives the disciples a spiritual lesson and a practical example in one act. In washing their feet, He makes it clear that He will be the one to purify them from all unrighteousness (1 John 1.9), but also, that His act of service is a model for Christians. We are to take the gift of His service and use it as a motivation for the humble service of others.
DEPENDENCE: Jesus reveals the failure of humanity (13.21-38)
Jesus foretells of both Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial to show that even those closest to Him do not have the ability to stay faithful by their own strength. This is also a reminder to us that each and every person will fail us. We must depend on Jesus for our faithfulness, but also for strength as the things of this world let us down.
FAITH: Jesus presents Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life (14.1-14)
The exclusivity and fullness of what Jesus says here cannot be overstated. He says that the only way to God is through Him; He says that all truth begins with the knowledge of Him; He says that He is the source of all life (both breath and meaning). In this, Jesus is making it clear that the purpose for our life and the means of fulfillment are found in making our life about His glory; worshipping Him as God is the only way that we can experience life as it was created to be.
TRUST: Jesus promises the Holy Spirit (14.15-31)
Living out this life is complicated by the existence of sin. Obedience, which should be a natural outworking of our devotion, is complicated. Without Jesus here to walk with us through the day, He promises that the Holy Spirit (the Helper) will come to guide, encourage, and convict us. In this life, we have help. The Spirit has been given us to be able to write the law on our hearts, so that we can know what God wants from us.
SANCTIFICATION: Jesus introduces Himself as the true vine (15.17)
One of the things He wants is for us to be sanctified. 1 Thessalonians 4 tells us that this is the will of God:
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; (3)
This process of sanctification requires us to go through hardships in which our sin is ‘cut out’ so that we may produce the fruit of righteousness. God disciplines those He loves, and He uses the struggles of this life to make us the people He created us to be.
PERSEVERANCE: Jesus warns that the world will hate you (15.18-16.15)
While life is hard because of sanctification, it is also hard because we are in a dark world. The sinfulness of this world makes it hostile to the things of God. Jesus makes it clear to His disciples that living faithfully will not be a cake-walk. We are going to face resistance. It is going to be hard.
HOPE: Jesus assures them sorrow will turn to Joy (16.16-24)
In the fact of this resistance, we can have hope. Our hope is that the hatred and tension is not forever. Jesus will come back to reverse the negative affects of sin and turn ALL sorrow into Joy.
CONFIDENCE: Jesus declares that He has overcome the world (16.25-33)
We can trust that this will happen because it is not just a trajectory or an ideal; it is the declaration of He who is over all. Jesus HAS overcome the world and one day we will experience His power and glory in all of its fullness. We can live out the life He calls us to, not because it is easy or fun, but because it is the work of He who is sovereign over all has invited us to be part of His plan.
Jesus gives this to His disciples to prepare them to serve others, while depending fully on Him, knowing that His way will bring us fullness. We can trust the Spirit to guide us, to sanctify us of sin, and to give us strength in a world that is actively set against the ways of God. We can overcome, because He already has, and He promises us that this labor is not in vain.