Wednesday Bible study: John, the homestretch, part 3

 

I had a discussion last night as I type, in which someone suggested that there are things in John's account that should be taken with a grain of salt, since they don't appear elsewhere.  For me, this is a bit of "small God" disbelief, and I hope that, as we've gone through this very different Gospel, that you see the truth: The differences aren't because of some "additions after the fact" or "John's rivalry with Peter", but because John himself has a unique perspective- one that will be born out in what I cover, what I don't get to, and what John doesn't say in these next 3 chapters that I'm going to hit fast.  Confused?  Just follow me here.  

So they are now on the way to the garden, and Jesus is giving His last teachings, wrapped around five sets of, "These things I have spoken to you"- things that will serve them AFTER the next 3 days.  Each one is explained in four sub-items, so that they finally get the picture Jesus is painting.  And as He explains, one thing becomes clear- He is both in this moment, and PAST this moment, knowing how it will be at the end of those three days.   You know how that old question goes- "What would you tell your (X) year old self if you could go back?"  This is Jesus going back- in a sense- to do that for them.

I. Joh 15:11  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

And the things He is talking about are:

Joh 15:3  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

Which is what He explained at the foot-washing.  Not that they are already clean, but they will be- when He dies on the Cross in a few hours.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

He doesn't expect them to do anything on their own; but through Him.

Joh 15:9  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

Abiding in love- something they'll only figure out after the Spirit comes.

Joh 15:7  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This is the Big Theme; it comes up again and again.

II. Joh 15:17  These things I command you, so that you will love one another. 

First He gives what is about to happen as their example:

Joh 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

But now, He gives them two sides of the coin- a coin that, if they understood it, all the silly SM fighting over Calvinism would go away: First, that because of their belief, and His coming actions, they are no longer servants, but FRIENDS (v15); and second, because He is God, "You didn't choose Me, I chose you" (v16).  It's both- and if one side or the other doesn't get this, well, they have that same "small God" problem I mentioned before.  And finally- did I mention a theme?

Joh 15:16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 

Up till now, He has prayed to the Father for them.  Soon, when the veil is torn in two from top to bottom, they will be going to the Father directly.  

III. Joh 16:1  "I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.
      Joh 16:4  But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

 

 He had to thus warn them of what was soon coming:

Joh 15:19  If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Since the hatred had so far been just directed at Jesus, they hadn't really felt it themselves. 

Joh 15:20  Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 

The difference between innocence and sin was going to be them; they were going to be convicting their persecutors by sharing their faith, "so that they are without excuse" (v22).  But once again, they would not be alone; the Spirit would show them how to bear witness (v27).

IV. Joh 16:25  "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.

Here, He goes through the what and why of what they haven't grasped. First, the Spirit's purpose through them:

Joh 16:8  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
Joh 16:9  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
Joh 16:10  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
Joh 16:11  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

 And if this still sounds a bit confusing, Jesus knew it was complicated...

Joh 16:12  "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

He goes on to tell them, again, the Spirit will explain these things.  Why can't they understand them now?  They ask that in v 17.  But it boils down to something we saw last week- That right now, the Spirit might be WITH them; but they won't get it until He is IN them.  And the biggest thing they won't get until them is this- that their greatest sorrow- His death- will be their greatest joy (v20).  And to close this section, Jesus again turns to the old formula...

Joh 16:24  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

 For we who have the Spirit, this is the driving message John is trying to get home.

V. Joh 16:33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." 

 Here, he explains to them that, while they may be absent Him, they will always be with the Father, because they will be able to go to Him directly (v26), the Father loves them (v27), and just as Jesus is never without the Father, they won't be either (v32).  Of course, once Jesus gets to the happy stuff, they think they have it all dialed in:

Joh 16:29  His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!
Joh 16:30  Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God."
Joh 16:31  Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe?
Joh 16:32  Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

Having hit yet another "you still don't get it moment", Jesus begins to pray Himself. I am going to give this prayer (which runs the entire length of Chapter 17)  very short treatment, for a good reason.  See, I want you to get out of this study what John saw as important, and that is reflected in this: That after this prayer (which the other Gospels did not bring up), the other Gospels went to Jesus's famous prayer in Gethsemane- which John does not. Why?  I think there are two big reasons.

First, because the other Gospels are comfortable with showing the Humanity of Jesus; John never really is.  His mind is so "BIG God" oriented, that he is only concerned with the humanity side as a vehicle to the Cross.  Thus, the prayer of Chapter 17, Son praying to Father, is more reflective of the divine side of Jesus.

Second, When you look at the Chapter 17 prayer, these were prayers, in the Father's will, that would be answered: To glorify Jesus with the glory He had before (He would soon); to "keep the disciples in Your Name, from the evil one", which He would; and for us, that we would believe and be with Him (and He will!).  The prayer in Gethsemane- "That this cup might pass from Me; nevertheless, thy will be done"- was answered, NO. For John, eyes on God, the no's aren't as important as the yes's.