City Life Starter

I. The Word: John 14:15-18

¹⁵ “If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. (NKJV)

II. Study Questions

1. When and where did this story take place?

2. According to verse 16, what did Jesus promise His disciples?

3. According to the text, what is (are) the role of the Holy Spirit?

Today’s reading is part of the Passover Seder, also known as the Last Supper.  Leading up to this event, Jesus washed the disciple’s feet (John 13), Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus is no longer present (John 13), Jesus makes a proclamation of His glorification (John 13:31-32),  gives a new commandment to love one another (John 13:34), answers 4 questions were raised by the disciples (Peter, Thomas, Philip & Judas (not Iscariot) (John 13 & 14), and most importantly Jesus emphasizes the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

As a church, we are trying to better understand the person and the role of the Holy Spirit.  In today’s reading, Jesus used the term “Helper” to describe the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps, we can talk in detail about the person and role of the Holy Spirit, but there is one thing I must address prior to Holy Spirit.  Why?  I believe this is the anchor that holds all of Christianity.

“If you love Me, keep My commandment.” John 14:15

Many times, I have heard of the Person and role of the Holy Spirit, in relation to the gifts of the Spirit (we will discuss more on this topic at a later date).  Today, much of the topic has been on the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, in the sense of gifts rather than the identity and person of the Holy Spirit.  In today’s text, we find that the primary role of the Holy Spirit has been addressed by our Lord.

Jesus begins with the promise of the Holy Spirit as a  conditional clause, “If you love Me.”  For the first time in John’s gospel, Jesus calls his disciples to be obedient to His commandments/words.  What distinguishes between Christ’s disciples and the nominal christian is one’s obedience to God’s Word.  You might ask, what does the person and role of the Holy Spirit have to do with our obedience to His Word?  Absolutely everything.

Jesus call to obedience is followed by His action.  If we love Him by keeping His Word, He promises us with Holy Spirit?  Not yet, Jesus says, “I will pray the Father.”  Here we have Jesus, the Mediator and the Intercessor on our behalf.  To simply put it, He is praying for you and I.   We must remember that right now, as you are reading this very blog, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is in heaven interceding for you.  Do you know He is our Mediator who is interceding on our behalf?

“For those who are serious about their commitment to him, those who both love him and keep his commandments, Jesus promises that he will pray.  And the effect of his prayer is that the Father will give the disciples’ another Counselor.” Leon Morris

The Helper

Jesus promises that the Helper will: 1. Abide with you forever, and 2. also called the Spirit of truth, will reveal the truth, Jesus Christ.  The enabling of the Holy Spirt means for you to love God and obey His commandment.  I hope and pray that your desire to love Him and obey His Word will be the priority of your life.

The Prayer

Lord, I thank you today for your promise of the Holy Spirt.  I am reminded of your words, that the promise of the Holy Spirit is for me to love you and to be obedient to your words.  I thank you for sending the Holy Spirit on my behalf, to enable me to live according to your word in this world.  I am also amazed that you are interceding for me, that you stand in the gap for me as the Mediator.  Holy Spirit, help me to remember this wonderful truth for the rest of my life.  In Christ Name, Amen.