City Life Starter

Written by Jason Scherzer

The Word

²⁸ You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

²⁹ “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe. ³⁰ I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. ³¹ But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Exegesis

In chapter 14 of John’s beloved gospel account, Jesus tells His disciples that He is going away to prepare a place for them, and that there are many ‘rooms’ or dwelling places with God the Father. He distinguishes between people who love Him and keep his word, and people who do not. He promises that He will send a Helper (Paraclete), that is His Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit. The matters that Jesus plainly discusses with His disciples in John chapter 14 would only be slightly understood after the Resurrection when they saw and touched the risen Christ, and fully when the Spirit of truth had been poured out upon them, in the book of Acts.

And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

Joel 2:28

This mighty, pivotal verse in the OT informs us, even in Houston, Texas, that God had a plan to pour out His Spirit to dwell in His people, a people of every language, tribe, and nation (all flesh). In Ezekiel, the LORD promises to put a new heart and a new spirit in His people. This time had finally come, as Jesus tells His disciples in John 14.

Naturally the disciples are quite troubled. There has been a traitor in the room, and their Rabbi, Teacher, the Lord, is going to be leaving them for very mysterious reasons. Though He says, “I am coming back again to take you unto Myself” (v. 3), it is not quite reassuring in this setting. Remember that this discussion is before the Cross.

If the disciples knew what was truly meant by Jesus going to the Father, they would have exceeding with joy and not sorrow, but they could not comprehend all of this at the moment; neither could we have. Even so, Jesus said “If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father’.” He wants the disciples to love Him. They need to have the same heart with Jesus, the same hope, the same purpose. He wants them to be fully convinced that He was sent by the Father to accomplish a mission that cannot fail.

The disciples will be fully convinced in due time, that God would accomplish all things and that Jesus knew this perfectly before it was fulfilled. Now Jesus quickly and urgently wraps up His discussion with the disciples: He is not going to talk much longer; the ruler of this world is coming; the devil cannot lay hold of Jesus (he has nothing on Him), but the world will know that the Son loves the Father and accomplishes the Father’s commandment.

Jesus could never sin, and He was the only one who knew no sin. 2nd Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Thus, Jesus most assuredly could not sin. If He had sin (God failing) then Satan would have plenty to accuse Jesus. The devil did not give up, and somehow must have thought darkness had victory at the Cross. Instead, the truth is that Jesus said, “he(the devil) has nothing in Me.”

Application

The sinless Son of God told His disciples what would happen before it happened. He would leave them to die, making atonement for all who believe upon Him. It is a wonderous marvel that He laid down His life willingly, yet triumphed over the grave by the Resurrection. It is also a marvel that we easily become troubled and filled with fear, which we should not. We need to tap into the vast resources that are quickly available to us: He is the Spirit of truth, and the Holy Spirit, and the Comforter. This is not to say that social distancing, Coronavirus, stay at home, and pandemic aren’t real troubles. These are all real troubles. Yet God has not changed, and He has given us what we need to strengthen us in these difficult times.

Prayer

All praise to You, LORD of heaven and earth. Thank you for Jesus the Son of God. Be our strength, help, wisdom, and encouragement today in Jesus’ name. We need a fresh outpouring of You, Holy Spirit in Your church, CLC, and your worldwide Church. These days are dark, but we trust that You will strengthen, empower, and move us to be Your witnesses and glorify Your name. Please move in great power using us to advance Your kingdom. May the outpouring of Your Spirit be uncontainable, unfathomable and unimaginably powerful. Amen.