Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
As we followed Jesus and the crowds ascending the path of Palm Sunday we recalled the faithful Jewish perspective of the disciples and the crowds singing from the Psalms of Ascent.
We receive mercy and grace through what is about to take place.
Jesus now promises the Disciples help after His crucifixion for our sins.
Though we know and the Twelve suspected the outcome of Golgatha, we now return to an intimate scene of the Last Supper with Jesus in the upper room, a last gathering and worship of the Twelve with the Lord before His arrest, suffering, crucifixion and death.
John 13:
Recall now the fear and helplessness the Disciples had known once Jesus confirmed that they could not go with their Lord any more.
19 From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.
“.. one of you will betray Me.”
[John asks,] “Lord, who is it?”
[Judas after taking communion then leaves the room.]
33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”
Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”
You will see Me because I live!
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.”
[Jesus answering Thomas:]
7 If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
[Jesus answering Philip:]
“Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.
13 Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it…
Jesus assures His Help, for He IS the Messiah
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Did John or others of the Eleven wonder if this could mean a resurrection of Jesus like that they had recently witnessed of Lazarus?
“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”
This again is confirmation first revealed by the Spirit through Simon Peter, ‘Jesus IS the Christ, the Messiah of God!’ – Matthew 16:16
Jesus confirms that He is ‘in the Father’ God AND that ‘the Father {God} is in Him’, a description fitting ONLY of the Messiah, Son of the Living God!
Why tell us and not everyone?
John 14: (continued)
[Judas son of Alpheus {also known as Jude or Thaddeus} asks Jesus:]
“Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
Again, note Jesus’ Authority through the Father.
“He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.
The Eleven certainly must show their fear of what is to come without the overpowering Presence of Jesus. Peter best exemplifies the fear of the Apostles later when denying Jesus outside His trial. (Were others of the Apostles also possibly present in one hidden place or other?)
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’
John 14:27-28a NASB
And the Lord addresses ALL of the Eleven:
“…If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.”
[Is that our help – that the Lord said we should have rejoiced rather than asking for help? Of course we love our Lord Jesus, of course!]
29 “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.
Get up, let us go from here.”
To be continued...
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