The final teaching begins. Imagine the scene. Judas has left. Jesus just told Peter he would deny Him. They are still in the Upper Room, but now there are 11 disciples. Jesus knows the hearts of His friends. He begins to comfort them in verses 1-3.
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”
When Jesus says you know where I am going, Thomas is confused and said, “we don’t know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Then Jesus makes one of His defining “I Am” statements in verse 6-7.
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
Imagine you are one of the disciples and are trying to understand what is being said. We have Scripture to guide us. This was all happening in real time. Just a few hours ago Jesus was called King of the Jews during the Triumphal Entry. Now He is talking about going where they can’t go.
In verse 8 the disciples show they still don’t understand but are trying to. 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” They can’t make the connection that Jesus and the Father are One. I hear a slight bit of frustration in Jesus’ response in verses 9 and 10.
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not speak on My own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in Me, Who is doing His work.
I again think of John. John, in his 20’s, is trying to get his mind around all that is happening and being said. John, now in his 80’s as he writes this, must be smiling while he is remembering those days. I would love to be sitting by him then.
After that conversation, Jesus begins the hand-off of His followers from Himself to the Holy Spirit. Verses 15-17 start the hand-off.
15 “If you love Me, keep My commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.
As Jesus continues His teaching, He tells them about the dividing line between His followers and the world is love and obeying His teaching. Verses 23-24 make it clear.
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me.
Again, in verses 25-27 Jesus tells them about the Holy Spirit.
25 “All this I have spoken while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I have heard people say that it is not possible for the Gospel writers to remember exact conversations. Verse 26 says the Holy Spirit will remind them of everything Jesus said to them.
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