John - Week 44

The Advocate 

READ 

John 14:25-26 

25 “I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” 

This passage tells about the coming of the Holy Spirit as the “Advocate”; that is, as the representative of Jesus. Notice what the Holy Spirit would especially do for the disciples—He would teach them “everything” and “remind” them of what Jesus had told them. Although this can have a broad application of helping all believers in any age, it likely here referred to the disciples being able to teach others exactly what Jesus said. Remember, there were no Bibles in those days. The apostle John would have been in the group and he was the human writer that God used in writing the book we are now considering. 

REFLECT 

Think again and thank the Lord for how blessed you are to have a Bible to read what God has inspired to be written by those He chose to be the human authors. 

RESPOND 

Read Acts 2:42-47 and notice what was produced by the apostles’ teaching. Of course, the teaching was recalled by the Holy Spirit enabling them to express everything the Lord had told them. 

Peace of Mind and Heart 

READ 

John 14:27-29 

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.” 

Think of what a valuable gift it is to have peace of mind. Some millionaires would give all they have if they could just have peace of mind. And the world knows nothing about the kind of peace the Lord Jesus gives to those who believe in Him. Jesus told His disciples that He was going to His heavenly Father and that they should be happy about that. Because they were His true friends, He told them about this ahead of time. His purpose was so they would believe when these things actually took place.  

REFLECT 

Do you have the peace that Jesus gives and the world cannot give? In itself, this can be a great witness to those who are not Christ-followers. When they see your peace—even about the unknown—pray that they will want to know where you got such peace so you can tell them about Jesus. 

RESPOND 

See other verses that tell of the peace God gives. Read Romans 5:1; 1 Corinthians 14:33 Philippians 4:6-9. Do you know God as the “God of peace”?  

The Ruler of this World 

READ 

John 14:30-31 

30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.” 

The “ruler of this world” refers to Satan, also known as the Devil. He had tempted Jesus in the wilderness and now he had entered into Judas to betray Jesus (see John 13:27). Satan had no power over Jesus because Jesus was fully God as well as fully man. There was nothing in Jesus to cause Him to even think about yielding to the tests of Satan. Jesus had told the disciples the proof of love is obedience. Now He reveals His proof of love for the Father as seen in His obedience to the Father’s will that He go to the cross. 

REFLECT 

Think of obedience showing one’s love. This is seen in a marital relationship by each partner being obedient to the vows expressed at the marriage ceremony. Others will see your love for Christ as they view the way you live as you seek to honor Him in all you do. 

RESPOND 

Have you witnessed to some and wondered why it did not seem to make a dent in their thinking? To know why, read 2 Corinthians 4:3-4. May this cause you to remember that believers can only witness, it is left to the Holy Spirit whom He will convict and bring to salvation (see John 3:5-8). 

The True Grapevine 

READ 

John 15:1-4 

15 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” 

Chapter 14 ended with the statement of Jesus, “Come, let’s be going.” It is not sure whether they are now headed to the Garden of Gethsemane or remained in the Upper Room where Jesus expressed what is in chapters 15-17. If they were walking through a garden at this time, perhaps Jesus talked about the vine and the branches that they saw as they walked. This is an illustration of the relationship Jesus has with believers. As all illustrations, each detail need not refer to some key idea. The main point has to do with fruit bearing, and other matters in the illustration fits the care in the vineyard. Notice it’s the message (now the Bible) that causes the believer to be more fruitful. Believers—the branches—need to remain in Jesus—the vine—If they are to be fruitful.  

The Vine and Branches 

READ 

John 15:5-8 

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” 

As you follow the biblical text you see there is fruit, more fruit and much fruit. It’s sobering for the believer to realize that apart from Christ nothing can be done. Spoken to believers, the only way to be a fruit-bearing Christian is to stay focused on the Lord Jesus and having a desire to honor Him in all that is done. Here again, Jesus refers to believers asking “anything” they want. The context going back to 14:13-14 was to ask anything in His name. To ask for some selfish end does not meet this important requirement. Notice that to produce much fruit shows one is a true disciple of Jesus. And this brings glory to the heavenly Father. 

REFLECT 

Think about what you can do to let the life of Christ flow through your life as the life of the vine flows through the branches. How can you produce more fruit in your life? 

RESPOND 

The purpose of the material you are reading is to draw you closer to the Lord Jesus. See Galatians 5:22-23 for the fruit that can be produced in and through your life by the Holy Spirit. Sharing what you are learning with a disciple is also the way to produce spiritual fruit.