John 14:15-24 The Promise of a Helper

John 14:15-24    The Promise of a Helper                            WC McCarter

Introduction

Let me give you some personal examples of the power of God’s word. Last Sunday I preached John 14:1-14 which I had decided to preach months ago. I was told by a few people that it was a comfort when they really needed it, and a couple of others told me that the sermon “stepped all over their toes.” Now, did I plan that? No. Do I know everything about your situations so that I can preach directly at you? No. But God knows your situations, and He will give you what you need when you need it. He cares for you, and His word is living and active. It just so happens that we designated this Sunday (just before Valentine’s Day) as Love Sunday. When I planned my sermon schedule, I did not know that we would have Love Sunday, and I did not think about Valentine’s Day. I usually do not plan sermons around holidays, except for Christmas and Easter. Yet, we come to a passage today about love. We could call this coincidence, or we can be thankful to God for His care for us.

Everyone likes to talk about Jesus’ love for us. It is no wonder that the most famous Bible verse is John 3:16. Everyone enjoys hearing about God’s love for the world. But, it is another thing to start talking about our love for one another; it’s another thing to talk about our love for God; it’s another thing to talk about loving our enemies. Today’s passage begins and ends with the subject of our love for the Lord Jesus. Plenty of people claim to love Jesus, but the Lord knows who loves Him, and He talks about it in John 14.

Within these brackets of love for Christ, there are encouraging promises made. The Lord promises that another Helper will be coming to the disciples in His place and that although He is leaving, He will later manifest Himself to them.

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Another Helper (15-17)

Obedience is in keeping with prayer. Those Christians who are fruitful are those who pray in Jesus’ name and obey His commandments. Jesus has taught about love, shown His love for the disciples and the world, and He has even commanded the disciples to love one another. Now He discusses their love for Him. He makes a simple statement, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” This is a fact. If you are a Christian, you will love Christ, and you will follow His commands. The Apostle heard Jesus say this, recorded it here in this Gospel, and plainly taught the same thing in his epistle. 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” A necessary point needs to be made though: love is not equivalent to obedience; love is the source of obedience. We obey His commandments precisely because we love Him. What are His commandments? They are not restricted to part of His teaching, but include everything that He taught. Two of the greatest commands are: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29), and “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34).

In verses 16-17, we are introduced to the first of five passages in the Upper Room about the Holy Spirit. I believe the “Helper” is the Holy Spirit for several reasons, but it is obvious here that the Helper is called the “Spirit of truth.” The word “Helper” has been translated many ways: Advocate (NIV), Counselor (HCSB), Comforter (KJV), and many more. The point is that one English word cannot adequately stand for the Greek word. In fact, it means all of these things and more. The Lord promised that the Holy Spirit would come to help the disciples, counsel, comfort, strengthen, support, and advocate for them.

So, Jesus now begins to assert some new revelations. He promises to speak to the Father in behalf of His followers (those who pray in His name, love Him, and obey Him). He is leaving, but in response to His request another Helper is coming. Here we are told four things about this Helper: (1) He will abide with Christians forever, (2) He is the Spirit of truth, (3) the world cannot receive Him, and (4) He will dwell within Christians. This Helper sounds a lot like Jesus, doesn’t He?

In fact, the word “another” signals just that. Jesus is calling Himself a Helper. If there is another, then there must have been a first. Jesus was physically with the disciples, He was Himself the truth and declared truth to the men, the world did not receive Him, and He was known by His followers. Also, the word “another” means “another of the exact same kind.” As we can see, the Holy Spirit will be doing the same things that Jesus has done for the disciples during His time with them. Yet, despite all of the comparisons, there are some things that contrast. Jesus was only with the disciples for three years, but the Spirit will be with them forever. Jesus was visible image of the invisible God, but the second Helper is Spirit. The world could see the first advocate that they rejected, but they cannot see the second. Jesus dwelt with the disciples on a daily basis, but the Spirit will dwell within them.

I Will Not Leave You Orphans (18-21)

Jesus, again, wants to comfort these men. They have been devastated by the news that their Lord is leaving. Although He is still there in the room with them, they are probably already feeling abandoned, but Jesus says, “I will not leave you as orphans.” In hindsight, we know that Jesus was doing just the opposite of leaving them as orphans when He left. He was going to the cross in order to adopt them as sons. He has done the same for you and me. He has redeemed us in order to adopt us as sons and daughters. Remember from the beginning of the chapter that Jesus promised to secure a room in the Father’s house for us. The 11 disciples were not left as orphans and neither are we. Instead, we have been adopted as sons and daughters.

Jesus says in the second part of verse 18 that He would come to them. The word “you” is plural there. He says, “I will come to y’all.” How is it that Jesus would go to them after He left? This will be answered in more detail in verses 23-24, but let me just point out that Jesus says this in the context of the Holy Spirit. Our God is Triune. He is Father, Son, Spirit. They are distinct persons, but uniquely related and inseparable. When the Spirit comes into your life, the Son comes into your life as well.

Verse 19 continues the promise, but in the context of resurrection. Jesus promises that, although the world will not be able to see Him, the disciples will be able to see Him in just a little while. Why do I think this is said in the context of resurrection? Because Jesus says next, “Because I live, you will live also.” Jesus is the life-giving Lord. He is the Creator of all things and the Redeemer of all those who love Him. Jesus said back in chapter 10 that He came to give us life and that we may have that life more abundantly. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the Resurrection and the Life. Because He lives, you will live also.

Because of the resurrection and the unfolding of the plan of redemption, the disciples will understand what Jesus has been teaching about His relationship with the Father.

The Lord repeats that the proof of love for Christ is obedience. As Christians, you and I have the commands of Christ, and we are responsible for keeping them. The one who loves Christ is the one who is loved by God the Father. That person will also be loved by Christ, and Christ promises again that He will manifest Himself to the true believer.

We Will Come to Him (22-24)

Another of the disciples takes his turn in questioning the Lord. No doubt, most of them are confused about Jesus’ teaching that night. Judas, who is distinguished from Judas Iscariot, is the one who speaks up. This man is also called Judas son of James and may be the one called Thaddeus. The fact that these men interrupt so frequently shows their friendship and comfort with Jesus (Morris, 580). They are not afraid to voice their confusion, and Jesus is usually willing to give a reply.

Judas wants to know how this all works. How is it that Jesus will manifest Himself to the disciples, but not to the world? Jesus gives His response in verses 23-24 by stating that their obedience is crucial in this relationship. Love is critical between the persons of the Trinity and also between believers and God. When the circle of love is full, God the Father and God the Son comes to dwell within the believer. Jesus does not explain how this works, He only states it as fact. I believe that we must understand the coming of the Father and Son to be by the Holy Spirit, the second Helper.

The commands of Jesus are kept by His followers and not by those of the world. Those commands, those words are not just the words of Christ, but the words of the Father. Jesus has been saying all along that He could say or do nothing without His Father. They have cooperated perfectly for all eternity. To obey the Son is to obey the Father.

Conclusion and Christian Applications

(1) The promise of the Holy Spirit is for you, Christian. This gift is not for the world. God loves the world, but He loves those who have come out of the world in a different way. You and I are His children. The world cannot see the Spirit, know Him, or receive Him. He has been given to you.

(2) The only way you can love Jesus is because you have first been loved by God. What does it mean to love Jesus? It is to obey Him. This is a simple statement fact, but this is natural for the born-again believer. He does not hold our nose to the ground and force us to follow His rules and regulations. He has spoken life into us and given us the freedom to live the way He intends for us to live and the way we want to live: peaceful, joyful, and satisfied. It is a condition of the heart. Where is your heart this morning?

Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham, Can the Questions be Answered?

Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham, Can the Questions be Answered?

Yesterday evening Ken Ham, a biblical creationist, debated the likes of Bill Nye, the science guy, who is a Darwinian scientist.  Let me explain my perspective of these two men before I began researching their histories further yesterday afternoon.  Both of these men have been around for a long time.  They have both been excellent at what they have set out to do.  They have both been educated in the sciences, both have built reputable careers in their given areas, and both have made it a lifelong pursuit to educate the population (especially children) in their given areas of science.  Before checking out their backgrounds, I had certain perceptions of each of these men.

I viewed Ken Ham as someone who may be a little too literal in his hermeneutics but was well meaning in defending the biblical accounts of the origins of the earth and mankind.  I do believe that Genesis is a necessary part of the foundation for a biblical worldview which I uphold.  I must admit that I did not know much about Ken Ham, but had only heard about him in passing.  I do remember being shown some of his videos when I was a teenager, but I was not too interested.  I was impressed to read about his accomplishments and the Creation Museum which he has built.

Moreover, I did not know much about Bill Nye either.  I vaguely remember watching his television show as a child and being interested in it, maybe it was because he seemed fun and nutty as well as informative.  After all, it was a very popular show for many kids.  After reading his biography, I can say that I am also impressed by his accomplishments.  He has led a very productive career in science and not only on the children’s level.  Nye has been involved in many major projects and is a graduate of Cornell University.

The debate was primarily to answer the question, is creation a viable model of origins in today’s modern, scientific era?  This is an important and interesting question for all of us to consider.  Ham is correct in stating that there are significant scientists in both the Darwinian and Christian camps.  Yet, as Nye proposes in his opening statement, which camp’s story best explains the origins of the earth and mankind?  I do not intend to give a detailed answer in this article, but to simply explore the question and give some preliminary thoughts.  I must honestly say that the debate does not interest me very much.  Is a Christian aloud to say that, especially a Christian pastor?  I am not sure, but I do not worry too much about being politically correct, whether it is secular politics or church politics.  I am known for thinking out loud, and that is what I intend to do with this article.  I am only somewhat interested in the debate because it seems to have attracted a lot of attention.

Although I am not going to give a detailed answer as to my belief on this subject, I will state emphatically that I believe that the creation account in the book of Genesis and the supporting material found throughout the Christian Scriptures are completely logical and the results are observable today.  I believe that the God of the Bible is the Creator of all things, the things we can see and the things we cannot see, and He is the Creator of science.  There are natural laws and systems precisely because God has set the world in order.

The argument of whether or not God created the heavens, earth, and everything in them only 6,000 years ago within six 24 hour days, in my humble opinion, is an unproductive debate (and this statement comes from a biblically conservative, literal-leaning minister).  The book of Genesis, and the other passages of Scripture concerning this topic, does not intend to answer the types of questions that are being asked.  The Bible is not a science textbook nor is it a self-help manual or anything of the sort.  Genesis simply declares to us that there is a Creator and, as John 1 and other places state, there has been nothing made that was made without Him.  The point is that the heavens and the earth had a beginning, and it was not by accident.  Does the Bible attempt to answer the question of whether the earth is as young as 6,000 years old?  No, the Bible does not intend to answer that question.  Do I believe that the earth is 6,000 years old?  It probably is not, but human history is probably about that age.  There is a difference.  The answer to this question does not significantly affect my life or faith.  Does the Bible attempt to answer the question of whether God created everything in six, literal, 24 hour days?  No, the Bible does not intend to answer that question either.  Do I believe that God created everything in six, literal, 24 hour days?  I can accept two or three answers to this question and still be faithful to Scripture.  The Bible does not speak to this issue which is why I think that the debate is frivolous on this subject.  The God of the Bible could have created everything each day in only a few seconds.  After all, He spoke everything into existence.  What I will say is that God created light and dark, sea and sky, land and plants, sun and moon, fish and birds, as well as animals and humans in six days.

I am not a legalist about it (because I like to theorize over certain issues just for fun), but for the most part I hold to the principle that we should speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent.  The Bible is mostly, if not totally, silent on the subject of science in relation to creation.  There are things that we must conclude, but they do not explain some of the details of origins and the existence of matter and life.

Based on the biblical accounts, I must conclude:

(1) Everything had a starting point, except God.

(2) God is the Creator of all things, things we can see and things we cannot see.

(3) There are laws and order in nature because God put those things in place.

(4) God created the things in and around this world in six days.

(5) There is, therefore, meaning to life.

Did you watch the debate? What are your thoughts?

John 14:1-14 The Way, Truth, Life

John 14:1-14       The Way, Truth, Life                                 WC McCarter

Introduction

We have all, at some point, felt “troubled in spirit.” To some degree we can all know what Jesus warned His followers to not allow in their own hearts. He had very real reasons to tell them to not let their hearts be troubled. Today, we will look at those things, and we will lead into and explore one of the most famous things Jesus said.

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Believe in Christ (1)

Jesus was obviously troubled in spirit on at least three occasions. In John 11:33, Jesus can visibly be seen as grieving over the death of Lazarus. In 12:27, Jesus said about His own death, “Now My soul is troubled. . . .” We have recently seen in 13:21, Jesus was troubled in spirit about Judas’ betrayal. Jesus obviously let His heart be troubled, so why does He now command the disciples to not do the same thing? This becomes a major theme through the remainder of their evening together. In 14:27, Jesus says again, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” In 16:22 He even says, “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” The word means to be stirred up, aggravated, distressed.

Jesus must be making a different point with this command. I believe that the difference lies in two areas. First, the disciples’ hearts may be troubled for a time, after all, Jesus tells them that they will all be scattered, but He does not want them to continue in fear. Yes, you may be troubled, but if you stay in that state for long then you are becoming distrusting of the Lord. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). They would have plenty of reason to be troubled in spirit, but they could not stay in that position for long. If worry, fear, or a troubled heart begins to control your life day-in-and-day-out, then you are living in sin. Christ has said, “Do not worry . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid . . . I have not given you a spirit of fear.”

The second area of difference is that Jesus was mourning over the effects of sin with full knowledge of what was going on. Jesus even taught, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” The heart that mourns over sin is a broken and contrite heart that God will not despise. Yet, the heart that mourns over a terrible situation simply out of selfishness is not in a godly state of mind. Did our Lord and Savior ever sin? No, so He could not have mourned for selfish reasons. He mourned over the sin that He saw and its effects. When Jesus says to the disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled” He is saying, Do not let your hearts be troubled forever. Do not worry for your own sake’s. And what does He say to do instead? “Believe in God, believe also in Me.” Therefore, there is an unholy troubled heart, and there is a holy troubled heart.

This next line is difficult to interpret. It could mean, You (already) believe in God, believe in Me as well. Or it could be a question with an answer, Do you believe in God? Believe also in Me. Or it could be two commands, Believe in God, and believe in Me. I lean toward this last interpretation. Jesus is commanding His disciples to trust in God and Him instead of being troubled in spirit. This shows, once again, what Jesus has been saying all along and what the apostle has been showing in this Gospel – that Jesus and the Father are so uniquely in harmony that to believe in Jesus is to believe in God. If you want to have a relationship with God, then you must have a relationship with Jesus. We will see this theme again in a few verses. Biblical “belief” is to “trust” in God. This is how they will not be troubled, if they trust in Him. Jesus demands the same from you. Trust in God, and trust in Jesus. Do not let your heart be troubled.

The Father’s House (2-6)

The Father has how many houses? He has one house. “Mansions” is now a bad translation. We think of a mansion as a large, elaborate, expensive home, but the world did not convey the same thing in older English. When the KJV was written, “mansion” simply meant a dwelling, any house. The Greek word is related to the word “remain/abide.” So, when Jesus says in John 8:35, “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever,” He is using the same root word. Jesus is saying that there are many rooms in the Father’s house where the sons and daughters remain forever. There are many dwelling places in the Father’s house. A house does not have many houses in it, does it? A house has many rooms. If heaven was anything differently, Jesus would have told them, but heaven is likened here to a house with many rooms.

Jesus says that He is going to prepare a place for them, and I think He has prepared a place for all of us who have put our faith in Him. Does that mean that Jesus left to spruce up the bedrooms in the Father’s house? Is He doing some interior design, some decorating, making up the bed, and laying out clean towels? I do not think so. The rooms are ready, but your access was not at this point in the Upper Room. Listen to this, Jesus went to prepare a place for you and me in the Father’s house by going to the cross. Last week we said that Jesus was going back to the Father by way of Calvary. This is for His glory, but for our eternal benefit. The apartment doors in the Father’s house were unlocked when Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.” Jesus said in 13:33, 36 that they could not follow Him. Now we can add that the men could not prepare a place for themselves either. We picture Jesus leaving earth, returning to heaven, and doing some carpentry work to get some rooms ready, but that is the completely wrong perspective. Jesus was going to the cross to prepare a place for you in heaven. Listen closely, if you hear nothing else today, hear this, You are completely dependent on Christ’s promise and work at Calvary for your place in heaven.

Jesus would not prepare a place for all of us if He was not going to take us to that place. Notice that the image of heaven changes from the Father’s house to Jesus’ presence. He wants to receive believers to Himself, that where He is they may be also. Heaven is to be in the presence of the One who made us for His glory and saved us from His wrath.

The men are supposed to know where Jesus is going, but they have no clue. Thomas speaks up to tell Jesus that they do not know where He is going. Jesus famously responds, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” In this statement, many of the themes of the evening begin to come together. What is the destination? The Father. What is the route? The Son. You do not get where you want to go, namely heaven, without accepting the only means of getting there, namely the cross. Jesus is the way to God. Jesus Christ is the way because the plan of redemption is only fulfilled in Him. Jesus Christ is the truth because He is the incarnate Word, the full revelation of God to humankind. Jesus Christ is the life because He is the Creator and Sustainer of life. In Him we live and move and have our being. In Him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily in order to declare the truth of God. In Him we have a place prepared for us in heaven. Christianity is exclusive. There is only one way to be saved. There is only one way to be truly satisfied. It is in Jesus Christ. No one can worship God except through Him. No one can pray to God except through Him. No one can fully know God except through Him. No one can go to God and be with God except through Him.

The Father and the Son (7-11)

Verse seven continues that theme of Jesus and the Father’s unique relationship. Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. He is the Word who was in the beginning with God and was God who put on flesh and dwelt on earth. He says that to know Him is to know the Father, and now they have known Him and seen Him. The disciples are still confused. Philip speaks up this time and says, “Show us the Father.” Jesus says plainly what He has been teaching and exhibiting all along, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” The Father and Son are uniquely related. The Son is in the Father, and the Father is in the Son. Everything that Jesus has said and done is in full cooperation with the Father. If believing what Jesus is saying is not enough, they have all of the great miracles that they have experienced as proof. I think it would be very difficult to not believe if you had seen Him still the sea, walk on water, feed crowds of thousands, heal the helpless, and so much more.

Asking in Jesus’ Name (12-14)

The disciples had been commissioned as apostles to do the same work that Jesus had done. Even before that night in the Upper Room, the disciples had done all sorts of wonderful and miraculous things. They had healed folks and cast out demons. They had functioned in the authority and power of Christ. Jesus says that they will even do greater than He has done. Does this mean that they will do something even more miraculous? No, it could not mean that. It means that they will exceed Jesus in number of miracles. The effect of their miraculous deeds will have a greater extent. Jesus ministered mainly in Palestine, but the apostles would go into all the world ministering in His name and proclaiming the Good News.

It is important to note that Jesus links the great works they would do to prayer. Our Lord says, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” What is it to ask in His name? Is it to say in Jesus’ name at the end of our prayers? Will that guarantee us that our prayer will be heard and approved? I think it is important to say that when praying, but I also think that Jesus means much more by this phrase. To pray in His name is to pray in accordance with His person. If you ask in anything in accordance with His words, attitude, humility, selflessness, person, He will do it!

Conclusion and Christian Applications

This is what you need to know: Trust in Christ.

(1) Trust that there is a permanent place for you in heaven, purchased by the blood of Christ.

(2) Trust that Christ has shown you the Father; know Him and you know God.

(3) Trust in the works that He has done. He has done a mighty work in you.

(4) And finally, trust in His name. Pray with all that you have in accordance with His person.