13: 31Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; 32if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. 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.’ 34“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” 37Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” 38Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.
14: 1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2“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. 3“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. 4“And you know the way where I am going.” 5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” 8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “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. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. 12“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. 13“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
15“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Interesting Words
glorify
(δοξάζω – Greek) – doxazó ► to render or esteem glorious, glorify, honor, bestow glory on – John 17:1, 4-5, 10;
love
(ἀγαπάω – Greek) – agapaó ► love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem – John 14:21, 23, 15:13, 17:23;
dwelling places
(μονή – Greek) – moné ► an abiding, lodging, dwelling place, room, abode, mansion – John 14:23;
receive
(παραλαμβάνω – Greek) – paralambanó ► take from, receive from, or: I take to, receive (apparently not used of money), admit, acknowledge; I take with me, (from pará, “from close-alongside” and lambánō, “aggressively take”) – to take (receive) by showing strong personal initiative – Col 2:6-7; 1Cor 15:1, 3; Gal 1:9, 12; Phil 4:9; 1Thes 4:1;
Myself
(ἐμαυτοῦ – Greek) – emautou ► pertaining to myself, the reflexive form (first person) which emphatically brings the action back to “myself.” – John 12:32, 14:21, 17:19; Gal 2:18;
Cross References
▪︎ John 11:16 – Let us go die with Him.
▪︎ Matt 5:16 – Our works are to glorify God
▪︎ John 12:27-28 – God calls out from heaven.
▪︎ John 13:21 – Jesus was troubled in spirit.
▪︎ Matt 1:23 – Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.
Discussion Questions
1. What is the relationship between Jesus and the Father as shown in John 13:31-32?
▪︎ God and Jesus are one in the same (along with the Holy Spirit).
▪︎ They are all glorified together.
▪︎ They glorify each other (John 17:1, 4-5).
2. How do John 13:34-35 and Matt 5:16 contribute to God’s overall plan?
▪︎ Obediently, we love our neighbors and all mankind. This gives glory to God thru the obedience itself.
▪︎ Our love draws these same people into the Kingdom and glorifies the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
▪︎ God gave us this new commandment (not really new) when we love others. This allows all men to know and see that we are His disciples, which brings glory to God.
▪︎ This love will also draw men to Himself and thus magnify the glory to God many fold.
3. In John 13:36-37, Peter seems to have missed the new commandment about love, why was that? What was Jesus’ initial response?
▪︎ Peter was listening and when Jesus said He was leaving, Peter locked onto that comment… Where are you going? Why can’t we come?
▪︎ Peter was so focused on Jesus leaving it didnt seem like he could see or hear anything else.
▪︎
Peter either represented the others or he was so influential that everyone else stopped to listen.
▪︎ Jesus needed to address their concerns before He could move on.
▪︎ Jesus comforts their hearts:
► You will follow me- John 13:36;
► You will fail – John 13:38;
► Trust me – John 14:1;
► I’ll prepare you a place- John 14:2;
► I will come for you – John 14:3;
► I am the way – John 14:6;
► I showed you God – John 14:9;
► You’ve seen God work- John 14:10;
► I did God’s works – John 14:11;
► You will too – John 14:12;
▪︎ Jesus does not get back to the subject of love until John 14:15.
4. What was causing all the angst in the disciples?
▪︎ Fear of the unknown
▪︎ Fear of being left behind
▪︎ Fear of making a mistake
▪︎ They were unsure about everything, “show us again”
5. How did Jesus try to comfort His disciples?
▪︎ He addressed every problem
▪︎ He showed them how it was all part of the plan
▪︎ He showed them how they could be successful
▪︎ He showed them they had all the tools already
6. In John 14:2 Jesus prepares a “dwelling place” for us and then receives us to Himself in John 14:3. The “receive” in v.3 has a preface “para” translated “from close beside”. Describe how this would be comforting to the disciples.
▪︎ Jesus knew the plan was to have the Holy Spirit indwell each believer
▪︎ the counselor who lives close beside (inside) each person, the comforter (Greek) paraklétos ► helper from close beside, John 14:16.
▪︎ God Himself (as the Holy Spirit) would be given to them, indwell them, not many days hence.
▪︎ He will teach us all things and bring all things to remembrance, John 14:26.
▪︎ It is from this insider advantage that God will “seize” the opportunity to help the disciples in the next several months and years to walk thru some very difficult times.
▪︎ It is from this vantage that God, thru the Holy Spirit, will launch and carry to completion the Church age.
7. In John 14:5 Thomas shows the continued confusion the disciples were feeling. How does Jesus continue to comfort the disciples from this point?
▪︎ There is only one sure fire way to guarantee success, baptizing them with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Luke 3:16;
▪︎ As we have seen in the disciples and is evident in all men, the flesh is weak. Only thru the indwelling of Holy Spirit can we hope to be successful.
▪︎ The flesh cannot please God (Rom 3:10-11, 12); how can it possibly glorify God without the help of the Holy Spirit.