Blessed Departure

November 23, 2003 Preacher: Randy Smith Series: John

Scripture: John 14:25–31

Transcript

Blessed Departure

John 14:25-31
Sunday, November 23, 2003
Pastor Randy Smith



Approximately one time each year we return to the Midwest to visit our family. Julie and I know our parents and siblings are excited to see us, but we are far from being in the spotlight. All of the attention is focused on our daughters. Nothing brings our parents more joy than to be reunited with their grandchildren.

The blessedness of the event is quick to end when in four days our children are pried from their arms and whisked off to the next state. Witnessing this highly emotional cleavage is probably our most heart-wrenching experience. Once a year I am reminded of the special bond that exists between a grandparent and a grandchild.

Witnessing this separation between humans who love each other deeply is nothing compared to witnessing (by way of the Scriptures) the disciples' sorrow when they were informed by Jesus that He was about to leave them. The Man whom they left everything to follow was about to depart by way of the cross. It was unthinkable! It was illogical! It was tragic! It would destroy their lives forever (or so they thought).

But Jesus surprised them all. In John 16:7a He said, "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away." For the past few weeks we have been studying those "advantages" as they are found in John 14. As a matter of fact, I believe the theme of chapter 14 could be entitled: "Advantages of Christ's departure."

Well, as we conclude this chapter this morning, Jesus continues with more advantages regarding His departure. Realize these inspired words from God were intended to encourage His disciples' troubled hearts 2,000 years ago. However, the goal of this passage is intended to encourage our hearts as well, disciples of His in the 21st century.

Yet before we begin the new material, by way of review, I would like to present four nuggets of truth that the Lord laid upon my heart from last week's lesson. You will remember we learned that Jesus' departure precipitated the arrival of the Holy Spirit. That truth is significant because all the encouraging truths from chapter 14 cannot be fulfilled without the Spirit's presence. How do I get the radical faith to trust Christ without His enabling? How will I see others get saved without His regeneration? How will I sense the abiding presence of Jesus without His indwelling? How can I ever understand the word without His illumination? How can I ever expect to obey without His empowerment? The Holy Spirit makes the Christian faith a "God-centered" religion from beginning to end (Gal. 3:3). From salvation to sanctification to glorification, we are to do none of it in our own strength. It is all a work of God.

Second, we learned that we are not left as orphans (verse 18), but the living God comes and makes His abode with us (verse 23) through the presence of the Holy Spirit (verse17). In verse 17 we also learned that the Holy Spirit who indwells us is called "the Spirit of truth." Now if "truth" (an attribute that greatly characterizes the Holy Trinity) dwells within us in such a powerful way, isn't it only logical to believe that we will continually have a greater love and greater passion for truth?

And where do we find this truth that our heart craves? Answer: The Bible! In John 17:17 Jesus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth." So if the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of truth," who wrote the word of God, the word of truth, dwells within us, isn't it only logical that we will love the Word and demonstrate that love through joyful obedience? Remember, Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word" (Jn. 14:23a). In other words, salvation is Christ indwelling me through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of truth gives me a hunger for the Word of truth. As I delight in obeying the Word of truth, I demonstrate my love for Christ and give evidence of His presence in my life.

Third, if the Father will never forsake His children, and the greatest evidence of our love for Him is our obedience to Him, and if we stray He lovingly disciplines us to bring us back, don't we have a model for parenting? In other words, shouldn't a parent's love for a child be continuous and unconditional? Should a child demonstrate his love through obedience? Shouldn't a parent lovingly discipline a child to bring them back to the place of restored fellowship and safety?

Furthermore, if the rules of the house line up with the rules of the Bible, isn't that environment cultivating a child's heart to see and appreciate spiritual things from an earthly example? Isn't that child taught that disobeying a parent is ultimately disobeying Christ because a parent's rules are Christ's rules? Isn't a child taught to understand the love of Christ, the wages of sin, the demands of the law and the need for a Savior? Shouldn't every Christian parent say my rules are Christ's rules and follow me as I follow Christ? Overall, isn't the goal of our parenting to get our children to look to Jesus? What better way is there than to mimic the spiritual relationship between God and man on an earthly level? What a tremendous parable this becomes! What a way to adorn the gospel!

Finally, looking to Jesus should be the ongoing priority of our life as well. We must look to Jesus to be saved and faithfully persevere in our close bond with Him until the end. Last week we learned that our love for Him should be demonstrated through radical obedience. But if obedience flows from our love, where does our love come from? I believe it comes from the Holy Spirit as He enables us to better comprehend the love that Christ has for us. Therefore, our obedience is in direct correlation with understanding the love of Christ for lost sinners like me (Lk. 7:47). Solution to greater love and hence greater obedience: Look to Jesus!

1. WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ...

Well, with that by way of review, I would like to begin the new material. Beginning in verse 25, Jesus brings forth the second discourse on the Holy Spirit and then provides more encouraging truths pertaining to His departure.

Holiness (vs. 26)

Last week we learned that the Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of truth" and our "Advocate." In verse 26, Jesus for the first time identifies Him by His most popular title, "the Holy Spirit." The statement I made before regarding the truth also applies here. If holiness identifies His nature, and He, the Holy Spirit, indwells us, wouldn't it be logical to think that His job is to make us more…holy?!

When I was a little kid our parents would allow us to dye Easter eggs. I know it's a pagan thing, but the illustration kept coming to my mind. More than anything I enjoyed watching those little tablets dissolve in the glass of vinegar. Within time, the entire container was permeated and influenced by the dye. The Holy Spirit is similar. He comes to personally dwell within us. He is "the Spirit of Christ" (Rom. 8:9) who permeates and gradually transforms our nature to become more Christlike, or in other words, more holy!

You wouldn't believe the resistance I've encountered when I've preached on the subject of holiness. Last week we learned that Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (Jn. 14:15), and today we learned that the Holy Spirit makes us holy by enabling us to keep to those commandments. Additionally, we are all aware of the consequences of sin. Wouldn't you want a shepherd that exhorts you to obedience? Doesn't Christ expect that of me, His servant?

I've been called everything under the sun; usually "legalist" is the one that surfaces most. I remember one man accused me of trying to make the church like me. I felt like a failure. Obviously the heartbeat of my preaching was misunderstood. The standard is not me (that's too low), the standard is Jesus Christ! God's goal, which is my goal, is to see all of you gradually become more like Jesus. And the Holy Spirit has been given to get every Christian in order to help us move ever closer to that lofty standard.

Instruction and Remembrance (vs. 26)

Another function of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in verse 26. Please follow along. "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."

The Holy Spirit would not only make the Apostles holy, but He would also be a teacher and guide to the truth. He would not go beyond the revelation conveyed by Christ, but He would enable them to understand the meaning and implications of Christ's words and bring to remembrance all that Jesus taught them. Why were these two qualities so essential for the Apostles? Because these men would be God's primary delegates to compose His sacred Scripture.

The chain of revelation originates with the Father. The Father communicates to the Son (Jn. 8:28; 12:49). The Holy Spirit teaches and brings to remembrance the Son's Words (Jn. 14:26). The Apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit, compose Scripture for future generations (Eph. 2:20).

Maybe you've heard the following critiques regarding the Word of God: How do I know the Apostles rightly communicated the teaching of Jesus when they expressed so much confusion during His earthly ministry? How do I know the Apostles remembered everything exactly when they wrote their gospels 10-40 years after Christ's departure? How do I know that the Bible is really the Word of God? Those questions are all answered in verse 26 in the role of the Holy Spirit to teach and bring remembrance (c.f. Jn. 2:22; 12:16).

Though God ceased giving divine revelation with the apostolic age (that's why the canon of Scripture was closed with the book of Revelation), the Holy Spirit still has a similar ministry in the lives of believers today. He does not inspire us to write Scripture as He did the Apostles, but He does illuminate our minds to accept, understand, recall and apply Scripture.

Peace (vs. 27)

Let's move on. Verse 27 describes a third function of the Holy Spirit. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (stop right there).

First of all I want you to notice that Christ talks about leaving peace with us. Remember, this was spoken in His departure and with the soon arrival of the Holy Spirit. If you recall Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, followed immediately by joy and peace. Due to the Holy Spirit that dwells within them, all believers will experience the full extent of Christ's peace. Of this peace D.A. Carson said, "This is the peace which garrisons our hearts and minds against the invasion of anxiety, and rules or arbitrates in the hearts of God's people to maintain harmony amongst them." (Carson, John, 506). Paul said it best. He characterized this peace as that "which surpasses all comprehension" (Phil. 4:7).

Jesus goes on to say that this peace is "not as the world gives." The world promises peace, but it is totally unable to deliver. The world is like the false prophets to Israel who declare "peace" when there is no peace (Jer. 6:14; 8:11; Eze. 13:16). Any of us who try to slake our thirst for peace from the world walk away unsatisfied. The best the world has to offer by way of peace are temporary solutions rooting in circumstances: Alcohol, tranquilizers, self-love, trips, materialism, fill in the blank! As well as these may mask anxiety, they never deal with the root of the problem and provide the everlasting and true peace we as humans seek.

In a Rolling Stone interview, Christina Ricci, an edgy teen actor who recently starred in Sleepy Hollow, talks about her lack of peace and ever-present anxiety: "She stretches; her sleeves ride up; there are raised round scars on her forearms, burns on the back of one hand. She later explains where each mark came from: how she heated a lighter, held it against her hand, a stunt to impress some boys when she was angry about 'not looking very good.' The forearm scratches come from soda tops and fingernails: 'It's like having a drink,' Ricci says, 'but it's quicker. You know how your brain shuts down from pain? The pain would be so bad, it would force my body to slow down, and I wouldn't be as anxious. It made me calm'" (Nice and Naughty, Rolling Stone (12-9-99), p. 50).

Though this example of lacking peace may be extreme, I believe H.G. Wells speaks on behalf of millions: "The time has come for me to reorganize my life, my peace-I cry out. I cannot adjust my life to secure any fruitful peace. Here I am at sixty-four, still seeking peace. It is a hopeless dream" (H.G. Wells, quoted in Leroy Brownlow, Better than Medicine).

It's not a hopeless dream! That's why Jesus said in verse 27, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you." The Man who spoke these words without fear or worry on the eve of His crucifixion, the Man with that perfect peace, gives that perfect peace to us. Jesus Christ gives us His peace by way of His departure. Because of His departure to accomplish His work on the cross, we are now at peace with God vertically due to the atonement (Rom. 5:1) and at peace with each other horizontally due to the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:11) and at peace with our circumstances due to His sovereign control in our lives (Rom. 8:28).

The unknown poet captured the essence of this peace well:

Peace be to thy habitation, peace to all that dwell therein,

Peace the earnest of salvation, peace the fruit of pardoned sin,

Peace that speaks the heavenly Giver,

Peace to worldly minds unknown,

Peace divine that lasts forever,

Peace that comes from God above.

Considering this, we should not be surprised that Jesus concludes verse 27 by saying, "Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." This line is repeated from verse 1. Due to the upcoming presence of His peace, we are able to overcome all trouble and fear. Though His gift does not grant us exception from the storms of life, it does promise us the power to weather any storm that might sovereignly blow our way with an inner sense of perfect peace.

3. WITH CHRIST'S DEPARTURE COMES…

So it is to the disciples' advantage that Jesus departs. With His departure will come the Holy Spirit who will be engaged in the ministry of promoting holiness, writing the Scriptures and distributing peace. Though His direct instruction regarding the Holy Spirit concludes in verse 27, Jesus still has more advantages pertaining to His departure prior to their departure from the Upper Room in verse 31.

Joy (vs. 28)

First in verse 28 He says, "You heard that I said to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." While the disciples were sad in their Master's departure, Jesus said His leaving rather should have brought them joy!

In verse 28, Jesus hits these guys over the head with a 2x4. I can imagine Him saying, "Why are you guys so downcast about My departure? I already promised you how My leaving was for your advantage. As a matter of fact, your grief is an indication of how little you truly love Me. Aren't you happy that I'm returning to My Father and original place of glory? Aren't you thankful that I will be finally delivered from the shame, agony, weakness and hurt of this existence? Don't you understand that My departure is not only what's best for you and the world, it's also what's best for Me! If you really love Me, My departure should result in another advantage, your joy!"

The ending of verse 28 has brought interpretation difficulties throughout the centuries. When Jesus said, "The Father is greater than I" we can know for certain, based upon everything we've learned so far in this gospel that Jesus was not denying His deity. Exactly what He was saying is debatable. Ambrose and Augustine believed this was a reference to the humanity Christ received at the incarnation. Naturally, since Jesus is limited in human form, the Father is in a greater position and state of glory than He. Tertullian and Athanasius believed this was a reference to the eternal distinctions between the Father and Son. In other words, he Son, though equal in essence, is always submissive to the Father in role. Both these interpretations have much credibility and can almost be accepted in conjunction based upon the context.

Belief (29)

A second general advantage to His departure is faith. In verse 29 Jesus said, "Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe" (c.f. Jn. 13:19). As the disciples witness the predicted events unfolding after His departure, they will grow in faith. They will see that Jesus is a God who keeps His word and dispenses promises that can be trusted.

Victory (vs. 30)

Third, the departure of Christ also spells the victory of Jesus over the Devil. Verse 30, "I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me."

Going way back to the time in the Garden of Eden, it was prophesized that there would be conflict between the seed of woman and Satan (Gen. 3:15). That conflict was about to be realized when the Evil One would bruise Jesus on the heel at Calvary. Though Satan thought the victory was his, Jesus would be triumphant, securing His victory and guaranteeing the ultimate defeat of the Devil.

Though Satan would unleash the powers of hell against the Savior, he had no foothold on Jesus. Satan works by grasping the handles of sin, but Jesus lived a sinless life (Jn. 8:46). The Accuser could bring forth no justifiable charge. That's why Jesus said; "The ruler of this world…has nothing in Me," NIV- "He has no hold on me."

This sheds light on the beauty of our salvation. When we trust Christ for salvation, the sinlessness of Jesus is imputed to our account. We now stand clothed in His righteousness! And though Satan tries to accuse us before the throne of God day and night (Rev. 12:10), we have (remember!) and Advocate standing at our defense! Due to our righteousness in Christ, Satan likewise has no hold on us.

I sinned. And straightway, post-haste Satan flew
Before the presence of the Most High God,
And made a railing accusation there.
He said, "This soul, this thing of clay and sod
Has sinned. 'Tis true that he has named Thy name,
But I demand his death, for Thou hast said,
'The soul that sinneth, it shall die!' Shall not
Thy sentence be fulfilled? Is Justice dead?
Send now this wretched sinner to his doom.
What other thing can righteous ruler do?"
And thus he did accuse me day and night,
And every word he spoke, O God, was true!

Then quickly One rose up from God's right hand,
Before Whose glory angels veiled their eyes.
He spoke, "Each jot and tittle of the law
Must be fulfilled: the guilty sinner dies!
But wait. Suppose his guilt were all transferred
To ME and that I paid his penalty!
Behold My hands, My side, My feet! One day
I was made sin for him, and died that he
Might be presented faultless, at Thy throne!"
And Satan fled away. Full well he knew
That he could not prevail against such love,
For every word my dear Lord spoke was true!

Martha Snell Nicholson, Treasures, 1952

Obedience (vs. 31)

So the departure of Christ brought forth joy, faith, victory and now finally an encouragement to obey! Look at how Jesus concludes the sentence in verse 31. "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.

Why did Jesus depart? He departed to die for our sins on the cross. Why did Jesus ultimately die for our sins on the cross? He died to glorify the Father by acting in complete obedience to His will (Mt. 26:39, 42). His death was not a sign of defeat, but rather a sign of obedience.

You'll recall last week we learned that our love for Jesus is expressed in obedience. Now we see Jesus modeling this concept. He loved the Father and expressed that love in obedience (Jn. 8:29). One chapter later Jesus will clarify. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (Jn. 15:10). I had to ask myself this question. If love is expressed in obedience and Jesus is my example, do I obey Jesus with the same determination that He obeyed the Father?

We've covered a lot this morning. Everything related to the advantages of Jesus' departure. Though originally spoken to the eleven, these promises hold true for us today. We have the Holy Spirit who brings us holiness, instruction and peace. We also delight in the joy, belief, victory and obedience that result from Jesus going to the cross.

Praise God that Jesus Christ, in obedience to the Father, went to the cross to die for our sin whereby we might have His perfect righteousness and God Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit taking up personal residence in our lives.

No distant Lord have I, loving afar to be;
Made flesh for me He cannot rest until He rests in me.
I need not journey far this dearest friend to see;
Companionship is always mine,
He makes His home with me.

I envy not the twelve, nearer to me is He;
The life He once lived here on earth He lives again in me.
Ascended now to God my witness there to be,
His witness here am I because His Spirit dwells in me.

O glorious Son of God, Incarnate Deity,
I shall forever be with Thee because Thou art with me.

Author Unknown


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May 2, 2004

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