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JOHN - The Light Shines in the Darkness
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to John
PART 3 - Light Shines in the Circle of the Apostles (John 11:55 - 17:26)
D - The Farewell on the way to Gethsemane (John 15:1 - 16:33)

6. Christ's peace in us defeats the world's afflictions (John 16:25-33)


JOHN 16:25-26a
25 I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26a In that day you will ask in my name; ...

Jesus revealed the truths of the heavenlies by way of illustration and allegory which hid the mysteries before the worldlings, but disclosed them to those hungry for righteousness. Jesus longed for his disciples to understand him clearly, and hoped for the great day on which he would rise from the dead and ascend to heaven to be seated at God’s right hand, sending his divine Spirit to them. He regarded all these saving events as one day. When the Spirit came to the hearts of his followers, the parables and allegories would cease, for Christ’s Spirit would create illumination in the hearts of believers, ending the phase of parables. God is the Father and Christ His Son. Without the Holy Spirit, no man can know God, but the Spirit of the Son draws us into God’s family. Do you have an earthly father? Do you speak with him? Does he care about you? These are intuitive questions. On a higher level, the words of Jesus and the comfort of his Spirit assure us that God is omnipotent, the Holy One, and our personal intimate God who loves us. We are His beloved children even though we are all sinners, but through the blood of Christ we have become holy before him. The Holy Spirit opens our mouths for true prayer because this Spirit is Christ’s. In spiritual prayer Christ speaks through us. Pray what the Spirit prays in the Father’s confidence and the fellowship of the Son. Your prayers will be a conversation between the Spirit in you and your heavenly Father who is one with the Son.

JOHN 16:26b-28
26b ... and I don’t say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you, 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from God. 28 I came out from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.”

That father who does not love his children is no father at all. By revealing God’s name, Jesus gave us the simplest form to realize God’s mighty love. Giving prominence to the Father’s name is the core of Christ’s aim. He who knows the Father knows God, and is changed into a child of God, abiding in His love. In that Name we find the full Gospel and hope for eternity. Christ announces to you, that henceforth there is no need for mediation, because the Father Himself loves you, and He is full of love and mercy. Since Christ died on the cross there is no barrier between us and the Father. Faith in the Son, God’s Lamb, enables the Father to pour his love upon those who love Christ. He who is aware of Christ’s divinity, his proceeding from the Father and indwelling with Him, has approached the Holy Trinity. He abides in God’s life and is filled with the Father’s grace rejoicing ever in the Spirit.

In one sentence, Christ depicts the miracle of redemption to his disciples. He descended from the heights of deity and moved about the earth that was riddled with animosities and depravity, but when he accomplished righteousness for mankind on the cross, he left the world and sped to his Father, the source of all life.

JOHN 16:29-30
29 His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you speak plainly, and speak no figures of speech. 30 Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came forth from God.”

The disciples were becoming aware of the greatness of God’s love and Jesus’ eternal being. Jesus is the true God, the omniscient, holy and eternal. They did not perceive and did not remember that Christ is love incarnate. Therefore they did not recognize God in his essence and did not call him Father, in spite of the fact that Jesus extensively had proclaimed to them God's new name and his never ending love. The Holy Spirit had not yet enlightened the followers of Jesus. So they accepted these matters theoretically, but missed out on the essence of his true nature.

JOHN 16:31-32
31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

With a wry smile he said, "Do you imagine that merely by the intellect you can grasp my true self? Is such knowledge the same as true faith? The test is about to take place, and will show that your credence is devoid of love. You fail to understand God, because you do not believe in His fatherhood. You will all flee and leave me forsaken. Your faith will be shown to be unsettled."

"In death I am not alone, for the Father is with me." Does this contradict Jesus’ cry on the cross, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" No, because God, the Holy One, hid His face from the Son, but Christ continued to believe in his Father’s presence. His cry indicates that God remains unchanged, "I will not leave you even when I do not see you. Into your hands I commit my spirit". Christ’s faith in god’s fatherhood prevailed over the judgment that fell on him for our sakes. The Son’s love for his Father put out the fire of God’s wrath arising out of our debt incurred by sin. His constant hope opened the door for us to see the Father. Because of his death in the Father’s counsel we may say, "I am not alone, because the Father is with me."

JOHN 16:33
33 I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus summed up his farewell message with a note of comfort for all believers, "I have lived a while with you, and taught you that divine peace might fill your hearts. Unbelievers have no peace. I, the Son, have forgiven your hearts and cleansed your inner beings. I place the Spirit of my peace in you. Abide in my words. I personally am your defender. You have no protection apart from me. Your reconciliation with God is the basis of that peace. You have no clear conscience without forgiveness of your sins in my blood. I have saved you and my Spirit is in you. My peace is not a phantom but a reality. I come to give you peace; accept it and believe in me."

"Do not imagine that peace awaits you in this world. No! There lurks many a danger: persecution, illness, deceit, fears and death. Legalists will reject you, the superficial will mock. Thousands of lies and philosophies will test your faith. Pride will be ever near. Do not love money; wealth will not make you secure."

"Take your eyes away from the world and look at me. Contemplate my life and understand my words get to know my love and follow my humility. Abide in my self-sacrifice and self-denial. I have overcome the world. I did not ask anything for myself. I am in essence God’s Holy One. In me God’s commandment was fulfilled, ‘Be holy, because I am holy’. I am the perfection of love, in me you see the Father."

Have you grasped the import of Jesus’ farewell discourse? He has set you in the Father’s fellowship, so that your heart accords with Christ’s peace. That peace is the most vital truth in a believer’s life. The world will remain evil and trouble you. But your faith in the Victor over death and Satan will free you from the fire of God’s wrath and external torment. He who believes in Christ receives God’s mercy. Has this message from Jesus filled you? Is the Holy Spirit in you to say, "The Father is mine, the Son is my Savior, and the Spirit indwells me. The One God is in us. I abide in his grace."

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, you have won my heart, bought me for yourself. You have kept me in your protection from the devil’s snares, and freed me from the dungeon of his lies. You have bestowed eternal life on me. I fear no death as I wait on you. Keep me in your will and fill me with your power that I may glorify you with all the saints as we worship the Father. Let me love the brethren, and forgive people and be a peacemaker as guided by you. I rely on you; you are the Victor.

QUESTION:

  1. Why and how does the Father love us?

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