Sunday School Lessons

AUGUST 5, 2018

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

INTRODUCTION:
1. In this and the following chapters our Lord proceeds to give instruction rather than consolation. Having comforted His disciples in chapter fourteen, He now presses on them certain great truths that He would have them to remember after He was gone. He begins by urging the absolute necessity of close union and communion with Himself by means of an illustration of a vine and its branches.
2. We must remember that the passage we are considering is a parable, and a parable must be interpreted. As in all parables, we must understand the great lesson which it contains, rather than try and press each clause to the limit. The old saying is true, “that no parable stands on all fours.”
3. The meaning of the parable is simply this: the relation between believers and Christ is that of a vine and its branches. Christ is the true vine, that is, the true source of all their life and spiritual vigor; and they are as entirely dependent on Him as the branches of the vine are on the parent stem; and the close union between Christ and His disciples is like that of the vine and its branches.
4. It is generally agreed that Christ’s discourse in this and the next chapter was at the close of the last supper; the night in which He was betrayed, and what He chose to speak about was very pertinent to the occasion of His leaving. He first stresses the necessity of their adherence to Him, and abiding in Him, by use of this parable of the vine and the branches.

I. NOTICE FIRST THE DOCTRINE OF THE SIMILITUDE, WHICH SHOWS OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST AND THE FATHER.

A. CHRIST IS THE VINE, THE TRUE VINE. (VERSES 1, 5)
1. He is the vine planted in the vineyard, and not a spontaneous product.
a) He is planted in the earth. “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)
b) The vine is a spreading plant. (Gen. 49:22; Psa. 80:11)
2. He is the true vine.
a) As opposed to a counterfeit, or a pretense, which bear no fruit.
b) As opposed to a wild vine, which deceives those who gather of it. (II Kings 4:39; Hab. 3:17)
c) As the antitype of the figures of the true in the Old Testament. (Gen. 49:11, 22; I Kings 4:25)

B. BELIEVERS ARE THE BRANCHES OF THIS VINE. (VERSE 5)
1. Their life is in the vine, the root of which is unseen, as our life is hid with Christ. The root bears the tree. (Rom. 11:18)
2. The branches are many, some on one side of the wall, others on the other side, yet meeting in the vine, they are all of one root.
3. All true believers, though in places distant, and in opinions differing, yet, meeting in Christ, Who is the center of their unity.
4. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak and insufficient to stand on their own, but are borne up. (Ezek. 15:2)

C. THE FATHER IS THE HUSBANDMAN. (VERSE 1)
1. He is the “land-worker.” Although the earth is the Lord’s, it yields Him no fruit unless He work it.
2. God has the care of the vine and all the branches. He plants, waters, and gives the increase, for we are God’s husbandry. (I Cor. 3:9; See Isa. 5:1, 2; 27:2, 3)
3. Just as He planted Christ, and made Him to “grow up before Him as a tender plant and as a root out of dry ground,” He has an eye upon the branches, and watches over them.
4. Never was any husbandman so wise and so watchful about His vineyard as God is over His Church.

II. NOTICE NEXT,THE DUTY TAUGHT US BY THIS SIMILITUDE, WHICH IS TO BE FRUITFUL BY ABIDING IN CHRIST.

A. WE MUST BE FRUITFUL. (VERSES 2, 4, 5)
1. From a vine we look for grapes (Isa. 5:2), and from Christians we look for Christianity; from believers we look for the fruit of the Spirit.
2. See here the doom of the unfruitful: they are taken away. (Verse 2)
a) It is here intimated that there are many who pass for branches in Christ who yet do not bear fruit. Were they really joined to Christ by faith they would bear fruit. But, being only tied to Him by the thread of an outward profession, though they may seem to be branches, they will, in time, be seen as frauds.
b) It is here threatened that they shall be “taken away.” This is done in justice to the false professor and in kindness to the lively branches.
c) Judas was just such a pretender, and he was taken away.
3. See here the promise made to the fruitful: “He purgeth them that they may bring forth more fruit.”
a) Fruitfulness is a great blessing to the branches, and the Husbandman desires that their fruit may abound more and more, therefore He prunes them.
b) To clip away all superfluous shoots is the duty of a faithful husbandman. This procedure prevents the useless “suckers” from robbing life from the branches, preventing greater fruit-bearing.
(1) This is what sin does in the life of a believer. It robs him of spiritual vitality. (See Gal. 5:17)
(2) The purging process may be painful, but it is for the Christian’s own good. (See Gal. 5:24)
c) The purging of fruitless branches, in order to their greater fruitfulness, is the careful work of the great Husbandman for His own glory.

B. THE CLEANNESS THAT ALL HAVE WHO ARE IN VITAL UNION WITH CHRIST. (VERSE 3)
1. Their society was clean now that Judas had been removed from the Vine.
2. They were subject to purging, but not to removal.
3. The agency of their cleansing was the Word of the Lord. They were sanctified through the truth. (John 17:17)
4. All who hear Christ’s words and heed them shall be cleansed from sin, and thus, made fit for the Master’s use.

C. THE GLORY THAT CHRISTIAN FRUIT-BEARING IS TO GOD, AND THE HONOR THAT IT IS TO US. (VERSE 8)
1. “Herein is my Father glorified.”
a) A fruitful, beautiful garden is the pride and joy of the gardener.
b) Therefore the great Husbandman is glorified when the branches He has spared and pruned and dressed brings forth much fruit.
c) This ought to be our greatest incentive to bear the fruits of righteousness.
2. “So shall ye be my disciples.”
a) This is a high honor, to be known as Christ’s disciples by the fruits that we bear. (Matt. 7:16, 20)
b) It is the highest of honors, to be owned by our Lord and Master. “Then shall ye be my disciples.”

III. NOTICE NEXT, IN ORDER TO BE FRUITFUL, WE MUST ABIDE IN CHRIST. (VERSES 4-6)

A. THE DUTY COMMANDED. “ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU.” (VERSE 4)
1. We must abide in Christ by faith, and He is us by His Spirit.
a) If we abide in Him, we need not fear but that He will abide in us.
b) The communion between Christ and believer never fails on His side.
2. We must abide in Christ’s Word by a regard to it, and it shall be in us as a light to our feet.
3. Our communion with Christ is to be constant, maintained on our part by abiding in His Word and continuing in prayer.
4. What wondrous grace that the great God and our Savior enters into fellowship with us, and never wishes to break that fellowship. Let us not allow our sin and neglect to interfere, but let us be constant in our faith and love for Christ, and let us live upon His promise.

B. THE NECESSITY OF OUR ABIDING IN CHRIST. (VERSES 4, 5)
1. Abiding in Christ is necessary in order to our bearing any fruit. Just as a detached branch cannot bear fruit, no more can we apart from our union with Christ. (Verse 4)
2. By our abiding in Christ and He in us, we shall not only bear fruit, but much fruit. (Verse 5)
3. Without Christ, i.e. apart from Christ, we can do nothing.

IV. NOTICE LASTLY, THE FATAL CONSEQUENCES OF FORSAKING CHRIST, COMPARED TO THE BLESSED PRIVILEGE THAT COMES FROM ABIDING IN CHRIST. (VERSES 6, 7)

A. THE FATAL CONSEQUENCE OF NOT ABIDING IN CHRIST. “IF ANY MAN ABIDE NOT IN ME, HE IS CAST FORTH AS A BRANCH, AND IS WITHERED…” (VERSE 6)
1. They are cast forth as dry and withered branches, which are plucked off because they cumbered the vine.
2. They are withered as a branch broken off from the tree.a) Some may flourish for a while in their profession of Christ, yet in a little while they come to nothing.b) We see them losing zeal and devotion, while their gifts begin to wither, followed by their credit and reputation. The fruitless fig tree had nothing but leaves, but then its leaves withered too. (Matt. 21:19)
3. At last, men gather them and they are cast into the fire and are burned. (Compare Matt. 13:30)

B. THE BLESSED PRIVILEGE WHICH THOSE HAVE WHO ABIDE IN CHRIST. “IF YE ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, YE SHALL ASK WHAT YE WILL…” (VERSE 7)
1. See how our union with Christ is maintained. We abide in Him and His words abide in us.
2. See how our communion with Christ is maintained – by prayer: “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done…”
3. The context of this promise is quite clear.
4. How blessed we are to have God’s favor and Christ’s mediation so that we shall have answers of peace to all our prayers.

JULY 22, 2018

CHRIST’S CHEERFULNESS IN HIS DEPARTURE

INTRODUCTION:

1. Our Lord has given many words of consolation in order to comfort His disciples whose hearts were troubled over the fact that He was soon to go away.
2. He assured them, first of all, that where He was going (heaven; the Father’s house), they would be coming in due time (Verses 1-3); that, secondly, He Himself, Who was going before to prepare them a place, was their surety and way to heaven (Verses 4-11); that, thirdly, His work would not cease with His leaving, but would continue, and even increase through them (Verses 12-14); that, fourthly, the Holy Spirit would be sent in His absence (Verses 15-17); that fifthly, His leaving was not forever, but He would come again for them (Verses 18-24); that, lastly, the legacy of His peace would be left to cheer them. (Verse 27)
3. Jesus began His words of encouragement with “Let not your heart be troubled,” (Verse 1) and He concluded them with “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Verse 27)
4. Jesus gives yet another reason why their hearts should not be troubled at His going away, and that is, because His heartwas not.

I. HE REPEATS WHAT HE SAID BEFORE, THAT THOUGH HE WAS GOING AWAY, HE WOULD BE COMING BACK AGAIN. (VERSE 28)

A. THIS SENTENCE MUST REFER TO WHAT HE SAID AT THE END OF CHAPTER 13 AND THE BEGINNING OF CHAPTER 14. (VERSE 28; CH. 13:33-36; CH. 14:1, 3, 12)
1. What He had told them before, He had need to tell them again.2. When we are experiencing grief, or fear, or care, we have need to be comforted with reminders of the truth of Christ’s coming.

B. HIS GOING TO THE FATHER AND HIS RETURNING AGAIN WERE BOTH MATTERS OF REJOICING TO OUR LORD.
1. His return to the Father would be to return to the glory that He had with Him before the world was. (John 17:5)
2. His coming back again will not be in humility, but “in power and great glory;” it will be “without sin unto salvation.”
3. His second coming will be to receive all of His own unto Himself, fully restored in His own likeness. (I John 3:2)

C. HIS GOING TO THE FATHER AND HIS RETURNING AGAIN WERE BOTH MATTERS IN WHICH HE WOULD HAVE HIS DISCIPLES TO REJOICE. (VERSE 12b)
1. The meaning of these words is: “If you truly loved me with an intelligent love, and thorough understanding of My person, nature, and work, you would rejoice to hear of My leaving the world to go to the Father, because you would see in it the finishing and completion of the work which He sent Me to do.”
2. Of course, He did not mean that His disciples did not love Him at all. He was saying, “If you loved Me, as by your sorrow you show that you do, you should rejoice instead of mourning, because in leaving, I am going not only to My Father, but yours, which will be My advancement, and your advantage, for My Father is greater than I.”
3. What does His statement mean, “My Father is greater than I?”
a) Christ is no doubt “equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching Hismanhood” (so states the Athanasian Creed).
b) When the Word was “made flesh,” He took on Him the “form of a servant.” (John 1:14; Phil 2:7) Thus, He took an inferior place of submission to the Father, to do His will.
c) Having taken that form and role, He was now going to the cross in order to accomplish redemption, after which accomplishment God will highly exalt Him. (Phil 2:7-11) In this His disciples ought to rejoice.
(1) In His accomplishment.
(2) In His exaltation.

II. HE EXPLAINS THAT HIS GOING AWAY WILL BE A MEANS OF CONFIRMING THEIR FAITH, IN THAT, IT WILL BE IN KEEPING WITH PROPHESIES WHICH WENT BEFORE IT. (VERSE 29)

A. THEIR CONFIRMATION WOULD COME FIRST FROM CHRIST’S DIVINE PRESENCE, KNOWING BEFOREHAND WHAT WOULD COME TO PASS. “I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE IT COME TO PASS.”
1. He told them before that He must go to Jerusalem, be betrayed, be put to death, rise from the dead, and return to the Father, and send the Comforter.
2. Christ told His disciples of His death, though He knew it would both puzzle them and grieve the, because it would afterward redound to the confirmation of their faith.

B. THEIR FAITH WOULD BE CONFIRMED, SECONDLY, IN THAT, THE THINGS FORETOLD WERE ACCORDING TO THE DIVINE PURPOSE. “I HAVE TOLD YOU BEFORE IT COME TO PASS.”
1. All had been determined in the eternal council. (Heb. 10:5-10)
2. When the Apostle Paul came to Jerusalem he knew not the things that did abide him there, but Christ did know. (Matt. 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22, 51; etc.)
3. When Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance the things which He had taught them(Verse 26), no doubt these teachings were among them.

III. OUR LORD SAW, RESPECTING HIS DEPARTURE, HIS FINAL STRUGGLE AGAINST SATAN, AND HIS VICTORY OVER THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD. (VERSES 30, 31)

A. JESUS’ TIME FOR TEACHING WAS NOW DRAWING TO AN END. “HEREAFTER, I WILL NOT TALK MUCH WITH YOU.”
1. It was now time to go. Perhaps as Jesus rose up from the table He said this, knowing that He would have little opportunity to teach them more, seeing what lay ahead from here to the crucifixion.
2. He had a great deal yet to say to them in Chapters 15 and 16, but in comparison, to what He had said, it was not much.
3. He may have said this in order to cause them to give the more earnest heed since the time was short.
a) How precious were the moments they had left with Him before His departure.
b) Let us always count our time under the Word of God precious.
c) Let us use our time wisely, to benefit our souls, and to be a benefit to others.

B. ONE REASON WHY HIS TIME FOR TEACHING THEM WAS SHORT WAS BECAUSE HIS FINAL BATTLE WITH THE DEVIL WAS DRAWING NEAR. “…FOR THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD COMETH.”
1. Jesus calls Satan “the prince of this world” because he rules in the hearts of the vast majority of mankind. “The whole world lieth in the wicked one.”
2. Our Lord, in seeing the battle that was facing Him, refers to it as the devil’s doing. Those employed against Him included Judas, the Romans, the Jewish leaders, etc., yet Satan was at the bottom of it all, and they were all his tools.
3. This was Satan’s big day! This would be the day in which he would deliver the “death blow” against his mighty foe. He had no idea that his own death sentence that was issued back there in the garden (Gen. 3:15), would be carried out by what he thought to be His victory – the death of Christ. He had no idea that “through death” Christ would destroy him who had the power of death, that is the Devil.” (Heb. 2:14)

C. JESUS HAD FULL ASSURANCE OF HIS COMING SUCCESS OVER SATAN IN THIS CONFLICT. “HE HATH NOTHING IN ME.”
1. There was no guilt in Christ to give authority the prince of this world.
2. There was no corruption in Christ to give any advantage to Satan.
3. How wonderful that the Second Adam was able to say, “He hath nothing in Me.”

D. SATAN COULD NOT FORCE HIS LIFE FROM HIM, AND YET, HE WOULD DIE IN COMPLIANCE WITH, AND IN OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER. (VERSE 31)
1. This confirmed what He had often said, that in all of His work, in all of His obedience, He was demonstrating His love for the Father who sent Him.
2. As His voluntary death on the Cross, was evidence of His love for mankind, for His sheep, for His church, it is moreover a message to the world, “that the world may know that I love the Father.”
3. Jesus therefore said, “Arise, let us go hence.”
a) His love for the Father was sufficient reason to go and suffer and die.
b) They had confessed their willingness to suffer with Him, so says He, “Let us go.”

JULY 8 / JULY 15, 2018

SEVEN WORDS OF COMFORT FOR CHRIST’S DISCIPLES(PART III; VERSES 18-27)

INTRODUCTION:

1. Christ’s words to his disciples in chapter fourteen through sixteen of this Gospel were chiefly meant for their encouragement and instruction in light of the fact that He was soon to be going away. (See Ch. 13:33-38)
2. In Verses 1-27 of this chapter alone, Jesus gives seven words as grounds for their comfort. In parts I and II of this series, we looked into the first four of these powerful words. (Verses 1-17)
a) Heaven is sure for Christ’s disciples (Verses 1-3)
b) The disciples have, in Christ, a certain way to heaven. (Verses 4-11)
c) Christ’s work will not cease after His departure. (Verses 12-14)
d) In Christ’s absence, the Holy Spirit will be given. (Verses 15-17)
3. Let us now consider His fifth, sixth, and seventh words of comfort. (Verses 18-27)
a) Christ will not leave His people forever but will come back again. (Verses 18-24)
b) The Holy Spirit will teach the disciples, and give them understanding. (Verses 25, 26)
c) The legacy of His peace will be left to cheer them in His absence. (Verse 27)

V. THE FIFTH WORD OF ENCOURAGMENT IS THAT CHRIST WILL NOT LEAVE HIS PEOPLE FOREVER, BUT WILL COME BACK AGAIN. (VERSES 18-24)

A. THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST IS INDEED A GREAT COMFORT TO CHRISTIANS. (VERSE 18)
1. He says, “I will not leave you comfortless.”
a) The word rendered “comfortless” literally means “orphans,” and is so indicated in the marginal reading.
b) This pretty much describes the state of the disciples after His leaving; and in a very real sense, the condition of all Christians.
2. What is the “coming” here spoken of? Not all Christians agree on that point.
a) Some refer to it as our Lord’s coming to His disciples after the resurrection.
b) Many refer it to as His coming in the Person of the Holy Spirit, as had just before been promised. (Vrs. 16, 17)
(1) His invisible coming into the hearts of believers.
(2) His outpouring on the Day of Pentecost.
c) Perhaps most believe it refers to His Second Coming at the end of the world.
3. It is a wide sweeping promise intended for all believers in every age.
a) All believers are comparatively orphans until the Second Advent. Our best things are yet to come. We look for and love the Lord’s appearing. (II Tim. 4:8)
b) We have the sure promise that He shall return. (Acts 1:11; Rev. 22:20)

B. WE HAVE LIFE THROUGH AN INDISSOLUABLE UNION WITH CHRIST NOW AND FOREVER. (VERSE 19)
1. Being joined to Him by faith we have His life as members of His body. So long as the Head lives, the body lives also. We, who are so alive in Him, see him even now through the eyes of faith. “…but ye see me.”
2. “Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more.” (Rom. 4:9) We cannot die unless Christ can be removed from heaven and His life destroyed, but since Christ is very God that is totally impossible.
3. Christ’s life secures the continuance of spiritual life to His people. They shall persevere unto the end. The divine nature of which they are partakers shall not perish.
4. Christ’s life secures the resurrection life of His people. Just as Jesus rose again from the grave, so shall His believing members rise again in the resurrection at the last day. (I Cor. 15:20, 21, 23)

C. FULL AND PERFECT KNOWLEDGE OF DIVINE THINGS WILL NEVER BE ATTAINED BY BELIEVERS UNTIL THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST. (VERSE 20; I COR. 13:11, 12)
1. Even the best of saints know but little now. “We see through a glass darkly.” (I Cor. 13:12a)
2. But it is a blessed thought that when Christ comes, when we see “face to face,” all of the cloudiness shall vanish away, and we shall know even as also we are known. (I Cor. 13:12b)
3. These are very comforting, restful thoughts, especially when we see so many problems and divisions that arise fromignorance. “…we know in part…”
4. Jesus said, “At that day ye shall know…”

D. KEEPING CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS IS THE BEST TEST OF LOVE TO CHRIST, WHICH ALSO ASSURES THAT WE ARE LOVED OF THE FATHER AND THE SON. (VERSE 21)
1. This truth is of vast importance, and one that needs to be pressed continually upon our conscience. The proof of love for Christ is not found in feelings, desires, or talking, but in obeying. (Verse 15)
2. Passive impressions which do not lead to actions, gradually deaden the heart. Living and doing are the only real evidence of grace.
3. Of course, such teaching must not be wrested and misunderstood. We are not to suppose for a moment that keeping Christ’s commandments can save us. (Eph. 2:8)

E. THERE ARE SPECIAL COMFORTS LAID UP FOR THOSE WHO LOVE CHRIST AND DEMONSTRATE THAT LOVE BY KEEPING HIS WORDS. (VERSES 22-24)
1. The Lord is again interrupted by yet another Apostle; this time it is Judas (elsewhere called Jude, Lebbeus, and Thaddeus), but not Judas Iscariot, as John clarifies.
a) Let us note that out of each saying of the three Apostles who interrupted our Lord’s discourse, a great truth was elicited for the benefit of the church. Thomas, Philip, and Jude drew out of our Lord’s mouth rich and precious sayings.
b) Here Jude would have Him explain how He would manifest Himself to the disciples and not to the world.
(1) Jude’s question may suggest that he was expecting Messiah’s Kingdom to be visible to the world. Thus he asked, “How is it (literally, “what has happened”) that thou wilt…”
(2) Or, the question may be expressing his deep affections, and the grateful sense he had of Christ’s distinguishing grace to them. “Lord, how is it…” (Compare II Sam. 7:18)
2. Jesus explains how it is that He will manifest Himself unto His own in a way that the world cannot know. (Vs. 23)
a) Christ’s manifesting Himself to His disciples is done in a distinguishing way – to them and not to the world that sits in darkness.
b) It is marvelous, and unaccountable, and must be attributed to free and sovereign grace.
c) Christ uniquely and wonderfully manifests Himself to His own in that He and the Father abide with them.
3. He gives a good reason both to cause us to observe the condition and encourage us to depend upon the promise. (Verse 24)
a) First, the duty is stressed in that the precept is the rule of Christ, which is binding upon us.
b) Secondly, the promise is not Christ’s Word alone, but the Father’s, which sent Him. To this purport He often spoke. (See Ch. 7:16; 8:28; and 12:44)

VI. THE SIXTH WORD OF ENCOURAGMENT IS THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH THE DISCIPLES, AND SUPPLY THEIR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING. (VERSES 25, 26)

A. JESUS HAD TAUGHT MANY THINGS TO HIS DISCIPLES WHILE HE WAS PRESENT WITH THEM. (VERSE 25)
1. “These things,” may mean these recent teachings, or the expression may refer to all things which He had taught them over the past three years. The widest sense seems more likely.
2. Their hearts were perhaps troubled by the thought of how would they be able to remember, and also by the realization that they did not fully understand them.
3. To set their hearts at ease, He had some words of comfort.

B. THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND ON HIS ACCOUNT, THROUGH HIS INTERCESSION, SHALL SUPPLY ALL OF THEIR WANTS ALONG THAT LINE. (VERSE 26)
1. What a promise this is! And it is not for the eleven alone, but for all believers. The Holy Spirit opens to us the Scriptures so that we need not lack anything that is needful for us to know for our soul’s good. John wrote in his first epistle, “Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” (I John 2:20)
2. Upon Jesus’ departure, they are to expect another Teacher, equal in every way to Himself, Whom the Father will send on His account, “in my name,” even “the Spirit of Christ” to continue teaching them. “He shall teach you all things.”
3. Many a good lesson Christ had taught them, many of which they may have forgotten. How would they be able to recall them when they needed to know them? Many of His words had not been understood by them when spoken, and thus forgotten. What were they to do? “He shall bring all things to your remembrance.”
4. The teaching here promised will be fuller and more complete after our Lord’s ascension. No one can read the Bookof Acts without seeing that the eleven were different men after the Day of Pentecost. They saw and understood things that had been hidden from them before.
5. Yet, the teaching of the Holy Spirit will be perfectly consistent with Christ’s doctrine. “…whatsoever I have taught you.”
a) This is very important. They will not be confused with differing precepts.
b) The Holy Spirit never teaches or leads contrary to the revealed Word of God.
6. Some believe these words of promise apply exclusively to the eleven, but, though they had special application to those men, they belong also to all believers of every age.
a) It is a matter of experience with converts that they remember and understand things that they did not before.
b) Often believers experience the quickening of the memory to recall a particular word at just the right time.
c) All believers enjoy the teaching of the Holy Spirit as He guides us into truth, and opens up the Word of God to our understanding. What a precious Gift He is!!

VII. THE SEVENTH WORD OF ENCOURAGMENT IS THE LEGACY OF PEACE THAT THE MASTER LEAVES TO CHEER HEARTS IN HIS ABSENCE. (VERSE 27) Matthew Henry remarks here, “When Christ left the world He made His will. His soul He bequeathed to His Father, and His body to Joseph. His clothes fell to the soldiers. His mother He left to the care of John. But what should He leave to His poor disciples who had left all for Him? Silver and gold He had none; but He left them what was far better, His peace.”

A. HE BEQUEATHS THEM AS A LEGACY, “PEACE.” “PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU.”
1. Not riches or worldly honor, but peace.
2. He leaves them peace; peace of heart, conscience, and of the inward man.
3. He leaves them peace – from a sense of pardoned sin, a living Savior, and a home in heaven.

B. THE EXPRESSION “MY PEACE” SEEMS TO INDICATE SOMETHING MOST SPECIAL AND PECULIAR IN THIS GIFT. “MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU.”
1. Does it not mean a sense of peace with God which He purchased with His blood?
2. Does it not mean that inward calm, and rest of soul which faith in Christ procures for believers?
3. Does it not mean that peace which it is His special prerogative to give to His own?

C. HE CONTRASTS THIS WONDERFUL LEGACY OF PEACE WITH ANYTHING THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER. “NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH…”
1. Not temporary, carnal satisfaction and gratification of passions and pride, etc.
2. Not the imperfect, defective, temporary peace that the world can give.

D. HE CONCLUDES WITH A REPETITION OF THOSE COMFORTING WORDS WITH WHICH HE BEGAN THE LONG LIST OF CONSOLATIONS IN THIS CHAPTER. “LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED…”
1. His peace is the antidote for the troubled heart.
2. To the opening charge not to be “troubled,” He adds, “neither let it be afraid.”
a) Our Lord saw a frame of mind setting is with the disciples – one of fear. “Neither let it be afraid.”
b) These words have weight, coming from the Lord, Who can give “peace in the midst of the storm.”

JUNE 24, 2018

SEVEN WORDS OF COMFORT FOR CHRIST’S DISCIPLES (PART II, VERSES 12-17)

INTRODUCTION:

1. In this and the two following chapters, our Lord’s great object seems quite clear. He intended to comfort the hearts of His disciples whose hearts were troubled over some things that had been revealed earlier at the supper. (Ch. 13:21, 28, 33, 38)
2. No doubt that which troubled them most was their Lord’s announcement that he would soon be leaving them, and where He was going they could not come at this time. (Ch. 13:33, 36)
3. In Verses 1-27 of this chapter Jesus offers seven words of comfort for His disciples.
4. In Part I of this series, we considered Jesus’ first two words of encouragement. (Verses 1-11)
a) Heaven is sure for Christ’s disciples. (Verses 1-3)
b) The disciples have in Christ a certain way to heaven. (Verses 4-11)
5. Let us now consider His third and fourth words of comfort. (Verses 12-17)
a) Christ’s work will not cease after His departure. (Verses 12-14)
b) In Christ’s absence, the Holy Spirit will be given. (Verses 15-17)

III. THE THIRD WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS THAT DISCIPLES NEED NOT FEAR THAT WITH THE DEPARTURE OF CHRIST HIS WORK SHALL CEASE. (VERSES 12-14) These verses are an example of our Lord’s tender consideration for the weakness of His disciples. He saw them troubled and faint-hearted at the prospect of being left alone in the world. He cheers them by two precious promises. First, that He would be continuing His work through them, and second, that His power would still be accessed and activated through prayer. Therefore, not only does their Lord’s work not cease, it increases and becomes even greater.

A. WE HAVE, FIRST, A STRIKING PROMISE ABOUT THE WORKS THAT CHRIST’S DISCIPLES MAY DO AFTER HIS DEPARTURE. (VERSE 12)
1. The full meaning of this promise is not to be sought in the miracles which the apostles did after Christ left the world.
a) That they were empowered to work miracles is indeed true, and that they did many miracles is also quite evident. (Matt. 10:7, 8; Acts 4:6, 7; 9:40; 14:8-10, etc.)
b) Yet, with respect to miracles, one could hardly argue that their works were greater than their Master’s either in volume or power. (John 20:30; 21:25; Ch. 11:43, 44)
2. What our Lord has in view seems to be the far greater number of conversions, and the far wider spread of the Gospel that would take place under their ministries than under His own teaching.
a) The Book of Acts bears this out. We read of no case when under Christ’s preaching three thousand souls were saved in one day.
b) There is no “greater work” possible than the conversion of souls.
3. We also can be encouraged by this promise, for it is just as true still today.
a) Christ’s bodily presence is not necessary for the ongoing of His work.
b) Since the days of the Apostles, the Gospel has gone out to the whole world.
c) As greater works than Christ did were done by His apostles (more numerous conversions) so also greater works than theirs have been done over the past 2,000 years.
4. Jesus explains why these “greater works” are possible. “…because I go unto my Father.”
a) His leaving, far from causing His works to cease, is key to their increase.
b) The reason for this truth is explained by the two promises which follow in Verses 13-17.
(1) Access to the throne of God through Jesus’ intercession.
(2) The sending of the Holy Spirit to abide with the church.
(3) He can help forward His cause on earth quite as much by sitting at the right hand of the Father and sending the Holy Spirit as by walking upon the earth.
c) Let us believe that there is nothing too hard or too great for believers to do, so long as our Lord intercedes for us in heaven.
d) Let us work on in faith and expect great things, though, like the disciples, we feel weak and lonely, and often troubled.
e) Our Lord is working with us and for us, though we cannot see Him.
f) It was only as Moses interceded on the hill that Joshua prevailed in the valley below. (Exod. 17:11)

B. WE HAVE, SECONDLY, A STRIKING PROMISE ABOUT THINGS THAT CHRIST’S DISCIPLES MAY GET BY PRAYER. (VERSES 13, 14)
1. These words are a direct encouragement to the simple, and yet great duty of praying.
a) The Lord says, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do… If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
b) Compare this text to a like promise in the next chapter. (Ch. 15:7, 8)
(1) The context of the two promises is the same: “Greater works…shall ye do.” (Ch. 14:12) “That ye bear much fruit.” (Ch. 15:8)
(2) The promise is the same: “Whatsoever ye shall ask…that will I do.” (Ch. 14:13); “Ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done.” (Ch. 15:17)
(3) The motive is the same: “that the Father may be glorified.” (Ch. 14:13); “Herein is my Father glorified.” (Ch. 15:8)
2. We have a Friend and Advocate in heaven.
a) Weak and imperfect as our supplications may be, so long as they are put in Christ’s hands, and offered in His Name, they shall be heard.
b) Of course, it takes for granted that the things for which we ask are for our soul’s good, and for the benefit Christ’s work through us.
3. How is it that many Christians have so little of the joy, peace, strength, and fruitfulness that we would desire?
a) The answer is simple. James says, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” Or it may be, says he, that “Ye ask and have not because ye ask amiss.”
b) Let us remember the words of the psalmist, “Open they mouth wide, and I will fill it.” (Psa. 81:10)
4. Those who do much for Christ and are abundant in good works and bear much fruit, will always prove to be those who pray much.

IV. THE FOURTH WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT IS THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF CHRIST, HIS DISCIPLES WILL BE GIVEN THE HOLY SPIRIT. (VERSES 15-17) Notice, this is the first time the Holy Spirit is mentioned as Christ’s special gift to His people. Of course, we are not to think that He did dwell in the hearts of the Old Testament saints, but He was given in a peculiar influence and power to believers when the New Testament dispensation came in, and this is the special promise here. It is appropriate, seeing the troubled state of the Apostles, that Jesus here calls Him “Comforter.” The word is the same as translated “Advocate,” and applied to Christ Himself in I John 2:2. It is the Holy Spirit who is not only our comforter, but our advocate who pleads our cause, and makes intercession for us. (Rom. 8:26)

A. THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PRECEDED BY A DIRECT PRACTICAL EXHORTATION. (VERSE 15)
1. He essentially says, “If you really love Me, prove your love not by weeping and lamenting at My departure, but by striving to do My will when I am gone.” Doing is always the best proof of love.
2. The commandments here mentioned must include all the Lord’s moral teachings while on earth, especially the moral law as expounded in the Sermon on the Mount, and as lived before them by Him.
3. Notice, our Lord speaks of “My commandments.” We never hear of Moses or any other servant of God using such language. This is the speech of One who is One with God the Father, and has power to lay down laws and make statutes for His Church.

B. NOTICE, THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE IN ANSWER TO THE SON’S PRAYER TO THE FATHER. (VERSE 16)
1. One principle point is the mention of all three persons of the Trinity – the Son praying, the Father giving, and the Spirit coming to abide.
2. When our Lord says, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give,” we are not to suppose that the gift that was determined in the counsel of the Trinity from eternity past was contingent on Christ’s asking. Moreover, in another place the Son says, “I will send,” (John 16:7) and here, He will go on to say, “I will come to you.” (Verse 18)

C. WE SHALL FIND IT USEFUL TO OBSERVE CLOSELY WHAT IS HERE SAID ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT. (VERSES 16, 17)
1. He is a Person. “Whom the world cannot receive…” (Verse 12) We are not talking about a mere influence or inward feeling.
2. He is called “The Spirit of truth.” (Verse 17a)
a) It is His special office to apply truth to the hearts of believers.
b) It is His work to guide us into all truth.c) It is His special function to sanctify us through the truth. (John 17:17)
3. The Holy Spirit is said to be one “whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not neither knoweth him.” (Verse 17)
a) His operations are foreign and foolish to the natural man. (I Cor. 2:14)
b) His inward works of conviction, repentance, faith, hope, fear and love, which He always produces, are precisely those things which the world cannot understand.
4. The Holy Spirit is said to “dwell in” believers, and to be intimately known by them. (Verse 17b)
a) In this way the disciples were to have a closer relationship to Christ than they had when He was with them bodily.
b) In this way, they would come to know the Holy Spirit truly. Who had dwelt WITH them, but would now be IN them. “For he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

CONCLUSION:
1. Surely these promises ought to have been most comforting to the disciples.
a) The work will go on after Christ’s departure, and even in a greater way than before.
b) They will have constant access to Him to whom belongs all power in heaven and in earth. All they need do is ask of Him whatsoever they will.
c) The Holy Spirit will be given to them, not only to dwell with them as their Lord had done, but He will abide in them forever.
2. Jesus will yet tell of other advantages that His leaving will bring because of the sending of the Holy Spirit in His place.