The Weekly Show: Episode 54 - John 14:15-31

Join Tim and John as they talk about life and study John Chapter 14 Verses 15-31.

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning

Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/

Introduction to the Passage

John 14:15–31 is part of Jesus’ final conversation with His disciples during the Last Supper. He has just told them He is going away (John 13), and now He comforts them by promising the Holy Spirit. This section is rich with truth about love, obedience, divine presence, and supernatural peace.

• John 14:15–31 is part of Jesus’ Farewell Discourse—His final words to the disciples during the Last Supper.
  
  
• This section follows His announcement that He is going away, and it’s filled with comfort, reassurance, and deep spiritual truth.
  
  
• Jesus begins by connecting love to obedience: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
  
  
• He then promises another Helper—the Holy Spirit—who will come alongside the disciples and dwell within them.
  
  
• Jesus assures them that they are not being abandoned. Instead, the Father, Son, and Spirit will make their home with those who love Him.
  
  
• He offers peace, not like the world gives, but a divine peace that calms troubled hearts.
  
  
• He also makes it clear that His obedience to the Father will lead Him to the cross—not because the enemy has power, but because love obeys.
  
  
• These verses reveal:
  
  
  • The relational nature of discipleship (love and obedience).
    
    
  • The gift and role of the Holy Spirit.
    
    
  • The presence of God in the life of the believer.
    
    
  • And the peace that sustains us in the face of fear.
    
    

This passage is both a comfort and a challenge—a call to live as people of the Spirit, marked by love, obedience, and peace.

Key Theme One: Love Expressed Through Obedience (John 14:15–17)

Verses 15–17:

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,[f] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be[g] in you.

1. Love and Obedience Are Connected
   
   

• Love and Obedience Are Connected
  
  

1. Jesus isn’t asking for sentiment—He’s calling for loyalty.
   
   
2. True love for Christ results in a desire to follow His ways.
   
   

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (The Helper)

1. “Another Helper” (Greek Parakletos) means one who comes alongside: comforter, advocate, counselor.
   
   

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will live with and in believers—He is never leaving us orphaned.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit (The Helper)

“Another Helper” (Greek: Parakletos)

• The Greek word Parakletos means one called alongside to help.
  
  
• It can be translated as:
  
  
  • Helper
    
    
  • Advocate
    
    
  • Counselor
    
    
  • Comforter
    
    
• The idea is personal support and active presence—not just passive encouragement.
  
  

“Another Helper” implies Jesus Himself was the first—this Helper will continue Jesus’ ministry, not replace it.

2. The Spirit Will Be With You and In You

• Old Testament saints experienced the Spirit coming upon them temporarily (e.g., prophets, kings).
  
  
• But Jesus promises a permanent, internal indwelling for every believer.
  
  
• The Holy Spirit is not just near you—He lives inside you.
  
  

This is the birth of New Covenant life (see Ezekiel 36:26–27).

3. He Will Be with You Forever

• Jesus says this Helper will remain forever.
  
  
• This is security, not based on our feelings, but on His promise.
  
  
• Even when we feel alone or weak, the Spirit never departs.
  
  

4. The World Cannot Receive Him (v. 17)

• The Spirit is not understood or accepted by the world.
  
  
• Spiritual truth requires spiritual awakening.
  
  
• But believers “know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you”—a profound promise of intimacy.
  
  

Key Theme Two: The Indwelling Presence of God (John 14:18–24)

 

Verses 18–24:

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

 1. Not Abandoned (v. 18–20)

• Jesus has just told the disciples He is going away—but now He clarifies:
  
  
  “I will not leave you as orphans.”
  
  
  
• In that culture, being orphaned meant being vulnerable, directionless, and unprotected—this statement is filled with compassion.
  
  
• Though His physical presence would soon depart (via the cross and ascension), Jesus assures them that He will still come to them:
  
  
  • Through His resurrection (short-term)
    
    
  • Through the Holy Spirit (ongoing presence)
    
    
  • Through the final return (future fulfillment)
    
    

 This is Jesus addressing both their emotional fear and their spiritual security.

 

2. The Promise of Divine Indwelling (v. 21, 23)

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

• This is one of the most intimate promises in all of Scripture:
  
  
  • The Father and Son will make their home in the heart of the believer.
    
    
• The Greek word for “home” (monē) means dwelling place—the same word used earlier in John 14:2 ("In my Father’s house are many rooms").
  
  
• This is more than theology—it’s relational presence:
  
  
  • God doesn’t just visit you.
    
    
  • He moves in. He abides.
    
    

Takeaway:

• God isn’t just with us—He is in us.
  
  
• You are now the temple of the living God (1 Cor. 6:19).
  
  

This is the New Covenant reality foretold in Ezekiel 36 and Jeremiah 31—God putting His Spirit within His people and writing His law on their hearts.

3. Love, Obedience, and Indwelling Are Linked

• Jesus repeats this structure throughout the passage:
  
  
  • Love → Obedience → Divine Presence
    
    
• This is not works-based salvation—it’s the fruit of relationship.
  
  
  • Those who love Jesus will want to keep His word.
    
    
  • And those who keep His word experience deeper fellowship with the Triune God.
    
    

 

4. The Contrast: The World vs. The Believer (v. 17, 22–24)

• Judas (not Iscariot) asks a powerful question in v. 22:
  
  
  “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”
  
  
  
• Jesus answers by highlighting the spiritual separation between believers and the world.
  
  

The World:

• Cannot receive the Spirit (v. 17).
  
  
• Cannot see or know Christ (v. 19).
  
  
• Rejects His word and therefore misses out on His presence (v. 24).
  
  

The Believer:

• Loves Christ → keeps His word → experiences the indwelling presence of God.
  
  
• Sees Christ not with physical eyes, but with faith.
  
  
• Lives in a Spirit-filled reality that the world cannot understand.
  
  

 The difference isn’t intelligence—it’s relationship.

Application Points

• Are you living like someone who’s not abandoned? Do you believe God is dwelling in you—even when you don’t “feel” it?
  
  
• Is your love for Jesus leading you to keep His word and deepen your fellowship with Him?
  
  
• Do you recognize that your life is a dwelling place for the Father, Son, and Spirit?
  
  

() Key Theme Three: The Spirit as Teacher and Peace-Giver (John 14:25–27)

Verses 25–27:

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 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 have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

1. The Holy Spirit’s Ministry (v. 25–26) ➤ Teacher of Truth

• Jesus says the Holy Spirit will teach us “all things.”
  
  

• He is not a vague force—He is a divine instructor, helping us grasp God’s Word.
  
  

• This applies first to the apostles (preserving Jesus’ words) but also extends to every believer today.
  
  

1 Corinthians 2:12–13 – “We have received... the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”

➤ Remembrancer

• Jesus promises the Spirit will remind the disciples of what He taught.
  
  

• For us, this looks like:
  
  

• Recalling Scripture in moments of need
  
  

• Bringing conviction to our hearts
  
  

• Illuminating truth during study or prayer
  
  

This is the work of illumination—making God’s Word alive, personal, and clear.

➤ Sent in Jesus’ Name

• The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father in Jesus’ name:
  
  

• He carries Christ’s authority
  
  

• He continues Christ’s mission
  
  

• He glorifies Christ’s character (see John 16:13–14)
  
  

Takeaway:

• The Spirit isn’t just information—He’s transformation.
  
  

• When we open our Bibles, we don’t read alone—the Spirit is our guide and translator.
  
  

 2. Jesus Gives Us His Peace (v. 27)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

➤ “My Peace” – Jesus’ Own Inner Peace

• Jesus gives us His peace—the same peace that kept Him steady before the cross.
  
  

• This peace isn’t circumstantial. It’s supernatural.
  
  

• Not tied to health, wealth, or comfort.
  
  

• Rooted in the unshakable presence and promise of God.
  
  

➤ Not As the World Gives

• Worldly peace is external—it depends on the absence of conflict.
  
  

• Christ’s peace is internal—it remains even in the midst of chaos.
  
  

• The world offers distraction or numbness.
  
  

• Jesus offers wholeness, reconciliation, and courage.
  
  

Philippians 4:7 – “The peace of God... will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

➤ Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled

• This is both a comfort and a command.
  
  

• Jesus is saying: You can choose peace, because I’ve given it to you.
  
  

• In the face of fear, loss, or uncertainty—His peace stands firm.
  
  

 

Application Points

• Are you regularly asking the Holy Spirit to teach and remind you as you read the Bible?
  
  

• What are the substitutes for peace you may be clinging to—control, distraction, escape?
  
  

• When fear rises, do you remind yourself that Christ’s own peace lives in you through the Spirit?
  
  

() Key Theme Four: Jesus’ Obedience and Satan’s Defeat (John 14:28–31)

Verses 28–31:

You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

1. Jesus Points to the Cross (v. 28–30) ➤ “I am going to the Father…” (v. 28)

• Jesus reminds them He is leaving—but this departure is not defeat.
  
  
• In fact, He says, “If you loved me, you would have rejoiced.”
  
  
  • Why? Because His return to the Father means His mission is fulfilled, and His exaltation is near.
    
    

Jesus isn’t a victim of betrayal—He’s the willing Lamb of God, moving toward His glory.

➤ “The ruler of this world is coming…”

• This is a reference to Satan, who is orchestrating events behind the scenes (e.g., Judas’ betrayal, the mock trial).
  
  
• But Jesus boldly declares:
  
  
  “He has no claim on me.”
  
  
  
  • Meaning: Satan has no authority, no guilt, no foothold in Christ.
    
    
  • Jesus is sinless, spotless, and totally sovereign in this moment.
    
    

The cross is not Satan’s victory—it is Satan’s undoing.

 

 2. Jesus’ Example of Love Through Obedience (v. 31)

“I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”

➤ Jesus’ obedience is motivated by love.

• Not just duty. Not fear. Not performance.
  
  
• His motivation is relational: to honor the Father and glorify His name.
  
  

Love always leads to action. Obedience is the language of love.

➤ We follow the same pattern.

• Jesus said earlier: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
  
  
• Now He says: “I love the Father, so I keep His commandments.”
  
  
• He’s not asking us to do anything He hasn’t done first.
  
  

 3. Final Words: “Rise, Let Us Go From Here” (v. 31b) ➤ A literal transition—They are now leaving the Upper Room.

• Jesus is on His way to Gethsemane.
  
  
• These are His last peaceful moments before the agony begins.
  
  
• The shadow of the cross is falling longer and darker.
  
  

➤ A symbolic shift—The tone changes.

• The next chapters (15–17) are filled with final words, deeper truths, and the emotional prayer of Jesus.
  
  
• This moment is a turning point—from preparation to action, from peace to battle.
  
  

 “Rise”—Jesus is not shrinking back. He is moving forward, leading the way to redemption.

 

Application Points

• Jesus obeyed the Father knowing the cross was ahead—are we willing to obey even when it costs us?
  
  
• Where do we need to trust that Satan has no claim on us because we are in Christ?
  
  
• How can our obedience show the world our love for Jesus—just as His obedience revealed His love for the Father?

Conclusion: 

John 14:15–31 gives us a glimpse into the heart of Jesus on the night before His crucifixion. In these verses, He comforts His disciples—not by removing their sorrow, but by promising His presence through the Holy Spirit.

He teaches us that love is more than emotion—it’s obedience. That the proof of our love for Christ is seen in our desire to follow Him, even when it’s difficult.

He promises the Holy Spirit, not just as a force, but as a personal Helper—our teacher, our reminder, our comforter, and our guide. We are not left as orphans.

He gives us His peace—a peace the world can’t understand, and it’s not tied to circumstances. It’s the peace that anchored Jesus even as the cross loomed.

And in the end, Jesus rises to go—not with fear, but with resolve. The enemy has no claim on Him. He goes in obedience to the Father, and in doing so, shows the world what love truly looks like.

 Key Takeaways

• Love = Obedience: True love for Jesus is revealed by a life surrendered to His Word.
  
  
• The Holy Spirit Dwells Within Us: He teaches, reminds, comforts, and empowers.
  
  
• We Are Not Alone: God the Father and Son make their home in every believer.
  
  
• Christ’s Peace Is Ours: It guards us, even when the world around us shakes.
  
  
• Obedience Is a Witness: When we obey, we show the world who we belong to—and whom we love.