Matt Mitchell - Hot Orthodoxy

Sunday, September 08, 2024

“After a Little While” [Matt's Messages]

9/08/2024 12:03:00 PM Life in Jesus' Name, Matt's Messages, The Gospel of John 0 comments

“After a Little While”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

September 8, 2024 :: John 16:16-24

The disciples just had the hardest time understanding what Jesus meant by the phrase, “a little while.”

I think John uses the words “a little while” seven times in the first 4 verses! They are really tripped up by it. And it must be really important for Jesus to spend so much time undoing their confusion. “A Little While.”

Remember, this is the night before His crucifixion, and Jesus has been preparing His disciples for His departure. We call these section, “The Farewell Teachings of Jesus.” Chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17.

Last week, we read about how Jesus said that it will be better for His disciples if He goes away because He will send the Holy Spirit to take His place. Remember this? Because when He comes, the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and He will guide the church into all truth.

But before the Spirit comes, there is another important set of events that must occur. And that’s what Jesus is talking about, I think, in this section. In these verses, Jesus predicts what is going to happen in just “a little while.” And it will make all of the difference for everything forever for all of Jesus’ disciples including for you and me. Listen to what Jesus says in verse 16.

“‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.’”

Now, for you and me, it’s almost obvious what He means. It’s a straightforward prediction of what is going to happen that very weekend. That “little while” is going to happen in just...a little while!

But for the eleven disciples huddled with Him that night, it was anything but obvious. They just couldn’t understand what He was getting at. They didn’t have categories. They were confused. They were consternated. Look at verse 17.

“Some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?’ They kept asking, ‘What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying.’”

“What’s He talking about? What’s this ‘little while’ thing? What does He mean by saying He’s going ‘to the Father?’”

Remember how last week Jesus said that He had much more to tell them, but they just couldn’t bear it? Well, they obviously couldn’t bear what He had already told them. How could He disappear and then reappear? What exactly is going to happen?

Well, you and I know. And Jesus knew. Jesus knew it the whole time. That’s what He was trying to get them prepared for. Look at verse 19.

“Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, ‘Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'?” “Let me explain it to you.”

What does He mean? What was He referring to in verse 16? “In a little while you will see me no more...” What was that?

It was the crucifixion, wasn’t it? And His burial. In less than 24 hours, Jesus was going to be arrested, put on trial, tortured, mocked, and killed on a Cross. This time next day, He would be buried in His tomb. “In a little while you will see me no more...”

“....and then after a little while you will see me.'" What’s He talking about there? He’s talking about the resurrection! He’s not going to stay dead!!! No wonder they were confused. They were confused that He had to die. And they were confused that He was going to return from the dead. That generally does not happen!

And even though they had seen a kind of resurrection in Lazarus not that long ago, it was because of the power of Jesus. But if Jesus was going to die, where would the power come to resurrect Him? How could all this be true? What could it all mean? In just “a little while?”

And, of course, it didn’t feel like just “a little while,” I’m sure. The entire time Jesus was in the grave probably felt like forever. Whenever we go through something really hard, it can feel like it lasts forever. Right? There’s probably a lesson here in those words “a little while” referring to the difficult waiting periods of our lives, no matter how long they are (see also 1 Peter 1:6 and 5:10). But always worth it. Because of Jesus, always worth it.

I see Jesus teaching us two huge things that are going to happen to us because of what happened to Him between those two little whiles. And they are both incredible encouragements to our hearts. Here’s number one.

After a little while:

#1. YOUR SORROW WILL TURN INTO JOY.

Jesus tells it like it will be. Look at verse 20.

“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.”

That’s terrible. They are going to cry their eyes out. Theirs hearts are going to be torn in two. Their Lord and Teacher, their favorite person, their Rabbi, their Good Shepherd is going to be ripped away from them, stripped of all dignity, mocked, spit on, struck in the face, and whipped on His back and then nailed to a pole until He dies. “You will weep and mourn.”

And to make it worse, they will mourn “...while the world rejoices!” Remember the world is going to hate you. Jesus said, “It hated me first.”

You’re going to see it firsthand. The world is going to cheer.

“Crucify Him!”

“Yeah! They crucified Him! So much for that troublemaker. We should make this a holiday. Got rid of Jesus Day. What a Good Friday!”

I can’t hardly imagine how the disciples felt. But Jesus knew in advance. And He told them. So that when it happened, they had some categories to fall back on. And when the pain hit, to remember that Jesus said it would come...and then it would all go away! Verse 20 again.

“You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

It’s going to hurt like nothing else, but then it’s going to get better. Unimaginably better. “After a little while” your sorrow will turn into joy.

Jesus has an illustration handy for this. He says it’s like a mom in labor. Look at verse 21.

“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”

Ladies, is this true? Does it actually hurt to give birth? I’ve heard that it does. Yes, it does. And some moms are tempted to yell at their husbands, “What have you done to me?!” and vow to never have another child ever again. But then it all changes after the baby is born. Some moms even want to have another one...or three!

Jesus doesn’t mean that she totally forgets how much it hurt, but in comparison to the joy of the little girl or little boy being placed in her happy arms, it doesn’t matter any more. The pain and the heartache are totally worth it.

That’s what Jesus decided for Himself, isn’t it? He decided that the joy set before Him was worth enduring the Cross and scorning its shame. And He decided it worth it for His disciples to weep and mourn while the world rejoiced because, after that, His disciples would rejoice and never stop rejoicing. Verse 22.

“So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

Oh, I love that! “I will see you again.”

Death is not the end. “I will see you again.”

“And you will rejoice, and no one (not no one) will take away your joy.”

Your joy will be un-snatchable.

Your joy will be un-ending.

Your joy will be forever and ever and ever and ever.

This verse makes me think about what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4. Which I often read at funerals, and, boy, there seems like there’s been a lot of funerals recently.

Paul is talking about how hard it is to live the Christian life. We all feel it. Our lives right now are marked by some weeping and mourning. Not because Jesus has died but because we are waiting for His return. And everything has not yet been made right.

So Paul writes to the Corinthians with this same logic of Jesus, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles [“a little while”] are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [There’s no comparison!] So [Paul says] we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18 NIVO). And that includes our joy.

“No one will take away your joy.”

The application of that is obvious. It’s to rejoice. To rejoice because Jesus is alive. To rejoice even because Jesus died. Because He died for our sins. And He paid the just penalty for them. It WAS a Good Friday! Because in a little while Jesus went to the Cross carrying our sins on His shoulders, and then He buried them far away from us. And then He walked out of that tomb on Sunday morning as alive as you and I are today. More alive, in fact!

Because He will never die. And neither will our joy!

Rejoice! Our weeping and wailing will turn into whooping.

Woohoo! And our whooping will never stop. So never stop whooping.

Are you rejoicing today? You cannot rejoice unless you have first repented. Because the Cross is not good news for you if you have not put your trust in Jesus. Remember it’s when we believe in Jesus that we get life in His name. Have you put your faith in Jesus? Then rejoice. And never stop.

Now, that doesn’t mean that we always feel happy. The disciples didn’t feel happy that night. And there would be more sorrow yet to come even after Jesus was raised from the dead. Because the world was going to come after them.

Persecution is on the way. But there is joy underneath, isn’t there? No matter what happens, we know that Jesus is alive and that nobody can take that from Him, and therefore nobody can take away our joy.

One of my most favorite passages in the whole Bible is Isaiah 35 with its prophetic prediction of the kingdom to come. Here’s the last verse.

Isaiah 35:36 says, “...and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

After a little while, your sorrow will turn into joy.

#2. THE FATHER WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS.

Look at verse 23.

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

Wow! I think that’s like the fourth time that Jesus has promised answered prayers in the Farewell Teachings. He may be going away, but that doesn’t mean that we are alone. We are still allowed to ask and to expect to receive.

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything...” Now, I don’t think He’s actually talking about prayer there. I think He’s saying that after the resurrection, all of these questions they have been asking will be cleared up. They will finally “get it.” And they will soon have the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth. Their confusion will melt away, and the answers to their prayers will roll in.

“I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

Whatever. We are allowed to ask for whatever. Nothing is too difficult. We are invited to ask for anything. Provided...that we ask in Jesus’ name.

Remember, a name in the Bible refers not just the thing which you are called but to the thing signified by the thing by which you are called. The name stands for the whole person. Your reputation, your authority, your character, your will. So when we ask “in Jesus’ name” we are asking for God to do what Jesus would ask for.

It’s not just a talisman or some magic words to add efficacy to our prayers, “inJesusnameIprayamen.” No, but it is a powerful thing to pray in Jesus’ name. Especially because of what happened between “in a little while” and “after a little while.” Because of the Cross and the Empty Tomb. When we pray in the name of Jesus now, we are praying “in the Person” of the crucified and risen Son of God!

How do you think God the Father is going to feel about answering prayers that are prayed in that name?!

I think that’s what Jesus is getting at in verse 24.

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

It’s not that God didn’t delight in answering the prayers of His people in the Old Testament. Of course He did; just read it. But now what the Old Testament prefigured has been fulfilled! Jesus, the Word of God, has come and taken on flesh and, in His flesh, has died and come back to life.

That’s the name in which we can now pray. You can ask for God to do things in that day!

Praying to the Father, through the Spirit in the name of the crucified and risen Son.

“Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

That’s the application, isn’t it?

Ask!

And receive.

And rejoice once again.

What are you asking the Father these days?

What are you praying for?

Don’t bother praying for things you know that the crucified and risen Son would never authorize. But if you believe it is something He might get behind, then don’t stop asking in His name. Because the Father loves to pour out good gifts on His Son and those who are in His Son.

“Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

***

Messages in this Series

01. "That You May Believe" - John 20:30-31
02. "In The Beginning Was the Word" - John 1:1-18
03. "John's Testimony" - John 1:19-34
04. "Come and See" - John 1:35-51
05. "The First of His Miraculous Signs" - John 2:1-11
06. "This Temple" - John 2:12-25
07. "You Must Be Born Again" - John 3:1-15
08. "God So Loved The World" - John 3:16-21
09. "Above All" - John 3:22-36
10. "Living Water" - John 4:1-26
11. "Ripe for the Harvest" - John 4:27-42
12. "Your Son Will Live" - John 4:43-54
13. "Pick Up Your Mat and Walk" - John 5:1-18
14. "To Your Amazement" - John 5:19-30
15. "Testimony About Me" - John 5:31-47
Christmas Eve Bonus: "The Astonishing Gift" - John 3:16 Again
Christmas Eve Bonus: "We Have Seen His Glory" - John 1:1-18 Again
16. "Enough Bread" - John 6:1-15
17. "You Are Looking for Me" - John 6:16-36
18. "I Am the Bread of Life" - John 6:35-71
Vision Meeting Bonus: "As I Have Loved You" - John 13:34-35
19. "At the Feast" - John 7:1-52
20. "I Am the Light of the World" - John 8:12-30
21. "Your Father" - John 8:31-59
22. "Now I See" - John 9:1-41
23. "I Am The Gate" - John 10:1-13
24. "I Am the Good Shepherd" - John 10:14-21
25. "I And The Father Are One" - John 10:22-42
26. "I Am the Resurrection and the Life" - John 11:1-53
27. "Expensive" - John 11:54-12:11
28. "The Hour Has Come" - John 12:12-26
29. "Father, Glorify Your Name!" - John 12:27-36
30. "Believe In Me" - John 12:37-50
31. "Do You Understand What I Have Done For You?" - John 13:1-17
32. "I Am Telling You Now Before It Happens” - John 13:18-38
2024 West Branch Baccalaureate: "The Way, The Truth, and The Life" - John 14:6
33. "I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life” - John 14:1-6
34. "Show Us the Father" - John 14:7-14
35. "If You Love Me" - John 14:15
36. "I Will Ask the Father" - John 14:16-24
37. "My Peace I Give You" - John 14:25 -31
38. "I Am the True Vine" - John 15:1-11
39. "You Are My Friends" - John 15:12-17
40. "If The World Hates You" - John 15:18-6:4

41. "When He Comes" - John 16:5-15

“When He Comes” [Matt's Messages]

9/01/2024 11:46:00 AM Life in Jesus' Name, Matt's Messages, The Gospel of John 0 comments

“When He Comes”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

September 1, 2024 :: John 16:5-15

Jesus told His disciples that it would be better for them if He went away.

In this section of the Farewell Teachings, the Lord Jesus insisted to His followers that they will better off if He leaves them.

And that was very very hard for them to receive.

It’s the night that Jesus betrayed. Jesus has washed their feet and told them to love one another. Judas has slipped out in the dark to betray Jesus to the rulers. Jesus has told his closest followers that He is going away, and they are shaken to the core. He’s been comforting them and giving them big promises to sustain them while He’s away. But He’s also been telling them that it’s going to be hard.

Very hard. The world is going to hate them. That’s what we focused on last week. Jesus is going away, and the world is going to come after them. Jesus hadn’t said much about that because He’s been with them, but now He’s going away (v.4), so now He’s warning them.

And that has shaken them to the core. So much so that they aren’t even asking good questions about what this means this for Jesus or their future. Look with me at chapter 16, verse 5.

“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?”

You aren’t even asking what this all means! Now, earlier this evening, Peter did ask Jesus where He was going (13:36), but he wasn’t asking for Jesus. Thomas did say, “We don’t know where you’re going...” (14:5), but he was focused on trying understand what Jesus meant by “You know the way...”

And they have probably left the upper room by now and walked through a vineyard on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane. And nobody is asking Jesus right now, “Where are you going?" They just can’t get over the fact that He’s leaving and how it makes them feel. V.6

“Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.”

They are so distressed! Even more now because Jesus has said that the world is going to hate and attack them. How would you feel? How would you feel if Jesus said that He was going to leave you?

But there is kind of a rebuke here. Because Jesus has been assuring them that this is all part of His good plan. Not only are not thinking about Jesus and being concerned for what He is about to go through, but they are missing the bigger picture here.

Jesus is going to “him who sent” Him, and that will be better for the disciples and even for the world. Look at verse 7.

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

That is very important. Jesus says that it’s better for Him to go away, or they won’t get the “Paraclete.” NIV, “Counselor” also translated “Comforter” or “Advocate,” or “Helper.” We know Him by His main name in the Scripture, “The Holy Spirit.”

Here’s the plan. Jesus is going to die, come back from the dead, ascend to His Father, and ask His Father to send the Holy Spirit to be poured out in a special unprecedented way.

So the Holy Spirit will only come if Jesus goes away. Which is better? We sometimes get the idea that it would be better for us to have walked the dusty roads of Jerusalem with Jesus in the flesh. And that would have been awesome! But Jesus says that we have it even better now than they did then.

Because He went away, we got the Spirit! Because of the Cross and the Empty Tomb and the Ascension on high, we got Pentecost. And wildly, that brings Jesus even more closer to us! Because the Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, so through the Spirit we have the presence of Jesus in our hearts. His leaving doesn’t really mean His absence from us, but in a deeper way, His presence with us! “And surely I am with you always...” And that’s why we can abide or remain or dwell in Him.

“It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

And He did! And in the next few verses, Jesus explains what the Spirit will do when He comes. That’s our title for today’s message. “When He Comes.”

And the “He” there is not Jesus and His second coming, but the Spirit and His coming in the book of Acts. What will happen with the Holy Spirit comes? I see at least three things.

When He Comes...

#1. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL CONVICT THE WORLD.

Look at verse 8.

“When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment...”

What does that mean? We proclaimed it together just a few minutes ago when we did our Worship in Unity with Joe in Article 6 of our statement of faith. “We believe that the Holy Spirit...convicts the world of its guilt.”

When the Spirit comes, He is going to act not just like an Advocate but like a Prosecutor. He’s going to make a case about the world, and convict the world of its guilt.

Now, remember, that word “world’ in the Gospel of John isn’t just talking about the big blue Earth, but the humans of the world-system united together in sinful rebellion against God. The Spirit is going to come and prove that they are guilty.

It’s not 100% clear to whom that is being proved. It could be just convicted before God. The Spirit will prosecute the world before the righteous Judge of all the Earth, and the world will be rightly condemned. That’s true! That will surely happen.

But I tend to think that it’s also talking about how the Spirit convicts individual hearts of some in the world that causes their hearts to change. He shows those in the world where they are wrong, and they repent and believe in Jesus. Look what He says in verse 9.

“When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me...”

Which is the fundamental sin, isn’t it? Humans who do not believe in Jesus are in sin. And sin will keep you from believing in Jesus. The Spirit is going to point that out. Nobody who rejects Jesus will get away with it before the Judge. But, for some, the Spirit will so move upon their hearts that they will wake up and say, “Oh. I’m a sinner! I have failed. I have fallen short of the glory of God. I have been rejecting Jesus. What must I do to be saved?”

And that’s exactly what happened when the Spirit came. Acts chapter 2?

The Spirit came at Pentecost–as promised, a rushing wind, flames of fire over the disciples, speaking in unlearned languages. The Apostle Peter getting up in front of the crowd and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And Peter ends his message:

“‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ [What happened then?]

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

.... Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:36-42 NIVO). The church was born!

None of that would have happened unless Jesus went away. The Spirit convicted the world of guilt in regard to sin. And in regard to righteousness. Verse 10.

“...in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;”

Now, this is the only place in the gospel of John that uses the word “righteousness.” That’s more of a Matthew-word or Paul-word than a John-word. But John reports here that Jesus said that the Spirit will convict the world in regard to righteousness.

That could be Jesus’ righteousness. That the world will come to see that Jesus was righteous, after they had rejected Him all along. Or it could be the world’s righteousness. That they had been pursuing their own brand of righteousness. We might call it self-righteousness. Like the Pharisees. Thinking that their good works were sufficient to justify them before God. The Spirit will dismantle that kind of false thinking. Their righteousness will not cut it.

But I tend to think that it’s more than that. I think the Spirit will convict the world that they need righteousness. That they don’t have it. They will wake up and not only say, “I am a sinner,” but say, “I need righteousness.” I need more than forgiveness, with my slate wiped clean. I need some moral goodness put on my account.

This happened to me when I was in junior high school. I heard an Methodist evangelist named Earl Bailey share the gospel. And I felt my sin like I never had before. And I saw my sinfulness. I felt it. And I felt that I need covered with a righteousness that I could achieve on my own. And when Earl Bailey told us about Jesus and what He had done for us on the Cross, I responded and the next day I told a friend about it.

You know Who I believe was speaking that night to my heart? The Holy Spirit, of course. The Counselor. The Advocate. The Helper. I couldn’t see Jesus. Jesus wasn’t there in the flesh, but the Holy Spirit was. Look at verse 11 again.

Convicted “...in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longe...”

But the Holy Spirit will be there, and He can bring the conviction.

Is He doing it right now in this room? He’s here in this room. Is He convicting you of your sin, of your un-righteousness and your need for Christ’s righteousness to be put on your account?

Is He convicting you in regard to judgment? That’s the third one in verse 8 and in verse 11.

Convicted by the Spirit, (v.11) “...in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

Now that could mean the world’s judgment about Jesus. Because they have been judging Him wrong.

All through this book, we’ve seen how the world has been judging Jesus wrongly. They have not believed that He is Who He says He is.

He is not the Bread of Life.

He is not the Light of the World.

He is not the Gate for the sheep.

He is not the Good Shepherd.

He is not the Resurrection and the Life.

He is not the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

He is not the True Vine.

That’s how the world judges Jesus, and the Spirit is going to show that they are all wrong about that.

But I tend to think that’s it more than that. I tend to think that the Spirit is going to show those in the world that their judgment is coming.

They are sinners.

They are unrighteous.

And they are in trouble.

And if they don’t repent, they will face the same fate as the Satan is going to face.

“...because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

That’s not how it seems. It seems like Jesus is going to stand condemned. In just a few hours, He will be condemned to death before Pontius Pilate. But He will not stay dead. That judgment will be overturned by the Great Judge through the resurrection. And He will ascend to sit at the right hand of the Majesty on High. And He will ask the Father, “Please send our Spirit.” And the Father will say, “Yes.” And the Spirit will come, and when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to judgment.

Is He doing it right now in this room? The Spirit is here. Is He pointing out your sin to you? Your unrighteousness? Your judgment that is awaiting if you do not repent and trust in Jesus? If He is, give in!

Isn’t good that Jesus went away so that the Spirit would come?! If He didn’t then we wouldn’t be saved. Nobody in this room would be saved.

And isn’t this good motivation to share the gospel with people out there in the world? Because we can’t save anybody. But the Spirit can. We can’t convince people on our own that they are sinners that need Jesus. But the Spirit can.

He can convince them that they have gotten Jesus all wrong up to till now, and that judgment is coming and coming soon. But Jesus took on the condemnation that we deserved so that we don’t have to.

The Spirit can drive it home in their hearts that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (Jn. 3:16-17 NIVO).

That gives us great motivation to tell people about Jesus! Because it’s not all up to us. We just tell them. The Spirit convicts them when He comes.

Notice, by the way, that the Holy Spirit is a “He.” He is not an it. He is a Person not just a Thing. I’ve heard Christians refer the Holy Spirit as an “it” from time to time, and it’s understandable because He often does impersonal things. He is poured out. We are baptized in Him. Like He is water or something.

But the Spirit is not just an impersonal power like the Force in Star Wars. The Spirit is a Person. He is the Third Person of the Trinity. He is not just the power of God. He is a Person of God.

And He speaks. He is the Spirit of Truth. Look at verse 12.

“‘I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (vv.12-13).

He speaks. And He speaks the truth.

When He comes...

#2. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GUIDE THE CHURCH.

And He will guide them into truth.

Jesus wants to tell His disciples even more. He has so much to share with them. The truth of chapters 13, 14, and 15, as great as it all is, is not all there is. He’s got more. Lots more. But they can’t handle it right now. They can’t comprehend it. They can’t wrap their minds around it. They are too scared right now to receive it. It’s more than they can bear. They can’t hardly handle what they have just been given.

But that’s okay. Because the Spirit of Truth is on His way. And when He comes, He’s going to guide the disciples into the truth.

He’s not going to take them in some weird new direction. He’s going to remind them what they have already heard and make sure they know all the rest of the stuff they need to get. And both for now and the future.

Isn’t that good news?! Aren’t you glad that the Spirit came?

Because this is what He gave us. He gave us the Bible. He led these 11 scared men to write down what they had learned. And He guided the rest of the authors of the New Testament to write down everything we need for life and godliness.

And He continues to guide the church into all truth.

I think one of the most obvious applications of that is we should prayerfully read our Bibles. If Jesus went away so that the Spirit of Truth would come so that we could have our full Bibles, probably we ought to read them!

It’s amazing to me how many Christians think they can get along just fine without a regular diet of Bible. And then they wonder why they don’t understand what’s going on in their world. Often, it’s because they have not prayerfully read what the Spirit is saying to the church. The same Spirit who inspired the Scriptures wants to help us to read and understand them.

“[W]hen he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

And that will bring glory to Jesus.

When He Comes...

#3. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL GLORIFY THE SON.

Look at verses 14 and 15.

“He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you” (John 16:14-15).

God the Spirit loves to shine the spotlight on the God the Son. He’s always doing it. That’s what we proclaimed in Article 6 of our EFCA Statement this morning: “We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ.”

And, here He does it, by sharing what I call, “Trinity Truth.” The Spirit doesn’t take off on His own. He shares what belongs to the Son with the Church. Jesus says, “[He takes] from what is mine and [makes] it known to you.” What is that? In verse 15, He says that it’s what belongs to God the Father.

“All that belongs to the Father is mine.”

There is no daylight between them. They share everything! They are never at odds. They are always perfectly together. They are One God. There is only one truth of the one God. And that one God is triune. He is Three Persons. And what the Father has, the Son has, and the Spirit takes from that and shares it with us.

This is so mind-blowingly wonderful!!!! Think about truthful this truth is. God the Father knows all things, right? Including the future. God the Son says that He is the Truth, right? And God the Son says that He is going to send God the Spirit Whom He calls the Spirit of Truth. And that Spirit is going to take from the Father and the Son what is true and give it to...you and me???!!! How precious is that truth?!

Jesus told His disciples that it would be better for them if He went away. Because the Holy Spirit would glorify the Son by guiding the church into all truth. And even convict the world to leave the world and believe the truth.

When He came.

Glory be to God!

“If The World Hates You” [Matt's Messages]

8/25/2024 12:14:00 PM Life in Jesus' Name, Matt's Messages, The Gospel of John 0 comments

“If The World Hates You”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

August 25, 2024 :: John 15:18-16:4

Jesus says that His disciples should expect to experience hostility.

In this passage of Scripture, Jesus tells His disciples, on the eve of His crucifixion, to be prepared to be hated. To be ready to be hated by the world.

The very first words in verse 18 are, “If the world hates you...”

So far, chapters 14 and 15 have been more about LOVE.

Jesus has been preparing His followers for His departure, and for the most part, He’s been giving them comfort. He’s told them that He’s going away to prepare a place for them. And He’s told them that He’s coming back for them. And He’s told them that He is their way to the Father and that through Him they know the Father.

Jesus has told them that they are going to do greater things because He’s going to the Father. He’s told them that He’s going to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit (the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Alongsider, the Counselor) to be with them and in them forever. They are not alone.

And they are going to be loved! So loved! Loved by the Father, loved by the Son, loved by the Spirit, three in One. The Spirit reminding them of everything that the Son has taught them all along.

And giving them peace! And answering their prayers! And giving them life! And producing in them fruit like a vine to its branches.

Jesus has told them that they are His friends. That’s what we saw last time in the Gospel of John. Jesus has called you and me His friends! He has chosen us and appointed us. And He is going to die for us!

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (v.13)!

Love, love, love. And He says that we are called to love each other. The Vine wants the branches to love the other branches. How many times this evening has He said to them, “Love one another?”

We sang it last week at the end of the Malawi Team Report. “They will know that we are Christians by our love.”

It’s ringing out of verse 17, “This is my command. Love each other.”

“Love each other.”

But then in verse 18, He speaks of hate. “If the world hates you.” There’s a lot about hate in this next section, but notice that it all runs one way. It’s the world that does the hating. Jesus is preparing His disciples for the hate that is going to come their way very soon from the world.

And we should take note, because we can expect it, too.

Now, that doesn’t mean that all we can expect is hate from the world. There will be times of relative peace. Even in the book of Acts when this all first played out, there are times when the church experienced some favor in the eyes of the world.

But the general expectation is hostility. The world is not neutral about Christians because it is not neutral about Christ. And that’s the first and most important thing that Jesus wants His disciples to understand when they experience this hate. They are not alone. V.18

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

By the way, the “world” here is the human system of the world. Sinful humanity united together, working together against God. Not the “world” as in the Earth. But the world system that Jesus came into and for but who rejected Him. Remember that from the very first chapter of John?

“[The Word] was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him...” (Jn. 1:10-11 NIVO).

If you experience hostility from the world, you are not the first. The world hated Jesus first. In fact, that’s why the world hates you. It’s not really about you. It’s about Him.

I have three points to summarize the teaching of this passage, and this is the first and biggest one.

If the world hates you...

#1. YOU ARE HATED WITH JESUS.

And that’s a good thing. It’s good because you’re not alone. Someone else has gone through this before you, and by the Spirit, is going through it with you even now. And it’s good because it means that you are doing it right.

I don’t know about you, but whenever the Christian life gets hard, I tend to think that I must be doing it wrong.

“Oh no, the world hates me. What am I doing wrong? What can I do to fix this?”

But Jesus tells us that this hate is going to flow towards us, and it’s not because we’re doing it wrong, but because we are connected to Him. Look at verse 19.

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

It’s not because you are doing it wrong, but because you are doing it right. You’re with the right One!

Because you belong to Jesus now, and the world hates Jesus, so it’s going to hate you.

Now, by the way, make sure that this IS the reason why the world hates you and because you act like a total idiot. Make sure that the world hates you because you act like Jesus! Make sure that you abide in Jesus and produce much fruit. We want the world to hate us because of our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

If the world hates you because you’re angry, unloving, contentious, impatient, rude, mean, and out of control, that’s not on Jesus. That’s on you. And cut it out! But if we are abiding, remaining, dwelling in Jesus, that will not safeguard us from the world’s hate. It will actually attract it.

The world will hate that you left it for Jesus. And so you will experience the hate it has for Jesus. We will not escape the hate. Why would we think we would? V.20

“Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' [John 13:16]. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”

What a number of Christians have experienced in America for the last two centuries has been an anomaly. There has been quite a bit of favor shown to Christians in our culture. And we can be grateful for that and steward it well whenever it comes our way. Daniel is example of a believer who, at times, was shown favor by the world. Great example for us.

But not the rule. The Apostle Paul said, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted...” (2 Tim. 3:12 NIVO).

Our Lord Jesus said that no servant (that’s us) is greater than His master (that’s Him). So if they persecuted Him [And they did! They killed Him on cross!], they will persecute us, too.

Notice, however, that He also says if they obeyed His teaching [And some of them did. They came over!], then they will obey ours as well. So that gives us hope that there will be times when the haters will change and become the lovers! But don’t think that you are above this.

Don’t think that you, as a follower of Jesus, can expect to be celebrated by the world as a follower of Jesus.

I think this is especially appropriate for Back To School Sunday. When all of these Christian students, teachers, administrators, helpers, aides, bus drivers, head back into various situations amongst the world. You will not always be celebrated for belonging to Jesus. You may very well experience hate.

Don’t take it personally. Verse 21 says, “They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” It’s not really about you and me. It’s about Him. It’s about His name.

Remember, that’s where we find life. “...that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (Jn. 20:31).

And you will also have persecution in His name.

It’s about Jesus. And it’s about His Father. “...for they do not know the One who sent me.” In fact, they rejected Him. And so they will be judged. Verse 22.

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.”

He doesn’t mean that they would have no sin whatsoever. We all have sin. He’s saying that if He had not come in the flesh, they would not have rejected Him in the flesh. But He did, and they did. And there was no excuse. They hated Him. And they hated His Father. Verse 23.

“He who hates me hates my Father as well.”

That’s really important. Some people say that they love God, but they just don’t believe in Jesus. But that’s not true. If you reject Jesus, you are rejecting His Father, as well.

Do you feel all the hate here? They hate the Son. They hate the Father. That’s why they hate you. Verse 24.

“If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: 'They hated me without reason'” (vv.24-25).

Jesus is not surprised by this hate, and neither should we be. It was predicted a thousand years before He came on the scene. Jesus here is quoting Psalm 69.. A thousand years before Jesus was born, the Old Testament was predicting His suffering and death. And His persecution.

If you are hated by the world, don’t be surprised. You are in good company. You are hated WITH Jesus and His Father.

So what should you do if you find yourself hated by the world?

Don’t be surprised. Be grateful to be in good company. What else? What should you do if the world hates you?

Should you hate them back?

Should you fight fire with fire?

Should you whine and complain about being mistreated on social media?

Should you write your congressperson?

Should you make sure you vote for the candidates for public office that promise to give you the most protection for living out your Christian values the way you want to?

You can vote however your conscience directs you, but that’s not where Jesus goes here.

Jesus says that we need to testify.

If the world hates you...

#2. SPEAK UP FOR JESUS.

Look at verse 26. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit once again. Verse 26.

“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”

Remember this? Jesus is going to ask the Father to send the Spirit to come alongside us and even be in us. The “Paraclete” or the “Advocate” or the “Counselor.” And the Father is going to do it. He’s going to pour out His Spirit at Pentecost. The Spirit is going to come, and...what’s He going to talk about? he Spirit is going to testify about the Son.

“About me” Jesus says.

The Holy Spirit loves to point the spotlight on Jesus! Whenever the Spirit shows up, Jesus gets glorified!

You see the Trinity here? God is Three Persons.

The Son sending the Spirit to the Disciples.

The Spirit going out from the Father (who has also sent the Son).

The Spirit testifying about the Son.

Three in One.

And when that Holy Spirit comes, what is the Church supposed to do?

We are supposed to testify, too. Verse 27.

“And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”

The eleven remaining disciples had been with Jesus since the start, and when the Holy Spirit shows up, they are supposed to talk about Jesus and talk about Jesus and never stop talking about Jesus. Even if they start to be killed for talking about Jesus. Jesus is preparing them to die if they need to. And most of the men in that room will eventually die because they belonged to Jesus. And we need to be ready to die for Him, too.

And we need to speak up for Jesus even if they come at us with guns.

Now, that’s easy to say and hard to do. And we need to pray for wisdom and discernment about how and when and what we say. But we also need to be bold.

Because Jesus is worth it. He died for us, and we need to speak up for Him. We need to tell the world what we know about Him.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father except through Him.

That’s not a popular thing to say to the world. But it’s true. And everybody needs to hear it.

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

Jesus is the Light of the World.

Jesus is the Gate for the sheep.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

Jesus is the True Vine.

We know the truth about Jesus, and we need to testify that truth to the world. And if they reject Jesus, that’s on them. But we need to speak up for Him, even if they hate us for it.

That’s hard to do. It’s easy for me to get up here on a Sunday with all of you smiling at me and say all these great things about Jesus. Everybody here nods at everything I say. I’m glad you do!

But they aren’t nodding at us out there in the world. They don’t want to hear what Jesus says.

They don’t want to do what Jesus says to do.

With their money.

With their bodies.

With their relationships.

With their words.

With their hearts.

And they are going to get mad when we tell them about Jesus.

But Jesus says (v.27), “You also must testify...”

You don’t do it on your own. The Holy Spirit is there testifying inside you and through you. He’ll provide the power! But you still have to step out in faith and speak up about Jesus. And not stop. Not run away. That’s the third and last point.

If the world hates you...

#3. DON’T FALL AWAY FROM JESUS.

Look at verse 1 of chapter 16.

“All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.”

The Greek word there means to not “stumble” or “trip up.” Jesus is telling the disciples how hard it will be, so that they do not bail on Him when the going gets rough. And it’s going to get rough! Look at verse 2.

“They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.”

That happened. Think about Stephen. He was telling people about Jesus, and the Jews picked up rocks to throw at him. And they threw enough rocks at him that he died. And there was a guy named Saul there who was holding the coats for the guys with the rocks. And they all said, “We are offering a service to God” by killing this man talking about Jesus.

And it happens today. Not so much in this country at this point, but lots of places around this world, Christians are killed in the service of many gods.

And, of course, it’s not just killed. Jesus says that they may be ostracized. Put out of the synagogue. How hard that would have been to accept! To get kicked out of the center of your community.

And that can happen to us, too. You might get dirty looks and snide comments. You might lose a job or be denied a promotion or a scholarship. You might not get an important sal or lose someone’s business. You might lose your spouse if they can’t stand you talking about Jesus. You might be ridiculed or accused of things you have not done to smear mud on your reputation.

Or you may be jailed or tortured or killed. Verse 3.

“They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. [Remember, it’s not you. It’s Jesus.] I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.”

They were safe while He was still there. But He’s going away, and the hate will come raining down. nd He wants them to be ready so that they don’t run away.

Jesus did not tell us all of this to scare us. He told us all of this so that we are ready and steady. So that we would remain! So that we would abide! So that we would continue to stay closely connected to Jesus, the Vine.

And not fall away when the going gets rough. Because He did not fall away. He was ready to go all the way to the Cross for you and me.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

So we aren’t alone, we aren’t surprised, we aren’t scared.

And we don’t fall away, but instead we tell everyone what Jesus did for us.

***

Messages in this Series

01. "That You May Believe" - John 20:30-31
02. "In The Beginning Was the Word" - John 1:1-18
03. "John's Testimony" - John 1:19-34
04. "Come and See" - John 1:35-51
05. "The First of His Miraculous Signs" - John 2:1-11
06. "This Temple" - John 2:12-25
07. "You Must Be Born Again" - John 3:1-15
08. "God So Loved The World" - John 3:16-21
09. "Above All" - John 3:22-36
10. "Living Water" - John 4:1-26
11. "Ripe for the Harvest" - John 4:27-42
12. "Your Son Will Live" - John 4:43-54
13. "Pick Up Your Mat and Walk" - John 5:1-18
14. "To Your Amazement" - John 5:19-30
15. "Testimony About Me" - John 5:31-47
Christmas Eve Bonus: "The Astonishing Gift" - John 3:16 Again
Christmas Eve Bonus: "We Have Seen His Glory" - John 1:1-18 Again
16. "Enough Bread" - John 6:1-15
17. "You Are Looking for Me" - John 6:16-36
18. "I Am the Bread of Life" - John 6:35-71
Vision Meeting Bonus: "As I Have Loved You" - John 13:34-35
19. "At the Feast" - John 7:1-52
20. "I Am the Light of the World" - John 8:12-30
21. "Your Father" - John 8:31-59
22. "Now I See" - John 9:1-41
23. "I Am The Gate" - John 10:1-13
24. "I Am the Good Shepherd" - John 10:14-21
25. "I And The Father Are One" - John 10:22-42
26. "I Am the Resurrection and the Life" - John 11:1-53
27. "Expensive" - John 11:54-12:11
28. "The Hour Has Come" - John 12:12-26
29. "Father, Glorify Your Name!" - John 12:27-36
30. "Believe In Me" - John 12:37-50
31. "Do You Understand What I Have Done For You?" - John 13:1-17
32. "I Am Telling You Now Before It Happens” - John 13:18-38
2024 West Branch Baccalaureate: "The Way, The Truth, and The Life" - John 14:6
33. "I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life” - John 14:1-6
34. "Show Us the Father" - John 14:7-14
35. "If You Love Me" - John 14:15
36. "I Will Ask the Father" - John 14:16-24
37. "My Peace I Give You" - John 14:25 -31
38. "I Am the True Vine" - John 15:1-11
39. "You Are My Friends" - John 15:12-17

“You Are My Friends” [Matt's Messages]

8/10/2024 10:45:00 AM Life in Jesus' Name, Matt's Messages, The Gospel of John 0 comments

“You Are My Friends”

Life in Jesus’ Name - The Gospel of John

Lanse Evangelical Free Church

August 11, 2024 :: John 15:12-17

Ready for some boggling? Want to have your mind boggled? This is mind-boggling:

In John 15, Jesus tells His disciples that they (and by extension you and I) are His friends

Jesus uses that word “friends” 3 times in these 6 verses.

He says it outright in verse 14, “You are my friends.” There’s our sermon title.

And in verse 15, He says, “I have called you friends.”

What a privilege to carry that designation! A friend of Jesus!

“‘Friendship’ was an important category in the ancient world” (Edward W. Klink III, ZECNT, pg. 657).

I’ve been reading a great book about friendship in the Bible by Rebecca McLaughlin. It’s called No Greater Love: A Biblical Vision for Friendship, and I highly recommend it. There’s a whole chapter just on this passage.

Friendship in that world was similar to and yet also kind of different from what we tend to mean when we use the word “friend” today.

It was different in that friendship didn’t always mean that the two people in the friendship relationship were considered equals. One could actually be a subordinate to the other. We don’t tend to use that word that way about most of our “friendships.” But they often did.

And we’re going to see that here. Jesus is not saying that He and His disciples are equals in everything. Share and share alike. Friend and friend alike. We are not equals with Jesus. But we are His friends.

Being a friend did mean that there was a special bond between the two people. And the word “friend” still means that to us today.

It takes a kind of love to be a friend. In fact, the Greek word translated friend is “philos,” the noun form of the Greek verb for loving something (like, for example, a sibling). “Phileo.” “Philadelphia” the supposed city of brotherly love.

A “philos” is someone you care about. Some you’re attached to. Someone you have something in common with, and you are fond of them. You have affection for them. A bond.

Peter and Macy's best friends came together yesterday be in their wedding party. Several handsome young men and radiant young ladies united together in lasting friendships. Their friends.

And Jesus says to His disciples (and by extension to you and me), “You are my friends.”

Last week, we saw that Jesus called them “the branches.” He was the True Vine, and His Father was the Gardener.

[Does that make the Father the first Branch Manager?]

Jesus said that He was the True Vine and His true disciples were the true branches whose main job was just to stay vitally connected to Him. Remain. Dwell. Abide.

You see here what happens when a so-called branch does not remain. How much fruit will this cut-off branch yield for the Gardener? None. Absolutely none.

But if a branch stays connected to the True Vine, then it will bear much fruit (as we saw in verse 5, and Jesus said in verse 8...) “This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (Jn. 15:8 NIVO).

And now He calls these “branches,” His friends.

This is the same occasion. This is the same night. This is just the next few verses. Jesus knows He’s soon to be arrested, soon to be tortured, soon to be mocked, soon to be killed. He’s going away to the Cross.

And before He goes, He’s telling His followers that they aren’t just followers, they are His friends.

And, here, Jesus explains some of what He means by that and gives them at least three things that they are supposed to do because of it. Three points of application this morning. Here’s the first one.

Jesus says, “You are my friends” so...

#1. LOVE LIKE IT.

Look at verse 12.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Jesus has been emphasizing obedience to His commands throughout the Farewell Teachings. We had a whole sermon devoted to obeying His commands when the Challenge Crew got back. Chapter 14, verse 15.

Jesus said, “If you love me [my friends], you will obey what I command.”

In verse 9, Jesus said that if we obey His commands, we will remain in His love. We’ll live in His love. Dwelling in His love. Like friends!

And here He says what His big command is, “Love each other as I have loved you.”

Jesus wants His branches to love His other branches.

“Love each other as I have loved you.”

Jesus just keeps hammering this idea, doesn’t He? He’s going to repeat it again in verse 17.

And it is His new command that He gave earlier this very evening when they were still around the table after He washed their feet. It’s our memory verse for 2024. Say it with me:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn. 13:34-35 NIVO).

Do you think He wants us to love one another?

It must not be that easy to do. It must not come naturally to us. We have to be commanded. We have to be reminded. We have to be told how important it is to our Lord that we do it. “Love each other!”

That’s important because we’re different from each other. We have different values, different personalities, different politics, different priorities, different backgrounds. These branches on Jesus’ vine can be wildly different from one another, but we all have the True Vine of Jesus in common, and so we’re supposed to love the other branches.

And He doesn’t just tell us to; He’s shown us how. Look at verse 12 again.

“Love each other as I have loved you.”

Jesus is our example of this, and there is none greater. Verse 13.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

That’s another verse to memorize. There is no greater love than sacrificial love for someone you say you love.

It’s one thing to say you love someone. To say that they are your friend. Your “philos.” That’s a good thing to say! Even saying it is a kind of love.

But it’s a totally different love on a greater level to actually show your love by sacrificing yourself for your friend.

And it’s even greater if your friend is not your equal! If your friend is your subordinate. Like the Shepherd laying down his life for the sheep. The Shepherd is greater than the sheep! But the Good Shepherd (the Best Shepherd!), lays down his life for the sheep.

The good friend, the best friend, lays down His life even for His inferior friend. We are not equal with Jesus, and yet we are His friends. And Jesus laid down His life for us.

Jesus knows what’s coming. He knows Satan is on his way. He knows that He will be dead in less than 24 hours from asphyxiation while nailed to a post. And He’s choosing it. He’s laying down His life. Willingly.

Because He loves us. Because we are His friends.

“Greater love has no one than this...” If that doesn’t boggle your mind, you haven’t gotten it yet or you’ve forgotten what you know.

But the main reason why Jesus is mentioning His sacrificial love here is because He wants us to do this, too! Jesus wants us to love each other as He has shown us love.

How are we doing at that? How are we doing at loving the other branches? The branches that are different from us? The branches that drive us crazy? The branches we wouldn’t relate to if they weren’t also branches?

Jesus says, “My command is this: Love each other.”

He’s talking to eleven disciples who may have hated each other’s guts if they weren’t all connected to Jesus.

Did you ever look at the backgrounds of Jesus’ disciples and how different they were from one another? We think it’s impressive when Christian Republicans and Christian Democrats can love each other in Jesus in America, but Jesus’ own inner circle had a Zealot and a Tax-Collector in it! One who colluded with the Romans and one who wanted to overthrow them.

“My command is this: Love each other.”

How are we doing at loving the other branches?

Here’s the measure: Are we sacrificing for them? Are we laying down our lives for those we say we love? Most of the time, our laying down our lives is not dying for someone like taking a literal bullet for them, jumping in front of the bus. Most of time it’s a little death, one little death at a time. It’s laying down your rights. It’s refusing to fight. It’s putting someone else’s best interests ahead of your own (Philippians 2).

Who have you recently died for?

Yesterday at their wedding, I talked to Peter and Macy about forgiving each other as Christ forgave them. That's a little bit like death each time you do it, but it's always the best way to live and to love!

Don’t wait until they deserve it to begin. Thankfully, Jesus did not wait until we deserved His love for Him to lay down His life for us. Don’t wait until that other Christians in your life have become worthy of your love before you start laying down your life for them. Because they won’t ever.

One great example of how this church family is growing in love is our Malawi Missions Team. Those 3 gave up some their limited vacation time to go over the sea and share our love with our Malawi branches. And you all gave from your own funds to send them. And you gave from your own hard-earned funds to send along with them money for food. That’s laying down your life for those you call your friends. That’s following our Lord’s example and obeying our Lord’s command. And that’s acting like Jesus’ friends.

You are my friends, so love like it. That’s the point of verse 14.

“You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Now, that sounds a little funny to our ears. Because we don’t tend to talk like that to our friends:

“You’re my buddy if you do what I say.”

But that’s not what He’s talking about. And it’s not a buddy-buddy friendship. Jesus is saying that if you do what He commands, you will show yourself to be His friend. A true friend is someone you can count on. A true friend is someone who acts like one.

We could say it this way. “You are my friends” so...

#2. LIVE LIKE IT.

Our obedience does not make us His friends, it shows that we are.

“You are my friends (and all will know it) if you do what I command.”

How wrong would it be if we said that we were the friends of Jesus, and we lived the exact opposite way that our Lord asked us to?! A true friend wants what their true friend wants. We show our friendship to Jesus by our obedience.

And that’s different from just blind obedience. That’s different from just mindless obedience. That’s the point that Jesus is making in verse 15.

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Now, there is a sense in which, of course, we are still also His servants.

But Jesus is emphasizing here that we aren’t mindless slaves. We aren’t robots. We aren’t following Jesus’ commands just because He says so and He’s more powerful than we are.

We don’t just obey because we’re scared of being punished if we don’t. We obey because we are His friends. We obey because we love Him. We obey because He’s told us what He is up to, and we’re a part of it!

Yes, this is saying we’re on Jesus’ team!

This is mind-boggling. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business [They don’t know what God is up to in the world]. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Jesus has told them about the mission that He was sent on.

He has told them about His special relationship with the Father. He is the "monogenays," the One and Only Begotten Son sent from the Father full of grace and truth. He has told them about the Father’s love for the big bad world and how He has sent His One and Only Son to save everyone who believes in Him. He has told them He is going away to prepare a place for them and that He’s coming back for them to take them to be with Him. He’s told them that He’s going to ask the Father to send another Counselor, the Holy Spirit to take His place.

“Everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Jesus has taken them into His confidence. He’s disclosed Himself. He’s shown them the Father. They are not equals, but they are confidants. They have been brought into His circle. They are His friends.

And so are we. So we should live like it.

We know what Jesus wants from us. We have all of His teachings to study and put into practice. And we even know WHY we are supposed to do them. We are not mindless slaves. We are inner circle friends.

Are we acting like it?

Jesus tells His followers that they are on the inside with Him because He took the initiative to bring them there. They aren’t there because they’re so smart or because they deserve it or because they moved first. Look at verse 16.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.”

And there He is back to the vine metaphor.

Jesus says that His disciples did not love Him first. He loved them first. Before they ever chose Him, He was choosing them. We saw that in chapter 1 when He started gathering His disciples. And He’s doing that today. He always makes the first move, even if we never perceive it. We love because He first loved us. He came after us to make us His friends.

And to make us His branches, bearing much fruit that will last forever.

We are His friends (because of His love), so we should live like it.

We should live lives like Jesus’ with “[L]ove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23 NIVO).

Last week, we said that bearing fruit meant more followers of Jesus, and it meant more followers of Jesus living like Jesus!

That’s what we’re trying to do this week with the Good News Cruise, isn’t it? We’re trying to make more followers of Jesus and live as followers of Jesus more like Jesus. That’s the main thing, right? And we always say, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”

Jesus told us, “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.”

You are my friends so live like it.

And pray like it. V.16

“Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

#3. PRAY LIKE IT.

Jesus says that when we are on mission, bearing lasting fruit, His Father will give us whatever we ask in Jesus’ name. The Father delights to answer our prayers as we pray them in the name and authority and will of His Son. Jesus has been hitting this theme over and over again in the Farewell Teachings, hasn’t He? He wants us to ask for things.

Just because He’s going away doesn’t mean that we have no access to God. We have the Spirit, and we have prayer in Jesus’ name. And the Father is listening.

I think that Jesus says this kind of thing over and over again because we are tempted to not believe it. We often don’t believe that the Father really wants us to pray or that He really will answer our prayers.

But Jesus presents a picture of a generous heavenly Father bent on giving good gifts to His people. The Father/Gardener loves to bless the branches as they reach up to Him!

One of the true marks of friendship is being able to ask for something right?

We say, “I need a favor, and I’m asking as your friend.”

This weekend, any time Peter or Macy asked their friends to do something, they just jumped right up and took care of it.

One of the most important parts of having a friend is being there for each other. Well, Jesus doesn’t need anything from us. But He asks for our obedience.

But He wants us to ask Him for stuff and His Father for stuff. And because we are His friends, we should expect answers!

Of course, truly good friends will tell you, “No,” from time to time if you are asking for something dumb or bad or at the wrong time. But the best of friends love to help their friend out.

“Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

What are you asking in Jesus’ name today? I have my list. There’s something I’ve begun to ask for every single day. And I’m asking the Father through the Son in the Spirit. He hasn’t given it to me yet. But I’m asking. I’m a branch connected by faith to the True Vine, and I’m asking. I’m a friend of Jesus, and I’m asking. What are you asking for?

Pray for the Good News Cruise this week. Pray for all the details, and pray for lost souls. There are guaranteed to be lost people on our campus on Saturday, and we need to pray for them.

“I have called you friends...” so pray like it. “Take it to the Lord in prayer."

And here’s another thing to pray for. Pray for the love you need to love the other branches. Verse 17 and last.

“This is my command: Love each other.”

I think He’s serious about that. It’s not an option for the branches on the True Vine. Jesus wants His branches to love His other branches.

And mind-bogglingly, He has shown us no greater love than this at the Cross.

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Messages in this Series