“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

John 14

“Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." v23

In the context of the previous verses below, it is greatly encouraging that Jesus provides us with the Holy Spirit...that He is always with us.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. v15-18

To keep Jesus' commands I must of course know them...and this means reading His word, studying it, reflecting on it, and applying it.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are indeed great - You created the universe and everything in it...You created me, and all of humanity that we can love and support one another with our unique giftings.  What an amazing design!  You certainly don't need me but You love me and suffered and died for me.  You left me the Holy Spirit that is You always with me.  I just need to be more mindful of this. Yet often times I am not as I worry too much, or sin in other ways.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for such sin and help me turn away from sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me keep Your commands.

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

John 14

"And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." v13-14

The above verses are in the context of what Jesus is explaining to Phillip who is seeking evidence of God the Father. 

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. v9-14

In the verses to come in chapter 14 Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit - which will provide us the same power as Jesus Christ Himself.

The key is of course believing in Jesus, trusting in Jesus, and being obedient to Jesus, particularly in respect to submitting to His will, which implies that we understand His will.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I know that You are always with me and that You provide the Holy Spirit.  I know that You give me access to great power...I just need to believe, trust, and act (be obedient).  Yet often times I don't.  For many reasons that are just stupid excuses.  I know You love me anyway Jesus but please forgive me help me turn from such sin.  Help me turn towards You instead and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

John 14

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." v3

As Jesus shares the news of his impending death (and resurrection), He comforts His disciples as a father comforts His child.  This is greatly comforting...particularly when we feel surrounded by dark influences and we need the peace that only Jesus Christ can provide.

See also here and here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are worthy of my praise and worship because You are always with me...as You have promised all Your children and You promise to me.  That You are always with me...despite how I disappoint You (often)....and that You never break Your promises...is amazing.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I worry far too much about far too many things.  I'm not even supposed to worry - You tell me not to.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me and help me turn from such sin.  Help me instead turn towards You and help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Help me love others as You do and help me grow in my faith.

“Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!"

John 13

“Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" v38

In response to Peter's claim that he would lay down his life for Jesus, Jesus' response highlights Peter's arrogance and it highlights a warning for those of us, including myself, who write checks often that we cannot cash...

James warns us against arrogant boasting also: 

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.  If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.  James 4:13-17

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know our character flaws and all of the sin we have ever done and all of the sin we will ever do...yet You still love us....amazing!  Even more amazing what You have done for me and what You continue to do for me...You bless me well beyond what I deserve.  I am selfish, prideful, arrogant, discouraging/critical with my words, etc.   Please forgive me from such sin and help me turn from such sin and instead towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do and help me grow in my faith.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” v34-35

This is not a new command (see Matthew 22:47-40)...yet as the MacArthur commentary points out:

....However, Jesus’ command regarding love presented a distinctly new standard for two reasons: it was sacrificial love modeled after His love (“as I loved you”)....

MacArthur, John (2005-05-10). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 46576-46577). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.  

 I desperately seek to know You better so I can love as You do.
 
My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your love is beyond description as its width, depth, and breadth is too big for me to measure or fathom.  I know no house, building or church can hold You or Your love.  I feel and have felt Your love in my life many times over in terms of blessings I don't deserve.  I rely too much on myself.  I know this is sinful.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me for my arrogance.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do (not as I love others!).  Help me grow in my faith.

" Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

John 13

" Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." v17

After Jesus washes His disciples feet at the Last Supper, he implores them to serve others as a reflection of their love for others and as an expression of Jesus' command from Matthew 22:37-40 to "[l]ove your neighbor as yourself".    Today's study builds on yesterday's post to act on your faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed great and it is amazing how wide and deep Your love is for me.  I am sinful person yet You love me, and You even suffered and died for me.  You want me to serve others as You do yet I often don't for all kinds of stupid excuses.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive my selfishness.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as myself and help me grow in my faith.

“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day."

John 12

“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day."  v47-48

Head and heart understanding of God's Word is critical, yet action is equally critical - notice John's words of warning for those who do not "keep" God's Word.  Keeping of the Word is to not only understand what is being sent in terms of meaning in a general sense but also in a personal sense - what is God saying to You specifically in this moment of your life?  Keeping also implies scripture memorization as this as means to defend yourself against sin and evil influences...and of course as means of encouragement to yourself and others.  And, lest we not forget, application of God's Word is also critical - we must act according to God's Word.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.  James 1:22-25

My Prayer: Lord, You are pure, holy and blameless, and Your Word is perfect.  You are all I need as You provide everything I have and will ever need.  Your presence and provision is an amazing blessing...even more so given my sin.  I am selfish, angry, arrogant, impatient, critical, etc.  Thank You that You love me anyway but please forgive me Jesus.  Help me turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as myself.  Help me grow in my faith.