John 14:12-18

July 13, 2014

We tried to get to verse fourteen in our last study, but I really felt like I was rushing it,
so were going to back up a little and start again from verse twelve. Twelve, thirteen, and
fourteen are pretty tough verses, and they can cause a lot of confusion:

12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do
also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13
And
whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in
the Son.
14
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Taken by themselves it sure sounds like Jesus promises all Christians that they can get
whatever they want as long as they ask for it in his name. And you know that there are
preachers out there who make their living off verses like these; they tell people they can
be rich and worry free if theyll just have enough faith to believe these verses, and if
theyll just demand their blessing from God in Jesus name.

But even when theyre considered in context they still arent easy to interpret. We know
that Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples, and that hes trying to get them ready
for his crucifixion. Theyre about to carry on their lives without him, and they need to
know everything will be ok. They need to know he didnt fail, and that the gospel is more
than just another Jewish king.

And so, what we saw last time, is his promise to go and prepare a place at his fathers
house. There are many rooms there, and, when the time is right, Jesus will come again to
bring all Gods children home. The disciples can be sure hes telling the truth because
Jesus is one with the Father. If they have any doubts about that, they can just remember
all the great works hes done in their presence. Works prove union. Take note of that.
Works prove union, and this is another source of comfort:

12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do
also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

These little children will also do great works, but it wont be from their own power; it
will be the power of God in them.

But how does anyone do greater works than Christ? And what about todays disciples? I
doubt any of us have ever done even a minor miracle, let alone something greater than
what Christ did. How do we explain that?

Well, its certainly debatable, but remember that hes only talking to his disciples, and
they actually did go and do some amazing things. They raised the dead, healed the sick,
and cast out demons, and this promise confirms their union despite his absence.

But what about modern disciples? Perhaps this verse is directly aimed at only the first
eleven, but I think that conversion and salvation are bigger works than those temporary
miracles. Bearing the spiritual fruit of the Holy Spirit and walking in a manner worthy of
our calling is something that all Christians everywhere have in common. Victory over
death and sin and Satan are greater miracles, and this, I think, could be what Jesus means.

Dont miss the fact that its all because he goes to his father. These great works arent
because of our own personal holiness or great faith. These are done simply because he is
the way, truth, and life and he has prepared a place for us and guaranteed it by his
sacrifice.

13
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son.
14
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

So, is God obligated to give me whatever I want as long as I ask in Jesus name? No; this is
another verse of comfort. Theyre united to him, so theyll do great works. Theyre united
to him, so he grants them what they ask for the same way he granted the requests of his
Son! Thats why we ask for things in his name. Its not a magic formula; its a reality.

Its not about greedy demands or a blank check to get whatever we want; its a source of
comfort knowing God is for us and were not left alone in this earth just because Jesus
isnt with us bodily.

And now he says something that seems to come from nowhere:

15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

It seems largely out of place, doesnt it? But remember hes calming their fears. Do they
love him? Obviously they do; Peters ready to die for him. But look again at the verse. The
Greek is future tense. He actually says, If you love me, [you will] keep my
1
commandments. In other words, its more evidence to them of their union with him and
the hope they can have in his return. Im leaving, but Im coming back. Its not the end.
The miracles will continue, Gods work will keep going, and my will is still carried out in
your lives.

This story doesnt end with his departure, so theres no reason to be afraid!

Besides, they wont be left alone:

16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever;

1
http://biblehub.com/text/john/1415.htm
So, Jesus prays that the Father will give us a Comforter. The word means a helper or an
advocate. Think of how much that would mean to these men who are so afraid of being
left alone. Hes leaving, but its still Emmanuel, God with us!

And so at Pentecost the Holy Spirit came on them and made them bold. Think about that;
they were afraid, but then they were bold! They realized that Jesus really had gone to
prepare a place and that he really was coming back. In the meantime they were full of the
Holy Spirit and united to God.

17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I know Ive said this a lot, but remember that this isnt a doctrines of grace proof text. It
does support sovereign grace, but weve got to first interpret it and apply in the way it
was originally intended, and we have to know that it stays right in line with whats being
said.

Why doesnt the world believe in Christ? Well, they cant. Its impossible, and its
impossible for them to receive the Spirit because they are not of God. But these men are
Gods children. Theyve believed in Christ, and theyve received power to be called Gods
sons.

Now, the trouble is that theyre in the world, and theyre hated by it, and theyve left
everything to follow a man who the world hates. And its even worse because the world
seems to overcome when they kill him. So what are these little children going to do now
that theyre left all alone? But they arent alone. God sends a Comforter! Thats why he
says:

18
I will not leave you comfortless:

The King James is a little weak in translating this word; the Greek is
(orphanous) and it means just what you think: orphans. Jesus literally says, I wont
2
leave you as orphans. Earlier in the chapter he called them little children, and now he
promises to take care of them. They have a Father, and their Father knows how to give
them good gifts. He cares for them, and he will provide for them. And then:

I will come to you.

This is the ultimate comfort. Theres nothing they can do to stop him from leaving, but he
only goes to prepare a place, and then he will return.

Lets close with a few thoughts:

2
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=orfanous&la=greek#lexicon
#1God comforts us in working salvation in us and answering our prayers.
#2God comforts us in showing our union with him and calling us his bride.
#3God comforts us in teaching us how to keep his commandments by faith.
#4God comforts us in promising to prepare us a place and come back for us.

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