Day 1134: Jesus loves the Father - John 14 vs 25 -31

25-26 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 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.

28-29 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. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30-31 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 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. John 14:25-31 English Standard Version.

How did we get our Bible? How could the disciples have remembered so much of what Jesus said and did while He was in the world? How did the apostle Paul write the wonderful truths which have so encouraged our hearts, such as Romans 8 where he declares: “I'm sure that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The answer is surely what Jesus says about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. “He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” What was true of the Old Testament is just as true of the New. The apostle Peter said: “No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21)

The disciples were troubled by Jesus speaking of going away, even though He said it was 'to prepare a place for them'. But Jesus promises them a peace that the world could never give. The world with all it's politics, arguments, and war. Many years later Paul spoke of this peace when he said “Rejoice in the Lord always! The Lord is at hand, don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippian 4:4-7)

Jesus' words in vs 28-29 suggest that the disciples were more concerned about themselves! His returning to the Father ought to have filled their hearts with joy. But He says something surprising: “The Father is greater than I.” In John 10 Jesus had said: “My Father, who has given 'my sheep' to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” And they answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

Some suggest that Jesus was referring to His time in the flesh. As a man, God the Father was greater than He was. Others have suggested that there is a natural subordination even in the Godhead, and the Son was eternally begotten of the Father. The apostle John's position was clear. He says that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1 &14) That He was returning to the Father was reason for them to rejoice, rather than to be troubled.

Jesus knew that the conflict of the ages was drawing near, and Satan was gathering his forces to try and overcome the one whom God had promised would crush his head. But He knew too that in doing the Father's will, Satan had no power over Him. He readily goes to face the foe, saying “Rise, let us go from here.” It's quite possible that Chapter 15-17 may have been spoken on the way to the garden of Gethsemane. But how grateful our hearts should be to know that Jesus loved the Father so much that He was willing to die for sinners that we may know the Father too.