In the 14th chapter of John, Jesus spoke to the disciples about hope in heaven while they were in the upper room. I find it interesting that what He is about to tell them happens while they are on the move from the temple to the garden and His message is about how to live in the garden of this earthly life before we get to the glory of heaven.
The great reformer and evangelist of the 1500, John Knox cried out, “Lord, give me Scotland or I’ll die.” But what many are unaware of is that the Lord responded back with the words, “First die to your flesh and then I’ll give you Scotland.”
Love my friends is a decision, not just an emotion. It appears based upon 14:31 that Jesus and His disciples left the Upper Room which we believe was in the southwest corner of the city of Jerusalem on the side of Mt. Zion. They would have wound their way through the vineyards that grew around Jerusalem at this time.
Furthermore, it was Passover which meant that there was a full moon as they passed through the vineyards, down through the Tyropoeon Valley and around the walls of Jerusalem, through the Kidron Valley then back to Gethsemane’s garden on the Mount of Olives.
Now it is interesting to look at that 31st verse as He said, “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.” The first part of the sentence gives the understanding to Jesus’, “that the world may know that I love the Father,” in other words Jesus departure towards the cross would demonstrate His love for the Father and the Father’s love for the world. It also provides His followers what it means to abide in His love!