John 14: 5-14
“A glimpse of glory”
I. Intro.
II. Vs. 5-7 I am the Way
III. Vs. 8-11 I am in the Father and He is in Me
IV. Vs. 12-14 Greater works for the asking
Intro.
Last week Jesus comforted His disciples by telling them that His departure didn’t signal the end of something but instead it ushered in the glorious beginning. His Love for them was greater than their failure and He was leaving to prepare a place specifically for each of them, a place that they would never be apart from Him or each other. Friends with each passing day I long more and more for us to be together. There is only one reason we are apart each from each other and that is He has called us to gather in more folks to come with us. To that end in these verses we are given seven theological truths which will enable us in this quest:
Vs. 7 The Father is only known through the Son
Vs. 9 Jesus is the exact expression of the Father
Vs. 10 The unity of the Father and the Son
Vs. 11 The works of Jesus reveal the heart of the Father
Vs. 12 The promise of greater works through us
Vs. 13a The promise of doing that which we ask when it is consistent with His nature.
Vs. 13b The promise that when He works in us and through us it will glorify the Father and the Son
Vs. 5-7 I am the Way
Vs. 5 The second question came from Thomas and his focus was not on why he could not follow Jesus but rather where He was going and the way in which He would go. Peter took issue with Jesus assessment that they could not be with Him saying that he could go and no one or nothing could stop him. Where as Thomas question the path and method of going. In the light of the soon events of the cross Jesus is telling Thomas that the way to God runs through the cross. I rather appreciate Thomas as he is the kind of fellow who will never go beyond what he can understand the kind of man who would not pretend to know something when he didn’t and asked, “How can anyone know the way when they don’t know the destination?” Jesus had called himself “the life” to Martha (John11:25) and “the door” to the Pharisees (John10:7) and “the light of the world” (John 8:12). He spoke “the way of God in truth” (Mark 12:14). And here He is the only way to God, the personification of truth, the centre of life. Jesus does not rebuke Thomas instead He makes an amazing claim saying “I am the way, Thomas you’re questioning the path and I tell you I am the path, the only path, the only truth and only in Me do you have life.” “You don’t have to be concerned about the destination when you know the way and I am the WAY!”
Vs. 6 Notice he does not say, “I show the way, I teach the truth, I give life.” He is not merely a “way-shower, truth teacher of a life giver” He is the “WAY, TRUTH and LIFE”. Aren’t you glad that Jesus said this as it makes the destination simple and certain? We don’t have to try to buy a stairway to heaven, follow a yellow brick road no we just need to receive Jesus’ love for us and we are home. In only a few hours in John 18:38
Jesus would face Pilate the representation of Rome
and all its splendor and knowledge and Pilate is going to say, “What is truth?” In Matthew 7:13-15
Jesus Told His disciples, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Jesus said, “Look, no man comes to the Father but by Me.” Friends I’m just reading His words He said it, He made that claim, and the truth is you either believe it or you don’t. You can believe that you can get there on your own good works, your own good effort, you’re own sincerity in being religious but Jesus said you can’t get to the Father but by Him. Jesus words contradict the opinion that there are many ways to God as He proclaims with certainty that “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Follow the logic here my friend if Jesus’ words here are not correct then He is not only not the only way the God He is not even a way to God. The idea that all religious beliefs are equally valid based upon a person’s sincerity of belief makes belief more important than truth. Now if that is true in the realm of religion it ought to be true in other realms so if I thought I could become a pumpkin and I believe it to be so than I should be before your very eyes become a pumpkin. Peter said it best before the Sanhedrin for healing the lame man Acts 4:11-12
“This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Vs. 7 And to make sure we understand this Jesus says, “If you know Me, you would know the Father.” Now there will always be those who see these words as very narrow minded but friend truth is always narrow minded. Jesus then reassures Thomas you see Thomas’ problem was not that he did not know the Father; it was that he had not realized that he knew the Father. Some think that they will have to wait to meet the Father but Jesus says that we know the Father as soon as we receive His Son. The word “know” is used 141 times in the gospel of John but he employs four different words:
There is a Greek word that simply means knowing a fact.
Then there is a word that means to know the truth behind the fact.
Then there is a word that describes knowledge based upon an intimate relationship.
Finally there is a word that describes an even deeper relationship in which we keep perusing it.
Vs. 8-11 I am in the Father and He is in Me
Vs. 8-9 It is at those words that Philip interrupts with a heart felt desire to draw near to God and what he didn’t understand was that He was standing right next to Him. Philip cried, “Show us the Father” and Jesus said “If you have seen me you know the character and nature of the Father.” Jesus says “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” interesting to me that no image can depict God but the person of Jesus can. Paul told the Colossians in 2:9 that in Jesus“dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”. Then in 1:15-17 Paul said that in Jesus “is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” This should put to rest the notion that in the Bible there are two God’s the mean God of the Old Testament and the good God of the New Testament. As Jesus says that if you want to know what the Father is like you need only to observe My life. In Exodus 34:6-7
The Lord declares His nature to Moses saying, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty…” The truth of the matter is Thomas and the boys had not truly come to know Jesus as much as they had come to love Him.
Folks there will be times where we are in the midst of a trying time and we will cry out, “Where is God” and the answer is on a Cross because of love. I wonder how many times I’m like Philip, “Lord I need you, I’m wiped out and need your love” and I’m right next to Him. Reading the words of Jesus to Philip in verse 9 “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me”? I can’t help but hear them for myself as well as there are times that I allow my circumstances to blind my eyes to what I know to be true about my Lord. I watch little Hannah when she wants to be held and we are right next to her she begins to fuss and I look into her little brown eyes and say, “I’m right here booboo” but that’s not enough so I pick her up. When Paul was in Athens
in Acts 17:27
he spoke of this reality to the philosophers saying in their quest for God, “that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us”. So if you want to understand the nature of the Father get to know the Son.
Vs. 10-11 What Jesus tells Philip here is that there has been a constant change that which they only knew as information about the Father has become visible in Jesus. The author of Hebrews put it this way in 1:1-2 “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.” “Phil”, Jesus said, “Every then you have heard Me and everything you have watched Me do reveals to you the Father.” “Keep trust in Me, Jesus tells Philip and the disciples and you will keep growing in that relational knowledge.” Both the words and works come from the heart of the Father through the heart of the Son. The works of Jesus support the words of Jesus and now Jesus tells His disciples they come from the Fathers heart towards man kind. When Peter on the day of Pentecost preached to the people that gathered, he said in Acts 2:22
, “Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was proved to be of God by the signs and the wonders that He did in the midst of you”. What concerns should we have when we realize that the maker of heaven and earth is our Father?
Vs. 12-14 Greater works for the asking
Vs. 12-14 It is quite apparent that Jesus expected ministry to continue after His death and resurrection not to end. That is why the book of Acts starts with the words, in verses1-2
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen” The former account Luke speaks of here is his gospel so if that is what Jesus began to do this is what He continues to do through those called by His name. Peter says in 2 Peter 1:4 we have “been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Here we see Jesus saying three things:
“He who believes in me (keeps on believing in me, not just he who becomes a Christian but he who keeps on growing and trusting as a Christian) the works that I do he will do also.” First is the admonishment to keep trusting in Jesus no matter what they were to experience.
“And greater works than these he will do”. We need only go to the book of acts and see what Jesus was able to do through Peter and others. The miracles were not greater in quality, for Jesus said in 13:16 that “the servant is not greater than his lord” so what Jesus is saying is that they are greater in scope and quantity. The magnitude of God’s greatness is best seen in that He can take ordinary imperfect vessels and work wonders and speak the truth and grace in which He did through His Son. Paul spoke of this to the Philippians in 2:13 saying that “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Greater is not purpose or person but in effectiveness, like saying that those who have taken Thomas Edison’s idea of a light bulb have done greater things with it than what he accomplished but where would we be if there was no first light bulb?
“Because I go to My Father”. Why is it greater in magnitude? Well two reasons:
Vs. 12 First Jesus says, “Because I go to My Father”, this will be brought out further in verse 16-18 as Jesus will introduce us to the Holy Spirit who in verse 17 will “dwell with and be in us”. The greater works are made possible by the indwelling and empowering of the Holy Spirit something that is quite obvious when we notice the difference in Peter after the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. In Acts 1:8
Jesus had told them that they “Shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem
, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Friends the empowering of the Holy Spirit is not an option it is necessity if we are to be His witnesses.
Vs. 13-14 Second, Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do”. Notice Jesus qualifies His words by saying that our prayer must His name that is consistent with His character and nature. James put it this way in 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” When we pray we are praying to Him for that which is His passion that He will accomplish it in His time His way for His glory! Well what is He passionate about?
He is passionate about people not our prosperity and possessions
He is passionate about His glory not our goods and greatness
He is passionate about our holiness not just our health and happiness.
In Jesus’ name is in the Father’s will thus the reason why it will be granted. Friends we have no right to ask nor should be expecting when we ask things from God if they aren’t in His will, the out come is that what we ask that Jesus will do will glorify them both. In reading this we see the first instance where Jesus is telling these disciples to pray to Him. So when we ask anything Jesus concerning the things that He is passionate about we have this guarantee. “Oh Jesus grant me people who don’t know you, folks who are hurting touch them Lord” Oh Jesus I want you glorified in my business, my marriage my church!” “Oh Jesus I want you to change my heart, my attitude, my actions to what Yours are!” And Jesus’ promise is I’m doing it my child! I was thinking about that with regards to living life here and the difficulties we face. You see we can’t wait to get off this planet because it is so difficult but we fail to recognize that we aren’t here for our purpose and plan but for His. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 6:20
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Folks this is a great mystery as God works with His creation as we put forth effort to reach lives that He has placed upon our hearts He energizes it anoints it and miraculously, mysteriously it bears life. As an old country preacher once put it, “He puts unction in our gumption.” As amazing as those words are Jesus now speaks of His greatness as seen in how He will continue to work imperfect instruments. Jesus has encouraged these failing disciples with three things so far:
The hope of heaven
The goodness of God the Father
And now principal of prayer
b. 14:16-16:33 Promises (seventh truth 15:5 abiding promise)
John 14: 15-31
“Another Helper”
I. Intro.
II. Vs. 15-17 Abiding forever
III. Vs. 18-24 Good news I’m leaving
IV. Vs. 25-31 Peace of His presence
Intro.
In many ways the upper room discourse was the first Christian retreat offered by Jesus. During the retreat He commanded them challenged and comforted them, sounds like a typical retreat doesn’t it. Jesus introduces us to the Holy Spirit and what His role will be in the life of the believer. There recorded for in Jesus words several things that the Holy Spirit does in the life of the believer:
- Vs. 15-17 He will be as Jesus is to us one who will come alongside to help
- Vs. 18-24 He will continue to make Jesus love real to us
- Vs. 25-27 He will enable is to do more than cope we will hope
- Vs. 28-31 His presence will forever remind us that we have already won
So far we have seen that Jesus encouraged the disciples with the:
- The hope of heaven
- The goodness of God the Father
- And the principal of prayer
Now we see Him speak to us about the reality of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Vs. 15-17 Abiding forever
Vs. 15 Jesus says continual love will be visible in continual obedience. He does not equate love with sentiment or emotion but rather with action. Friends it is wonderful to experience the sense of love for our Lord that tears well up in our eyes or our hands raise in adoration during our worship but true love that is connected will be endeavoring to be putting into practicing His words in our life.
The question we need to ask is, “Just what are His commandments?” Well the first one that comes to mind is the one He just mentioned in 13:34 “That we love one another; as He has loved us.” In Matthew 22:36-40 a religious lawyer came to Him and asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Have you ever noticed that we don’t have a problem loving ourselves? I mean if we had taken a photo of this fellowship the first thing each of us would do is to try to find ourselves in the picture, “Oh man that is a horrible picture of me.” That is why Jesus in Matthew said as yourself as it is assumed that we already love ourselves so just treat others as you want to be treated. Ah, but in 13:34 He said treat each other as I just treated Judas who was betraying Me. Listen to John as he writes in 1 John 2:1-6 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
Vs. 16 Here we see the work of the Godhead as God the Son prays to God the Father to send God the Holy Spirit to those the Son has prayed for. The word “prayer” here is make a request of. Folks notice that these words of Jesus about keeping His commandments are not with out His provision to do so, “Jesus never asks us to do something that He has not provided the resources to accomplish His purpose if we would just rely on His provisions.” There are six things Jesus tells us about the Holy Spirit:
- Vs. 16a “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper”: The first thing we note is that He is a gift from the Father for all believers. And How do we know who is a true believer? Well the true believer will be the one living in obedience to His word. The drawn to Jesus His love for them will manifest the same love towards others. To empower them in this Jesus will send the Holy Spirit.
- Vs. 16b “He will give you another Helper”: Next we notice that Jesus clarifies the Holy Spirit by saying that the Holy Spirit will be another of a “like kind” in other words He will carry on the ministry of coming along side the disciples just as Jesus had. For three and a half years He had been by their side and He promises that with the Holy Spirit He won’t ever leave. In fact that ministry of the continual abiding presence that He had with will be more available because He will be able to do so to all at the same time. So the nature of Jesus reveals the heart of the Father and the nature of the Holy Spirit reveals the heart of the Son. The word for “comforter” is a word that means “a person summoned to one’s aid”, and refers to an advisor, a legal defender, a mediator, or an intercessor. The greater work Jesus spoke of that will glorify the Father and the Son will be accomplished through us by way of the Holy Spirit.
- Vs. 16c “That He may abide with you forever”: What a glorious truth this is that the Holy Spirit will never depart us again my friend. Think of this next time you are down and wiped out that you have indwelling you the Holy Spirit who has come to make His home in your heart. The Holy Spirit would abide temporarily with people before this time as He would not dwell in them but here Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will never leave us though according to Paul in Ephes. 4:30 where he says “do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” So that it is possible for us to behave in such away that we can disengage His effects upon our life. Paul tells us what things can grieve Him saying that, corrupt words, (defined as words that don’t build up others) then Paul say’s all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking. Folks do you realize that He is called the “HOLY” Spirit for a reason because He is absolutely holy and He indwells us.
- Vs. 17a “the Spirit of truth”: Friend you can absolutely rely upon the word’s of the Spirit, no confusion as He is not the author of confusion only truth from the Spirit of truth. He is the Spirit of truth and because the world will not receive the truth and neither does it desire to be Holy so they won’t receive the Holy Spirit.
- Vs. 17b “whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him”: The use of the word “whom” tells us that the Holy Spirit is not a force or an influence but a person. Jesus says’ that this is an entirely new source that was previously unavailable to people. He can not be attained through a degree, or a pedigree no He is only given to those who have a relationship with Jesus.
- Vs. 17c “but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you”: Finally Jesus says that you don’t have to drive to some remote location to tap into this resource as He dwells with us and will be in us. The word “abides with you” means to be at home with and it is in the present tense which means time with out end.
Vs. 18-24 Good news I’m leaving
Vs. 18 Jesus promises not to leave us behind not helpless orphans but with the Comforter of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us tell He comes. Paul tells us in Ephes. 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”.
Jesus told these fellows that His departure didn’t mean that they would lose Him instead that He would come back to them be means of the Holy Spirit and continue with them. Here we learn the primary work of the Holy Spirit and that is to continually make Jesus real in the lives and hearts of His followers. The clearest sign of a Spirit filled life won’t be the visibility of the gifts of the Spirit it will be rather seen in Jesus’ characteristics being manifested in our lives. Paul describes them as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-25 saying that the “fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” That is why the world will see Him no more but His disciples will see Him as He is in the Father and we are in Him and He in us. That is why Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19-20 to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and lo, I am with you even to the end of the age.”
Vs. 19-21 Jesus said “because I live, you will live also” years later Peter would write in 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” Friends the love that Jesus speaks of over and again is not just a feeling or a sentiment it is action.
Notice the phrase “because I live, you will live also” certainly this speaks of eternal life but I believe that it also speaks about living in this world as uses a word not for eternal life but one that means zest that “enjoyably exciting quality” quality of life. Friends Jesus living doesn’t just provide a comfortable landing it provides a wonderful journey! A life that was meaningless and dull now is filled with purpose and adventure it has switched from obstacles to opportunities. Also take note of the phrase “you in me” which is defined as being in the same way as Jesus is in the Father. Here we are talking about an abiding relationship where there is such fellowship that a nature is shared while distinction is still possible. Paul described it best saying in Col. 1:13
That, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love”. How wonderful it is to belong to His family but Jesus goes on to say “I in you”! Here we learn that it is He in us that makes us sufficient that we are not
left to some how please him apart from His work through us. How does this all work? Well Jesus says through loving surrender called obedience verse 21. Listen how Paul described in Galatians 2:20 when he said “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” You see the key to this is not the law but love as Paul says here, “who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Vs. 22-24 Judas here is called “Thaddeus” in Mark 3:17 and is called he brother of James in Luke 6:16. At any rate he asks a very interesting question “Why didn’t Jesus go over to the Chief Priests after His resurrection and say, what do you go to say now?” Well in Luke 16:31 Jesus said, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.” You see the reason people don’t trust in Jesus has nothing to do with evidence and everything to do with sin.
Those words startled Judas as relationship was still going to be based upon obedience but the motivation was going to switch from fear to LOVE. Read through the commandments and you will see that they were based upon “If you do this, then I will do this” and what should have happened was instead of the Israelites saying “all that you have said we will do” they should have said “Lord, I can’t do this I have a heart problem!” So the Lord allowed the nation to come to the conclusion that they couldn’t keep His commandments and in the words of the Lord through Ezekiel 36:26 God promised to “give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Friends listen up as I’m afraid many of us Christians fail in our relationship with the Lord because we have placed our obedience ahead of His love for us thus making His love conditional. His love towards us is what makes obedience possible other wise it becomes only works to earn His love. It will never be difficult to keep Jesus words in our lives when we are doing so because we are responding to His love for us with loving surrender. I’m convinced personally that we will never be able to set aside the things of this world that we have attached love towards until we are convinced that they are keeping us from something greater HIS LOVE!
Vs. 25-31 Peace of His presence
Vs. 25-27 Jesus reminds them that the Holy Spirit is coming at His request, in His name as His replacement with the sole purpose to make Jesus further known to them. One of the main responsibilities of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is to be our teacher. Isn’t it wonderful to be taught the Book from the author Himself? He will come alongside us and unfold the truth to us bringing into remembrance the word that Jesus spoke. The psalmist said in Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!” The way in which the Holy Spirit will do this is by teaching them and reminding them of every thing Jesus ever did and said. Thus the emphasis is switched from what we remember to what God the Holy Spirit will bring to our hearts. In computer terms the Holy Spirit is our data retrieval system so that nothing is lost in our comprehension on the Lord.
The end result of the Holy Spirits continual work of reminding us and teaching concerning Jesus is PEACE the root word here means to “join”. Our hearts will be infused with a quietness and rest that comes from the security of knowing our Lord. This peace is more than just the ability to “cope” with life it carries with it “hope” for we know that our Lord is in charge and we know what kind of God He is. “My peace I leave with you”, Jesus said! Notice by use of the words in verse 27 “Let not your heart be troubled” that the addition of the Holy Spirit abiding in us and working through does not grant us exemption from trouble rather just the necessary things to sail through them. Heaven my friends is not our destination it is our motivation. In 1 Cor. 2:10 Paul says that “the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” Not a tranquilizer something to cause you to cope but something that will cause you to hope! Paul spoke of this peace in Philip. 4:7 by saying that “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” No wonder Jesus said of this peace that we need not let our hearts be troubled. Jesus leaves us with the double blessing of power and peace! Power to live in this world to affect it and peace to know that some will choose not to be transformed. The power of the Spirit to change and peace of God to comfort the hurting. Thomas a’ Kempis said, “All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.”
It is a wonderful thing when we realize that God is in control and not us or the government, or fate. You see if the God who loved me so much while I was still apart from Him that He sent His only Son to die for me is in charge what worries do I have now that I have been brought into His house? When a young person dies we often say, “What a shame they had their whole life in front of them” but when they are a believer the shame is that we will miss seeing them for a season but I’m certain they aren’t thinking, “Man I wish I was back in the place of pain, sorrow and heartache”.
Vs. 28-31 In this final section Jesus answers when the Holy Spirit will come and the answer is to be found in the final phrase of verse 31 “Arise, let us go from here”. The truth of this ought to have three reactions:
Vs. 29-31 “Now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you will believe”: In other words Jesus is saying that satan is going to be defeated and He is telling them ahead of time. They were soon going to go through a time where it will look like satan has won and that Jesus is defeated the power of darkness has snuffed out the “Light of the World” but it will be this very act that will forever defeat the devil, “He has nothing in ME” Jesus says. Amazing statement that satan has no place to grab hold of Jesus no other human could say such a phrase and it be true. So at the end of the supper Jesus said to His disciples “let us go from hear”, great words don’t you think?
Vs. 28a “If you love Me, you would rejoice”: Why? Because, all that is upside down in the world is going to be made right. Jesus says, “Fellows, if you love me than you know that all that is messed up in this world is going to get fixed permanently”. Jesus departure signified the END, the end of death, sorrow, heartache, pain etc. Aren’t you glad that Jesus went back to the Father? Jesus told them this in advance so that they wouldn’t think that this wasn’t part of His plan and if they would just trust His words they would see that He had a glorious plan all along.
Vs. 28b “I am going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I”: Secondly Jesus is saying that all of His earthly limitation which He had during His incarnation will be over. Now He will be able to do all that He could do prior to His earthly visitation. The Father is greater than the Son in position but not in essence or being as He had already said that HE and the Father are one.