The Gospel of John Lesson 56 (12-22-2013)
Lesson 56 – John 14:12-7
In vs. 12-4 Jesus makes a clear and clean offer…a promise,
to whosoever desires to receive His offer. He tells them that this is an
unbelievably offer telling them that they will be allowed to do some of the
great works that they saw Him do. No small potatoes offer.
I wonder as He made this statement to them if their minds
did not begin to bring to mind the different events that they saw Jesus do as
He demonstrated the Father’s power wondering what it would be like for them to
be able to do the same. I am sure that as their minds began to imagine the
possibilities of Jesus’ offer that the first thoughts that came to their minds
were the powerful and more dramatic acts of God that they saw Jesus do. However,
as they thought of these things it might have been a good idea to remind them
that what they were offered was God’s works to do which was more about purpose
and substance than drama and show.
Taking Jesus’ offer seriously one could ask what exactly was
Jesus offering them?? Over this is great debate. However, it appears very
straightforward and clear as to who will do these works…those that believe,
and, what they are offered to do! It appears from His statement in v. 12 that
His comment here is all inclusive including all that believe.
All too often vs. 12-4 of John chapter 14 are pulled out and
used as if they were stand alone verses. It is difficult to receive and apply
the fullness of what Jesus actually meant here especially when taking this
section of scripture in its context.
We are indeed often found to be people of extremes. On the
one side we could view these verses as ‘a free pass’ to be used on a whim
whenever and however we choose… in our way, at our discretion, much like a wish
granted by rubbing a genie bottle. On the other hand some would strap this
promise down with so many restrictions and rules of acting on them that it
becomes practically unusable making it of little to no value at all in our realm
of real life application.
Some of the stipulations that are put in the instruction
manual on how to effectively apply these verses, or as some would say if they
are even to be used in our day at all, were not meant or even implied by Jesus
when He was giving this promise to His followers. I don’t mean to be too
critical, but some seemingly have the view that if you don’t hold your tongue
just right Jesus will not honor His promise found here.
So often we are so quick to just tack on “in Jesus Name” at
the end of our request expecting somehow to magically force God to tilt in our
direction and answer our request no matter what our request may be, even if we
desire an outcome that God would not be fully pleased with.
However in looking at these verses and their application we
must remember that Jesus is our example of how these verses are applied. When
looking at His example, looking at His life and how He made requests to the
Father, we find Him applying them in a practical way. We really do not find Him
tacking on ‘in the Father’s Name’ at the end of all of His prayer requests, nor
do we see Him making foolish or selfish requests. His requests were always
according to what the Father would want. We do, however, find Him asking some
interesting and amazing requests.
When He makes His requests to the Father He made them in
His, the Father’s, Name or in other words acting on the Father’s behalf as if
the Father Himself were present acting on His own behalf. This is what Jesus
offers us. He offers us the ability to act on God’s behalf, with all the power
and authority that goes with Him or His Name. Jesus did not offer us an open
door to allow our self centered life to become a reality. His offer was to act
in His Name…asking the Father…seeing the Father grant our requests so that the
Father continues to be Glorified in the Son. The Father receives no glory from
the fleshly part of our life. He is only honored by those acts done by the Holy
Spirit in Jesus’ Name.
In these verses, vs. 12-4, is the power to establish the
coming Church eventually bringing forth the fullness of His Kingdom, and the
promise given here is still, even in our day, the power to work the works of
God on His behalf. This offer was meant to be extremely practical and useful
for God’s work and for our life as His children and was not meant to be
utilized on the only rare occasion. The way I read this promise is that it was
meant to be applied to our daily life including all parts of it, little and
big. Any request concerning the daily function and the establishment of His
Kingdom is offered here big or small.
In v. 12 Jesus says something meant to get their attention.
What He says here was not meant for the few, but was meant for the many for in
the first part of v. 12 He makes the statement “whoever…” meaning all who are
willing and believe in Jesus, taking Jesus at His Word.
What He offers to them is the opportunity to work the works
of God. It is good to notice that He does not offer them the opportunity to
work the works of man or man’s will with the power of God behind them. To do so
would create a comic book superhero found having more power than mortal man performing
his selfish desires causing more destruction than he already does.
However, these are works of God, accompanied by God’s power
to make them happen. They are offered to man to perform as God’s ambassador or
representative carrying His full authority. All works of God are available and
permissible here in this offer. All the works of God are on the table...great
or so called small. God is willing and able to perform any work of God through
man that He, God, chooses or ordains. God is able, and, I might add, willing to
make it so.
However, it is important to notice what Jesus offers. In v.
12 He offers them the works that He did or does, and the greater works that He
offers them are works that He would have continued to do if He remained. I
believe that these are the continued, even greater, works necessary to bring
about and fully establish His Kingdom.
This is an interesting thing to ponder and consider. For
Jesus to do the works of God was easy or natural. Later in this chapter, v. 29,
He will tell His disciples that the prince of this world has no part of Him,
Jesus always able to do the Father’s will. But, for man to do the works of God
as Jesus, man being imperfect, well that is something to be discussed and
pondered. Yet, that is what He offered. There is no way to connect the two. Man
doing God’s works together outside of Christ? A miracle must take place.
In vs. 15-7 Jesus announces that miracle to them. Later in
the book of Galatians, chapter 5, the Apostle Paul will give us further
instructions to be applied to the promise found in these verses. In sending the
Spirit of Truth or the Holy Spirit as our helper we would receive guidance and
assistance helping us to do the works of God better on the execution side and
cleaning up even our imperfect works once done making them indeed the very
works of God. What an offer.
As Jesus performed the works of God He not only performed
the actions and tasks that were given to Him, but He was found to do them in
the letter and spirit of the Law also. He was found to execute the Father’s
request in the right spirit, at just the right time, in the right context, exactly
as the Father wanted it done as if the Father Himself were doing it. This offer
or arrangement was good and appropriate for Jesus being the Son of God, but what
about us? Somehow Jesus saw his offer in v. 12 still as a viable and realistic
offer to us. He would ask the Church to be a real part of the establishment of
His Kingdom doing His work. But, it was obvious that we would indeed need some
help. God’s Holy Spirit was the answer.
In this and the next couple of chapters Jesus will explain
how this is possible. In reading vs. 12-4 in context it is obvious from Jesus’
conversation which includes the next couple of chapters that to apply His offer
properly as intended that He needed to give them a framework to do so. It is
good again to remember that although it may seem unfair to some to include
chapters 15 and 16 in a discussion as applying to this promise, that this
extended section of Scripture does appear to be one continuous conversation
with His disciples beginning in the end of chapter 13 in the Upper Room and
continuing as they change locations talking to them as they go to or toward
Gethsemane.
We see as Jesus continues His conversation with them
following this promise that the first thing that He tells them is to remind
them that this is not a superficial offer. What He offered them was a
relationship, and, it comes with some commitment or as some would say with some
skin in the game.
At this point in for some reason I personally am not
convinced that they are fully committed to what Jesus is offering or doing yet.
Yes it is true that these guys have stayed with Him the longest and were indeed
close to Him. Peter summed up their level of commitment to the Savior when all had
left Him but them, Jesus asking them if they were going to leave Him also. Their
response was, “to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Jn.
6:68
Yes, they were committed to Him, but were still pretty much on
the receiving end and they would remain there until after the coming of the
Spirit of Truth or the Holy Spirit which He tells them about in vs. 16-7. However,
in v. 15 He wanted them to be sure that they understood what real love and
commitment was. Here in v. 15 Jesus makes a statement that is really a question
to them. It was meant for and to them to answer themselves, telling them that
the proof of genuine love for Him is not what you say, but that you take
serious His commandments and His way of living, applying His beliefs to their
life. He would ask the same question or requirement of any of those who would
follow Him.
Now Jesus is getting real with them here. He wasn’t being
critical or judgmental with them. This was a call to them for a deeper
commitment in essence telling them that the easy stuff is over. Jesus was
moving into a real world set before Him and even though He knew that they would
come, they would personally have to make that decision and commitment. Jesus
knew that they were in. But, were they aware of it? Had they recognized the
practical application of their commitment and relationship? Love for the Savior
means commitment to Him and His ways. However, with deeper commitment also came
greater benefits as we will see as His dialog with them continues.
One of these benefits, the Greatest, was the promise found
in v. 16 of the coming Comforter that would abide with them forever! Wow, what a promise! The next
few verses are rich in promise and substance. He tells them that He will pray
with the same authority He just promised to them knowing that the Father would
answer Him asking the Father to send this Comforter to them on His behalf.
Jesus knew that He, the Father, would do it for He knew that the Father always
heard His requests and answered them, and, that this Comforter would abide in
His absence with them forever!
He goes on in v. 17 telling them that this Comforter that He
will send to them is the one and only Spirit of Truth in essence telling them
that He can be trusted above all other sources. He further tells them that this
is a Source that is only for them, His followers. Those who do not receive His
words do not and cannot access this Source. He makes it clear that the world
which is foreign to His Kingdom cannot receive the Spirit’s wisdom and cannot
hear it for if it did they too would hear and receive it and also be His
followers. The world cannot receive His guidance, nor do they want too. This
was reserved just for His followers.
Jesus ends v. 17 with a couple more significant promises. He
goes on to tell them that when this Spirit of truth comes that they will come
to know Him and His presence and that that Spirit that was once guiding and
protecting them once being external to them would soon find His home in them
dwelling in them. The Spirit would not just be guiding them from the outside,
but then would be prompting them directly in their heart as explained by Paul
in Romans chapter 8:1-11.
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