TITLE
John 14:15-31 – The Peace of Obedient Love
EXPLANATION
Continuing His discourse, Jesus now explained to the
disciples one of the expected outcomes for them if they followed His
instructions. He began by clarifying
that genuine love for Him is demonstrated by the keeping of His
commandments. Even though He would be
going away soon, He was going to ask the Father to send a Helper, who is the
Spirit of truth, to be with them. Jesus
was not going to leave His disciples alone and helpless in the world. The Spirit would be with them, and He would
teach them how to obey the Son, thus proving their love for the Son and being
loved in turn by the Father.
This love between believer and the Trinity would be of
such genuine measure that the believer would rejoice that Jesus was going
away. One who is filled with and walking
according to the love of Christ sets their joy upon the joy of God, not of
self. And, the reunion in Heaven of
Father and Son is perhaps the greatest cause for celebration in history.
Jesus was going to go away soon. Satan was coming to “bruise His heel.” However, Satan had no hold over Christ. The only reason he was permitted to have his
way was because Jesus was obedient to His Father, whose will it was for His
Son’s heel to be bruised, ultimately leading to Satan’s head being crushed at
Christ’s resurrection.
APPLICATION
This passage of
Scripture reads like a recipe for genuine peace. It begins with love. Love prompts obedience. Obedience is facilitated and enabled by the
Spirit of truth. The one who truly loves
Christ is also loved by Christ’s Father.
And, it is in this process that a person can know and experience true
peace. Nothing in this world can offer
us such a genuine and lasting contentment as being in this loving circle of
affection between Father, Son, Spirit, and Christian. This is where we must go to salve the wounds
left in us by the ravages of this fallen world.
This relationship with God is the only spiritual medicine we need.
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