John 15:16-17 • Chosenness

Have you ever been part of a schoolyard pick? That’s the process where a group of people are divided into teams by those who’ve been designated as leaders. It can be either a traumatic experience or an exhilarating one depending on how early you’re chosen. Turns are taken and selections made based on assessments of potential value to the teams until one person is left to be assigned by default. And that person is keenly aware of not really being chosen at all.

On the other hand, if you’re the first selected, it’s a huge esteem-boost to know you were wanted, REALLY wanted.

I know there can’t be a true comparison but imagine the thunderous impact of the Lord’s words to his disciples recorded in John 15:16 when they heard their master say, “I chose you.” Add to that their awareness that unlike what happens in a schoolyard, this choice was made with full knowledge of their inadequacy. It wasn’t based on an evaluation of what they could offer. That would have meant it carried an unbearable weight of expectation none of them could possibly fulfill. It even preceded their choosing him. Their state of chosenness rested solely on the Savior’s unconditional and unchanging love.

Their hearts must have been ready to burst!

If this wasn’t already more than their souls could take in, Jesus went on to say that beyond anything they could aspire to, they had been 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥. And this is a translation of a Greek word about placement. The Lord used it to make clear he had positioned them to experience sustained and lasting spiritual fruitfulness alongside an aligning of their desires with the will of the Father that would result in consistently answered prayers.

Now, there are those who would argue that the Lord’s statements here were directed to the eleven remaining disciples and were exclusively describing their call to represent him as apostles. But I disagree for many reasons not least of which is that this verse is a continuation of a passage that includes many things Jesus clearly meant to apply universally to all Jesus-followers. I don’t think you can disconnect verse 16 from that context which also includes verse 17 where Jesus wrapped up this section of his instructions saying, “These things I command you, that you love one another.” It’s inconceivable to imagine that command not pertaining to all believers.

I’m convinced Jesus meant that all who cross the threshold from doubt into faith should then encounter the stunning reality that before we chose him, he chose us. And although I know this butts right up against hundreds of years of theological controversy, I’m totally comfortable leaving others more knowledgeable than me to debate predestination, foreknowledge, and free will while I simply enjoy the indescribable peace, security, and fulfillment found within the mysteries of chosenness and appointment.

I invite you to join me there. If you’ve felt as though Jesus just ended up with you by default, think again. You are wanted, REALLY wanted. Hear him speaking life into your soul with those three beautiful and life-changing words, “I chose you.”

John 15:12-15 • An important Reminder

At one point years ago, I needed to support my family while planting a new church, and I got a job as an accountant for a large tech company. It was during one of the information economy’s boom cycles, and the pace was crazy. There was so much work to do it became difficult to keep track of it all including remembering to pick up documents I’d send to the printer down the hall. As soon as I’d hit the print button on my computer, something else would need my attention and I’d forget to retrieve the copy. So, I came up with the idea of sticking a post-it note to my shirt before getting interrupted. That way, even if I got distracted and forgot about the print job, eventually someone would see the note on my chest and ask what it was for. And that would remind me to go to the printer.

Since then, I’ve become grateful for reminders. And we encounter an important one in the four-verse section that begins with John 15:12. Jesus revisited what he’d previously described in chapter 13 as a NEW commandment. But this time he emphasized its importance by saying it was HIS. It belonged to and flowed from his OWN sacrificial love and would be the new standard for how his followers would bear his image in this world. And he chose to remind them of this amid his invitation to abide in him as branches rooted in a vine because their ability to fulfill it would be completely dependent on having a deep connectedness to HIM.

He told them there’s no greater way of expressing this kind of love than to lay down one’s life. And although he was certainly prefiguring what he was about to do on the cross, I don’t think he meant them to understand dying in someone’s place as the only way to demonstrate it. The Greek word used to describe this laying-down is not specifically about dying. At its core, it describes something’s placement or how it’s positioned. I believe Jesus was saying that those who follow him will express his love by how they posture their lives in relation to others. Instead of pursuing a position above them, they will devote themselves, as he did, to coming under them.

Along with this, he clarified to whom they were to offer this love. He did this by his use of the word translated into English as friends. It can be used as a noun to identify a group of people who one is close to, but it’s primarily an adjective that describes the way someone is valued and treated. Jesus was calling his followers to see everyone as someone to be loved like a friend.

Then, the Lord used this word in a way that seems contrary to that. It sounds as though the only people he considers friends are those who do what he commands. But the conditional particle in this sentence rendered with the English word if can also mean when. And considering Jesus was specifically referring to his new commandment, the verse could easily be paraphrased as, “You demonstrate OUR friendship WHEN you love others this way.” And he immediately confirmed this by saying, “I HAVE called you friends,” not “I WILL call you friends IF you keep my commands.”

Jesus also drew a stark contrast between servants and friends. He was emphatic that he did NOT think of his disciples as servants. And this was essential to their ability to live out his commandment. They would never be able to invite others into friendship with the Savior if they hadn’t first experienced him in that way.

That’s not possible for us either. If we’re going to be the kind of Jesus-people who live out HIS commandment, we also need to embrace the full impact of the unimaginable grace that has been extended to us within which he calls us friends.

John 15:11 • Joy

My wife and I live near the Disneyland Resort in Southern California and have annual passes to its theme parks. We usually spend one full day a month there. And that might reasonably make you wonder why a retired couple would want to spend so much time at a place designed for families with young kids? Well, we genuinely enjoy going on the rides and love the scenery, the food, and being surrounded by the sounds of families having fun together. So, the answer to the question is…it makes us happy.

The desire for happiness is a very human thing. In fact, I live in a country that described the pursuit of happiness in its Declaration of Independence as an unalienable right. But as wonderful as happiness can be, it can’t compare to joy. And it’s joy that Jesus calls us to in John 15:11.

The chapter opens with Jesus’ words, “I am the true vine.” And then it records him teaching his disciples that abiding or remaining tightly and vitally connected to him in a relationship of welcome to his life-giving words and submission to his loving commands is the key to a blessed and fruitful life. That’s a lot to chew on, and he could have easily ended this part of their training right there. But he went a step further and revealed the ultimate purpose behind his invitation to abide. He told them it was all about his desire that they experience joy.

He described it as HIS joy. Distinct from any other source, this joy is a gift that flows from himself. He said his joy remains. It’s not the temporary or transient kind that comes and goes. And he also said it fills us up. The original Greek here expresses the concept of a container as full as it can possibly be, unable to contain even a single drop more. And if Jesus wants us to have joy like that, how can we possibly go on settling for mere happiness instead.

Don’t get me wrong. Happiness is great! I love being happy. But joy and happiness are two very different things. Although they can produce similar feelings, they come from completely different places and play entirely different roles in our lives.

Happiness is a reaction to something outside us. Its source is external. We experience it as delight when we’re in the presence of someone we love, engaged in a pleasurable activity, recalling a cherished memory, or having a delicious meal. It serves to provide a temporary lift to our outlook.

Joy is a state of wellbeing within us. Its source is internal. We experience it as a steadying peace when we’re facing heartbreak, confronted by challenges, approaching an uncertain future, or dealing with disappointment. It serves to provide a different and better outlook altogether.

Happiness flavors life, but joy sustains it. That’s why Jesus invites us to draw near and remain close to him. Beyond the shallow and narrow scope of happiness, he wants us to know the overflowing fullness of his sustaining joy from a well that’s deep and wide.

What an awesome invitation! Let’s respond by choosing with fresh passion to pursue and press into him with everything we’ve got, so that as he said, our "joy may be full."

John 15:9-10 • An After-Visit Plan

Lately, I’ve found myself less than enthused about seeing my doctor. Why? Because in this stage of my life, those visits almost always conclude with him telling me how much more I should exercise and how much less I should eat. And I tend to walk out of those appointments feeling like I’ve disappointed him. But the after-visit plan he prints out and hands to me when I leave his office is not designed to increase the quality of my relationship with him, it’s purpose is to help me live longer and better. And that thought helps me comprehend the treasure contained in John 15:9-10.

In the previous passage, Jesus invited his disciples to abide in him. He warned them of the hazards encountered by those who don’t and described some of the rich benefits enjoyed by those who do. Then, he amplified this appeal by inviting them to abide in his LOVE. And he defined that love as the same kind the Father has for him.

Let’s just pause and stand in awe of that jaw-dropping truth for a moment.

When the hiking trail bursts out of the woods into a glorious meadow with a view of a majestic peak, you just have to stop and take in the beauty of the scene. And the Savior’s words here present us with such a stunning and humbling revelation we simply can’t go any further without reflecting on its magnitude.

You and I are loved by the Son of God with the same purity, intensity, and consistency that he is loved by the Father. The weight and impact of that realization is literally staggering. It’s so profound it should never cease to cause our knees to buckle with reverence.

So, how is it even possible that the Lord would need to follow that statement with an appeal to remain in his love? It’s heartbreaking to think we’re so fickle and full of ourselves we’d have to be reminded not to lose interest in the love of Jesus. But that’s the sad reality. And when we do, although his love for us remains steadfast, we cease to enjoy all that it offers. That’s why Jesus went on to say there’s a way to insure it doesn’t happen. He said if we keep his commandments, we’ll abide in his love.

It’s not that his affection is adjusted based on our levels of obedience. He doesn’t love us more when we follow his commands and less when we don’t. He loves us the same no matter what. Jeremiah 31:3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” And Romans 5:8 tells us, “God demonstrates His…love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

But being the object of Christ’s unchanging love is not the same as benefitting from it.

Obeying the Lord’s commands is not about proving our devotion to him by how consistently we adhere to a checklist of approved behaviors. It’s about entering the environment where we can flourish within his love. It’s only when we follow our Maker’s instructions for how life should be lived that everything actually works as he intends and results in our experiencing peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7), joy that’s inexpressible (1 Peter 1:8), and life more abundant (John 10:10).

And that’s what we all want, isn’t it? So, let’s think of these two precious verses as a kind of after-visit plan designed by the one who loves us more than we can ever know to help us fully benefit from that love.

John 15:4-8 • A Severe Mercy

Burnout. Jesus tried to warn me.

One morning, nine years into my first pastorate, I woke with a strong sense from the Lord that something in my life needed urgent attention. And that alert was accompanied with the impression that he would restrain its consequences for one year to give me time to cooperate with him in addressing it. I’d already suffered a case of shingles and seen my doctor about a chronic eye twitch, both of which can be brought on by stress. So, assuming the problem was related to overwork in my noble attempt to be a productive, modern pastor, I set about to make what I thought were appropriate adjustments.

But without first humbly seeking God regarding what was really wrong, I wasted precious time and energy addressing the wrong things. I concluded that what was required was changing the way our church was staffed, adjusting my work-life balance, and developing a hobby. But focusing on these kinds of things was like treating the symptoms while ignoring the disease. And eventually, the noisy racket from my self-help activity drowned out the Spirit’s cautioning voice.

Then, almost exactly one year later, I was taking a seminary course that required all the students to complete a personal spiritual assessment. The professor selected a few of them to review with the class, and mine happened to be the first chosen. He called my name and asked me to stand while he commented on my results. Thinking I was about to get some public affirmation, I confidently got to my feet and was completely unprepared for what happened next. He pointed his finger at me and said emphatically, “Unless you radically change how you’re living, you WILL lose your marriage, family, ministry, and health.”

That withering moment proved to be what author, Sheldon Vanauken, described as a “severe mercy,” and it changed the spiritual trajectory of my whole life. In an instant, all my efforts to fix myself were exposed as folly, and I immediately took a leave of absence from the church to desperately press into Jesus for his help.

This already-long story would become much longer if I described the details of the healing journey that resulted. But I’ll say this: I learned the importance and blessings of abiding. And that’s what John 15:4-8 records Jesus teaching his disciples.

The word translated as abide in this passage can also be rendered as stay or continue, and it points to the essential truth that the fruitful life we were created to enjoy will never be the result of our labors, however well-motivated. It can only be experienced by remaining deeply connected to Jesus. He told his followers that when a branch ceases to abide in the vine, it withers. And he said it’s the withered branches that get burned up.

That wasn’t a threat of punishment. It was a statement of fact that’s as true for people as it is for plants in a vineyard. Burnout, which can be defined as fatigue, frustration, stress, depression, and apathy wrapped in a profound sense of futility, is the inevitable result of failing to abide. Life cannot flow FROM us unless it’s first flowing INTO us. Fruitfulness begins with the vine not the branch and is the natural, effortless result of abiding. Stress is a check engine light on the dashboard of our souls sounding the alarm when vital connection to Jesus has been compromised.

But as much as these verses provide a strong word of caution, they also contain an astounding set of promises. Jesus pledged to abide in US as we abide in HIM and to unleash the fruitfulness he intends. He defined abiding as allowing his words to flow into us like life-giving nourishment from a vine, and that when we do, our desires will get reshaped and result in the kind of praying that gets answered. He also said the Father receives glory through our abiding and that it will identify us as his disciples.

I think you get the point. Staying plugged into Jesus matters. A lot. So, my prayer is that you won’t need to face your own moment of “severe mercy” before addressing the issue of abiding. Do it now.

John 15:1-3 • The Vinedresser’s Shears

My wife bought a pair of pruning shears the other day, and that act marked a significant turning point in her life. I’m not joking. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but anyone acquainted with the tenderness of that woman’s deeply sensitive heart would immediately recognize that the idea of cutting away part of a living thing, even to promote its greater fruitfulness, goes against her nature. So, for her to purchase and own something designed for that purpose is quite remarkable. But she was ultimately compelled to do it for love’s sake.

I don’t use that word lightly. She LOVES this world God created and everything that reflects his life within it including the plants in her flower and vegetable garden. And although that love struggles a bit with the concept of pruning, it’s also what ultimately caused her to order the shears. One of the tests of true love is its willingness to express itself in actions that are costly to the lover but benefit the loved.

And that’s what we encounter in the first three verses of John 15 as Jesus opens his parable of the vine and branches and introduces his disciples to a form of divine tough love. After identifying the story’s cast of characters – himself as the vine, the Father as the vinedresser, and his followers as the branches – the Lord described two truths about spiritual pruning.

First, he said there’s a big difference between pruning and removing. He told his disciples that unfruitful branches are simply removed while the vinedresser’s careful work of pruning is reserved only for those branches that are already fruitful so they can be more so.

He was preparing them for those times when they would encounter the tender blade of the Father’s loving confrontation. Jesus wanted them to understand that there would be times when they would feel the pinch of God addressing attitudes, habits, and behaviors that need to be trimmed away because they constrict the flow of his life in them and hinder their fruitfulness. But he was assuring them that the short-term pain experienced in those times would be worth surrendering to.

Consider the Bible’s list of the fruit the vinedresser seeks to promote in the branches. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” And I ask you, who wouldn’t want to have more of those qualities flowing from their life?

God’s tender heart is certainly not insensitive to the trauma caused by the cutting away of those spiritually unproductive things we’ve allowed to take root in our lives. But his love compels him to employ his shears from time to time, and we should welcome him to do so.

The second truth about spiritual pruning revealed in this passage is that it’s the natural and unavoidable result of exposure to his words. He told his followers that without even knowing what was happening, the things he’d taught them had already produced in them a measure of cleansing. And in this context, that word is synonymous with pruning.

In other words, he was saying that the word of God, the Bible, among other things, is the vinedresser’s knife. It carefully reveals and deals with anything inhibiting our fruit-bearing. So, developing a regular habit of exposing ourselves to it causes the pruning we all want and need to become less often a painful confrontation and more of an expected and welcomed occurrence.

If you want to see more of the fruit of the Spirit produced in your life, do yourself a favor. Create a well-worn pathway to the Scriptures, submit to their pruning work, and rejoice in what begins to grow as a result.

John 14:30-31 • Let’s Do This!

I simply can’t consider John 14:30-31 without becoming emotional. The profound courage and determined sacrifice embedded in my Savior’s words recorded there always elicit a reaction from deep within my soul.

First, he told his disciples that the time for talk was nearing an end and the time for action was at hand. He said his consummate confrontation with the devil was on final approach. He referred to him as the “ruler of this world” – a title that results from the forfeiture by our sin of the dominion God originally gave humanity. And by identifying him that way, he was signaling what was at stake: sacrificially satisfying the consequences of mankind’s rebellion and restoring God’s intensions for his creation.

Next, Jesus declared, “He has nothing in me,” which meant that because of his sinless life Satan had no claim on him. The coming showdown would not be about securing anything for himself. He said it would be a demonstration of his loving obedience to the will of the Father.

Then, he followed this with a statement many commentators have taken to be Jesus simply concluding the Passover meal and inviting the disciples to join him on his journey to Gethsemane. This interpretation assumes that the content of the next three chapters unfolded along the way. But since those chapters end with John’s record of a lengthy prayer he plainly states Jesus finished before he and his disciples left for the garden, I think the phrase that closes chapter 14 and is rendered by the New King James Version as, “Arise, let us go from here,” was something far more significant.

The original Greek could properly be translated as, “Let’s do this!” And I think that colloquialism better captures the heart of Jesus in that moment. With full awareness of what was coming, why, how soon, and what it would cost him, instead of shrinking back or attempting to postpone it, he leaned in and gave voice to his determination to see it through to completion and the victory over sin it would accomplish for us all.

And although it’s a deeply flawed comparison, what I feel when I read these words is somewhat like the sense of grateful pride many of my countrymen experience when they recall the day in June of 1944 that our troops joined with those from Britain and Canada to storm the beaches of France’s Normandy coast and confront Hitler’s plan for world domination. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t our fight. It wasn’t our nation that was under threat from Nazi invasion. Still, our brave soldiers answered the call to advance into that arena of terrible suffering for the sake of others. And I can almost hear them cry out from their landing craft as they came ashore, “Let’s do this!”

Some friends of mine are currently traveling in Europe. And a much-anticipated part of their itinerary is a visit to the D-Day invasion sites. They’re going to what is often referred to as sacred ground to pause in silent reflection and honor the sacrifice of those who gave their lives there in defense of liberty.

How much more should we regularly visit the holy terrain at the foot of the cross in worship and there glorify the one who boldly determined out of his love for the Father to face head on, with immeasurable sacrifice, the suffering that purchased our spiritual freedom and gained for us his presence as our destiny. Eternally offering our praise from sincerely grateful hearts is the only appropriate response for so great a salvation. Let’s do this!

John 14:28-29 • Listen with Two Ears

I’ve reached the stage of life where my hearing is not as sharp as it was in my youth. More frequently than I’d like, I find I’m asking people to repeat themselves, and I sometimes have to turn up the volume on my TV to not miss passages of dialog. So, audiology is on my mind.

God designed us with two ears strategically located on opposite sides of our heads. This array provides our brains with a staggering amount of auditory information. It places us in a 360° sound stage within which our sense of hearing facilitates our interaction with the world around us. It also allows us to pinpoint the physical origin of noises in our environment through what’s known as sound localization and makes it possible for us to determine if an object is moving away from or coming toward us and how quickly. But if illness, injury, or aging causes a person to suffer single-sided deafness where hearing is lost in one ear, their brain can't receive the full spectrum of data required to assemble this complete picture.

There’s also something called selective hearing that can create a similar problem. This is when a person consciously or unconsciously chooses to only listen to what they think is relevant to them and ignore what isn’t. We’ve all experienced times when we’ve chosen to process only a select part of what we’ve heard. But when we do, we can miss important details and end up with an incomplete understanding.

We see this play out in John 14:28-29. While continuing the pre-crucifixion preparation of his disciples, Jesus reminded them of two things they’d previously heard him say. He’d told them he would be both departing from and returning to them. But it’s clear they chose to listen with only one ear, so to speak. They fixated on the part about him leaving, and their concerns about that deafened them to the hope-filled news that he’d be coming back.

As a result, they didn’t experience the benefit of these twin promises that were intended to provide them with both the emotional security they would need for their own souls and to make it possible for them to appreciate the joy a return to the Father meant for Jesus. Instead, all he could do was confront their lack of empathy and assure them that eventually their faith would benefit from what was about to happen.

But sadly, practicing selective hearing when it comes to the Word of God can not only cause us to miss out on intended benefits, it’s spiritually dangerous. In his farewell address to the Ephesian elders recorded in Acts 20, the Apostle Paul pointed to his practice of declaring “the whole counsel of God” as an example they should follow in caring for the church. That’s because when we pick and choose from God’s declared principles and precepts as though they were merely an assortment to select from, we can end up assembling an image of the will and ways of God that’s not only warped but contains nooks and crannies of error from which the devil can ensnare us.

As an example, the passage before us contains a controversial quote from Jesus. In verse 28, while attempting to describe the indescribable – the anticipated joy of the Son’s return to the Father – he made the comment, “My Father is greater than I.”

There are those who insist, based on this, that Jesus meant for us to understand he was either not divine at all or lower down a hierarchy within the Trinity. And these false interpretations have formed the foundations for cults that have led many away from a saving relationship with Christ. But these positions can only be supported if you hear his statement with one ear and discount everything Jesus had previously said about his being equal with the Father.

So, let’s determine to always listen with both ears when it comes to what God has said. Let’s contend for an approach to the Scriptures that places a high value on embracing input from its entire sound stage.

John 14:27 • Peace is a Person

Years ago, I was in the process of preparing a Christmas message series, and I posed a question to my wife while we were out for a walk one evening. I asked her to consider all the people in her life – our family, our neighbors, her friends at work, the people in our congregation – and describe her sense of their deepest desire for that holiday season. Without the slightest hesitation, she answered, “peace.” She said, “They long for peace in their lives.”

I’ll bet you can relate to that longing. And although I’m tempted to think it must be more true for those of us dealing with the multiplying fears, stresses, uncertainties, and complexities of our time, I’d be wrong. The yearning for peace – personal, relational, political, and global – has defined humanity throughout history. And its pursuit has been the driving force behind most of the choices and actions – good and bad – of all people everywhere for all time.

And it was true for the disciples of Jesus as they wrestled with the unsettling news that he would be leaving them soon. That’s why John 14:27 contains the words of his very precious promise to leave them with the gift of peace. He carefully described it as, “my peace,” and lovingly assured them it wouldn’t be the shallow, transitory type the world offers.

His peace is not a mood, state of mind, feeling, or the result of a trouble-free life. It’s not contingent on internal or external conditions. It doesn’t come and go or ebb and flow. It’s a changeless extension of who Jesus is. In fact, the prophetic messianic birth announcement recorded in Isaiah 6:9 declared that the Promised One would be named, Prince of Peace.

So, when Jesus went on to tell the disciples not to allow their hearts to be troubled or become fearful, he wasn’t expecting them to create their own state of peacefulness. He wasn’t suggesting that they could experience it by any act of self-centering or adjustment of their circumstances. He was saying that the gift of his on-going presence in the person of the Holy Spirit would make it possible for them to live within the embrace of his peace as a choice.

And this was not a promise that applied only to those first disciples. Philippians 4:6-7 makes it clear that all Christ-followers can choose to live without anxiety by stepping under the canopy of his presence through prayer and enjoying the “peace of God” that defies explanation.

It can properly be said that peace is a person. The settled rest of mind and heart we all crave can be found only in a relationship with God through faith in Christ. If peace is not anchored to the unshakable security of the one who is unchangeable and immovable, any attempt to attain it will ultimately collapse in the shifting sands of circumstance.

So, if my wife was speaking for you while walking with me under stars that winter night when she said, “They long for peace,” it’s time to abandon everything that falsely promises to satisfy that longing. Instead, make the choice to trust the care of your troubled heart to the one who is peace personified. Hear him speaking to you from Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

John 14:25-26 • A Divine Tutor

Since 2004, I’ve had the privilege of teaching Bible students from around the world who travel to the nation of Taiwan for a five-month Discipleship Training School held there twice a year. I get to be with them for one week of their enrollment and conduct a three-hour, daily lecture.

Every day, before introducing new material, I review the previous day’s curriculum and try to address any questions that developed overnight as these students processed the instruction they’d received. They’re exposed to a lot of content during class, so I always look forward to this opportunity to repeat and revisit things I’ve taught that they didn’t fully grasp. But even then, I know there’s only so much they’ll be able to absorb.

That’s partly due to the limits of my communication skills, but also, because the deepest form of learning happens as information gets applied, and there’s really no shortcut to that process. It takes time. And when I conclude my week of teaching, I always find myself wishing there was a way I could stay with my students through their journey of application that only daily living can make possible.

So, I love what Jesus told the Twelve about the process of their spiritual development in John 14:25-26. Having just emphasized the importance of not only hearing his words but living them, he reminded his disciples they would not be abandoned to go it alone. He reiterated his promise from verses 15-18 that the Father would send the Holy Spirit to remain with them, reinforce his instructions, and enable them to recall what they’d been taught as their lives provided the opportunity to apply his teaching.

I believe you’re reading this because you want to be a faithful, diligent, and engaged student of the red ink – the color that many versions of the New Testament use to display the words of Jesus. But as you’ve probably already discovered, there’s a lot of it. And I know it may seem a bit overwhelming. You may even be tempted to feel shame or embarrassment about what you perceive to be your slowness to absorb and grasp the Lord’s instructions.

But don’t surrender to that. The Holy Spirit is a wise and patient teacher working within our uniqueness, enabling us to learn and live in the life-altering words of the Savior. As believers, each of us has access to a divine tutor guiding us in understanding and assimilating the truths Jesus taught. And he’s not limited to a week of lectures. The Holy Spirit is with us 24/7/365 to ensure we’re growing in the knowledge we need and can apply it in every circumstance we encounter.

And that’s not even close to the full measure of the Spirit’s mission in our lives. As we explore the next chapter of this Gospel, we’ll discover a much more expansive description of his role. But for now, let’s choose to soak in, with gratitude, the light of this one aspect of his ministry to us. With grateful and responsive hearts, let’s commit to being good students.

John 14:21-24 • Ask Away

My prayer life includes me asking a lot of questions. Many arise out of my Bible reading, and others just erupt from my daily experiences. But I’ve learned the importance of finding a quiet place and bringing them to the Lord in prayer even though I know some of them won’t be answered or at least not yet. In those cases, I know it’s not that the answers don’t exist or that God is deliberately withholding them from me. It’s usually because I don’t have the frame of reference required to comprehend the answers, like when a four-year-old asks where babies come from. Other times, it’s because I don’t even know how to ask the right questions. Still, even when I don’t get an answer to the question I've asked, the act of asking it helps deepen my relationship with Jesus and my understanding of his ways because it provides an opportunity for me to interact with him.

His goal is always deeper communion with us. And that’s why one of the things we learn about Jesus in the accounts of his life and ministry is that he welcomes queries and at times even intentionally raises them. So, not surprisingly, this is the approach Jesus used as he prepared the Twelve for his crucifixion. And after having fielded comments and questions from Peter, John, Thomas, and Philip earlier in these lessons, John 14:21-24 contains his response to a question from another of the disciples.

After saying that those who really love him naturally engage in keeping his commands as an expression of that love, he went on to promise that he would manifest himself to those who do as an expression of the love he and the Father have for them.

This prompted the question from Judas – not Judas Iscariot who would betray Jesus but the other disciple with the same name who was also known as Thaddaeus. He asked, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”

The text then says, “Jesus answered…” But the Greek word translated as answered here can also refer simply to a reply that follows a question, not necessarily the answer to it. Now, it’s unclear whether Judas was asking about the mechanics of how the Lord would be able to reveal himself to his followers without being seen by others or about the reason why he would do that. Either way, the Lord didn’t provide him an answer.

Instead, before clarifying the obvious – that those who don’t love him demonstrate that by choosing not to keep his commands – he reiterated what he’d just said about the importance of showing love for him by obeying his words. But this time around, rather than simply repeating his promise to manifest himself to those who do, he amplified it by saying he and the Father will make their home among them. This was a different facet of the same promise, but the Lord’s language here and its implications are even more profound.

So, even if Jesus was unable to answer Judas’ specific question, the interaction that ensued because he asked it resulted in him being offered a gift of understanding he wouldn’t even have known to ask for. And that’s been my experience too. A sincerely posed question to Jesus will always lead to rich engagement with him if we’re willing not to insist he answer the one we’re asking. And it can often escort us into unexpected revelation as well.

Please don’t deprive yourself of these blessings. Do you have questions for Jesus? Go ahead, find a quiet place, and ask away.

John 14:19-20 • Pardon Me

With his arrest in Gethsemane now just hours away, John 14:19-20 records Jesus telling his disciples they would soon experience three things. They would see what others don’t, come alive in a new way, and understand a mysterious reality.

First, he said people would be divided into two groups: those who see him and those who don’t. He said they would, and the world won’t, clarifying that belief would be the determining factor. But the word translated as see in this text is not the one for the physical experience of sight as when you just happen to see something. He used the word for the second glance you take to examine more fully something you’ve previously only casually observed. It involves intentionality and investigation. He clearly meant that even after he was no longer physically with them, there would still be much about him to be seen by those ready to explore with eyes of faith. Like a work of art that continues to reveal more of its beauty, meaning, and impact the longer you carefully consider it, their perspective on his stunning glory would keep expanding the more they gave themselves to pursuing the depth of his majesty.

Second, he said that because he lives (present tense) – not had lived (past tense) or would live (future tense) – they could experience life in a way they hadn’t yet. He wanted them to understand that although his imminent crucifixion would result in the death of his body, he would not cease to be. He would continue living the spiritual life that has belonged to him eternally. And once he’d paid the death penalty owed for human sin, in his resurrection, he’d be able to impart that life to them, a life of another kind, his kind.

Third, he said that once this happened, they would be able to grasp a truth he’d witnessed them struggle with. He told them, “You will know that I am in my Father.” And the word translated as know here is about the kind of understanding that results from relationship rather than instruction. So, what follows is significant because it describes the environment of relationship that would provide the understanding they needed. He said they would finally comprehend the mystery of his unity with the Father because they would be experiencing a similar oneness with himself. They would be in him, and he would be in them. Their lives would be entwined with his in a way similar to his with the Father’s.

So, what does all this have to do with us? Well, nothing if these words are just part of the historical record of some of the Lord’s final instructions to his original disciples. But if you believe, as I do, that Jesus was speaking beyond his inner circle gathered there that day to an audience that includes every Jesus-follower, then the impact for you and me is staggering.

Please, don’t miss this! He has invited us into a relationship with him that results in our eyes being opened to the deeper dimensions of who he is; in his eternal life transforming our mere material existence; and in an experiential knowledge of what it means to be in him as he is in the Father. And the magnitude of just these three aspects of the grace lavished upon us in Christ so overwhelms my ability to comprehend, I’m…I’m struggling to know how to finish this sentence. So, pardon me while I pause here, slip to my knees before him, and attempt to find some way to give voice to my gratitude.

John 14:16-18 • The Breath that is Reality

As they processed what he was teaching them in preparation for his cross, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus understood the fear of abandonment the disciples were confronting. So, in John 14:16-18, he lovingly assured them they would not be orphaned. And he began preparing them to embrace the presence of the one he said the Father would provide to remain with them when he was gone.

This initial introduction to the person and work of the Holy Spirit set the stage for the remainder of Christ’s final instructions to the Twelve. But since the indwelling and overflowing of the Holy Spirit are essential experiences in the life of every believer, all of us need to pay close attention to what Jesus meant when he used two richly significant phrases to describe him.

The first of these is found in verse 16 where Jesus called him 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘳. And each of the Greek words behind this English phrase is important to consider. The word translated as 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 refers not only to a second person, but to a second person of the same sort as the first. The Lord was anticipating the hesitance his disciples might have for welcoming the Holy Spirit if they thought he would behave unpredictably. And that can be true for some of us today who are comfortable with Jesus but a little uncertain about the Spirit. So, this simple word that could be easily overlooked was intended to help all of us securely rest in the knowledge that everything we know about Jesus is also true of the Holy Spirit.

Then, with the word translated as 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘦𝘳, Jesus introduced the unique ministry of the Holy Spirit. The original word means 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱. It’s used to describe someone who draws close to offer aid, provide comfort, or serve as an advocate. And that definition is packed with meaning for all Jesus-followers because the Holy Spirit is all of that to us. He’s the one who is always near, standing with us in every situation; the one who is our limitless resource, supplying whatever the need requires; the one who is our emotional shelter, assuaging our heartaches, bearing our burdens, and relieving our fears; and the one who is our defender, confronting and defeating every assault leveled against us.

The second of the phrases Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit is found in verse 17 where he referred to him as the 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩. The literal meaning of the word translated as 𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 is 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩. And the word for truth is less about a fact and more about the realty supporting that fact. So, a translation of the language behind this phrase could easily be 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. And it reveals the Holy Spirit as not limited by the constraints of a physical body as Jesus’ messianic mission required. So, he can be fully present with each of us in every place all at the same time. But his invisible presence is anchored to a reality that can be experienced. Although unseen with human eyes, he's more substantial than anything we can observe.

If this happens to be one of those days when circumstances are tempting you to feel abandoned, I pray your heart will be encouraged with the truth that you have not been orphaned. And I pray you’ll sense the powerful presence of the one who comes alongside to help.

John 14:15 • If We Love Him

During a speech she gave at an event I attended five months ago, a friend made a request as a passing remark in an illustration she was using. But earlier this week, I had the opportunity to fulfill that offhand request, and I did it while quoting what she’d said on that occasion word for word. When I did, she responded incredulously saying, “You were listening,” and I answered, “Of course, I was.”

I did what I did and said what I said because one of the primary ways we honor others is by listening to them, and not just to hear their words, but to understand what they meant and, more importantly, how to be responsive to them. For instance, although it took me longer than it should have, over the years of our marriage, I discovered the importance of expressing my love for my wife by being fully present when she has something to say, asking clarifying questions to make certain I’m truly understanding her, and then being careful to respond with appropriate action.

So, I get what Jesus was saying to his disciples in John 14:15. He was trying to help them understand that the affection they had for him should result in obedience to all he’d taught them. And since that clearly applies to us too, let’s make sure our sincere loving translates into deep listening and careful doing. And let’s make sure we engage in that process beginning right here with this verse by paying close attention to what he meant. To do that, we need to take a closer look at some of the words he used.

By beginning with the conditional particle if, he wasn’t questioning the sincerity of his followers’ love but the type. The word translated as love in this verse is the one the New Testament uses almost exclusively to describe the kind God has. It’s a sacrificial love defined more by what it does than what it feels. Oh, it’s replete with feelings, but it’s not satisfied until those feelings motivate a costly offering of itself. Jesus wasn’t demanding action as proof of their love. Instead, he was inviting them into the kind of love that results in action.

Then, there’s the word translated here as keep. The original Greek is less about doing as instructed and more about how those instructions are valued. It’s not describing obedience for the sake of obeying, the kind required of a servant. It refers to the sort of careful attention and diligence one gives to carrying out the directions of someone held in highest regard like the requests of a dear friend.

And that’s what’s at the heart of this profound, one-sentence verse of Scripture. Jesus wasn’t acting like an immature teenager saying, “If you really loved me, you would do what I say.” He was welcoming those closest to him into a deeper form of relationship. In fact, being responsive to the loving commands of our precious Savior is so tightly integrated into the fabric of the kind of relationship he wants with us that it’s an indispensable part of what defines it. 1 John 2:3 says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

So, I think this is probably an appropriate moment to evaluate how responsive we are to the Lord’s commands. And if that reflection reveals an approach that’s more casual than careful, we need to be honest with ourselves about what that might be saying regarding the nature of our love for him. But the beauty of John 14:15 is that it extends to all of us the opportunity to enter a deeper way of knowing him, one that naturally produces an obedience born of true affection.

John 14:12-14 • His Anything Promise

In my early twenties, I was hired by a company that installed solar pool heaters. But I quit after only a few weeks because they repeatedly sent me out in the company truck to do installations without first ensuring that it was stocked with the parts, tools, and supplies I would need for the job. I’d show up at the homeowner’s property as an authorized representative of the company but without the resources to fulfill anyone’s expectations. It was embarrassing for me, disappointing for the client, and shameful for our firm. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise when I tell you the business went bankrupt soon after I resigned. But I think that episode in my employment history may help us better understand something very important Jesus taught his disciples in John 14:12-14.

He’d just validated the importance of displays of his miraculous power as pathways to faith by inviting Philip to a belief based on his works. Then, he used that invitation as a bridge to introduce another of the truths he wanted to equip his disciples with as he prepared them for the aftermath of his cross and resurrection.

He told them their faith would enable him to dispense miracles through them. In fact, he said they would be vessels for even greater works than they’d seen him perform precisely because he would be ascending to the father. And although his reference to greater works was surely not about magnitude – they’d seen him raise Lazarus from the dead, for goodness’ sake – it was about quantity. He was describing the multiplying impact that would result when his physical presence was no longer a limiting factor, and he could, from the platform of his heavenly glory, pour out his power through all his followers.

And if that statement wasn’t mind-blowing enough, he followed it with a real zinger. Jesus told them that he would do anything they asked in his name and that his Father would be honored as a result.

Did he really mean that?

I think it’s clear he did, but I also think it’s clear that we need to be careful not to misinterpret what he said. He wasn’t giving his followers a blank check to receive whatever they desire if they just remember to close their prayers with a certain phrase. He was being very specific about two things that were prerequisites for the fulfillment of his anything promise.

First, praying "in Jesus’ name" does not mean using that phrase as a kind of spiritual incantation to unlock God’s favor. It means that our requests flow out of and are in sync with our assignment to serve as his representatives. Unlike my former employer, when we're acting as his agents or in his name, we are never under-resourced. He has promised to provide all that’s needed.

Second, Jesus said the kind of request that unleashes his miraculous response is the kind that's focused on glorifying the Father. Whenever we approach God in prayer, it’s wise to consider the motives behind what we ask of him. It’s important to honestly confront any selfishness and align our motives to reflect honorably on him.

Are these just caveats that let God off the hook or provide him an excuse when we don't experience the miracles we ask for? Absolutely not! The Lord of Glory prefaced his promise with the phrase, “Most assuredly, I say to you.” And that's an expression that means nothing is more true than this. He went on the record with a pledge we can absolutely count on. And that means you can trust him to do anything you ask in his name.

John 14:7-11 • To be With or to Know

My wife and I have been married nearly fifty years, but we almost didn’t make it past ten. At that point, Sue walked out on me and had every right to. I was so controlling and self-absorbed that although I’d been with her for a decade, I didn’t really know her. I’d never sufficiently invested my heart in the pursuit of discovering, celebrating, learning from, and being changed by the rich treasure of who she is. And the loss of those first years, is the deepest regret of my life. But the grace of God and her willingness to forgive gifted me with a second chance. And in the years since, as the Holy Spirit has been healing my brokenness, it’s become my heart’s delight to daily explore and marvel at the wonders of this luminous creature I’ve been blessed to share life with. I love the adventure of getting to know her.

And that experience informs how I approach John 14:7-11. At its heart, is a searing question. Jesus asked, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?”

Jesus had just highlighted another of the essential understandings the disciples would need in preparation for his ascension. He’d restated something they’d heard him refer to many times. He reminded them that through the testimony of his life, they’d been able to see the Heavenly Father.

So, it must have been quite jarring when Philip, sounding as though he’d completely ignored Jesus, responded by saying, “Show us the Father.” And it was this bizarre request that prompted the Lord to reply with the poignant and haunting query that although addressed to Philip, needs to be wrestled with by every Christ-follower. It challenges us all to consider whether we’ve been satisfied to simply be with Jesus or committed to getting to know him.

You can hear the heartache in the Lord’s voice as he lamented Philip’s failure to grasp the truth that defined the core of his being. He and the Father are one. If Philip hadn’t cared enough to get to know that about him, it called into question the genuineness of his faith and the depth of their relationship. So, he implored Philip to either believe what he’d taught him or at least what his works demonstrated about it.

But there’s a big difference in those avenues to faith. The first is based on communication – what Jesus said. The second is based observation – what Jesus did. The first involves a choice rooted in Jesus himself, the second on evaluated evidence about him. They both arrive at belief, but the first is personal the second empirical. The first is a more direct route to relationship. The second requires an intermediate step. And that’s why Jesus offered it to Philip only as an alternative. His priority is always to welcome us deeper into relationship. He wants us to know him.

Has your faith-journey become more pragmatic than intimate? Has it devolved into an arrangement that’s more like just being with Jesus than getting to know him? If so, that can change right now. Let me remind you of the Lord’s promise in Revelation 3:20 where he said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

That offer is not just for the day you first responded to his loving grace. It’s also for every day that follows including this one.

John 14:4-6 • Two Sentences

In the final hours before his crucifixion, Jesus remained focused on making sure his disciples were ready. And in John 14:4 he summarized a couple of the critical understandings they’d already received by stating that they knew where he was going and how to follow him there.

But in verse 5, Thomas took issue with that.

Now, it’s clear Jesus wasn’t wrong in his assessment of what the disciples knew. Thomas was just giving voice to a fierce, internal struggle that was preventing them from acknowledging what they’d been taught. They didn’t want their Lord to leave them, so they resisted accepting what he’d told them about it. It’s pretty easy to hide things from ourselves when they have to do with something we don’t want to know.

In verse 6, Jesus responded to Thomas’ rebuttal with two of the most direct and consequential sentences in the whole Bible. Using the definite article, he said he was the way, the truth, and the life. Then, referring to what he’d previously said about his return to the Father’s house, he declared himself the only means of accessing that glorious presence.

His choice of words was strategic. He was unambiguous. He couldn’t have been clearer. He said a relationship with God is only accessible through him, declared himself to be the exclusive revelation of truth, and claimed to be the sole source of life. And this creates a big problem for anyone who wants to assert that Jesus is only one of many ways to reach God, interpret truth, or pursue life. To believe that, you have to attribute what he said to arrogance, self-delusion, or egocentrism. And none of those things can reasonably be ascribed to Jesus.

We live in an age of deeply embedded relativism. Absolutes are roundly rejected. So, like Thomas and the other disciples attempting to hide unwanted knowledge from themselves, some people are predisposed to ignore Jesus’ emphatic self-definition. But these two sentences of his own words push back forcefully and unapologetically against the idea that there’s flexibility in what we choose to think about who he is. There’s not. His statements crowd us either toward belief or unbelief. There’s no wiggle room.

If you’re looking for a back door to heaven, seeking to reshape truth to fit your paradigm, or hoping to carve out a life that straddles the spiritual fence, don’t bother trying to somehow shoehorn Jesus into those pursuits. You’re on your own.

He’s either who he said he is or he’s not. If he’s not, we’ve got to be honest with ourselves about that and stop the foolish pursuit of looking to him for anything of value. But if he is who he said he is, then we need to be honest with ourselves about that and stop looking to anyone or anything else for what only he can supply.

John 14:2-3 • A Big Remodeling Project

A few years ago, my wife and I inherited the little house she grew up in near the beach in Southern California, and we decided to make it our home in retirement. So, we embarked on a big remodeling project. The house had seen better days and needed lots of repair work. But because we also wanted to have room for our kids and their families to visit, we added two bedrooms to make a total of four.

Scattered among those rooms are three sets of bunkbeds to accommodate all the grandkids. And each of the bunks has its own corkboard mounted to the wall next to it so the little ones can use pushpins to hang their drawings or whatever they like to create a personalized space. We want them to know they were planned for, their presence is desired, and that within our house, each of them is at home.

In John 14:2-3, Jesus continued helping his disciples process the announcement of his imminent departure by giving them a small glimpse into the eternal destiny it would secure for them. He said he’d be leaving to prepare a place for them within his Father’s house. And although I don’t think it’s possible within the limited framework of human understanding to fully grasp the preparations the Lord said he needed to accomplish in advance of the fulfillment of that promise, it’s clear they included the forgiveness of sins purchased with his crucifixion (John 1:29), the spiritual rebirth made available through his resurrection (John 3:3), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit made possible by his ascension (John 16:7). But he told them that with everything prepared, he would one day return to escort them into that spiritual home they would share with him.

English versions of the Bible use the words mansions, rooms, or dwellings to translate the Lord’s description of this destination. But a more literal translation of the Greek would be something like a staying or abiding. Jesus was not saying his Father’s house contains a large number of individual suites. He wasn’t describing a place made up of many compartments. He was talking about an environment of belonging. He was using language that pointed toward the residing that happens in the Father’s residence. He was saying they would be at home in God’s house. He specifically avoided giving them details about the place – which they would have had no frame of reference to understand anyway – and focused their attention on what was most important: They would dwell with him.

These words of comfort and promise were not meant exclusively for the handful of followers with him on that night of his betrayal. Set within the context of the whole of Scripture, it’s clear Jesus was speaking beyond them and that moment to all who would follow him throughout history. And that includes you and me. The Savior wants us to know that his salvation project has remodeled heaven to make room for us. We were planned for, our presence is desired, and within his house, each of us will be at home.

John 14:1 • Separation Anxiety

I recently had the chance to babysit one of our grandsons. His dad was out of town, and his mom had an appointment to keep. So, I happily stepped in to watch him for the couple of hours she’d be away.

He and I have a great relationship, and I know he loves and trusts me. But after about an hour, he got teary-eyed and said he missed his dad. I know part of it was just that he was tired and hungry. But I also know that separation anxiety is a real thing. And with his mom’s comforting hug temporarily unavailable, my reassurance that his dad would be home in just a couple of days wasn’t enough. His little heart was troubled.

That word is in the first verse of John 14, and I’ll bet you know what it means without me telling you. It’s not something just kids go through. You’ve experienced it yourself. But for the record, it’s translated from a Greek word meaning to be fearful, distressed, agitated, restless, perplexed, stirred up, or in pain. And I want to suggest that when we feel that way, a similar kind of insecurity is at its root. We become vulnerable to it when our circumstances conspire to make us feel God is distant and his comfort unavailable.

As Jesus continued to prepare the disciples for his crucifixion, resurrection, and return to the Father, he addressed the separation anxiety he knew they could experience when he was no longer physically with them. And he told them exactly what to do whenever their hearts were troubled. He told them to believe.

It’s important to note the Lord used the verb form of the Greek word for faith here. He didn’t use the noun which would have referred to a thing that exists. The belief they possessed wasn’t the antidote for their troubled hearts. The act of believing was. There’s a big difference. Faith is like having a house key on your ring. But it won’t get you inside unless you put it in the lock and give it a turn. Jesus was teaching them that dealing with a troubled heart would require more than having faith. It would require exercising it. And the same is true for us.

Christ-followers have crossed the threshold from doubt into faith. We possess belief. But you’ve already discovered that that faith doesn’t mean we won’t experience spiritual separation anxiety. Trying times that blunt our sense of the Lord’s presence and tempt us to feel alone to face them call for the verb from of our faith.

My grandson knew I wasn’t lying to him about his dad’s return. But in his distress, the faith he has that I would never deceive him proved insufficient to deal with the ache in his heart. He needed to make a choice to actively trust me in that moment. And in the same way, our times of struggle always provide us with the opportunity to exercise the faith we have in the love of Jesus by choosing to believe in him.

Is your heart troubled? Are you fearful, distressed, agitated, restless, perplexed, stirred up, or in pain? Does it feel like you’re somehow on the outside looking in on the Lord’s comforting presence? Put the key in the lock and give it a turn. Make the choice to actively trust your Savior’s love right now.

John 13:36-38 • An Even-After-You-Do Covenant

John 13 is a dense narrative, but part of it reveals Peter struggling to understand. He had trouble comprehending why Jesus wanted to wash his feet. Then, he was confused about which of the Twelve would become the Lord’s betrayer. And in verses 36-38, the chapter concludes with an account of what may have been his most significant dilemma.

Jesus had just finished reminding his disciples he would soon be leaving them. And although he’d previously said, more than once, he’d be returning to the Father, Peter responded by asking where he was going. It seems like Peter was suffering from a case of selective listening, that condition that affects so many of us and causes us to hear only what we want to hear. It’s as though he just didn’t want to deal with the Lord’s departure, so he blocked it out until the imminence of it suddenly broke through, and his thoughts were trying to catch up.

Jesus answered him by restating what Peter had already twice heard him say to the religious leaders (John 7:34; 8:21). He’d told them he was going somewhere he couldn’t be followed. But this time, in his direct response to Peter, he added the word now. In stark contrast to what he’d said to the Scribes and Pharisees, the addition of that one word unveiled a spectacular promise. He told Peter that although he couldn’t follow him now, he would later.

And the significance of that statement is beyond profound, it’s life-altering. When the moment arrives that, by faith, we accept the truth that his cross, resurrection, and ascension open the way for us to step across the sin-divide and be with Jesus eternally, everything about our lives on this side of that threshold changes. We begin to enjoy a seamless daily relationship with him no longer throttled by the limits of time. Forever has already begun.

But based on his follow-up question, it’s doubtful Peter understood all that. He just wanted to know why he couldn’t come now. And he claimed he should be allowed to because he was willing to lay his life down for the Lord. So, when Jesus questioned that commitment and announced that before the night was over he would fail to live up to it, it must have devastated Peter.

But as hard as those words would have been to hear, I believe they were an expression of grace. Perhaps more than any other prior exchange he’d had with Jesus, this could have been the one that marked the trail for him back from that terrible night when he denied knowing the Lord three times.

In the aftermath, he would have finally begun to understand. The promise that one day he would follow Jesus into the precincts of heaven was made with the Lord’s foreknowledge of his pending failure. And it wasn’t qualified with an if-you-don’t clause. It was given as an even-after-you-do covenant. And as the fog of his failure was clearing, he would have also realized his eternal destiny could never be based on his willingness to lay his life down for Jesus. It could only be secured because Jesus was willing to lay his life down for him.