Bible Study Notes: John 14:15-31

Introduction

Jesus is busy preparing the disciples for life after his return to heaven. Jesus knows the disciples are going to face some difficult times ahead as they seek to live out God’s mission in their lives. It was more than likely they would be finding themselves in dangerous and possibly overwhelming situations as they went out into the world fulfilling God’s mission. They needed reassurance and direction, Jesus provides that for them here. Jesus introduces the disciples to the Holy Spirit and makes sure their focus is spot on. As we seek to carry out God’s mission in our everyday lives, we too will be in need of both reassurance and direction.

The Holy Spirit is God

This passage is permeated with concepts of the Trinity, with Jesus, the Father and the Spirit talked about interchangeably. The Trinity is the idea that God is both one and three, at the same time, and is so without being exclusively an individual or a group. Jesus promises that though he is going to be with the Father, he will still be with us and in us. Jesus also tells us that God the Father and God the Son are going to make their home in us as well. We speak primarily of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, but as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are God, to talk of one is to talk of all, therefore if the Holy Spirit is within us so also is the Father and the Son. If we reduce the Holy Spirit to less than completely God, then we reduce the significance of Jesus’ words to us in this passage. Jesus’ promise is nothing less than amazing and mind-blowing, we must be wary of anything that reduces it to less than this.

The Holy Spirit as Paraclete

Jesus explains that in his place he is sending the Holy Spirit who will be with the disciples. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the “Paraclete” (the Greek word), which is commonly translated as comforter, helper or advocate. Jesus was not going to leave the disciples abandoned, neither does he abandon us. At those times when we most need Jesus he is right there with us. We might often feel alone but we are not, if we love God he is present within us.

God’s presence with us gives us a peace despite our circumstances. Because God isn’t directing us from a distance but walking with us through whatever we are facing. God’s presence helps us to live against the grain. This is not the fragile peace that barely prevails in too many places around the world, a peace earned by aggression and fear. This is a peace that is the outworking of a right relationship with God. It is a tranquillity of heart that flows out from our assurance of being right with God and knowing his love and grace in our lives. God doesn’t remove us from difficulty, pain and struggles. But God does promise us a peace that gives us poise and balance, in a way that is an example and an encouragement to others.

Jesus doesn’t ask the disciples to seek out the Spirit and neither does he expect us to. If you look through the passage Jesus’ commands are focused around loving and obeying. Jesus wants us to be consistent between what we profess and what we do; words alone don’t make a difference. Our obedience is about living up to what God has given us in response to our faith and love in Him. God already sees us as right because of what Jesus has done for us; we now need to respond to that loving gift by living according to it. Jesus modelled submissive love in his life and ultimately his death (v.31). We should seek to do likewise submitting ourselves to God and being obedient in our lives. Through doing this we open ourselves up to God, in this way that the Holy Spirit is freer to work in us and through us.

Questions:

• Who has provided you comfort in the past or present and why was it significant for you?

• What is you default reaction when you feel overwhelmed, and what do you wish it was?

• What struggles and difficulties are you currently facing and need to know God’s presence and comfort in? What struggles or difficulties in the past have you known God’s sustaining presence through?

• What is our understanding of the Trinity and how is it reflected in our daily lives?

• How can we explain the Trinity to others? And what are the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches?

• Why is a correct understanding of the Trinity important for grasping the fullness of Jesus’ promise to send us the Holy Spirit?

• Why is our love to God and our obedience to God inseparable (14:15,21,23)?

• How can we develop and foster a sense of God’s presence in our lives that sustains us through struggles and difficulties?

• What does Jesus tell us about the peace he gives us within the passage?

• How can God’s peace within your hearts make a difference to you and those around you this week?