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#22 – Knowing God Better – John 14

In John 13, we saw Jesus at his last supper with his disciples.

In John 14, Jesus is now sounding urgent, very parental with his disciples. Protective.

He knows he’s leaving them soon. The crucifixion is near, and Jesus knows it. He also knows that this is going to be a very stressful, unsettling time for them. So he has some important words for them…which he repeats several times.

Q – In these verses below, what is Jesus’ instruction to them?
A –

15 If you love me, obey my commandments.
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.
23 …all who love me will do what I say.

Q – What does the following verse tell you what Jesus cares about, and modeled to them?
A –

31 I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father.

Amazing consistency. Jesus was so clear.

Would they be able to obey Jesus once he leaves? Here’s what Jesus says:

16…I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth…you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans–I will come to you.

Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will live in them. To those who desire a relationship with God, who believe in Jesus, God does not remain outside our lives. He is not “out there” and we simply do our best to obey him. No. He comes to live inside of us, giving us his life in us. Giving us the power to obey him.

Jesus says in these verses:

20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
23…and we will come and make our home with each of them.

Q – According to these verses, who lives in the lives of believers?
Verse 17 –
Verse 20 & 23 –

You can see here, and in many other places in Scripture, Jesus clearly describes the Father, the Holy Spirit, and himself in a unique relationship with each other. Jesus asks the Father to send the Holy Spirit. And “they” as one God, reside in us who believe. This is a great illustration of the Trinity – three, yet only one God.

If you want a further description of the Trinity, please see www.everystudent.com/forum/trinity.html

And if you have any questions, please feel free to email us:
www.everystudent.com/contact.php

Next chapter, Jesus will tell us how to rely on his love!

Sincerely,

Marilyn Adamson
director of EveryStudent.com
and StartingwithGod.com

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