His Farewell Talk to His Disciples

["Click here for John's account"]

This farewell talk must have lasted for hours. In Chapter 16, Jesus attempted to heal the hurt that must have been in their hearts, knowing that shortly Jesus would leave them and they would run in fear. But Jesus told them, "Do not let your hearts be troubled." Why? "Because I am going to prepare a place for you that where I am you may be also." But notice Thomas is confused, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, how can we know how to get there?" Notice how Jesus answered him, "Thomas, I am going home to be with the Father, no one comes to the Father accept by me."

Then Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father and Jesus said to Philip, "He who has seen me has seen the Father." Why, because Jesus and the Father are one. We begin to see something of the teaching of the Trinity. "I and the Father are one." "I am in the Father and the Father is in me." Having trouble with this? Then simply believe in the miracles that He did. Then Jesus promised them great power. "He that believes in me will do the works that I do." But you say, "I can't do the works that Jesus did." Why? Is it lack of faith? Is it because we do not ask? Jesus said that whatever we ask in His name, He would do. Was that promise for the Disciples only or is it still ours to claim today?

Next, Jesus promised them that He would send a councilor. "If you love me and keep my commandments, I will send you a Councilor." Notice what Jesus says about this Councilor:

1. He will be with you always.
2. The world cannot receive Him.
3. He will teach you all things.
4. He will remind you of what I have spoken to you.

Yes, this is the Holy Spirit. Have you ever wondered how the Disciples remembered all that Jesus taught them during those 3 years? Well now you know. The Holy Spirit will bring it to remembrance.

Then Jesus closed the chapter by telling them that His "hour" had come, that those who would crucify Him were coming. He also told that that these people would have no power over Him, but He would do as the Father has commanded Him so that the world would know that He loved the Father. Then it appears that they leave the place that they were on the Mount of Olives and go the Garden of Gethsemane, which also was on the Mount of Olives. This was an orchard of olive trees. Today, olive groves owned by the Armenian, Greek and Russian Churches, and the Franciscans of the Latin Church, presumably mark this sacred sight.

Chapter 15 deals with three themes that Jesus spoke about there in the Garden. Love, witness and obedience. All are expected from the Christian and together they bring about FRUIT.

Jesus talks about the fruit of the Christian in this symbolic story. The three symbols are the vine, the branches and the vinedresser. The vine is Jesus. The branches are Christians. The vinedresser is God. The teaching, every branch that does not bear fruit, the vinedresser prunes.

But there is a plan, a means whereby the branches can bear fruit. The branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine. We cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Christ. Christ is the true vine. He is the source of truth, life and salvation. We, like branches, might be distant from one another, never the less we meet in Christ like the branches meet at the vine. The vine is the source of all strength.

Why is there a need for a vinedresser? All fruit trees need thinning. Their branches need thinning. Their fruit need thinning. This results in better fruit. Does the Church require pruning? If and when it does, the Lord will do it. Never has any vinedresser been so wise or watchful about His vineyard as God is about His Church. Notice our job as branches. We are to be fruitful. So often we limit this to speaking to others about their relationship to Christ. Not everyone can do this, but everyone can watch their temper, disposition life and conversation. In all our ways, we witness and honor God.

What happens if we are not fruitful? There are two types of unfruitful people in the Church. One, there are those whose only tie to Christ is the thread of outward profession. They are living a lie and their lives declare it. God will eventually prune them from the vine. Secondly, there are those who are true believers but never bear any fruit. God will separate them from the good life and they will never know the full joy of their salvation in this life. Paul speaks of these in I Cor. 3:13, "Fire will test their works and if any man's works is burned, he will be saved though only as through fire." I Cor. 5:5, "You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his soul may be saved." Yes, God will purge His Church one way or the other.

So the unfruitful will be purged, but what about the fruitful? They will be "trimmed". Even the best have some things that need trimming. This will be done by degrees, in the proper manner, in the proper season, by the one who makes perfect the imperfect. Thus we become more usable, are given more talents, more opportunities and more privileges.

Why should we bear fruit? Verse 8 says, "By this my Father is glorified." Then Jesus turned to "love". How do we demonstrate that we are "abiding in His love"? Verse 10 says we do this by keeping His commandments. Verse 12 says, "Love one another as I have loved you." What kind of love is that?

1. Self sacrificing.
2. Love that loves the un-loveable.
3. Love that loves even when it is not returned.
4. Love that will let you lay down your life for a friend.

Then Jesus makes a statement that He makes many times, "You did not choose me, I chose you." The doctrine of God's choosing is not universally accepted. Those who follow the doctrines of Calvinism believe in the Sovereignty of God and his prerogative to call whom He wills.

Then Jesus closed chapter 15 with a prophecy.

1. If the world hates me, it will hate you.
2. If the world loves you, you are it's own.
3. If they persecute me, they will persecute you.
4. If they keep my word, they will keep yours also.
5. If I had not spoken to them, they would not have sinned. Why? Perhaps they would have had an excuse.
6. If they hate me, they hate the Father also.

The Jesus speaks of the Trinity. He had spoken of Himself as the Son and referred to God as the Father, now He speaks of the Holy Spirit as the "Counselor". (Verse 26, the Spirit of Truth) "Thus you, through the power of the Spirit, will be my witnesses."

Chapter 16 tells us why He told them all of this. "I have told you this to keep you from falling away." We do not know why Jesus spoke as He did here in this chapter. It appears, at first reading, to be a riddle. We can only assume that He spoke as He did because of their lack of understanding. Verse 12 seems to bear this out. "I have yet many things to tell you but you cannot bear them now."

Let us look through the much-repeated information and see what He basically is saying.

1. He prophesied that they would be expelled from the Synagogue. When we get into the study of the Book of Acts, we will see this came true.
2. He prophesied the persecution of the Christians in Jerusalem. "The time is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God." Paul was a good example of this before he was converted.
3. He attempts to explain the events that are to follow. Notice the plan:
   1. "In a little while, I will go away." (crucifixion)
   2. "In a little while, I will return." (resurrection)
   3. "In a little while, you will se me no more." (ascension)
   4. "Again, in a little while, you will see me." ( at our death or His Second coming)
   5. "The Counselor will come." (following the ascension the Holy Spirit will come upon all believers)
   6. "The Counselor will convict the world of sin.
   7. "He will also guide the Disciples and believers into all truth."
   8. "He will declare the things that are to come."
   9. "He will glorify Christ."

We who have hindsight, can understand what Jesus was saying. But the Disciples had many questions and Jesus perceived this. So He again attempts to answer some of their questions. First and foremost on their minds at that time was what was going to happen to them if He went away. Jesus answers them by telling them that they will weep and be very sorrowful but the world would rejoice. But the world's joy will turn to sorrow and their sorrow will turn to joy, after the resurrection. "You will sorrow now but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you."

In that day, much will change.

1. "The veil of the Temple will be rent and God will be accessible by prayer to anyone."
2. "Everything that you ask in my name will be granted."
3. "I came from the Father and I am going back to the Father."

Did this help the Disciples' understanding? Yes, so it would seem. "Ah", they said, "Now you are speaking plainly." Did they truly understand? They understood that which was necessary. i.e.

1. They understood that they did not need to ask questions now for all that they would need to know later would be supplied.
2. They understood and believed that Jesus came from God.

These understandings would help them in the crisis that would come the next day when they would be scattered and alone.

After speaking these things, He went and prayed.

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