{"id":14905,"date":"2021-03-23T22:00:32","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T05:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/john_14_15-21-copy\/"},"modified":"2021-03-21T17:18:04","modified_gmt":"2021-03-22T00:18:04","slug":"john_14_22-31","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/john_14_22-31\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Heavenly Father\u2019s Greater Plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

John 14:22-31 Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is John 14:22-31.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

John 14:22-24 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n22\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
\n23\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
\n24\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 22-24:\u00a0\u00a0One of Jesus\u2019 disciples called Judas (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot who would soon betray Jesus) asks Jesus a question I sometimes hear from people today, \u201cIf Jesus is truly the Messiah, why doesn\u2019t Jesus just show himself directly to the whole world instead of communicating to and through his disciples?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0(v22)<\/p>\n

At first it might not seem like Jesus answers Judas\u2019 question.\u00a0\u00a0But upon further reflection notice that in response to Judas\u2019 question, Jesus emphasizes again that to love Jesus is to obey his teaching and that when a person chooses to love Jesus, God (both the Father and Jesus in this case) come to that person and make their home with that person (v23).\u00a0\u00a0In other words, when a person chooses in faith to do what Jesus tells that person to do, they will discover for themselves all the evidence they need to believe in Jesus.\u00a0Whereas Judas was placing the burden and responsibility on Jesus to show himself to the world so that the world would believe in Jesus, it seems in Jesus\u2019 response that Jesus is saying that actually the burden and responsibility are on people to do something with what Jesus has already given to them.\u00a0\u00a0And\u00a0if a person responds with faith to what Jesus has already given to that person by doing what Jesus teaches, that person will experience God coming to that person and making His home in that person\u2019s heart.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

This goes back to the issue of faith, for Jesus himself could be standing right in front of you preaching the word of God, but if you don\u2019t combine what you already see with some measure of faith, Jesus showing Himself more and more will not make any difference to you.<\/p>\n

John 14:25-26 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n25\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“All this I have spoken while still with you.
\n26\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 25-26:\u00a0\u00a0Here Jesus teaches us more about the Holy Spirit:
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is the Father who sends the Holy Spirit to us (v26)<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Father sends the Holy Spirit to us\u00a0in Jesus\u2019 name<\/em>, meaning that the sending of the Holy Spirit is done on the authority of, in the power of, and on behalf of Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0Here we see all 3 Persons of the Trinity in action:\u00a0\u00a0The Father sending, the Holy Spirit being sent, and Jesus\u2019 name as the channel by which the Holy Spirit is sent to us.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Another role of the Holy Spirit is to \u201cteach you all things\u201d (v26), giving us insight into different matters, as well as to \u201cremind you of everything\u2026[Jesus] has said\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0The Holy Spirit is both the teacher of truth and the one who points us back to the truth Jesus has spoken.<\/strong><\/p>\n

John 14:27 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n27\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 27:\u00a0\u00a0As Jesus continues to talk about his soon coming departure, Jesus reassures his disciples, telling them not to be afraid or troubled and emphasizing the peace that he gives to them and how unique that peace is compared to the peace that the world offers.\u00a0\u00a0The peace that world offers is a like temporary escape from your trouble. Take that drug, go on that vacation, enjoy that pleasure, and you might get away from your trouble for just a moment.\u00a0\u00a0But when the high fades, the vacation ends and the credits roll, you\u2019re back in the same trouble you were in before.\u00a0\u00a0The peace that Jesus gives, however, is different.\u00a0\u00a0Rather than just taking you away from your trouble, the peace that Jesus gives takes you through your trouble, giving you courage and wisdom to face what you are facing.\u00a0\u00a0No wonder Jesus says, \u201cI do not give to you as the world gives\u201d (v27).<\/p>\n

John 14:28 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n28\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 28:\u00a0\u00a0Be careful not to take Jesus words \u201cthe Father is greater than I\u201d as meaning that Jesus is not God.\u00a0\u00a0Rather, these words are better taken to show Jesus\u2019 humility and submission to the Father\u2019s will.\u00a0\u00a0Also, these words are meant to emphasize that the Father had a greater plan with Jesus\u2019 soon coming death than even what Jesus humanly wanted (which was not to die \u2013 see Luke 22:42) or what the disciples could foresee.\u00a0\u00a0So in fact the disciples, Jesus says, should rejoice instead of mourn the fact that Jesus was going to the Father.<\/p>\n

What can we learn from this?\u00a0\u00a0If we could see the whole plan of God and how God works all things \u2013 even the things we don\u2019t wish for \u2013 for our good and for His glory, we would not complain or protest when things don\u2019t go our way or when unexpected or undesirable things take place.\u00a0\u00a0So\u00a0when things don\u2019t go as we expect or hope, have faith that \u201cthe Father is greater\u201d and has a greater plan than anything we could write ourselves.<\/strong><\/p>\n

John 14:29 (NIV)<\/em><\/strong>
\n29\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 29:\u00a0\u00a0Jesus says something similar in John 13:19:\u00a0“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Jesus\u2019 prophesies coming true would help to prove that Jesus is who claims to be.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus is not the type to speak empty words.\u00a0\u00a0Rather he is the type to back up the statements he makes.<\/p>\n

John 14:30-31 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n30\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me,
\n31\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 30-31:\u00a0\u00a0A dark day was coming soon when Jesus would die.\u00a0\u00a0In this way the prince of peace, Jesus, was leaving, and \u201cthe prince of this world\u201d \u2013 i.e. Satan \u2013 was coming.\u00a0\u00a0But Jesus assures his disciples that Satan the prince of this world has no hold on Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0In other words, the reason why Jesus would be killed would not be because Satan was more powerful than Jesus, but because Jesus would voluntarily lay down his life for us in obedience to the Father\u2019s command.\u00a0\u00a0As Jesus said earlier in\u00a0John 10:17-18,\u00a0\u201c<\/strong>I lay down my life–only to take it up again.\u00a0No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”<\/p>\n

Jesus, thank You for giving us a peace that the world cannot give.\u00a0\u00a0Thank You for submitting to the Father\u2019s will, even to the point of laying down Your own life.\u00a0\u00a0Thank You for showing us that our Heavenly Father has a greater plan than anything we could write or imagine ourselves.\u00a0\u00a0Like You, help me to submit to the Father\u2019s will and do what You have commanded me to do.\u00a0\u00a0And please fill me with the Holy Spirit.\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is John 14:22-31.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

John 14:22-24 (NIV)\u00a0
\n22\u00a0\u00a0Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
\n23\u00a0\u00a0Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
\n24\u00a0\u00a0He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.<\/p>\n

On verses 22-24:\u00a0\u00a0One of Jesus\u2019 disciples called Judas (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot who would soon betray Jesus) asks Jesus a question I sometimes hear from people today, \u201cIf Jesus is truly the Messiah, why doesn\u2019t Jesus just show himself directly to the whole world instead of communicating to and through his disciples?\u201d\u00a0\u00a0(v22)<\/p>\n

At first it might not seem like Jesus answers Judas\u2019 question.\u00a0\u00a0But upon further reflection notice that in response to Judas\u2019 question, Jesus emphasizes again that to love Jesus is to obey his teaching and that when a person chooses to love Jesus, God (both the Father and Jesus in this case) come to that person and make their home with that person (v23).\u00a0\u00a0In other words, when a person chooses in faith to do what Jesus tells that person to do, they will discover for themselves all the evidence they need to believe in Jesus.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14907,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14905","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14905","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14905"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14906,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14905\/revisions\/14906"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14907"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}