Peter has declared his willingness to die for Jesus if necessary, and Jesus has to let Peter know what is about to take place, and among these last events, is Peter denying he even knows the Lord. Can you imagine how Peter felt learning from Jesus that he knows what Peter is about to do that Peter can’t even imagine doing? I read the end of John 13 and the beginning of John 14 with the same lump in the throat I imagine Peter had.
Jesus is going to the cross, and now Peter learns that his passion for Jesus goes only so far up to this point, and his head is probably spinning.
Jesus lets them know he’s got to go away, and that he will return and take his people into the eternal kingdom to be with him forever, and he declares that they know how this will all happen. So, being unsure, Thomas articulates their lack of understanding of where Jesus is actually going, and therefore, their lack of understanding on how to get there.
Jesus responds with this gold theological waypoint: “I am the way, the truth and the life No one comes to the Father except through me.”
How will Jesus’ people get into the kingdom and be with God forever? Through Jesus. Believing in Jesus. Following Jesus. Obeying Jesus.
But Jesus is going away? How can we believe, follow, and obey if he’s not here?
John 14:15-18 (CSB) 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.n18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.
Jesus begins some of the most concentrated teaching in the Bible on the Holy Spirit. Love Jesus, and keep his commands, and he will ask the Father to give them another Counselor to be with them forever.
Another. There are two Greek words for another allos and heteros. Allos, meaning another of the same kind. Heteros, meaning another of a different kind. Jesus here says “allos” Counselor. Another of the same kind.
Counselor. Parakletos. One who will walk beside you. Show you the way.
Spirit of truth. The Counselor who is just like Jesus will be the one who will counsel them into what is truth and right.
They will know him, Holy Spirit, the One just like Jesus, because he will be with them and inside of them.
How can we be assured he will be just like Jesus? Verse 18. Jesus switches pronouns talking about the Holy Spirit from “he” to “I”. Jesus is telling the “he” will be with them and in them, then he, Jesus, says, “I am coming to you.”
Who is the Holy Spirit that Jesus will send? His very presence who knows him and the Father and will guide them according to all that he has instructed them.
So Jesus gives them this:
John 14:27-31 (CSB) 27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful. 28 You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. 31 On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me.
In the midst of this hard news, the Suffering Servant, will not leave them alone but will send the Spirit and abundant peace.
Peace in the midst of a storm.
Worship the Lord Jesus for his precious gift with my favorite song by Alvin Slaughter and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
Theology in the Dirt 
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