Gospel of John_Chapters 14-16 (Lesson 10)

In John Chapters 14-16 we find Jesus farewell words to His disciples. Again and again He told them that He would be leaving them and that He would be going away (see John 14:2,3,18,28,29; 16:5, 7,16,28). In fact, on this very night Jesus would be arrested and taken away from His disciples (see John 18). On the very next morning He would be put on the cross. Therefore, in John Chapters 14-16 we are reading the LAST WORDS that Jesus spoke to His disciples before He went to the cross. Here are some of the subjects that Jesus spoke to the disciples about:

Outline of John Chapters 14-16

GOING AWAY BUT COMING AGAIN!

Read John 13:33. Had Jesus already told the disciples that He was going away and that He would only be with them a little longer? _______ The disciples were troubled at the thought of Jesus leaving them (compare John 14:1). These men had been with the Lord for about 3½ years (compare John 14:9). They knew that the Lord's enemies were seeking to kill Him and they were concerned that even their own lives might be in danger (see John 11:7-8,16; 13:37). They did not understand all that was about to happen, but they got the message that somehow they would soon be separated from their Master and they would no longer be with Him. Because of this their hearts were troubled.

Jesus told His disciples that He would be going away. He also told them where He was going! He was going to His F ________________ H ________________ (John 14:2). In this verse we learn about the eternal home which God has prepared in heaven for those who love Him. The word "mansions" means "dwelling places" or "abiding places." In John 14:2, does Jesus describe heaven as a real place? ______ Why did Jesus go there (John 14:2)? _____________________________________________________________ Remember, on His way to heaven Jesus stopped first at the cross! If Jesus had not died on the cross, would it have been possible for us to have a place in heaven (compare 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21)? _____

It is very difficult to say "Goodbye" to a loved one if you know you will never see this person again. But if you know that this person will someday return, it is much easier to see him (or her) leave! Did Jesus promise that He would return (John 14:3)? ______ Although He would go away, the disciples were comforted to hear that He would come ______________ (John 14:3)! Jesus promised to come and take them to heaven! Did He tell them WHEN He would come again? _______ His coming again is CERTAIN because He said "I _________ come again" (John 14:3). The time of His coming is UNCERTAIN because He did not reveal this to us.

The coming of Jesus Christ for His believers to take them to the Father's house in heaven is a very important event. Sometimes it is called the RAPTURE (the "catching up" or taking up of believers) and we learn more about this event in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-53. It is important to realize that Jesus did not promise to return and take all men to heaven. The promise of His coming again is only for those who B_________________ (John 14:1)! Is His promise for you? _______

Jesus was telling His disciples about heaven and the way to get to heaven. Did Thomas understand what Jesus was saying (John 14: 4-5)? _____ Jesus answered his question by making another great statement beginning with the words I AM:

There are people today who say that there are many roads to God. They say that if men are sincere it does not matter which path they travel--in the end they will all reach the same destination. They will all arrive in heaven at last. One speaker even described a beautiful palace standing in a delightful garden. There were many roads that led to this castle from all directions. On these roads multitudes of people traveled. Many climbed over difficult mountain trails; others followed less rocky paths; some, with songs and laughter, traversed smooth and flower-bordered ways. But all finally arrived at the palace gates! This may be a pretty picture, but is it a true picture of how to get to God? _____ Jesus said, "no man cometh unto the ___________________ but by ______" (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to God! There are actually two roads that men are walking on--a wrong road and a right road (see Matthew 7:13-14). Which road are you on?

If a person truly knows Christ, then who else do they know (John 14:7)? ______________________________________ The best way to get to know the Father is to get to know the Son! Philip did not really understand what Jesus was saying. He said, "Lord, _____________ us the _____________________ and it sufficeth us" (John 14:8). Circle the answer that best describes what Jesus told Philip in John 14:9:

Jesus Christ is the One who REVEALS and MAKES KNOWN God the Father. Jesus said, "He that hath ____________ Me hath seen the ________________ (John 14:9). No mere man could ever make such a statement! Jesus was saying this: "If you really want to see God then look at Me and get to know Me! I am the One who makes the invisible God visible" (compare John 1:18). In Colossians 1:15 we learn that Jesus Christ is the __________________ of the invisible God. Here is an illustration: None of us have ever seen George Washington because he died long before we were even born. But we can see the IMAGE of George Washington on our coins and on our dollar bills and in this way we have some idea of what he looks like. Jesus Christ is the IMAGE of God. As we look at the IMAGE we can learn what God is really like. Jesus Christ perfectly reflected God the Father just as an IMAGE in a mirror reflects the person who is standing before it!

"Greater Works Than These"?

Read the amazing promise that Christ gave to His disciples in John 14:12. What did Jesus mean by these words?

Jesus said, "greater works than these shall ye do because I go unto the Father." What can be greater than the miracles of Christ? After the Lord Jesus returned to heaven, Peter preached God’s powerful Word (about a crucified and risen Saviour) to thousands of Jews. God did a great work and about 3000 people were saved and their sins were forgiven in one day (Acts 2:41). A tremendous miracle in the invisible-spiritual realm had taken place – the miracle of regeneration. This miracle met man’s basic need permanently and eternally!

WHICH ARE GREATER?

The Miracles of Healing, Feeding the Multitudes, Casting out Demons, Raising the Dead, etc.	The Miracles of Salvation, the Forgiveness of Sins, the New Birth, Freedom from Sin, etc.
Required God‘s working & power. Took place in the physical realm. God’s working on man’s body. Helped man temporarily. FINAL RESULT: Physical Death	Required God‘s working & power. Took place in the spiritual realm. God’s working on man’s heart. Helped man permanently. FINAL RESULT: Eternal Life

Read John 6:13-15, 26-27. Which kind of miracle did the Jews really want? ______________________________________________________

For the last 2000 years the spiritual miracle of salvation has been repeated again and again as God has been adding to His Church daily (Acts 2:47). Has this "greater" miracle taken place in your life? If so, have you been telling others about the crucified and risen Saviour, so that they might trust in Him and experience this miracle as well?

Jesus Christ is the way to God! It is only through Him that a person can get to heaven (John 14:6). It is only through Him that a person can get to know what God the Father is really like (John 14:9). And it is only through Him that a person can come to the Father RIGHT NOW! Did you know that the believer can come to God RIGHT NOW! A believer can come right into the very presence of God at any time day or night! This is made possible through PRAYER, and Jesus spoke of this in John 14:13-14.

Notice that in John 14:13-14 Jesus says that those who pray to the Father must ASK IN MY _______________. This means that the only reason we can pray is because of Jesus' Name (who He is and what He has done for us). When we pray. "in Jesus' Name" this is not some kind of magical formula that we tack on to the end of our prayers. These words should remind us that we are coming to God the Father through Jesus Christ and that we are expecting God to answer our prayers not because of us but because of His Son! The believer's attitude should be this: "I'm expecting God to be God and to answer this prayer--not because I'm anything but because Christ is everything; not because I deserve anything, but because God is gracious to me because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. If anything that I have asked is not what Christ wants, then I do not want it either."

It is a great privilege to be able to come to God through Christ in prayer. An ordinary person is not usually able to talk to the President of the United States. They would not let him get past the White House gates! The believer is able to come into the Presence of Someone far greater than the President of the United States! And we can come at any time in any place!

HOW TO LOVE GOD

OBEDIENCE is the only real way we can show our love for the Saviour. Suppose a little girl says, "Mommy, I love you!" but she does not straighten up her room, sweep the floor and make her bed as Mommy had told her to do. Is this girl putting action behind her words? ______ Is she really showing love to her mother?______ Obedience is LOVE IN ACTION! If we really love Jesus we will do what He tells us to do!

According to John 14:21, who is the person who loves Jesus? _______________________________________________________________________ If a person really loves Jesus, what will he do (John 14:23)? _______________________________________________ In John 14:24 Jesus talks about the person who does not love Jesus: "He that loveth me ________ keepeth not my ____________________." There is only one way to show that we really love Jesus. We must obey His Word and do what He tells us to do!

In the Old Testament we find the very same thing. LOVING GOD and KEEPING GOD'S COMMANDS are like twins. They are always found together. For example, see Exodus 20:6-"And showing mercy unto thousands of them that _____________ Me, and ___________ My __________________________________." See also Deuteronomy 5:10; 7:9; 10:12; 11:1; 13:3-4; 30:16; 30:20; etc. It is not enough to say "I LOVE YOU." It is not enough to sing "MY JESUS I LOVE THEE." We must show that we love God by our obedience.

THE COMING COMFORTER

Jesus was going away. Because of this the disciples were filled with sorrow (John 16:6), but the Lord had good news for them! Even though He was leaving, another Person was coming who would be with them forever! Jesus called this Person the C____________________ (John 14:16). "Cheer up disciples! I am leaving but the Comforter is coming!" One will go but Another will come!

The word Comforter means "one called alongside to help, a Helper, a Comforter, One who helps and encourages." In John 14:26 we learn WHO this Comforter is: "But the _______________________________, who is the ______________ ___________________." For several years Jesus Himself had been the constant Companion of the disciples. He was right there at their side to help them and encourage them and comfort them and teach them. Finally, however, Jesus told the disciples that He would be leaving them. The disciples must have thought, "Our Companion and our Friend and our Helper will no longer be with us. We will be left alone!" But Jesus had good news for these disciples! Another Companion and another Comforter would come to be with them! Jesus would leave them, but Someone just like Jesus would come to be with them! How long would the Comforter stay with the disciples (John 14:16)? ______________________________

Throughout these three chapters (John 14-16) Jesus speaks of the coming Comforter again and again. Can you find the verses where the Comforter is mentioned?

When the Comforter (Holy Spirit) comes, where will He live (see the last 5 words in John 14:17)? _____________________________ Will the world (unsaved people) be able to receive the Holy Spirit (John 14:17)? _______ The only ones who receive the Holy Spirit are those who _______________________ on Jesus Christ (John 7:37-39)!

When would the Holy Spirit be given? When would the Comforter come? When would the Father send the Spirit (John 14:26)? Jesus said, "AT THAT DAY ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye _____ Me and I ____ you" (John 14:20). When would THIS DAY come?

Jesus spoke these words on the evening before He went to the cross. After His crucifixion He rose again on the third day. After His resurrection He was seen by His followers for a period of ________ days (Acts 1:3) and then He was _________________ up into heaven (see Acts 1:9). Before He returned to heaven Jesus told His disciples to WAIT for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4 and Luke 24:49). This was the promise that the Father would send the Holy Spirit. Finally,10 days after Jesus was taken up into heaven and 50 days after the resurrection, the Holy Spirit came! You can read about this great event in Acts chapter 2. The Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost. The COMFORTER came to be with the disciples FOREVER! God the Holy Spirit lives in the heart of every believer (1 Corinthians 6:19 and Romans 8:9)!

THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

As we come to John chapter 15 we find another important verse which starts with the words "I AM." In John 15:1 Jesus said, "I AM the ___________ ____________ and My Father is the husbandman (vinedresser)." Jesus was speaking these words to His disciples. He wanted them to know that He was the VINE. Who did Jesus say the BRANCHES were (John 15:5)? __________________________________________

Jesus wanted to teach His disciples the importance of staying close to Him. A branch must be connected to its vine or else it will WITHER (John 15:6). All of the life juices flow from the vine into the branches, but this happens only if the branches are connected to the vine. If the branch is not connected to the vine, it will be disconnected from the source of LIFE and there will be no fruit.

Consider an apple tree. What happens if a person cuts off a branch from an apple tree in the early summer? By the time apple season comes around (autumn), will there be any apples on this branch? ______ But if this branch had stayed on the tree it would have received the life of that tree and many apples would have grown on this branch. It would have been a fruitful branch!

Jesus is the Vine (tree) and believers are the branches! If we are to bring forth FRUIT, what must we do (John 15:4-5)? _____________________________________________________ How many grapes can a branch produce if it is not connected to the grapevine? _______________ How much can a believer do without Christ (John 15:5)? _________________ We need to stay closely connected to Jesus Christ!

God wants His believers to be FRUITFUL! He wants M__________ fruit (John 15:2) and He wants M___________ fruit (John 15:8). What kind of fruit was Jesus talking about? Was He talking about apples or grapes or watermelons? In Galatians 5:22 we are told that the _______________ of the Spirit is 1)_____________ 2)______________ 3) _________________ (just write down the first three). In John 15:9-10 what fruit is being considered? ________________ In John 15:11 and John 16:20,22 what fruit is being considered? __________ In John 14:27 and 16:33 what fruit is being considered? ______________ Is this the same kind of fruit that we read about in Galatians 5:22? _______ The Comforter was sent to produce this kind of fruit in believers! Let us now consider the fruit of the Spirit which is LOVE:

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL

Jesus gave His disciples a very important command in John 15:12: "This is my ______________________________, that ye ___________ one another, as have loved you." We have already studied this command in John 13:34-35 (see Chapter 9 of these notes). In John 15:13 Jesus describes the greatest kind of human love: "Greater ___________ hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his ____________________."

"Grandpa" Dohrmann lay down his life for little Stevie. It was love that sent him into that street! Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this!"

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS!

Many other true stories could be given of men and women who have laid down their lives for others. Because of love, they sacrificed and gave their own lives so that others could live. This kind of love is GREAT, but the love that sent Jesus to the cross is even GREATER. The greatest love a man can ever have is to lay down his life for his friend (compare Romans 5:7), but Christ did something far greater than this. Jesus laid down His life for those who were His ENEMIES!

In Romans chapter 5 we learn what we once were:

Romans 5:6 says that we were U___________________
Romans 5:8 says that we were S___________________
Romans 5:10 says that we were E__________________ (of God)

Jesus did not lay down His life for His friends, He laid down His life for UNGODLY SINNERS who were HIS ENEMIES! See Romans 5:8: "But God commendeth (showed) His ____________ toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ __________ for ______" We might call this CALVARY LOVE, and it is the greatest love of all!

And because Jesus died for us and took care of the problem of SIN, Jesus no longer calls us His ENEMIES, but He calls us His __________________ (John 15:15)! Those who were once at war with God can now be at peace with God (Romans 5:1,10-11)!

Jesus tells His disciples to love others with this same kind of love (John 15:12,17)! How can we love others in this way? It is impossible apart from the Holy Spirit! But remember, the fruit of the Spirit is L___________ (Galatians 5:22). Without Christ we cannot do it (John 15:5) but with Him we can!

THE BELIEVER AND THE WORLD

Jesus Christ was never popular with the world. As we have studied through John's Gospel we have seen again and again how people rejected Christ and rejected His teaching and refused to come to Him and refused to believe on Him (see John 3:19-20; 5:40). He had many enemies everywhere He went. Finally the world showed its hatred for Christ by arresting Him and mocking Him and nailing Him to a cross. That is what the world thinks of the One who came to save them!

As long as Jesus was in the world, He was the target of the world's hatred. Although the disciples were with Jesus, they did not need to worry too much because the shots were being fired primarily at Jesus and not at them. The devil and those who belong to the devil (John 8:44) were out to get God's Son!

But when Jesus went back to heaven the situation changed. Jesus was now gone! The world could no longer fire their shots at Jesus. The devil could no longer attack the Son of God directly. With Jesus gone, the shots would now be fired at Jesus' followers who were still in the world. Jesus wanted to warn His disciples about how the world would treat them!

How would the world treat the disciples (John 15:18-19)? ______________________________________________________________ If they persecuted Jesus, would they also persecute those who follow Jesus (John 15:20)? ______ Those who really love the Lord should not be surprised to be treated in the same way that Jesus was treated! In 1 John 3:13 we read, "Marvel not (don't be surprised), my brethren, if the _______________ __________ you." If they hated Jesus, why should they love you? If they treated Jesus poorly, why should they treat you well?

The world's hatred for Christ's disciples would express itself in persecution. Jesus wanted His disciples to know about the difficulties they would face. He wanted to tell them these things before they ever happened (see John 16:4). Jesus never misled people into thinking that the Christian life was a life of ease. We should be careful about this also. We should never say to someone: "If you become a Christian then everything in life will go well for you and you will hardly ever have any problems or troubles." The Lord never said this! What are two things that Jesus predicted would happen to His followers (John 16:2)? _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Why would these people do such things (John 16:3)? ________________________________________________________________________

JESUS GOES BUT THE COMFORTER COMES

When Jesus announced that He would be going away (John 16:5), were the disciples GLAD, SAD or MAD (John 16:6)? ________ They were filled with sorrow, but this is because they did not understand. They did not understand that it was to their ADVANTAGE that Jesus go away (John 16:7). Jesus must GO AWAY so that the _________________________can come (John 16:7). This verse also tells us that Jesus Christ would SEND this Holy Spirit. Who else sent the Comforter (John 14:26)? _______________________ (Note: In Church History there was a great argument about whether the Father or the Son sent the Holy Spirit. The answer is simple: BOTH).

When the Holy Spirit comes He will have a ministry not only to believers but also to the world: "And when He is come (on the day of Pentecost), He will reprove (convict or convince) the world of 1) _______ and of 2) ________________________ and of 3) _____________________ (John 16:8). The word "reprove" means "convict" and it refers to a person who is brought before a court and proved to be guilty. The Holy Spirit came to earth on the day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2), lived in the hearts of believers and convicted the world of three things:

The more people see Christ living in the believers by the power of the Holy Spirit, the more they will have to face up to this important question: AM I GOING TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AS THESE PEOPLE HAVE DONE OR AM I GOING TO REJECT JESUS CHRIST?

2) RIGHTEOUSNESS-- Can people see the righteous Christ today (John16:10)? _____ Jesus Christ is in heaven and cannot be seen. But Christ's body (the Church, which is made up of all true believers) is on the earth and can be seen by men! As the Holy Spirit works in our lives we will live more and more in a RIGHTEOUS way (living right, thinking right, acting right, speaking right and being right--see Titus 2:12) and the unsaved people around us will begin to realize how UNRIGHTEOUS they are! No man is righteous in himself (Romans 3:10). The righteousness that every man needs is found only in Jesus Christ!

3) JUDGMENT-- According to John 16:11, who was judged when Jesus died on the cross? ________________________________ Satan was proven to be guilty at Calvary. His execution and punishment is yet future (Matthew 25: 41). Those who reject Jesus Christ will end up in hell with the devil (Matthew 25:41). Believers need to live in such a way that the unsaved will see that there is a real Saviour who can rescue men from a real hell! God's genuine heart's desire for all men is that they might be S_________________ and come to a full knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4 and see 2 Peter 3:9). In contrast to this is the devil who does not want people to B_______________________ and be S________________ (Luke 8:12).

Remember, if you are a saved person the Holy Spirit wants to use your life in proving and convincing other people that they are guilty and need to be saved too! Every believer ought to be able to say these three things:

SIN: "I was once an unbeliever and my great sin was my personal rejection of Jesus Christ. But now I am a believer in Jesus Christ!"

RIGHTEOUSNESS: "I once had no righteousness of my own, but now I am dressed in the perfect righteousness of Christ. God made Him to be sin for me that I might be the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)."

JUDGMENT: "I was once a hell-deserving sinner but Jesus Christ rescued me and saved me from the wrath to come. I once stood with Satan against God, but now I am a child of God and I will not share in the devil's final destiny (Matthew 25:41). Even though I deserve the lake of fire, by God's amazing grace I have been saved!"

Jesus had many things to say to His disciples, but were they ready to hear these things at this time (John 16:12)?_____ They did not even understand about the death and resurrection of Christ! There were many important truths that they would have to be given later. Who would guide than into the truth that they needed to know (John 16:13)? _________________________________ It was through the ministry of the Holy Spirit that the 27 Books of the New Testament were eventually written and these Books contain all the truth that the Church needs to know!

FAREWELL WORDS

Jesus spoke again of His soon departure (John 16:16), but did the disciples understand His words (John 16:17-18)? _____ Once again Jesus needed to comfort His disciples. He told them that there would be a time of great weeping and sorrow but this would be followed by a time of great joy (John 16:20-22). At the crucifixion and burial of Christ the disciples would weep and lament and be sorrowful, but the world would _____________________ (John 16:20). The world will finally think that they have gotten rid of Jesus Christ! But their rejoicing would not last for very long! Soon the disciples would rejoice at the RESURRECTION of Christ! Soon thereafter the whole world would hear the news that the Saviour is alive (compare Acts 4:1-2). The sorrow that the disciples would have would not last for long, but would the JOY last for long (John 16:22)? ______

Jesus had already predicted that Judas would betray Him and that Peter would deny Him (John 13). In John 16:32 Jesus predicted that all of the disciples would leave Him and be S______________________. Did this really happen (Matthew 26:31,56)? _______

In John 16:33 Jesus told His disciples exactly what to expect in the world: "In the world ye shall have ________________________ (pressure, trouble, difficulty)." Believers are in enemy territory and Jesus never said it would be easy! But believers are not only in the world but they are also IN CHRIST, and Jesus said, "in Me ye might have ____________________" (John 16:33). PEACE in the middle of TROUBLE! PEACE in the midst of life's violent storms! The disciples can have peace in the midst of a troubled world! Jesus has won the victory! He has overcome the world!

I AM	(See JOHN 14:6)
THE________	Jesus is the way or the road to heaven! If a man tries to get to God any other way, will he be successful? _____ Jesus is the ONLY WAY. All other ways are false ways. All other roads are DEAD END streets!
THE_____________	Jesus is the truth! He is absolute reality! He never misleads or deceives anyone. If a person ignores or rejects Jesus Christ then they will never know the truth.
THE__________	In Him is Life (John 1:4). "He that hath the Son hath ____________" (1 John 5:12). Eternal life is found in Jesus Christ and in no one else. Jesus has made it possible for us to know God and enjoy God forever!

LESSON 10

THE "GOING AWAY" ONE

(JOHN 14-16)