That the World May Know
The world does not love God (Jn 5:42). It operates in the domain of darkness under the power of the evil one (Col 1:13; 1 Jn 5:19), the prince of darkness, our adversary, the devil (1 Pet 5:8). Satan is the ruler of this world (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11); and his subjects are blinded by the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13). They are led astray by false teaching, the doctrine of demons (1 Tim 4:1). The wrath of God is directed against all of this ungodliness performed by the sons of disobedience (Rom 1:18; Eph 2:2). These are the wicked, vessels of wrath being prepared for the day of evil and ultimately destruction (Prv 16:4; Rom 9:22).
In this economy, God hates those who do iniquity (Ps 5:5; 11:5), being angry with the wicked every day (Ps 7:11). God, the Judge of all, is righteous and executes perfect justice (Heb 12:23). The Day of Judgment is coming for those outside of Christ (Jn 5:28–29; 2 Cor 5:10). It already came for those in Christ Jesus. There is now, therefore, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus because our sins were imputed to Him upon the cross (Rom 8:1).
Christians have peace with God because of Jesus’ precious blood shed on the cross where He bore our sins in His body and cancelled our debt of sin (Rom 5:1; Col 2:14; 1 Pet 1:19; 2:24). The motive in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice was love for the people given to Him by the Father before creation (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9). Thus, God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8).
God’s love for those He predestined to adoption as sons cannot fail (1 Cor 13:8; Eph 1:4–5). He who began His good work in us, and who poured out His love into our hearts will complete His work of salvation just as He promised (2 Cor 4:6; Phil 1:6)
As Jesus’ departure from His eleven disciples was now evident and imminent, He issued the blessed assurance of His return. His disciples, then and now, need the hope that Christ’s second coming instills in believing hearts (Col 1:27).
The token of God’s love for His own is the Holy Spirit, given to those who belong to Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3:23; 2 Cor 5:5). He is also the peace of God who comforts and helps the troubled saint (Jn 14:27). The coming of the Spirit was the reason Jesus’ disciples should have rejoiced at Messiah’s departure to the Father’s house in heaven. The deficiency in them, according to Jesus, was love (Jn 14:28). They were fainting with grief at the prospect of the loss of the best thing in their lives.
What was lacking in Jesus’ disciples found a greater fullness when the Spirit arrived at Pentecost and filled them (Acts 2:38; 10:45). They possessed so much more than when they walked with Jesus. They knew more; remembered more; had more peace; less fear; more love; more joy; more faith; more power; and more obedience; no matter how one views the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old versus New Testament eras, the fact is that Christians have more.
The world knows more of Jesus Christ, today, because Christians everywhere have this personal relationship with Jesus that was only available to His immediate disciples. The term “Christian” first ascribed to the believers at Syrian Antioch means “little Christs.” Whereas the God-man was restricted to being in one place at one time, the presence of the Holy Spirit is quite literally in billions of places at one time. In this, we rejoice. We love our King and His advancing kingdom in the Spirit.
The world must know that Jesus Christ is God the Son; King of glory; Lord of all; and Judge of all. However, in this departure discourse, Jesus emphasized that they would know of His perfect obedience (Jn 14:31). This links us to the union of the Father and the Son. We remember the mutual indwelling. The Father is in the Son; and the Son is in the Father.
The manifestation of the Father in the Son was explained by Jesus to His disciples throughout His earthly ministry. When they saw Jesus do His works; they were seeing the Father do His works. When Jesus spoke; it was with the words that the Father gave Him. Jesus did nothing of His own initiative.
Jesus’ explanation of the things that would soon take place would be brought to the disciples’ remembrance by the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:26). That which Jesus taught them would also return to them as the Spirit now taught them in diverse places. The disciples’ faith would increase dramatically because of the Spirit’s indwelling presence and works.
While Jesus gave instruction to His beloved, Judas Iscariot was gathering the cohort to descend to the Garden of Gethsemane. The devil had entered Judas during the last supper and the iconic betrayal by the iconic reprobate was active. Jesus ascribed this work to the ruler of the world, Satan (Jn 14:30). Jesus had come to do battle with this rogue, usurper of global authority. The very next day, the Messiah would defeat the devil using the very strategy employed by the prince of devils. It was the death of death.
When Jesus declared that the devil had nothing in Him. He was prophesying His victory at the cross (2 Cor 2:14). Satan had no advantage, no upper hand. In perfect sinless obedience, with the Father’s absolute approval, Jesus went to the cross for His signature work before His departure back to the Father and the glory of His dwelling place in heaven.
The disciples’ ignorance would soon be removed. They would know and understand the mysteries revealed by the Holy Spirit. They would have peace, love, joy, and the boldness to proclaim Christ and His excellencies to an unbelieving world (1 Pet 2:9). They would not be ashamed of the Gospel nor should they fear man or death (Rom 1:16–17).
By way of application, we must remember who we are in Christ. We, too, are disciples who enjoy the promises of God. The Holy Spirit has been sent to us to abide with us and teach us. He Himself is our peace, as the indwelling representative of the Prince of peace. We must rejoice that Jesus has overcome His and our opponents (Jn 16:33). Jesus’ love for God the Father is what our love toward Jesus should be.
The world knows we are Christians because of this love of God poured out in our hearts; which manifests in our relationships. Our obedience to God, made to be a reality by the Spirit willing and doing His good pleasure, informs the unbelieving and disobedient people regarding the difference between us and them.
If the world is to know Christ; it has pleased God to employ Christians in making Him known. Christ’s obedience was perfect; a demonstration of perfect love. Now you know.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
June 11, 2024
John 14:25–31
