“After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed:…” John 17
The meal is over. It was His last. The betrayer had just left the upper room to finalize the plans with Jesus’ enemies. Peter had just professed his dying allegiance. Peter boasts of his loyalty, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Jesus’ reply, “I tell you the truth, this very night before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
Jesus and his disciples leave the upper room Wednesday evening, and as in the previous days, they cross the Kidron Valley and continue toward the Mount of Olives. The midnight hour, the darkest time of night, is drawing near. His enemy, the devil is prowling around like a lion looking for someone to devour and he has Jesus in his sights. Jesus alone feels the storm brewing. He has much to teach them before they reach the Mount of Olives, so as He walks, He talks.
“Love One Another”
They will be persecuted for His namesake, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father…”
“I am going away”
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes he will guide you into all truth.”
“Now this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
John 14-17
“God has planted eternity in every human heart.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
Do the math. Jesus told us plainly what the eternity seed is: To know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whose He sent.
What are your thoughts about all Jesus said from John chapter 14-17? This is the context. Jesus’ entourage is crossing the valley. He is about to enter the Garden of Gethsemene to pray. His enemy is nipping at His heels and He has much to teach them. They know about the Holy Spirit. In Hebrew they called him, “ruach hakodesh” or divine inspiration. Ruach Hakodesh had fallen upon their prophets, Moses, King David, and the great warrior Joshua. But now, now Jesus was promising one day the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, the Great Counselor, would come and live inside them. This was His emphatic promise made to them before His arrest. His heart was stirring, his friends were getting fearful.
“In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does He mean by saying, “In a little while you will se me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,” and “Because I am going to the Father?” They kept asking, “What does He mean by a little while? We don’t understand what He is saying.” John 16:16-18
They’re confused and Jesus wants to set their mind at ease all the while knowing soldiers with clubs and spears are gathering outside the temple gates even now as He walked up the hill.
Join me in this discussion. Join Jesus and His disciples as they cross the Kidron Valley and climb up the Mount of Olives late that Wednesday evening.
There is a contact section at the bottom of this page. Reach out with your thoughts or your prayer requests as you digest Jesus’ last teachings from John chapters 14-17.