Subscribe for Free Bible Lessons

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

    ​

    Press the back button to exit subscribe form.

    Built with ConvertKit
    John 14:15-31  Lesson 201

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    The conclusion of the First Farewell Discourse.
     
    We're still in the Upper Room on Thursday night of Passion week.
    In a few hours, Jesus will be crucified.
     
    On His last night, Jesus promises His disciples that the Holy Spirit will come to teach, comfort, strengthen, and lead them.
    In the Upper Room, the First Farewell Discourse.
    Who was - 
    Judas - 
    Also called Jude, Juda, or Judas Lebbaeus surnamed Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:3), he was one of the original twelve disciples.  He was the author of "The General Epistle of Jude" (Jude 1:1) and brother to James the less (Acts 1:13).  At first, Judas did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah (Mark 6:3), but eventually, he became a follower.  Some Bible scholars believe Judas founded the church in Edessa, in Upper Mesopotamia (modern-day southeastern Turkey).  Jesus had two disciples named Judas, this one and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him (Luke 6:16; John 14:22).
    Study Tip: 
     
    Before starting each study session, ask God to open your heart to His teachings.

    The Gospel According to St. John

    The King James Bible    ​

    John 14:15-31
    Jesus makes promises

    15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
     
    16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

    17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

    18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

    19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

    20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

    21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

    22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

    23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

    24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

    25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

    26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

    27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

    28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

    29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

    30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

    31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. 
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (14:15) - If we love God, we will keep His commandments (1 John 5:3).  The Bible tells us what Jesus' commandments are, and they are never burdensome (Matthew 11:30).
     
    "I will pray the Father." (14:16) - "I will ask God." Jesus is our High Priest, the intermediary between God and us.
     
    "Comforter." (14:16) -  "Comforter" is translated from the Greek word Parakletos.  It's difficult to translate because there is no equivalent word in English.  Parakletos means more than one who comforts.  It blends the concept of comforting, advocating, teaching, encouraging, helping, strengthening, and counseling into one word.  The comforter is the Holy Spirit.  See Today's Questions below.
     
    "That he may abide with you for ever." (14:16) - "That He will stay with you forever."
     
    "I will not leave you comfortless." (14:18) - "I will not leave you alone."
     
    "Ye shall live also." (14:19) - For all eternity.
     
    "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." (14:20) -  "When I am resurrected you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you."  See also John 15:4-5 and 17:21-23.
     
    "Keepeth them." (14:21) - "Obeys them."
     
    "Will manifest myself to him." (14:21) - "Will reveal myself to him."
     
    "And make our abode with him." (14:23) - "And make our home with Him."
     
    "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (14:26) - A promise from Jesus to believers.
     
    "Peace I leave with you, ...not as the world giveth." (14:27) - The peace Jesus is referring to is peace of mind, a sense of well-being, or tranquility.  In Jesus' day, "peace" was a standard greeting given without thought or sincerity.  The peace Jesus offers is real, eternal, and available to all who accept it.
     
    "Ye might believe." (14:29) - "That you might believe in me (Jesus)."
     
    "The prince of this world." (14:30) - Satan, the lord of evil and the enemy of God and all humanity.  The name Satan means "adversary."  He is a real figure, a fallen angel who roams the earth (Job 2:2) working against humanity (Ephesians 6:12).  We first met Satan in the Old Testament where he tested Job's faith (Job 1:6-12).  In the New Testament, Jesus denounced Satan as "a murderer" and called him "the wicked one" (Matthew 13:19) who lives "not in the truth, because there is no truth in him....He is a liar" (John 8:44).  Satan is the lord of evil, "the prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:30), "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), "the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2), "the tempter" (1 Corinthians 7:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:5), and the enemy of mankind (Luke 22:31; 1 Peter 5:8) who convinced Judas to betray Jesus (John 13:26-27) and constantly strives to get the better of us (2 Corinthians 2:11).  You can read how Satan tempted Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11. 
     
    "Hath nothing in me" (14:30) - Means, "has no power over me."
     
    "Arise, let us go hence." (14:31) - Jesus and His group left the Upper Room for Gethsemane  Garden, where He will be arrested. 


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    John 14:15-31
    Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

    15 "If you love me, obey my commandments.

    16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

    17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

    18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans-I will come to you.

    19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.

    20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

    21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them."     

    22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?" 

    23 Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

    24 Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.

    25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.

    26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative-that is, the Holy Spirit-he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
     
    27 "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.

    28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.

    29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
     
    30 "I don't have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me,

    31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going.
    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's questions:
     
    1. What does "Comforter" mean? (14:26)
     
    2. What does this segment teach us?    






    Let me know your suggestions on improving the lessons.  I value your input.
    Answers: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. "Jesus uses two names for the Holy Spirit - Comforter and the Spirit of truth.  The word Comforter conveys the helping, encouraging, and strengthening work of the Spirit.  Spirit of Truth points to the teaching, illuminating, and reminding work of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit ministers to both the head and the heart."
    (Life Application Study Bible; published by Tyndale House; Carol Stream, Illinois; page 2091).
     
    2. In this passage, we learn that The Holy Spirit (Comforter, Holy Ghost) lives within us (14:17) and will forever (14:16).  The Holy Spirit teaches believers "all things" (14:26) and guides them to a truth only Christians can receive or understand (14:17).   In a future passage (John 16:8-14), we will learn that the Spirit of God can teach us what sin is, proclaim God's judgment on sin, and glorify Christ.






    Application thought for the day:

    We show our love for God by obeying His commandments (14:21).
    When we obey, God reveals more of Himself to us.
    What can you do to show your faith in God, and by doing so, grow closer to Him? 
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
    ​    © 2021 evolke