02/14/2022 – Gospel of John – Chapter 14 commentary – “Jesus Comforts His Disciples”
You have to feel for the disciples here after being with Jesus for three years. But, they just aren’t going to get even close to understanding Jesus before the resurrection and Pentecost & the sweep of the Holy Spirit. I noted the disciple Judas Lebbaus’ humble question to Jesus in verse 22. In short: “Why revelation to us, and not the world”. But he doesn’t yet understand “showing” himself to the the disciples. It was still conquering Messiah, not the suffering Lord that would die for us so that we could live everlasting.
Here is John Gill’s commentary on the verse 22:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/john-14-22.html
William Barclay’s commentary seems to emphasize “obediance”, or works as opposed to “grace”, but I think it is just “different sides of the identical coin.” Barclay mentions three ideas, so I will list the first two in summary before quoting his 3rd idea of obediance:
- God is love and it is all about love. The Trinity and us.
- John stresses the necessity of obediance, to prove love. Yes, the disciples were a mess like we are, but the gave up everything in their life to follow Jesus early on.
- But, as the commentators point out, Jesus is talking to us today in these verses as well. So here is Barclay’s commentary on #3 in full:
“(iii) This obediant, trusting love leads to two things. First it leads to ultimate safety. On the day of Christ’s triumph those who have been his obediant lovers will be safe in a crashing world. Second, it leads to a fuller and fuller revelation. The revelation of God is a costly thing. There is always a moral basis for it; it is to the man who keeps his commandments that Christ reveals himself. No evil man can ever receive the revelation of God. He can be used by God, but he can have no fellowship with him. It is only to the man who is looking for him that God reveals himself; and it is only to the man who, in spite of failure , is reaching up that God reaches down. Fellowship with God and the revelation of God are dependent on love; and love is dependent on obediance. The more we obey God, the more we understand him; and the man who walks in his ways inevitably walks with him.”
Matthew Henry notes in his verses 25 – 27 commentary:
“Many a good lesson Christ had taught them, which they had forgotten. The Spirit shall not teach them a new gospel, but bring to their minds that which they had been taught, by leading them into the understanding of it. To all, the saints the Spirit of grace is given to be a remembrancer. (note: He dwells within us! You mean the God of the universe dwells within me !?! Whoa!)
Soli Deo Gloria indeed!