The Gospel Of John Chapter 14 Pt. 7 We See Jesus Exalted In The Scriptures.

Jesus just finished teaching His disciples about the Holy Spirit of God's abiding presence. 

Now, Jesus will pause and remind them why He is instructing them about the coming of God's Spirit. 

Jesus is leaving, but teaches us to keep His commandments. 

John 14:19-21  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. 

Our Lord circles back to His previous statements about His death, resurrection and return to His Father (See John 7:33; 8:21; 12:35; 13:33).

Jesus said "Yet a little while, and the world sees me no more. Now I am no more in the world." 

After Jesus' death, the world saw him no more. Though Jesus rose from the grave, He never showed himself to all the people, only to the witnesses He chose (See Acts 10:41). 

Jesus said "Because I live, ye shall live also." - As surely as Jesus rose from the dead, so shall all believers in Christ. His glorious resurrection is the infallible proof that we too, shall be resurrected. 

Jesus now lives a life of intercession for us at the right hand of God. In this present life, we are blessed with a life of spiritual growth, grace and peace (See Hebrews 4:12-16). 

When Christ calls us home to heaven, we will enjoy eternal life filled with His glory.

All the wicked ones thought they had seen enough of Christ, and cried, "Away with him; crucify him." 

So shall their eternal doom be. After Jesus judges all the wicked at the resurrection of damnation, they shall see Him no more. 

When Jesus said "At that day, ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me," He referenced the day of His resurrection. 

Jesus taught His disciples that at His resurrection, they would be fully convinced that Christ and the Father were One. 

Jesus will live in us by the energy of His Spirit, and we shall live in Christ, by our faith, love, and obedience.

Jesus reinforced His teaching by telling us that all who love Christ, will keep His commandments.

By this, Jesus shows that these truths were intended not only for His disciples, but for all that should believe in Him, through their Spirit inspired words. 

Jehovah has always taught us to retain His Word in our hearts!

Deuteronomy 6:5-9  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6)  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7)  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8)  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9)  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. 

Here is a blessed duty for each disciple of Jesus Christ. We have ready access to Christ's commandments, and we must keep them in our heart and mind. 

John 5:46-47  For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47  But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? 

All the scriptures beginning at Genesis testify of and point to Jesus Christ. Jesus specifically cited Genesis through Deuteronomy as writings to speak clearly about Christ. 

We must allow what Jesus said to sink in. Why is this so important? Because so many professing Christians and pastors no longer preach truth from the Old Testament. 

Romans 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

Yet, Old Testament scriptures are the footings and foundation that the New Testament rests upon. They are cited more than 200 times by the New Testament writers. 

The apostle Paul tells us that all the Old Testament scriptures are for us to learn from. They bring us comfort, hope and show us how to praise Jehovah. 

They contain examples of faithful men and women for us to follow, as well as examples of unfaithful people, so we can avoid faithlessness (See 1 Corinthians 10:11). 

We can keep the scriptures in our hearts by reading them, memorizing them, and constantly thinking about them throughout each day. 

Such a beautiful spiritual discipline helps us remember who God is, and what He does for us.  It helps us have grateful hearts, enables us to serve Him, and prepares us to worship Him aright. 

A head knowledge of His commandments is not enough. We must learn them so well, that they sink deeply into our hearts, to shape all that we think, say and do. 

The surest evidence of our love for Jesus Christ, is our obedience to His commandments. 

Such is the cheerful love of Christians, to our King and Master, Jesus Christ.  It is a cheerful duty for us to respect and reverence our Lord, by conforming to His will.

Parents must teach God's truth to their children. 

Psalm 78:4-7  We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5)  For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6)  That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7)  That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments 

The Psalmist elevates the importance of the scriptures to our spiritual well being. Parents must commit to fully and carefully teach their children God's truth. 

Each Christian parent must diligently assume responsibility to train up their children up in the ways of God (See Proverbs 22:6). 

If we fail at this, we are in effect, hiding the scriptures from our kids. We must build a strong, moral foundation from the Bible, into our children, so that this inherently depraved culture cannot sway them with its corruption.

What does the Bible teach us about God? Scripture reveals His mighty works on our behalf, that we might give God the praise He is worthy of.  

The Bible puts Jehovah's marvelous, lovingkindness to us on display, so that we might rejoice in His great love, salvation, grace and mercy. 

It teaches us about the beauty of Jehovah's holiness, and the perfection of His righteousness.

A main function God designed into the scriptures is to help us remember His works, and set our hope in Jehovah. It teaches us to keep or obey His commandments, for this is best for us.

The Father wants us to know the full scope of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Ephesians 3:14-19  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15)  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16)  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17)  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18)  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19)  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 

God used the apostle Paul to shed light on Jesus' teaching. This is an apostolic prayer for all believers of all generations. Jesus promised to send the Spirit of Truth to all who believe on Christ. 

Paul tells us that the Spirit of God will strengthen our inner man, and that our Lord Jesus will dwell in our hearts by faith. Faith is how Jesus manifests Himself to us in this earthly life. 

The love of God is freely given to us, and is  overwhelming in its scope. He loved us while we were still sinners and rebelling against Him. 

We must carefully read and meditate upon the scriptures that make us wise unto salvation. The Holy Spirit will help us understand them, as He magnifies the Lord Jesus Christ to us. 

As we grow in faith, we will begin to see the length, depth, width and height of God's love for us in Christ Jesus. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

We cannot know God if we do not read His Word. 

We cannot know the love of God is we do not study His Word.

We cannot experience the salvation and deliverance from sin, apart from reading God's Word.

God speaks to us through His Word. We commune with God in prayer. 

The Spirit of God connects us with Jesus Christ, and He works in our hearts to exalt Jesus as we read the scriptures. 

We see Jesus as we read the scriptures. He teaches us to obey His commands because this is very good for His children. 

Let us ask the Spirit of God to open our eyes each time we read our Bible, so that we may behold the wonderous things of Jesus Christ, in God's truth (See Psalm 119:18).

Bob