1. IV. THE DISCIPLES’ PREPARATION BY THE SON OF GOD (13:1 – 16:33)
A. THE DISCOURSE IN THE UPPER ROOM (Jn 13:1 – 14:31)
5. The Promise of Residence (14:1-3)
6. The Way to the Father (14:4-6)
7. The Oneness with the Father (14:7-11)
8. The Performance of Greater Works (14:12-15)

2. 9. The Sending of the Holy Spirit (14:16-17)
10. The Pledge of Love (14:18-26)
a. Through the Promise of His Indwelling (vv )
b. Through the Obedience to His Commandments (vv )
1) The principle (v. 21)
2) The rationale (vv )

3. 1) The principle (v. 21)
Read Jn 14:21a.
Jesus here repeats the truth of Jn 14:15.
~ The evidence for love for Jesus is in having and obeying His commands.
~ To “have”: “to grasp with the mind”.
~ “Keeps”: “to keep an eye on, watch and hence to guard, keep, obey”
~ It, therefore, speaks of obeying as being consistent, a pattern of life.

4. ~ To “have” His commands means to. be properly instructed in them; to
~ To “have” His commands means to be properly instructed in them; to “keep” His commands is to mold ourselves and our lives by their rule.
~ Love means more than words; it requires commitment and action. If we love Christ, then we must prove it by obeying what He says in His Word.

5. ~ John Calvin: “There is nothing we
~ John Calvin: “There is nothing we are more prone to than to slide into a sinful attitude and to love something other than Christ under the name of Christ.”
What is the connection between the Holy Spirit and keeping His commandments?
~ Apart from the Holy Spirit, no keeping of Christ’s commandments is possible.

6. Read Jn 14:21b.
Note here the predominance of the future tense.
~ What about 1Jn 4:19?
~ The initiative in the relationship between Christ and His followers finally lies with Him (cf. Jn 6:70; :16) or with His Father (cf. Jn 6:37, 44; 10:29).
~ But on the other hand, isn’t it possible for God’s love to both precede and follow ours?

7. ~ First, by loving us first, His love
~ First, by loving us first, His love creates in us the eager desire to keep Christ’s commandments; then, by loving us after, His love rewards us for keeping them!
“… and will disclose Myself to him.”
~ To all those who love and obey Him, He reveals Himself as an invisible, spiritual presence.

8. An Application
~ In personal experience, most Christians admit to wishing God would reveal Himself, His will more openly.
~ Jesus listed obedience before revelation.
~ “Obey what you know and you will know more.”

9. ~ When we feel confused or lack. answers, we should ask how we can
~ When we feel confused or lack answers, we should ask how we can follow through on directions He has previously given.