At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
At that day believers come to know by faith a real spiritual union in which Christ is in the Father, and they are in Christ, and Christ is in them. That day came when the risen Lord showed Himself alive to His own though the world saw Him no more, and was made plain after the Spirit of truth came to abide in them. Because He lives, those who love Him live also with His life in them now and forever, never left comfortless or alone. This gift belongs to those who love Him by having and keeping His commandments, becoming one with Him in obedient love rather than expecting only an outward appearing. Kept in obedience, that love joins believers to Christ and to one another as He is one with the Father, giving peace, courage and strength so they do not fail in trial.
Setting and Occasion
John 14:20 was spoken alone with the eleven disciples in the upper chamber after Judas had left, as Christ was about to tell them of His approaching separation. It belongs to His farewell words in John 13:31-38 and John 14-17, given to keep their hearts from being troubled. It was part of the instruction He gave them in that upper chamber before leading them toward the Mount of Olives.
It was Christ's final instruction to His disciples before He left them visibly, near the end of His earthly ministry while a cruel death lay just before Him. It was spoken to comfort and console them because He knew how severely their faith and courage would be tried, to strengthen them to endure without failing and to stand fast in the most trying hour. That included the trials His church would face through unconverted believers, and its words bring courage, strength, and assurance to the true believer as long as time lasts. It prepared them to face trials after His departure by teaching them their relationship with Him and the Father, instruction that strengthens them for life in the world. It helped them understand His purposes and plans and strengthened them for the trials and temptations ahead, with the desire that they remember His love in their work and counsel. Its lessons offer comfort to believers and are to be treasured and studied. Its words are so simple that even children may understand them, yet they were contrary to the disciples' wishes and desires, for they could not comprehend that their Teacher would be betrayed, scourged, and put to death. Its teaching is connected with their need to build their ministry on a divine Christ and to rely on divine power, for without God's agency working with their efforts their appointed work would fail.
It belongs to the discourse of John 13-17, which holds lessons of deep import and the richest promises. Those chapters set out duties specified by Christ as Substitute and Surety, and must be carefully studied and earnestly practiced by all who honor God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Living those duties bears divine credentials to the world that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Its lessons were intended for all future generations, and its words give hope and encouragement to the soul. Its meaning is to be studied and even committed to memory with the meaning of every word searched. Its deep meaning is understood as the Holy Spirit applies the Word to a heart that receives it, and the Holy Spirit can help people understand it with new enlightenment when they are willing to have their minds changed by the Spirit. The Word must enter the heart rather than remain merely in the letter or in the mind, where it cannot transform character, and as the Spirit communicates its light the consecrated heart gains understanding and is comforted in the love of God. Having such great light in this verse yet showing little real, genuine piety is painful. The verse calls for diligent searching of the Word and keeping the mind as a storehouse of truth, with "Thus saith the Lord" and "It is written" ever on the lips, so as to speak a word in season to the oppressed, the sorrowful and the afflicted, to impart the richest consolation to those ready to perish, and to be like a garden whose waters fail not, refreshing all around. Preaching from John 14 brings freedom and blessing.
Those who held the other account teach that the fourteenth chapter of John was spoken on a Sabbath afternoon to a large gathering including a good many people and a number of unbelievers.
Mutual Indwelling Meaning
At that day believers come to know that Christ is in the Father, and they are in Christ, and Christ is in them, a close spiritual union of believers with Christ and the Father and of Christ with them. This knowing is tied to Christ living and His followers living also because He lives, to the Comforter dwelling in them, to Christ coming to them after His departure and return, and to loving Him by keeping His commandments, for though the world sees Him no more He remains alive and known to His disciples and manifests Himself to those who love and obey Him.
The knowing is by faith, seeing Christ by faith in a living relationship, and it is a spiritual manifestation rather than an outward visible appearing. At first the disciples could not grasp this in its spiritual sense and looked for Christ to appear outwardly while remaining unseen by the world, but His words are to be trusted fully, and by looking to Him in faith believers rely on His mercy and readiness to receive and pardon, expressing the relationship in loving obedience, testimony, and continuance of His work through the Spirit's abiding presence.
When He showed Himself alive after the resurrection their doubts and darkness were removed and they came to know the complete and lasting union between Christ and the Father together with their own union with Christ and His presence in them. Though He would be absent from them after the ascension, they could still know and see Him by faith, and He would keep the same loving interest in them as when He was physically with them.
This union marks believers as belonging to Christ rather than to the world. Through Christ and the indwelling Comforter it brings the illuminating, purifying presence of the Father and the Son and thereby makes communion with God possible, with love for Christ shown by keeping His commandments. God with us thus becomes God in us, seen when His followers love one another as He loved them and love the world as He did, for He became one with humanity to implant in human hearts the love that makes people one family, and when that love is lived out His mission is accomplished and heaven has begun on earth.
That Christ dwells in believers and believers dwell in Christ is a sanctified knowledge to be trusted as fact. In trouble believers therefore turn to His word and rely on Him rather than depending on other people for counsel or support.
That Day Fulfilled
That day is when Christ, risen and living, comes to His own after His departure and return to them, seen and known by His disciples though the world sees Him no more. At that day they know their union with Him and His union with the Father, that He is in the Father and they are in Him and He is in them. His continued life means life for them, and His presence is made known to those who love Him and keep His commandments. He does not leave them comfortless but gives them the Comforter, even the Spirit of truth, to abide with them forever and be in them, and in this He manifests Himself to them.
Because He is the resurrection and the life and rose from Joseph's tomb, His children shall live because He lives. At that day they know that union of Christ in the Father and believers in Christ and Christ in believers.
After the Holy Spirit came the disciples understood these words through their experience and were equipped to do His work of gathering people to the truth. The close connection with Christ and the Father was made real through the Spirit's presence, and the Comforter and Spirit of truth abiding with them strengthened them to serve faithfully during His personal absence even amid persecution and reproach. This promise and comfort extends to all who obey His requirements and is conditional on abiding in His love through obedience.
The knowing is of a spiritual manifestation, not an outward visible manifestation, which the disciples at first could not understand in its spiritual sense because they expected Him to appear outwardly while remaining unseen by the world. It comes in the day of inward spiritual life, fragrant with the obedience of love, which gives the spiritual power needed for sore trial. The promise of the Comforter assures that faith will not be lost under the most trying circumstances, for the Holy Spirit sent in the name of Christ teaches all things and brings all things to remembrance as the representative of Christ. As Advocate constantly pleading for the fallen race, He gives spiritual power by One mightier than all the enemies of God and man to overcome spiritual foes. The knowing belongs to obedient believers who love Christ by having and keeping His commandments and being doers of the Word, and then as workers together with God representing the character of the Redeemer they do His works and greater works, asking in His name that the Father may be glorified, with strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life.
Spirit Presence and Life
The knowing comes when prayer is made to the Father to give another Comforter to remain forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, who dwells with believers and shall be in them. They are not left comfortless, because Christ comes to them as He came to the disciples after humiliation and death, and He is with them always even unto the end of the world. That indwelling of the promised Comforter is joined to seeing Christ by faith and to loving Him by keeping His commandments.
Because Christ lives, those who love Him shall live also. When He is no longer seen by the world but remains alive and known to His disciples, they know their union with Him and His union with the Father, that they are in Christ and Christ is in them. His continued life means life for them, with the Saviour's life in them in the present, and this union continues through eternity.
Christ manifests Himself to those who love Him and keep His commandments, the Father loves them, and the Father and Son come and make their abode and home with them. He leaves His peace so the heart is not troubled or afraid, and they are not lonely or without comfort and do not walk alone and in darkness but have the Light of life. He abides in their hearts and they abide in Him and in His love, as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love, to sustain them in facing opposition.
When people draw near to God, He responds by drawing near to them, and He advances toward each person who takes a step toward Jesus. His nearness and the Holy Spirit soften hearts and bring a subduing influence, calling children and parents to give themselves to the Lord without reserve, and He accepts them.
Love Obedience Condition
The knowing of the mutual indwelling is given to those who love Christ by having and keeping His commandments and keeping His words and being doers of the Word. Love is shown by obedience, and obedience is possible and required as the evidence of love and as the Bible test for those who have had the privilege of light. This includes having the commandments presented in regard to the perpetuity of the law of God and obeying that light. Those who so love Him are loved by the Father, and Christ manifests Himself to them, and the Father and Son come and make their abode and home with them.
That manifestation belongs to the promise that Christ prays the Father to give another Comforter to abide forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, who dwells with believers and shall be in them. Therefore they are not left comfortless, for Christ comes to them as He came to the disciples after His humiliation and death and is with them always even unto the end of the world. Because He lives when risen and living and seen by His own though the world sees Him no more, those who love Him shall live also and have the Saviour's life in them. Abiding in His love as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love brings the Father's and Son's illuminating, purifying presence that makes communion with God possible. On these conditions obedient believers as workers together with God represent the Redeemer's character, do His works and greater works, ask in His name that the Father may be glorified, and have strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life.
The knowing comes when a person becomes one with Christ and has the mind of Christ, no longer opposed to God's law but living in obedience to all the commandments and walking in the Saviour's footsteps. This union calls for self-denial and self-sacrifice but gives no cause for regret. The reason is that the Prince of heaven resigned His place as Commander in the heavenly courts and clothed divinity with humanity to perfect redemption, and those who receive Him are adopted into the royal family as sons and daughters of God, made heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance. The chapter impresses the need for living faith that works through love and purifies the soul. It calls sinners to believe fully in Christ as a personal Saviour for pardon and grace, trusting Him to make and keep them pure, holy, and obedient.
Christ manifests Himself to believers who show faith by gathering at the communion table to remember Him, His words, and His requirements. Those who so gather are determined to put away selfishness and the desire for supremacy. To them He makes known their union with the Father, their life in Christ, and His life in them, so they are not lonely or without comfort.
Unity Witness and Application
Love kept in obedience joins believers in the closest bonds of holy union by the golden chain of love, because God is love, so that they are one with Christ and one with one another as Christ is one with the Father, Christ abiding in them and they in Him. This oneness is the evidence to the world that God has sent His Son. The love first revealed in home life bursts its bonds to become a working power in the church and extends to neighborhood and community and to nations and kingdoms, carrying the same love principle that caused Christ to die to save the world.
Living Christ's teaching and prayer in practical life brings unity with Christ and with one another. That lived union makes believers strong against the enemy's attacks and able to stand the test. It strengthens them to withstand opposition and to endure the shaking time.
The teaching belongs to Christ's final instruction before He left them visibly, and is connected with the need to build ministry on a divine Christ and to rely on divine power, for without God's agency working with their efforts the appointed work would fail. The knowing comes when Christ risen and living comes to His own and is seen by them though the world sees Him no more, when He does not leave them comfortless but gives the Comforter, even the Spirit of truth, to abide forever and be in them, and manifests Himself to them. After the Holy Spirit came the disciples understood these words and were equipped to do Christ's work of gathering people to the truth. That knowing belongs on conditions of loving Christ by having and keeping His commandments and being doers of the Word, and then as workers together with God representing the Redeemer's character, doing His works and greater works, giving testimony and continuing His work, asking in His name that the Father may be glorified, and having strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life. This knowledge is experienced through faith and a living relationship with Christ, expressed in loving obedience, testimony, and continuing His work.
The words were spoken to comfort and console the disciples because He knew how severely their faith and courage would be tried, to strengthen them to endure without failing and to stand fast in the most trying hour, with encouragement and hope knowing the trials His church would face through unconverted believers. They belong to Christ's words of courage and hope near the end of His earthly ministry while a cruel death lay just before Him, teaching followers about their relationship with Him and the Father, giving instruction that strengthens them for life in the world, offering comfort to be treasured and studied, and bringing courage, strength, and assurance to the true believer as long as time lasts. After His departure His followers would know their close union with Him and the Father, Christ abiding in their hearts and they abiding in Him, and His presence would sustain them as they faced opposition from the world. The words are so simple that even children may understand them, yet they were contrary to the disciples' wishes and desires, who could not comprehend that their Teacher would be betrayed and scourged and put to death. They give full comfort and hope and assurance forever, with the Comforter the Spirit of truth abiding forever within, Christ not leaving His own comfortless but coming to them and leaving His peace so the heart is not troubled or afraid, so believers do not walk alone and in darkness but have the Light of life and have comfort and hope and courage every hour and every day and are invincible so the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
Doubting feeling, anxiety, questionings, distrust, and refusing to apply the promises and say I am a child of God is unbelief and sin that dishonors God and limits the Holy One and grieves the Spirit and separates the soul from comforting assurance of His care and love and guardianship. Every troubled perplexed soul must study these words as the voice of God, comply with the conditions specified, be a doer of Christ's words, believe though feeling is wanting, grasp the words individually by faith and accept them and rejoice in them, which is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son and dwelling in Him and He in him, meaning to believe the words given in the living oracles and bring them into practice, for they are spirit and they are life. In trouble believers should turn to Christ's word and rely on Him rather than depend on other people for counsel or support. The discourse of John 13-17 holds lessons of deep import and the richest promises intended for all future generations, to be studied and even committed to memory with the meaning of every word searched, and its deep meaning is understood as the Holy Spirit applies the Word to a receiving heart, for the Word must enter the heart rather than remain merely in letter or mind where it cannot transform character, and as the Spirit communicates light the consecrated heart gains understanding and is comforted in the love of God, with new enlightenment when willing to have the mind changed by the Spirit. God's will is plainly outlined in these verses which believers are called to believe and live out, drawing life from Christ, and when self is emptied and the Holy Spirit received Christ appears in their lives. Diligent searching of the Word and keeping the mind as a storehouse of truth, with Thus saith the Lord and It is written ever on the lips, fits believers to speak a word in season to the oppressed and sorrowful and afflicted, to impart richest consolation to those ready to perish, and to be like a garden whose waters fail not, refreshing all around.
Jesus is present in the very midst of His people when they meet. Preaching from this chapter brings freedom and liberty to the speaker and the blessing of God resting upon the congregation.
At that day believers come to know by faith a real spiritual union in which Christ is in the Father, and they are in Christ, and Christ is in them. That day came when the risen Lord showed Himself alive to His own though the world saw Him no more, and was made plain after the Spirit of truth came to abide in them. Because He lives, those who love Him live also with His life in them now and forever, never left comfortless or alone. This gift belongs to those who love Him by having and keeping His commandments, becoming one with Him in obedient love rather than expecting only an outward appearing. Kept in obedience, that love joins believers to Christ and to one another as He is one with the Father, giving peace, courage and strength so they do not fail in trial.
Setting and Occasion
John 14:20 was spoken alone with the eleven disciples in the upper chamber after Judas had left, as Christ was about to tell them of His approaching separation. It belongs to His farewell words in John 13:31-38 and John 14-17, given to keep their hearts from being troubled. It was part of the instruction He gave them in that upper chamber before leading them toward the Mount of Olives.
It was Christ's final instruction to His disciples before He left them visibly, near the end of His earthly ministry while a cruel death lay just before Him. It was spoken to comfort and console them because He knew how severely their faith and courage would be tried, to strengthen them to endure without failing and to stand fast in the most trying hour. That included the trials His church would face through unconverted believers, and its words bring courage, strength, and assurance to the true believer as long as time lasts. It prepared them to face trials after His departure by teaching them their relationship with Him and the Father, instruction that strengthens them for life in the world. It helped them understand His purposes and plans and strengthened them for the trials and temptations ahead, with the desire that they remember His love in their work and counsel. Its lessons offer comfort to believers and are to be treasured and studied. Its words are so simple that even children may understand them, yet they were contrary to the disciples' wishes and desires, for they could not comprehend that their Teacher would be betrayed, scourged, and put to death. Its teaching is connected with their need to build their ministry on a divine Christ and to rely on divine power, for without God's agency working with their efforts their appointed work would fail.
It belongs to the discourse of John 13-17, which holds lessons of deep import and the richest promises. Those chapters set out duties specified by Christ as Substitute and Surety, and must be carefully studied and earnestly practiced by all who honor God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Living those duties bears divine credentials to the world that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Its lessons were intended for all future generations, and its words give hope and encouragement to the soul. Its meaning is to be studied and even committed to memory with the meaning of every word searched. Its deep meaning is understood as the Holy Spirit applies the Word to a heart that receives it, and the Holy Spirit can help people understand it with new enlightenment when they are willing to have their minds changed by the Spirit. The Word must enter the heart rather than remain merely in the letter or in the mind, where it cannot transform character, and as the Spirit communicates its light the consecrated heart gains understanding and is comforted in the love of God. Having such great light in this verse yet showing little real, genuine piety is painful. The verse calls for diligent searching of the Word and keeping the mind as a storehouse of truth, with "Thus saith the Lord" and "It is written" ever on the lips, so as to speak a word in season to the oppressed, the sorrowful and the afflicted, to impart the richest consolation to those ready to perish, and to be like a garden whose waters fail not, refreshing all around. Preaching from John 14 brings freedom and blessing.
Those who held the other account teach that the fourteenth chapter of John was spoken on a Sabbath afternoon to a large gathering including a good many people and a number of unbelievers.
Mutual Indwelling Meaning
At that day believers come to know that Christ is in the Father, and they are in Christ, and Christ is in them, a close spiritual union of believers with Christ and the Father and of Christ with them. This knowing is tied to Christ living and His followers living also because He lives, to the Comforter dwelling in them, to Christ coming to them after His departure and return, and to loving Him by keeping His commandments, for though the world sees Him no more He remains alive and known to His disciples and manifests Himself to those who love and obey Him.
The knowing is by faith, seeing Christ by faith in a living relationship, and it is a spiritual manifestation rather than an outward visible appearing. At first the disciples could not grasp this in its spiritual sense and looked for Christ to appear outwardly while remaining unseen by the world, but His words are to be trusted fully, and by looking to Him in faith believers rely on His mercy and readiness to receive and pardon, expressing the relationship in loving obedience, testimony, and continuance of His work through the Spirit's abiding presence.
When He showed Himself alive after the resurrection their doubts and darkness were removed and they came to know the complete and lasting union between Christ and the Father together with their own union with Christ and His presence in them. Though He would be absent from them after the ascension, they could still know and see Him by faith, and He would keep the same loving interest in them as when He was physically with them.
This union marks believers as belonging to Christ rather than to the world. Through Christ and the indwelling Comforter it brings the illuminating, purifying presence of the Father and the Son and thereby makes communion with God possible, with love for Christ shown by keeping His commandments. God with us thus becomes God in us, seen when His followers love one another as He loved them and love the world as He did, for He became one with humanity to implant in human hearts the love that makes people one family, and when that love is lived out His mission is accomplished and heaven has begun on earth.
That Christ dwells in believers and believers dwell in Christ is a sanctified knowledge to be trusted as fact. In trouble believers therefore turn to His word and rely on Him rather than depending on other people for counsel or support.
That Day Fulfilled
That day is when Christ, risen and living, comes to His own after His departure and return to them, seen and known by His disciples though the world sees Him no more. At that day they know their union with Him and His union with the Father, that He is in the Father and they are in Him and He is in them. His continued life means life for them, and His presence is made known to those who love Him and keep His commandments. He does not leave them comfortless but gives them the Comforter, even the Spirit of truth, to abide with them forever and be in them, and in this He manifests Himself to them.
Because He is the resurrection and the life and rose from Joseph's tomb, His children shall live because He lives. At that day they know that union of Christ in the Father and believers in Christ and Christ in believers.
After the Holy Spirit came the disciples understood these words through their experience and were equipped to do His work of gathering people to the truth. The close connection with Christ and the Father was made real through the Spirit's presence, and the Comforter and Spirit of truth abiding with them strengthened them to serve faithfully during His personal absence even amid persecution and reproach. This promise and comfort extends to all who obey His requirements and is conditional on abiding in His love through obedience.
The knowing is of a spiritual manifestation, not an outward visible manifestation, which the disciples at first could not understand in its spiritual sense because they expected Him to appear outwardly while remaining unseen by the world. It comes in the day of inward spiritual life, fragrant with the obedience of love, which gives the spiritual power needed for sore trial. The promise of the Comforter assures that faith will not be lost under the most trying circumstances, for the Holy Spirit sent in the name of Christ teaches all things and brings all things to remembrance as the representative of Christ. As Advocate constantly pleading for the fallen race, He gives spiritual power by One mightier than all the enemies of God and man to overcome spiritual foes. The knowing belongs to obedient believers who love Christ by having and keeping His commandments and being doers of the Word, and then as workers together with God representing the character of the Redeemer they do His works and greater works, asking in His name that the Father may be glorified, with strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life.
Spirit Presence and Life
The knowing comes when prayer is made to the Father to give another Comforter to remain forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, who dwells with believers and shall be in them. They are not left comfortless, because Christ comes to them as He came to the disciples after humiliation and death, and He is with them always even unto the end of the world. That indwelling of the promised Comforter is joined to seeing Christ by faith and to loving Him by keeping His commandments.
Because Christ lives, those who love Him shall live also. When He is no longer seen by the world but remains alive and known to His disciples, they know their union with Him and His union with the Father, that they are in Christ and Christ is in them. His continued life means life for them, with the Saviour's life in them in the present, and this union continues through eternity.
Christ manifests Himself to those who love Him and keep His commandments, the Father loves them, and the Father and Son come and make their abode and home with them. He leaves His peace so the heart is not troubled or afraid, and they are not lonely or without comfort and do not walk alone and in darkness but have the Light of life. He abides in their hearts and they abide in Him and in His love, as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love, to sustain them in facing opposition.
When people draw near to God, He responds by drawing near to them, and He advances toward each person who takes a step toward Jesus. His nearness and the Holy Spirit soften hearts and bring a subduing influence, calling children and parents to give themselves to the Lord without reserve, and He accepts them.
Love Obedience Condition
The knowing of the mutual indwelling is given to those who love Christ by having and keeping His commandments and keeping His words and being doers of the Word. Love is shown by obedience, and obedience is possible and required as the evidence of love and as the Bible test for those who have had the privilege of light. This includes having the commandments presented in regard to the perpetuity of the law of God and obeying that light. Those who so love Him are loved by the Father, and Christ manifests Himself to them, and the Father and Son come and make their abode and home with them.
That manifestation belongs to the promise that Christ prays the Father to give another Comforter to abide forever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, who dwells with believers and shall be in them. Therefore they are not left comfortless, for Christ comes to them as He came to the disciples after His humiliation and death and is with them always even unto the end of the world. Because He lives when risen and living and seen by His own though the world sees Him no more, those who love Him shall live also and have the Saviour's life in them. Abiding in His love as He kept His Father's commandments and abides in His love brings the Father's and Son's illuminating, purifying presence that makes communion with God possible. On these conditions obedient believers as workers together with God represent the Redeemer's character, do His works and greater works, ask in His name that the Father may be glorified, and have strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life.
The knowing comes when a person becomes one with Christ and has the mind of Christ, no longer opposed to God's law but living in obedience to all the commandments and walking in the Saviour's footsteps. This union calls for self-denial and self-sacrifice but gives no cause for regret. The reason is that the Prince of heaven resigned His place as Commander in the heavenly courts and clothed divinity with humanity to perfect redemption, and those who receive Him are adopted into the royal family as sons and daughters of God, made heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ to an immortal inheritance. The chapter impresses the need for living faith that works through love and purifies the soul. It calls sinners to believe fully in Christ as a personal Saviour for pardon and grace, trusting Him to make and keep them pure, holy, and obedient.
Christ manifests Himself to believers who show faith by gathering at the communion table to remember Him, His words, and His requirements. Those who so gather are determined to put away selfishness and the desire for supremacy. To them He makes known their union with the Father, their life in Christ, and His life in them, so they are not lonely or without comfort.
Unity Witness and Application
Love kept in obedience joins believers in the closest bonds of holy union by the golden chain of love, because God is love, so that they are one with Christ and one with one another as Christ is one with the Father, Christ abiding in them and they in Him. This oneness is the evidence to the world that God has sent His Son. The love first revealed in home life bursts its bonds to become a working power in the church and extends to neighborhood and community and to nations and kingdoms, carrying the same love principle that caused Christ to die to save the world.
Living Christ's teaching and prayer in practical life brings unity with Christ and with one another. That lived union makes believers strong against the enemy's attacks and able to stand the test. It strengthens them to withstand opposition and to endure the shaking time.
The teaching belongs to Christ's final instruction before He left them visibly, and is connected with the need to build ministry on a divine Christ and to rely on divine power, for without God's agency working with their efforts the appointed work would fail. The knowing comes when Christ risen and living comes to His own and is seen by them though the world sees Him no more, when He does not leave them comfortless but gives the Comforter, even the Spirit of truth, to abide forever and be in them, and manifests Himself to them. After the Holy Spirit came the disciples understood these words and were equipped to do Christ's work of gathering people to the truth. That knowing belongs on conditions of loving Christ by having and keeping His commandments and being doers of the Word, and then as workers together with God representing the Redeemer's character, doing His works and greater works, giving testimony and continuing His work, asking in His name that the Father may be glorified, and having strong consolation and confidence to lay hold on everlasting life. This knowledge is experienced through faith and a living relationship with Christ, expressed in loving obedience, testimony, and continuing His work.
The words were spoken to comfort and console the disciples because He knew how severely their faith and courage would be tried, to strengthen them to endure without failing and to stand fast in the most trying hour, with encouragement and hope knowing the trials His church would face through unconverted believers. They belong to Christ's words of courage and hope near the end of His earthly ministry while a cruel death lay just before Him, teaching followers about their relationship with Him and the Father, giving instruction that strengthens them for life in the world, offering comfort to be treasured and studied, and bringing courage, strength, and assurance to the true believer as long as time lasts. After His departure His followers would know their close union with Him and the Father, Christ abiding in their hearts and they abiding in Him, and His presence would sustain them as they faced opposition from the world. The words are so simple that even children may understand them, yet they were contrary to the disciples' wishes and desires, who could not comprehend that their Teacher would be betrayed and scourged and put to death. They give full comfort and hope and assurance forever, with the Comforter the Spirit of truth abiding forever within, Christ not leaving His own comfortless but coming to them and leaving His peace so the heart is not troubled or afraid, so believers do not walk alone and in darkness but have the Light of life and have comfort and hope and courage every hour and every day and are invincible so the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
Doubting feeling, anxiety, questionings, distrust, and refusing to apply the promises and say I am a child of God is unbelief and sin that dishonors God and limits the Holy One and grieves the Spirit and separates the soul from comforting assurance of His care and love and guardianship. Every troubled perplexed soul must study these words as the voice of God, comply with the conditions specified, be a doer of Christ's words, believe though feeling is wanting, grasp the words individually by faith and accept them and rejoice in them, which is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son and dwelling in Him and He in him, meaning to believe the words given in the living oracles and bring them into practice, for they are spirit and they are life. In trouble believers should turn to Christ's word and rely on Him rather than depend on other people for counsel or support. The discourse of John 13-17 holds lessons of deep import and the richest promises intended for all future generations, to be studied and even committed to memory with the meaning of every word searched, and its deep meaning is understood as the Holy Spirit applies the Word to a receiving heart, for the Word must enter the heart rather than remain merely in letter or mind where it cannot transform character, and as the Spirit communicates light the consecrated heart gains understanding and is comforted in the love of God, with new enlightenment when willing to have the mind changed by the Spirit. God's will is plainly outlined in these verses which believers are called to believe and live out, drawing life from Christ, and when self is emptied and the Holy Spirit received Christ appears in their lives. Diligent searching of the Word and keeping the mind as a storehouse of truth, with Thus saith the Lord and It is written ever on the lips, fits believers to speak a word in season to the oppressed and sorrowful and afflicted, to impart richest consolation to those ready to perish, and to be like a garden whose waters fail not, refreshing all around.
Jesus is present in the very midst of His people when they meet. Preaching from this chapter brings freedom and liberty to the speaker and the blessing of God resting upon the congregation.