Prerequisite, Proof, Profit, & Privilege

John 14:21-26 says the following: "He who has My commandments (This is a prerequisite - a prerequisite is something you must have before advancing to the next level, such as having Bible 101 before signing up for Bible 202), and keeps them, he it is who loves Me (herein lies the proof within the passage - keeping these commandments show one's love for the Lord Jesus Christ), and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father and I will love him (now here we see the profit in this passage - ie; having the commandments and keeping the commandments give the reward of love from the Father and Jesus Christ), and will disclose Myself to him" (and finally the privilege of this passage of scripture is because of the first three things, Jesus will disclose Himself to us).

Leave it to a pastor to come up with four "P's" and a punchline. But hang on, I think the punchline is yet to come. You see, in this passage from verse 16 through 26, Jesus is making reference to the Holy Spirit who is to come later and the benefits of the third person of the Trinity.

And so "Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us, and not to the world" (they still don't understand)? and Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him."

So Jesus once again affirms the love not only of Himself but also the love of the Father and the promise "to abide" (dwell with them). Of course, Jesus also offers a stern warning to others by saying, "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me (verse 24). And once again He reminds them that "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you" (in other words, I've said this time and again).

Finally, in verse 26 Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as their comforter or "one who comes along side to comfort." "But the Helper , the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."

Jesus has a tremendous love for the sheep and He wants them to know that He does not plan to leave them alone to try to do His work without a Helper. We all are aware that the "theme" of the Gospel of John is "Love" and even in Jesus suggesting His departure, makes sure that they know He is "passing" the baton and not leaving them to "turn the world upside down, on their own.

Punchline: (although not necessarily funny) God cares so much for us that in just a few chapters from here, He will allow Roman Soldiers to nail His Son to a cross, and bare the sins of the world. I think we have to go a long way to demonstrate that kind of love.

Dave