What Assurances Do We Have in Jesus' Absence? | John 14:15-31 | Darien Gabriel
Series: Signs & Glory
Title: What assurances do we have in Jesus’ absence?
Subtitle:
Scripture: John 14:15-31 NIV
Bottom Line: Even though Jesus is leaving, the relationship between Jesus and His Disciples will continue to be defined by love.
INTRODUCTION
CONTEXT
SERMON OUTLINE
CONCLUSION
NOTES
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
MAIN REFERENCES USED
Opening prayer: Lord God, help us grow to be and do like Jesus, while abiding in him and leading others to do the same.
INTRODUCTION
In my college days, I couldn't wait to go home. Now I didn't go home every weekend as I was 4 hours away. But I always looked forward to seeing family, friends and familiar surroundings.
But, I'll admit, I also couldn't wait to go back to school. My newer friends and life there was also great. (Most of the time)
Some of that can be chalked up to a lack of contentment where I was at the time. An on-going challenge in my life, to be sure.
But what made is easy for me to go back to school, in part, was because I knew I was loved at home. I was loved, supported and provided for by my parents. They and my brother were there for me. This was a great comfort to me during my college years.
Jesus is about to leave his disciples behind. For a while. 3 days actually. Then, after 40 days, he'd leave them for good. And, yet, not at all at the same time.
What assurances did they have from Jesus in his absence? He gives them 3. But they are possible because of a relationship defined by love both ways.
The love Jesus had for his disciples held them in union with him. His love for them and their love for him is the defining ingredient to knowing God.
Their obedience to his words, ways and works showed their love for him.
Bottom Line: Even though Jesus is leaving, the relationship between Jesus and His Disciples will continue to be defined by love.
CONTEXT
Jesus's disciples are deeply troubled because they have just heard 3 things:
One of them will betray Jesus,
Jesus is about to leave them and go where they cannot go, and
Peter will deny Jesus 3 times that night.
On top of all of this, Jesus is still wanted for arrest and likely crucifixion for treason and blasphemy. If they are looking for him, they are likely looking for them as well. They're terrified.
OUTLINE (w/ help from ChatGPT)
Bottom Line: Even though Jesus is leaving, the relationship between Jesus and His Disciples will continue to be defined by love.
I. The Disciples’ love for Jesus
• Verses 15, 21, 23–24, 28, 31
• Love for Jesus is expressed in obedience (vv. 15, 21, 23–24, 31).
• Their grief at his leaving should be transformed into joy if they truly love him (v. 28).
II. Jesus’ love for His Disciples
A. The assurance of his resurrection
• Verses 18–20
• He will not leave them as orphans but will come to them.
• They will see him again because he lives, and so will they.
• Their union with him and the Father will be made clear.
B. The assurance of his Spirit
• Verses 16–17, 25–26
• The Father will send another Helper, the Spirit of truth, to dwell in them.
• The Spirit will teach them all things and remind them of Jesus’ words.
C. The assurance of his peace
• Verses 27–29
• Jesus leaves them his peace—not as the world gives.
• This peace should quiet their troubled hearts.
• His return to the Father is part of God’s plan and a cause for joy.
III. Conclusion (Transition to Gethsemane)
• Verses 30–31
• The ruler of this world is coming, but he has no claim on Jesus.
• Jesus goes willingly out of love for the Father, modeling the love/obedience relationship he calls his disciples into.
Bottom Line: Even though Jesus is leaving, the relationship between Jesus and His Disciples will continue to be defined by love.
One of the most popular Christian anthems is also the simplest. It says,
"Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so" (Anna B. Warner, "Jesus Loves Me").
At the height of persecution in Communist China, a Christian sent a message to a friend. The message escaped the attention of the censors, because it said simply:
"The this I know people are well"—but that phrase, the "this I know people" clearly identified the Christian community in China. (Donovan, "Jesus Loves Me"; emphasis original)
"This I know people."
Our confidence is in the love of Jesus. We know he loves us because we've experienced his love. His love defines us individually and as a community. -Matt Carter
So what assurances do we have in Jesus's absence?
We're sure of his resurrection that will be together with him again. We're assured of his Holy Spirit, the advocate. And we're assured of his peace that surpasses all understanding and will guide our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)
This assurance reminds us of why we love Jesus and that he loves us. May we be found faithful to rest in this love.
INVITATION
What about you?
Peter puts it all in perspective in his first sermon:
““Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” Acts 2:36-39 NIV
How do we respond? Answer 2 questions:
Take out a card or piece of paper right now. Write down the answer to these questions:
What is God saying to me right now?
What am I going to do about it? Write this down on a sheet of paper.
What I hear you saying, Lord, is ___________________.
[my name] is going to believe/do __________________________________________________ as a result.
Finally, share this with your Home or Mission group this week when you gather as a testimony about what God is doing in your life. You don’t have to get too specific to give him praise.
Lord's Supper, 1 Cor 11:23-26 is good passage.
Also, say something like, "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." (past, present, and future)
Pray
NOTES
“I’m sure that everyone reading this book has been touched by the death of a loved one. I have; by the mercy of God, both of my parents died at home in bed. My mother slipped away at night when I was asleep, but I was next to the bed, more than fifty years ago, when my father breathed his last. I watched death in front of my eyes, and in that moment I lost the person who meant more to me than any person on the face of the earth. When it happened, something stabbed my soul, causing me to say: “This is insane. This can’t be real. He must merely be sleeping. O God, will he live again?”
R.C. Sproul
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
What do I want them to know?
Why do I want them to know it?
What do I want them to do?
Why do I want them to do it?
How do they do this?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Discovery Bible Study process: https://www.dbsguide.org/
Read the passage together.
Retell the story in your own words.
Discovery the story
What does this story tell me about God?
What does this story tell me about people?
If this is really true, what should I do?
What is God saying to you right now? (Write this down)
What are you going to do about it? (Write this down)
Who am I going to tell about this?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Alternate Discussion Questions (by Jeff Vanderstelt): Based on this passage:
Who is God?
What has he done/is he doing/is he going to do?
Who am I? (In light of 1 & 2)
What do I do? (In light of who I am)
How do I do it?
Final Questions (Write this down)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
MAIN REFERENCES USED
“John,” by R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word Commentary, Edited by Kent Hughes
Exalting Jesus in John, by Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg
The Gospels & Epistles of John, FF Bruce
John, RC Sproul
John, Köstenberger
The Gospel According to John, DA Carson
Let's Study John, Mark Johnston
The Light Has Come, Leslie Newbigin (TLHC)
The Visual Word, Patrick Schreiner (TVW)
“Look at the Book” by John Piper (LATB)
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee (TTB)
Outline Bible, D Willmington (OB)
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB) https://www.biblica.com/resources/scholar-notes/niv-study-bible/
Chronological Life Application Study Bible (NLT)
ESV Study Bible (ESVSB) https://www.esv.org
The Bible Project https://bibleproject.com
Nicky Gumbel bible reading plan app or via YouVersion
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Grok AI
Google Gemini AI