John 14:28; Philippians 2:5-11

          The last provision of Christ in John 14 is a proper perspective.

          Often our success or satisfaction in life is found, not in changing our circumstances, but in changing the way we look at those circumstances.  We see that in this passage.

          Jesus has told his disciples He is going away; that has not changed.  But He has also given them great and precious promises.  Therefore in this passage He calls them to reconsider their situation, looking at it in light of those promises.

          – The new perspective will see joy instead of sorrow, v28.

          Christ’s departure no longer means certain failure for the disciples.  Christ has provided for them.  Thus they can look at His departure and see Christ in His exaltation and rejoice for Him.  Further, in returning to heaven Christ will then bring about the promised provisions. 

          This verse has been abused by some since Christ refers to His Father as “greater”.  They make this to indicate Christ being “less than” the Father and thus not truly God, not truly identified with the Father as claimed earlier (14:9-11).

          As we noted, however, Christ is the same “essence” as the Father.  This verse deals with position, not essence.  In the trinity there is both equality and submission.  As the Father sends the Holy Spirit (v16,26), so Christ was obedient to the Father.  Consider how these truths about Christ show obedience and submission to the Father:

1.     He is the Incarnate One (Phil. 2:5-7); He humbled Himself, leaving the glory of heaven to become a man to die on the cross.

2.     He is the Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5-6) the man Christ Jesus who is between God and man.

3.     He is the Servant (John 17:4-5) completing the work His Father gave Him to do.

4.     He is the Sin-bearer (1 Peter 2:24), so identified with our sins that His Father forsook Him on the cross.

Each of these roles carried out by our Lord required His submission to the Father.  While still God, Jesus submitted Himself to the will of His Father, even to death on the cross.

          And now He has returned to the glorious place.  That should be a cause for rejoicing on the part of the disciple.

John 14:27; Philippians 4:1-9

          The seventh provision of Christ is perfect peace (v27).

          Christ’s peace is like that peace seen in the Old Testament concept of shalom.  It is not simply the absence of conflict.  It is a deep sense of calm in the midst of trails.  It is an overall sense of satisfaction based in God’s provision.

          To better understand this promise two things are helpful.  First, it helps to differentiate Christ’s peace from the world’s peace. The world offers peace in relationships, although usually for selfish purposes (Psa. 28:3).  But Christ calls us to love, a peacefulness even in the face of persecution.

          The peace the world aims for is freedom from trials (something it cannot in fact provide with assurance).  But Christ offers freedom from worry and fear in trials. As a matter of fact, Jesus predicts that the world will try the disciples and that in those trials they will know His peace (John 16:33).

          Second, we can better understand what Christ offers by His words: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  These were the words Jesus had spoken in the beginning of the chapter (14:1).  What He is saying is that this peace is the culmination of the series of promises He had given.

          They were troubled about His departure and their inability to live up to the high standard.  Jesus is saying here that He has now promised them all they need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3); there is no longer any need for worry or fear.  In the depth of their hearts He has given them His peace.

          Finally, note that this promise is related to the others given previously.

          – Rom. 5:1,10-11:  this peace involves reconciliation with God who is present
              with us.

          – Rom 8:6:  we experience this peace by setting our minds on the things of
              the Spirit.

          – Rom. 15:13:  this peace results in hope by the work of the Holy Spirit.

          – Gal. 5:22:  peace is the fruit of the Spirit.

          – Phil 4:6-7:  peace comes as we pray and present our burdens to Christ.

          – Col, 3:15:  we are called to let this peace rule in our hearts.

          As we live out of His provision, we will find the same sense of abundance, satisfaction and completeness.  We can tell our hearts not to be troubled or afraid because Christ has given us His peace!

John14:25-26; Romans 8:12-17

       The sixth provision of Christ is a pertinent prodding (v25-26).
          What we have seen in these promises is quite wonderful but also a challenge to our thoughts.  In v20 we see two of the three great “unities” in Scripture.  There is the hypostatic union, as theologians call it.  It is the oneness of the Father and Son.  Then there is the mystical union, the oneness of the believer with Christ.  (The third unity is the oneness of believers which Christ prays for in John 17.)  Who can fully appreciate these truths?
          In addition, who can remember what it is that Christ has provided?  We will likely forget on occasion our hope or our prayer privilege or the blessing of His presence.  How often have we struggled in our day-to-day lives simply because we forget about some resource or relationship that would have eased our burden?
          For that reason Christ not only provides resources; He provides the Holy Spirit to remind us of what Christ has given us.  Paul noted the same thing in 1 Cor. 2:12; Now we have received, not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
          We see further how this is so helpful to the believer in the Romans passage.  Notice how Paul is in perfect agreement with the Lord in John 14.
          – Paul recognizes that we must live our lives according to God’s provision.  
             We cannot deal with sin in our own strength (in the flesh) but only in the
             Spirit (v12-13).
          – He then connects the ministry of the Spirit with our intimate relationship with
             God (v14).  Jesus gave the Spirit to be our helper, to lead us as Paul says. 
             Jesus tied this promise to our personal relationship with the Father; even so
             Paul notes that those led by the Spirit are sons of God (Rom. 8:14).
          – Finally, Paul recognizes that pertinent prodding by the Spirit (v15-17).  As
             we live our lives the Holy Spirit speaks deeply to us that we are God’s sons.
             We don’t live by fear.  We are not bound by sin.  We are God’s children,
             and thus His heirs.  Amazingly, we are joint heirs with Christ.  We have the
             resources to live that Christ had available in His early life.
          So we thank our Lord that He has not only given us great resources but has given the Spirit to prod us.  Believers have every reason to live abundantly in Christ.