Jesus' Last Will and Testament - Part 1

Nobody really likes to talk about our end or our departure - even though it’s inevitable. Unless Jesus returns before we breathe our final breaths, death will come to all of us.

I don’t mean to be depressing. It’s just reality.

And yet there is something that is comforting and reassuring in knowing that death will come - it’s a sure thing. Because it’s a sure thing, we get to prepare for it. We also get to prepare our loved ones for it.

Now, we may not have any idea when, but we do know that death will come.

There are times when people have an idea that death is on the horizon. People who’ve suffered with chronic or terminal illness know that their time is short.

My step-dad died about 8 years ago after a long battle with cancer. In the final months of his life, he worked diligently to prepare my mom for his passing. They sold some things, replaced other things, fixed things and more. He even set aside a specific folder which contained all of the necessary documents that my mom would need after he passed - his will, their trust, account information, and so much more.

It was an act of love that brought some semblance of reassurance and comfort in a difficult time for my mom.

As we dive back into our study of the book of John, we get to observe Jesus preparing his disciples for his departure.

Open your Bibles to John 14. While our focus text for today is John 14:1-14, we are going to consider a few other verses before and after this section.

Normally, we’d have verses and points on the screens and an outline in your bulletin, but today, we’re going to do things a bit differently. Please feel free to take notes as you feel led, but do refer to your bibles or the pew bibles (p. 763).

Context

the night before Jesus was crucified

Jesus had just washed the disciples feet

He had also uncovered the soon coming betrayal of Judas and the denial of Jesus

over dinner Jesus shared an extended farewell discourse - we could call this his last will and testament as he discusses

what the disciples can expect in the near future

Jesus’ expectations of the disciples

and what the disciples will receive from Jesus.

It seems that his soon coming departure was troubling the disciples

Today - we’ll really just cover some introductory comments from Jesus. We’ll begin with...

What the disciples can expect

In many ways, a will today would include some comments about what to expect - what the coming weeks and months might hold.

In this case Jesus essentially shares that...

Jesus is leaving (13:33; 14:2)

John 13:33 ESV

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

- It is a little bit unclear if Jesus is referring to his death or his ascension.

But he goes on the tell them why he is leaving...

to prepare a place for his people

John 14:2 ESV

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

- there is a lot of speculation about what this might mean. Is he preparing rooms? Is he preparing mansions? It’s easy to read this verse at funerals and with our American western eyes/minds (especially if we read the KJV which refers to mansions) and think about - well mansions. We imagine grand habitations that would dwarf the greatest palaces here.

Yet the Greek word refers to “dwelling places.”

But let’s think briefly about this. Jesus says there are already many rooms in the Father’s house - and yet Jesus is going to prepare a place for his disciples. Does that mean he is going and choosing furniture and fixtures, making the beds like a house-keeper? Maybe? Is he pulling contracts and permits in order to outfit the Father’s house? Has he then been working for the last 2000 years on these rooms? Wow - some rooms those must be!

Frankly - I don’t think so.

This sort of begs the question:

How does this preparation happen? -

Through the cross.

When we reflect on the holiness of God - he is so distinct, so perfect, so pure - he is altogether different than we are. So much so that in the OT tabernacle and temple - they had a unique room that was set apart to illustrate the complete holiness and otherness of God. Entrance was restricted.

On the day that Jesus was crucified, when he died on the cross, the gospel of Matthew tells us that the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). It seems that when Jesus died - the dwelling places were prepared - it is finished!

Jesus continues his discourse with his disciples and says: John 14:4 “And you know the way to where I am going.”” - to which Thomas replies:

John 14:5 ESV

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

To which Jesus replies

John 14:6 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

It seems Thomas was looking for a destination - not a person. He was looking for a map or way of living, not a person.

Jesus is the destination, map, the path to eternal life with the Father.

How does that settle with you? Are you looking forward to heaven for the stuff that we imagine might be there or for the savior who made a way to bring you?

This week, we chorus “Christ is enough” has been running through my mind. I learned about it at one of the MFI’ve camps. The chorus essentially says

Christ is enough for me

Everything I need is in you

Everything I need

So, let’s think about this in the sense of a will again. If I spend my lifetime making arrangements for my family - getting life insurance, investments, documenting everything - the only way that they can get it is for me to go. If I place the instructions in my will - they can’t have the resources or inheritance until I pass - which will be a sad day (I hope). As soon as I’ve gone, the things are prepared (if I’ve written up the documents correctly) will be theirs.

In a sense, they can have me or the stuff, but with a will like that - they can’t necessarily have both.

It seems that ultimately, Jesus, in his sacrificial work on the cross, breaks the dividing line between us and God so that we can have a relationship with Him. In doing so, he prepares a place for us. There is a dwelling with God. Just as Jesus tabernacled or dwelled with us, so to, we will get to dwell with him!

Yet Jesus gives them a sense of hope because Jesus will go away - but..

Jesus will return (14:2) -

to bring them with him - so that they can dwell together -

It seems that Jesus point is that not only is there a place for us - made available through the cross, but that He is the reward and joy. We will get to be with Him.

So, Jesus helps his disciples understand that he is going to prepare a place - but will return - which means that his death or his departure is not final.

In addition to letting his disciples know what to expect, Jesus shares...

Jesus’ expectations of His disciples

I’ve seen movies and read books about people placing odd and extravagant demands on those who will be receiving inheritances. In a movie back in the 80s, one guy had to spend so many millions of dollars in a month and have nothing to show for it, in order to receive 10 times that amount.

Jesus - in a similar way - makes some commands or expectations of his disciples. They are not as extravagant as Brewster’s millions. In many ways, they are quite simple and yet challenging. Love, believe, work.

to love one another (13:34) - in fact this command is repeated several times over the course of this farewell conversation.

John 13:34 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

This seems like a simple enough command - love - but look at the qualifier - “as I have loved you.” How did Jesus love?

He left what is comfortable to be like us

He lived a holy life before us

Ultimately, as they would see in a matter of hours, Jesus sacrificed his life for us?

How are we doing in showing love to one another? Are we doing it on our terms or are we sacrificing our preferences and comforts for the sake of others?

In addition to charging his disciples to love one another, He expects them/us...

to believe in Him (14:1, 11, 12)

Jesus addresses their emotion but then challenges them to believe!

John 14:1 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

The implication here is that they already believe in God - now they should believe in Jesus too. Some people will say “I believe in God but don’t believe in Jesus” (or vice versa) or they don’t believe in the divinity of Jesus - that he is God. And yet it’s that belief, that entrusting our lives to his that demonstrates confirmation that Jesus is able to do what He says he will do. He is able to prepare a place for us. He is able to reconcile us to God.

John 14:6–7 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

We’ve already seen that Jesus in the way to the Father, he is the truth about the Father, and the means of life in the Father. It’s through Jesus.

Knowledge of about Jesus is knowledge about the father.

Jesus also calls us to believe in him because he is one with the father.

Philip chimes in with a question

John 14:8 ESV

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

In many ways, Philip’s question might bring us back to a time when Moses asked to see God’s glory.

Exodus 33:18 ESV

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

Where God allowed Moses to see the backside of his glory, Jesus reply demonstrates that he is the revelation of the father.

John 14:9–10 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

Jesus reveals the Father to us. In their unity or oneness, Jesus helps us to understand the heart of the father.

John 14:11 ESV

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Jesus seems to be calling us back to his works, or and John has frequently referred to them, signs. Let’s think briefly about his works in general. Look at the way that Jesus loved the outcast and the marginalized (the Samaritan woman). Look at the ways the he challenged the conventional wisdom of his day.

But then also think about all of the miraculous things that Jesus has done - turning water to wine, feeding thousands, healing sick, causing the blind to see, raising the dead. Who but God can do these things?

Since only God can do these things, and Jesus did them, he is calling the disciples to use logic to come to the conclusion that Jesus is God.

Friend, maybe you’ve been interested in this Jesus. Maybe you’ve been curious about his teachings. Maybe you’ve been skeptical about his miracles - or maybe even amazed. Just as Jesus is calling his disciples to connect the dots, I believe he’s calling you and me to do the same. Is Jesus just a good teacher or his he more? I believe he’s more. Will you put your faith and trust inHim?

Jesus calls the disciples to believe as they consider the works, but then he goes on to place another expectation on the disciples:

3. That they will do greater works - or that Greater works might happen

John 14:12–14 ESV

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

These verses have raised lots of questions over the years. Scholars have debated what exactly these “greater” works might be.

Greater Number?

Some have suggested - and I even considered - that this might be referring to greater numbers of works. After-all - as the disciples are following Jesus around, their ministry tends to be geographically limited. He demonstrated that he can do things from a distance, but generally where he went, they went. If he goes to the father, the disciples are necessarily challenged to spread out. Now, instead of being in one place, they are in many places. A greater number of works to glorify God.

Carson suggests that it’s not just more in number, though that is part of it - because there are better ways in Greek to describe a greater quantity.

Greater Impact?

Jesus works before the cross and his ascension were done to garner belief. There were many people looking for a Messiah. There were lots of questions and inquiries. Jesus’ works spoke to bring further clarity to his identity as the Messiah, the anointed one, the Son of God. On the other side of the cross, the works that Jesus followers do would result in an exponentially greater community. There would be many more converts - not because of the disciples, but because of what Jesus did. Now we have an event to which we can call people back to, the cross and resurrection.

Carson explains it this way:

The Gospel according to John 3. Jesus as the Way to the Father (14:5–14)

Thus greater things is constrained by salvation-historical realities. In consequence many more converts will be gathered into the messianic community, the nascent church, than were drawn in during Jesus’ ministry (cf. 15:26–27; 17:20; 20:21, 29). The contrast itself, however, turns not on raw numbers but on the power and clarity that mushroom after the eschatological hinge has swung and the new day has dawned

So, Jesus expects his disciples to love one another, to believe in him and to work. And yet, just as any last will and testament might define some provisions, so He shares...

What the disciples will receive from Jesus

There are three things that Jesus seems to leave for his disciples.

comfort - because of who he is (14:1) - he knows their hearts are troubled because he would be leaving. He knows they are concerned - and yet he encourages them to trust him.

Beloved - In any circumstance that you’re facing, I hope that you can find comfort - in part knowing that Jesus knows, he sees your pain, he has experienced more. Turn to him. Trust in Him. If you need or want help with that, ask a friend to come alongside.

Secondly, Jesus provides

hope - because he will return (14:2) - sure, he will be leaving, but he’s returning. He’s returning an eternal dwelling for us. We don’t have to fear death - there is eternal life awaiting us.

Finally, Jesus gives his disciples:

the Holy Spirit - we’ll get into this more next week and in coming weeks.

John 14:16–17 ESV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Jesus describes the Spirit as a helper. In other places he is referred to as a counselor (legal) - or advocate (14:16). We are not alone - God is with us, indwelling us with his spirit. In the coming weeks we’ll begin to unpack some of what the Holy Spirit will do.

Let’s close by considering briefly…

What this means for us:

Find contentment/delight/enjoyment/satisfaction in Jesus

Love the way that Jesus loved - even when it’s difficult and painful.

continue to proclaim the hope that we have because of the cross of Christ. He conquered our sin and death. He rose from the grave in the hope that we have for eternity.

Let’s pray.

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sources:

Burge, Gary M. The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.

Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Gangel, Kenneth O. John. Vol. 4. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

Milne, Bruce. The Message of John (The Bible Speaks Today). Downers Grove, IL. Inter-Varsity Press, 1993

Neusner, Jacob. The Mishnah : A New Translation. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1988.

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