Pastor Linnecar looks at the events leading up to Jesus’ death where, in a humble act, He washed the feet of all the disciples as a servant, and revealed to them who was going to betray Him. Jesus shared with the disciples about the Comforter that would come, the Holy Spirit who is the instrument by which Jesus lives inside us today.
John 17:1
To set John 17 in context, we’re going to go back to chapter 13. This was a very important time for Jesus – just think about the process of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet: it is the role of a servant, a humble act.
John 13:12 - 30
After Jesus washed the disciples feet, including Judas, He was troubled in spirit, because he knew it was the time to reveal who was going to betray Him. The disciples were asking “Lord, who is it?” Then Satan entered into Judas and he went out.
All the words we have from John 13:31, up to and including John 17, Judas was not there and it was as if Jesus now opened things up.
John 13:3 - 35
It’s interesting that this is the first main emphasis of the intimate words that Jesus shares with His disciples. As a result of Judas’s actions, Jesus would be glorified. But now, Jesus is saying that they should love one another.
John 16:1 - 6
These were huge revelations to the disciples and Jesus was getting really specific about what was going to happen to Him. He says that even if you are killed, they will think they are doing God a service. Somehow in the minds of the disciples, Jesus was preparing them for the time that was going to come about. He was going to die and then be raised from the dead.
John 16:7 - 11
So the role of the Holy Spirit is incredibly specific. He reveals Jesus to you. And He is the instrument by which Jesus lives inside of you. Instead, now that He is with the Father, He has sent the Holy Spirit and He lives inside each one of us. And we can do His work because we have the Holy Spirit within us.
John 16:12 - 14
So the work of the Holy Spirit is very straight forward and marvellous. All He does is reveal more of Christ to you.
John 16:15 - 20
Whenever Jesus spoke, quite often He referred to the fact that even though you might see some things one way in the natural, it’s totally different to how God sees them. For the disciples here, this was a huge thing, because Jesus was going to be crucified in front of them.
It doesn’t matter what’s happening in your life, or how you see things, I want to confirm to you the way God sees things, and He is at peace with what is going on in your life.
John 16:21 - 22
And there’s something about the relationship you have with God, which no man but no man can severe. No one can become between you and your God. That hold on you is inviolate, and wonderful.
John 16:23 - 24
So this was a new concept. If the disciples wanted to check something out with Jesus, they would check it out with Him. Now He’s saying to them, “I’m not going to be here, but the Comforter will come and now I want you to ask and receive that your joy may be full”.
Another thing I want to confirm to you is that every prayer you have made and every time you have wondered whether He has heard you, He has heard you. I am constantly coming across people who say, “You know, it must be God. And I have seen an answer to my prayer”.
Sometimes we pray and then pray again about the same thing because you want to make sure.
John 16:24 - 33
Before Jesus left the disciples, He communicated to them a glorious, wonderful truth. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace”. Because when, in the midst of everything, you have a perspective of how God is doing things, you have peace.
John 16:33
It’s not a problem. Everything is being outworked according to God’s purposes, through His love to you and to me. Later, in chapter 17 we will have a glimpse at His prayer and it includes you.
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