John 14: 15 – 21 – Then, You Will Know
Intro: When people discover you are an only child, they immediately think you were spoiled as a child. I, of course, was very different. I was not spoiled; . . . I was just smart. Every year at this time when I was a child, I would start dropping little hints about what I wanted for my for my birthday. I would often say to my parents, “If you really loved me, you would get me . . . “ You see, I knew that if my parents didn’t get me what I wanted, I could always go to my Aunt Wilma or my Aunt Nellie and use the same line and usually, I would get what I wanted.
I. As a parent, I was very fortunate to have kids that didn’t ask for much. I tried often to give them what they wanted; but, I learned early on as a parent that what my children really wanted was me.
A. Vs. 15 – “If you love me, keep my commandments.” - song from My Fair Lady – “Don’t speak of love lasting through time. If you’re in love, show me.”
B. Love is hard for some to give. It means giving a bit of yourself. REAL LOVE is shown through OBEDIENCE.
C. Christ Jesus by his obedience to God showed love of God.
II. Jesus knew obedient love would be difficult for humanity and therefore promised to not leave us alone.
A. VS. 16 – “I will ask my Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever
B. The word for counselor in Greek is PARAKLETOS – “someone called in / a character witness / an expert / an advisor.
C. You and I are to be the PARAKLETOS for others – WHY? To show our love of Christ by our obedience.
III. The latin word used here for COUNSELOR / COMFORTER is FORTIS which means brave. Someone who enables a dispirited creature to be brave.
A. The COMFORTER or Holy Spirit – we draw upon this idea at times of sorrow or death.
B. This is not just someone to take away the hurt, it is someone to share the pain with you, to help you carry the burden and give you the ability to cope in strength.
C. VS. 17 – The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” People do not “know” because they live as if there is no God, leaving God out of life until things go wrong.
Conclu: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” You and I are loved! We just need to return to the one who loves us, do as he commands and then, you will know.
“Return to the one who loves you, return to the Savior who cares, He gives perfect peace, your burden he bears, return to the Savior who cares.”
