Verse by Verse

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;

11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

go away (v. 7) — two-fold fulfillment: 1) the cross. It was expedient that He should suffer and die, and 2) His ascension, so the Spirit would come which could not happen until after the atonement (the cross again).

The omnipresence of the Spirit (v. 7) is better than the presence of the Son in His localized humiliation of the flesh.

The proof of verse 7 is that the disciples accomplished far more in the power of the Spirit at and after Pentecost than they did in Christ’s presence when He was on earth.

convict (v.8) = to prove wrong, conviction by demonstration, by an unanswerable argument — pronounce judgment with no confession or feeling of guilt by the one judged. It’s an objective condemnation, not a subjective realization of condemnation.

The Spirit’s presence (v. 9) demonstrates that the world rejected Christ. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:39).

That Christ was received by the Father (v. 10) proves His righteousness. That the Spirit is here proves that Christ was received.

The Spirit’s presence (v. 11) demonstrates the coming judgment because Satan’s judgment has already been proclaimed. (Hebrews 2:14)

The Spirit ought not to be here. The Father sent the Son, but the world rejected Him. The Spirit is here in place of the Son, and His presence proves the world’s guilt.

The Spirit is the advocate — In judicial terms, the prosecuting attorney (advocate). He proves guilt before the court.

These verses don’t refer to what the Spirit does on earth, but show the consequences of His presence.

1 “These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.

2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

3 And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.

4 But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.”And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’

6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.”

This follows chapter 15 without a break in thought. The world hated the disciples. The Spirit would comfort them, but the hatred wouldn’t stop.This certainly wasn’t a prosperity gospel.

Persecution happens because people don’t know the Father or the Son (1 John 5:1).

stumble (v.1) — be ensnared. Forewarned is forearmed.

out of the synagogues (v.2) — To Jews, this mean excommunication, to be considered a heathen, but even more, they would be killed. Paul himself did this (Acts 8:1-4; 26:9-10; Philippians 3:6). Then he was saved and suffered the same fate.

Christ’s words were also a prophecy (v.5), so when these things happened, the apostles would have assurance of Him.

none of you asks (v.5) — Instead of asking for more truth, they just grieved.

Christ was a “Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief,” and believers are “in the world as He was in the world.”

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 

23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 

24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 

25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 

27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

no excuse (v.22) — Greater condemnation rests on those who heard and rejected Christ, but all are condemned because God is revealed to all (Romans 1:19-21). In a comparative sense, our other sins pale beside the sin of rejecting Christ (v.22 and 24).

sin (v.24) — the sin of rejecting God revealed in the Son. They had no cloak to hide behind because Christ, with His miracles, had shown proof of whom He was.

Christ revealed the Father (v.24), so to hate Him is to hate the Father. The Jews claimed to love God and said that love was their basis for hating Christ, but by hating Christ, they showed that they hated God also.

The world hated the disciples for their one-ness with Christ and they hated Christ for His one-ness with the Father.

All that Christ did was beneficial to men. Yet they hated Him because they hated the Father. They thought they were being wise, but they were simply fulfilling Scripture!

The quote in verse 25 is from Psalm 109:3 and Psalm 69:4.

The Father (John 14:26) and the Son together sent the Spirit.

After telling the disciples of the world’s hatred for them and Him, Christ tells them again of the Comforter (v.27).

The Spirit bears witness to Christ (v.27).

Verse 27 is repeated in Acts 1:8.

Even after the world rejected him, Christ continues to bear witness of Himself through the Spirit and men — especially the disciples and the records they left.

Christ revealed the Father. He was the express image of His person. In Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He that saw Him, saw the Father also. His doctrine was the truth of God. His life revealed the perfections of God. His laws expressed the will of God. To dislike Him, then, was proof positive that they hated God. It is a most fearful fact, but one most clearly revealed in Scripture, that men in their natural state are “haters of God” (Romans 1:30); their minds being “enmity against God” (Romans 8:7). It is this hatred of God which causes people to reject Christ and dislike Christians. Conversely their rejection of Christ demonstrates their hatred of God. — Pink, page 34.

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

world (v.18) — the order and system of humanity.

Believers are not of this world (v.19) because they have been born of the Spirit and possess a divine nature. The believers’ separation from the world condemns those in the world by contrast.

To persecute believers (v.20) is to persecute Christ (Acts 9:4). This shows the believers’ unity with Christ — and the disciples words were the words of Christ.

Christ was preparing the disciples for the persecution they would face after His departure. Until that time, they were not persecuted (Luke 10:17; John 18:8).

15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

servant (v.15) = bondsman, slave

made known to you (v.15) — He spoke to the disciples clearly and in detail.

appointed (v.16) = set apart, again, referring to the disciples

The fruit (v.16) is tied to what is asked in Christ’s name — in other words, what is done in His will.

They must love one another (v.17) because the world will hate them (following verses).

love (John 13:34; John 15:12)

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”

The commentaries apply this to the Church, but in the context of the entire chapter, it’s obvious that Christ was speaking to the disciples (vs.3, 11, 16, 27) and, therefore, to Israel.

God’s love is unchanging. As long as His followers focus on it (abide in Him), they’ll bear fruit. But not if they abide in themselves and focus on their love for Him. Then they’ll see failure.

“So shall ye be My disciples” (John 15:8). With this should be compared John 8:31: “If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed.” Continuance in the Word is not a condition of discipleship, but an evidence of it. So here, to bear much fruit will make it manifest that we are His disciples. Just as good fruit on a tree does not make the tree a good one, but marks it out as such, so we prove ourselves to be Christ’s disciples by displaying Christlike qualities.

“As the Father hath loved Me, so I have loved you” (John 15:9). There is no change of theme, only another aspect of it. In the two previous verses the Lord had described three of the consequences of abiding in Him in order to bear fruitfulness; here, and in the three verses that follow, He names three of the varieties of the fruit borne; and it is very striking to note that they are identical with the first three and are given in the same order as those enumerated in Galatians 5:22, where the “fruit of the Spirit” is defined. Here in John 15:9, it is love; in 15:11, it is joy; while in 15:12 it is peace — the happy issue of brethren loving one another. — Pink, page 14.

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

Israel is symbolized as the olive, the fig tree and the vine (Judges 9:7-15; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:2; Hosea 10:1; Isaiah 5:1-7).

But Israel was about to cast out the Son (Matthew 21:33-41). The nation of Israel came from its father, Israel (Jacob). Spiritual Israel springs from Christ (Psalm 80:8-9).

Christ is the true vine (v.1), the true Israel.

true (v.1) — perfect, essential, enduring reality

The theme of the parable is fruit-bearing. Israel had borne no fruit.

vinedresser (v.1) — husbandman — the Father as caretaker

fruit (v.2) — Christlikeness (Galatians 5:22)

takes away (v.2) = should be “lifted up.” Caused to bear fruit.

prune (v.2) = cleanses — washes off parasites, with the water of the Word. To make them more fruitful (not to make fit for heaven).

already (v.3) — “standing” as opposed to “state” in the previous verse

The true branches are cleansed/purged by the Word (v.3).

abide (v.4) — (used 15 times in John 15:1-10) union, oneness, the continuing activity of faith

he who (v.5) — the 11 disciples, all saved.

does not abide in Me (v.6) — unbelievers, those who claim to be of the vine but aren’t. This isn’t loss of salvation. Note the change of address in verse 6 — not “ye” but “anyone.”

ask what you desire (v.7) — in accordance with fruit-bearing and glorifying God, asking that they will be aligned with His will. Specifically to the disciples.

All my commentaries begin by showing that in Scripture, the vine is Israel. But then they insist on reading the Church into the passage. Why? John wrote it (Galatians 2:9). Christ was talking to the disciples who were all Jewish. Although it can certainly apply to the Church in many ways, it’s essential reference is Israel.

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

29 “And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.

30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.”

Peace (v.27) — First usage is reconciliation with God through Christ’s death (Colossians 1:20; Romans 5:1). Second usage is peace through the Spirit (Philippians 4:17; Isaiah 26:3). The immediate application for both would be in the days and weeks that followed after Christ said this to the disciples (John 20:19).

not as the world gives (v.27) — The world talks of peace and offers it, but can’t deliver (1 Thessalonians 5:3)

you have heard Me say (v.28) — referring back to John 13:33-36; 14:2-3, 12

you would rejoice (v.28) — Rather than being sad, the disciples should have been happy for Christ because He was returning to the Father.

My Father is greater than I (v.28) — Not in Christ’s Godhead (Philippians 2:6-8) but because of His humanity and servanthood

ye may believe (v.29) — that He was God, Messiah, Savior, truth

ruler of this world (v.30) — Satan, who has the power of death (Hebrews 2:14) but would not prevail over Christ. When Christ went to the Cross, it appeared that Satan was in control, but actually the Father was.

has nothing in Me (v. 30) — Christ is holy. There is nothing in Him that Satan can influence, appeal to, or control.

Verses 30 and 31 can be summed up as “Satan has no power over Me, but I love the Father and do what I am about to do (His death) for Him. Get up. It’s time to go do what must be done.”

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

in My name (v.26) — the Spirit enables us to know the Son and continues the Son’s work.

• Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

• Spirit of Jesus (Acts 16:7)

• Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9)

• Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:9)

teach you all things (v.26) — not everything there is to know, but everything necessary for spiritual life and growth.

bring to your remembrance all things (v.26) — testifying to the truth of the four gospels. Also see John 2:22; John 12:16.

The Son came in the Father’s name (John 5:43). The Spirit comes in the Son’s name. The Son makes the Father known to us. The Spirit makes the things of Christ known to us. The Son glorifies the Father. The Spirit glorifies the Son.

19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.

20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

The last time the world saw Christ (v.19), He was on the Cross. After the resurrection, He appeared only to believers.

you will see Me (v.19) — not the second coming, but the spiritual sight which we have by the Spirit — it’s in the present tense.

at that day (v.20) — when the Spirit comes — sealing our union with Christ

Verse 21 is a continuation of verse 15 (1 John 2:4; Philippians 2:5).

Verse 22 — literally “Lord, and what has happened …” Perhaps Judas was wondering about the promised Kingdom. Why wasn’t Christ manifesting Himself as King with power and glory?

keep My words (v.23) — more than keeping commandments. He’s referring to desire as opposed to obligation.

home (v.23) — the Spirit

“Every eye shall see Him” (Revelation 1:7). When? When He is seated upon the Great White Throne to judge the wicked. Then shall they be punished with “everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

“But ye see Me” (John 14:19). They saw Him then, while He was speaking to them. They saw Him, again and again, after He had risen from the dead. They saw Him, as He went up to Heaven, till a cloud received Him out of their sight. They saw Him, by faith, after He had taken His seat at the right hand of God, for it is written, “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor” (Hebrews 2:9). They see Him now, for they are present with the Lord. They shall see Him at His second coming: “When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). They shall see Him for ever and ever throughout the Perfect Day: for it is written,  “And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads” (Revelation 22:40. — Pink, pages 373 and 374.

__________

To “keep” God’s commandments is to obey them, and the primary, the fundamental thing in obedience, is the desire of the heart, and it is on the heart that God ever looks. Two things are true of every Christian: deep down in his heart there is an intense, steady longing and yearning to please God, to do His will, to walk in full accord with His Word. This yearning may be stronger in some than in others, and in each of us it is stronger at some times than at others; nevertheless, it is there! But in the second place, no real Christian fully realizes this desire. Every genuine Christian has to say with the apostle Paul, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may lay hold of that for which I am laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12).

Now we believe that it is this heart-obedience, this inward longing to be fully conformed to His will, this burning desire of the renewed soul, of which Christ here speaks. “If a man love Me, he will keep My word.” Every true believer loves Christ; therefore every true believer “keeps” His Word, keeps it in the sense thus defined. Let it be repeated, God looks at the heart; whereas we are constantly occupied with the outward appearance. As we scrutinize our deeds, if we are honest, we have to acknowledge that we have “kept His word” very imperfectly; yea, it seems to us, that we are not entitled to say that we have “kept” it at all. But the Lord looks behind the deeds, and knows the longings within us. The case of Peter in John 21 is a pertinent illustration. When Christ asked him a third time, “Lovest thou Me?” His disciple answered, “Lord, thou knowest all things; THOU knowest that I love Thee.” My disgraceful actions contradicted my love; my fellow-disciples have good reason to doubt it, but Thou who searchest the heart knowest better. In one sense it is an intensely solemn and searching thing to remember that nothing can be hidden from Him before whom all things are open and naked; but in another sense it is most blessed and comforting to realize that He can see in my heart what I cannot often discover in my ways, and what my fellow-believers cannot — a real love for Him, a genuine longing to please and glorify Him. — Pink, pages 380-381.

All true. However when Christ said these words to the disciples, the Old Testament Law was still in effect, and the commandments they were told to keep were part of that law. And the purpose of the law (as Paul later revealed in Romans 3:19-20) was to show that all are equally guilty and unable to be saved by the law. When Christ died to pay the penalty for breaking the law for us, and rose again to life, He fulfilled the law for us. That’s why Paul says that those in Christ have no condemnation Romans 8:1). Our obedience now, under grace, is simply to believe. Pink is right that believers desire to keep God’s Word. But when he says that our desire is the same as obedience, he misses the point somewhat. In Christ, we ARE obedient.