That last Passover meal with Jesus must have been lengthy, as the Apostle John recounts His teachings in chapters 13 -17 of John’s Gospel. Following His example of servanthood and His talk of the betrayals that were to come, Jesus began to speak to His Disciples about what to expect in the days to come.
He comforted them by telling them about the place He was preparing for them and His desire that they would be with Him (John 14:1-4). Those words immediately followed His statements regarding their betrayal, so perhaps they found solace in knowing He would forgive them.
After making it clear that He is “the way and the truth and the life” and that “No one comes to the Father except through [Him]” (John 14:6), He began to speak about the One who would come after Him. He announced that the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit would come to “teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26b NIV84). Yes, Jesus was leaving, but He was not forsaking them. God was about to send the third person of the Trinity to guide them into an uncertain future.
Finally, He gave them instructions on how to persevere in a world about to be turned upside down. He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV84). Just as a branch that is detached from the vine withers and dies, the Disciples’ survival and ours are dependent on our “attachment” to the Vine. That “attachment” enables us to bear fruit for the Kingdom, love others as He has loved us, and withstand the persecution that will come. Their strength, and ours, comes from the Holy Spirit who lives within us. The Holy Spirit empowered those eleven men to change the world forever through their testimony. He gives us the same power today.
Jesus concluded His final teaching with this message, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV84). That message is still true today!
Read: John 14:1 – 16:33
Food for Thought:
- Think about how you can show others that Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life.”
- What are you doing or can you do to stay connected to the Vine? How can you encourage others to strengthen their connection?
Musings from My Sun Porch 
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