John 14:26-31

²⁶"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ²⁸You heard Me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved Me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on Me, ³¹but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what My Father has commanded Me. Come now; let us leave."

We also learn here in v26 that the Holy Spirit’s ministry involves teaching. What will He teach us? “All things.” Wow! Look back at v20: “On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.” When the Spirit indwells us, He teaches us these amazing truths. That’s everything right there. Jesus is in the Father, the Father is in Him; and believers are in Christ, and He is in us (perichoresis / circumincessio). Jesus is just beginning to teach this concept; He will elaborate in the next chapter with the vine and branches illustration.

Calvin says, “When Christ testifies that it is the peculiar office of the Holy Spirit to teach the apostles what they had already learned from His mouth, it follows that the outward preaching will be vain and useless, if it be not accompanied by the teaching of the Spirit. God has therefore two ways of teaching; for, first, He sounds in our ears by the mouth of men; and, secondly, He addresses us inwardly by His Spirit; and He does this either at the same moment, or at different times, as He thinks fit.”

Perhaps the entire point of this heart-healing chapter is found in v27, where Jesus says, “My peace I give you.” This peace is not like the shallow and temporary peace the world wishes but cannot bestow. Jesus’ peace is a deep and permanent prosperity which He guarantees with the deposit of the Holy Spirit. Matthew Henry says, “When Christ was about to leave the world, He made His will. His soul He committed to the Father; His body He bequeathed to Joseph; His clothes fell to the soldiers; His mother He left to the care of John. But what should He leave to His poor disciples who had left all for Him? Silver and gold—He had none. But He left them that which was infinitely better—His peace.” It’s the best thing He can give as He prepares to depart. It comes in the understanding of this moment in the Covenant of Redemption – the Father, Son, and Spirit working in unity for our good and for Their glory. This great peace relieves our fear and serves as the cure for our troubled hearts.

Look at v28, “If you loved Me, you would be glad that I am going…” Can we say that about our loved ones? Are we ready to let them depart this world and go to be with Lord? Jesus tells the disciples in v29 that He’s about to go. His house is in order. He’s leaving His final instructions. We ought to have our houses in order. Our final instructions ought to be recorded.

Lastly, there’s a curious thing here at the end of the chapter. “Come now; let us leave.” The group doesn’t actually leave until the first verse of chapter 18. Jesus uses a military word here: “Arise!” It’s a word to His beleaguered soldiers that they need to get ready now. They need to be aroused from their reclining and prepare themselves now. They need to be assured that Jesus the mighty warrior is here; He’s going to disarm powers and authorities through the blood of His cross. He’s going to destroy him who has the power of death. The ruler of this dark world is coming, as v30 declares, and he has already aroused one of the disciples and will be at work with Peter soon (the triple denial). So, get ready. Finally, notice what Jesus says, “He has no hold on Me.” It is in consequence of the sin of Adam that Satan holds the dominion of death, and, therefore, he could not touch Christ, who is pure from all the pollution of sin, if He had not voluntarily subjected Himself. United to Christ, Satan has no hold on us either.