The Gospel of John: Expository Sermon #55
John 14:15-24
If you love Jesus...
Sermon Notes & Reflection Guide
1. Listening to the Word
- True faith that genuinely loves Jesus is proven beyond lip service by a life of (obedience) to the Lord's commandments in our daily routines.
- Prayer asked in the name of Jesus is the channel of power through which the Lord directly acts and answers when we ask for the (glory) of Jesus.
- Jesus did not leave us as orphans but sent another (Helper), the Holy Spirit, who is of the exact same essence, to be with us forever.
- While the world only believes what it can see, we live with the clear identity of being eternal (children) of God through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
2. Questions for Understanding the Passage
- What promise did Jesus give His disciples so they could fulfill their mission? (Verses 13-14, 16)
- The people of the world can neither know nor see the Holy Spirit, but how did Jesus say the disciples (Christians) could know the Holy Spirit? (Verse 17)
3. Questions for Application
- By observing what attitudes, words, or actions in my daily life can the people around me sense that 'I am someone who loves Jesus'?
- Recently in your life, when was a moment you felt lonely and desperate like an 'orphan'? How did your heart and perspective change today as you recognized the Holy Spirit dwelling within you through the Word?
4. Sharing Together
- Share an experience where God granted you deep peace (the grace of the Holy Spirit's presence) when you accepted a loss or surrendered your stubbornness in order to obey the Lord's Word.
Pray
- Lord, I repent of the pride that placed myself on the throne as king instead of God. Lead me to live the life of a true disciple who genuinely loves You and obeys Your Word.
- Lord, help us not to be intimidated by the visible threats of the world. Lead our church to fully rely on the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who is with us forever, so we may boldly carry out the 'greater works' You have entrusted to us.
Who Is the Helper?
The Helper in John 14:16 refers to the Holy Spirit. The term is derived from the Greek word paraklētos (παράκλητος), which comes from a verb meaning “to call alongside.” It carries the sense of “one who is called to help,” and can be translated as “Advocate,” “Counselor,” or “Comforter.”
Jesus promised that He would ask the Father to give the disciples “another Helper,” who would be with them forever (John 14:16–17). This Helper is called “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16–17). In light of His impending death, Jesus assured His disciples that He would send the Helper to take His place among them.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit as Helper is multifaceted. He teaches all things and brings to remembrance everything Jesus has said (John 14:26). Jesus declared that unless He departed, the Helper would not come; but when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7–8). When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide believers into all the truth. The Helper also testifies about Christ (John 15:26).
The Helper is the Father’s gift to those who love and obey the Son. The Father grants the Holy Spirit to those who are in a saving relationship with His Son.
- Gospel Serve, “Helper,” in Dictionary of Bible Cultural Background (Seoul: Word of Life Press, 2018), 638.
- Jeffrey E. Miller, “Helper,” in Lexham Bible Dictionary, ed. John D. Barry (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2021).
- Colin G. Kruse, The Gospel according to John, trans. Bae Yongdeok, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Seoul: Christian Literature Society of Korea, 2013), 453.
