John 14:23-29 Commentary

“I do not give to you as the world gives.” – Jesus

Our lectionary passage this week is Jesus’s response to a disciples’ question. Jesus has been talking about the coming Holy Spirit and how he will reveal himself to his disciples even though he is no longer with them. And one of them basically asks him, Why us rather than everyone else? How?

“I do not give to you as the world gives.”

Well, that’s part of Jesus’s reply. I think it’s a pretty good summary of the other things he’s trying to convey to him. For people to be able to see and to understand an encounter with God, whether the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit, there needs to be some sort of familiarity or way of recognizing that what’s being experienced is different—it is not as the world would give it.

Jesus describes this familiarity, or ability to resonant with and recognize the revelation of the Almighty God as love.

“Those who love me,” Jesus says, “keep my word.”

“Those who love me,” Jesus says, “my Father will love.”

“Those who love me,” Jesus says, “we will come to them.”

“Those who love me,” Jesus says, “we will make our home with them.”

But how is this different than the way the world gives? There’s lots of things that demand our love and devotion. But how many of those things actually come with the gift of peace? How many of those demands come with scare tactics and fearmongering, feeding on a sense of scarcity or lack? How many of those things point us towards the good of others instead of only thinking of ourselves?

As I’m writing this, here in Canada we’re going through another election cycle so the campaign strategy of playing on people’s fear and everything that’s wrong and how it’s always the other guy’s fault, is front and center. This is how the world gives: more trouble, less peace, more fear, less connection. And yet, Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

Look again at what Jesus says about the process of loving him. Remember that the law of God is not meant to punitive, but to point us to the fullness of life and community that can be lived as blessings to others. Remember that knowing the Father’s love is knowing the care and affection of a provider, a sustainer, and a caring and doting God who sings over his children. Remember that loving Jesus becomes a journey of having the fullness of God dwell inside of you and the body of believers to which you belong. Remember that loving Jesus is about becoming God’s home: that your life and your church community is a space and reality that God LOVES to be a part of.

And Jesus doesn’t just describe this cause and effect, he tells us how we can give ourselves to it. He promises that God’s very self, the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, will teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus has said to us. The Advocate will advocate for the Father and Son’s love just as much as the Advocate will act on our behalf with the Father and Son. The Holy Spirit is the way that the Father and Son make their home in us. The Holy Spirit helps feel and know and understand God’s love—let alone give us the power to actually be obedient to the kind of life the Creator has designed.

“I do not give as the world gives,” Jesus says. And how true is that. Jesus humbled himself and took on our humanness in order to show us a life and death of love. In fact, God provides all that we need to love and be faithful, equipping and empowering us with the forgiveness and presence of his very self, setting us free from any sense or need to earn our salvation so that we can live an abundant life of blessing. This is God’s peace!

Textual Point

For the last three weeks the lectionary has taken us backwards to some of Jesus’s teachings prior to his crucifixion and resurrection. However, as you’ve probably noticed, the theme has been focused on how we live and witness to Jesus as his disciples even when he goes away. This is all in preparation for Ascension day, which is later this week on May 29 (2025), and is when we mark Jesus’s return to the Father in heaven.

Illustration Idea

I remember this commercial for a cell phone company that set to music scenes of a working parent on a business trip using a video call to connect with their children at bedtime. It’s something that we almost take for granted: that we can communicate through caring connection that even though we have gone somewhere, we will be coming home. And yet, we know that the real thing, in person contact and presence, is even better. The commercial ends with the parent showing up at the bedtime on a future night, continuing the pattern of bedtime stories they had over their video calls. Just so, the Holy Spirit is more than a message from Jesus that he and the Father are coming back: the Holy Spirit IS God with us. But how awesome is it to consider that the Holy Spirit with us is a promise and guarantee that all three persons of the Trinity are making their home in us?