The purpose of this lesson: to stress the promise of physical suffering to the apostles; their escaping suffering was not an option.
The background of this text is quite important. It is extremely easy to lift verses from this reading and give them applications that Jesus neither intended nor promised to everyone. Be sure to determine who is speaking to who before meanings are decided.
A number of statements made in this conversation are abused or misinterpreted as a result of the context being ignored.
The general context: This is Jesus’ last night on earth as a physical being. This conversation occurred in the period between Jesus’ establishing the Lord’s Supper and his arrest. The conversation is between Jesus and eleven of the twelve disciples Jesus had hand-picked. Judas Iscariot already had departed to set his betrayal of Jesus in motion (see John 13:27, 30).
These are Jesus’ last words to the men Jesus felt close to. That increased the significance of what he said to them.
Realize these men had a special relationship with Jesus. Most (if not all) of them had been with Jesus on a 24-hours-a-day basis for much of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus personally picked them for their role (see John 15:16; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 3:13-15). These men heard Jesus’ teachings, saw Jesus’ miracles, and spent private time with Jesus. Though there were some things they misunderstood during Jesus’ ministry, though at times they had an incorrect focus during Jesus’ ministry, these men were special to Jesus. With them, Jesus would begin a world movement that would last, thus far, almost 2,000 years. If anyone was to receive special blessings from Jesus, these men would have received those blessings. If escape from suffering were a characteristic of Christianity, these men would have escaped suffering.
For numerous reasons they had a special relationship with Jesus. If Jesus was to promise anyone escape from physical suffering, it would have been these men.
To these men, Jesus gave some incredible promises in this conversation. (1) He said more than once that these men could ask God for anything in his name and receive it (see John 14:13, 14 and 15:7). This “asking” would be based on an understanding that came after Jesus’ resurrection. It would be based on the insights that came in Acts 2. The foundation for such “asking” was based on the love for Jesus and God that produced obedience. It was not an arbitrary “asking” based on physical lusts and desires, but an “asking” attuned to God’s purposes in Jesus.
The promise of the “asking” is incredible! This was not the promise they could have any physical desire they wished! It was a promise based on understanding—they would grasp who Jesus was, what his relationship with God was, and God’s purposes. This is the understanding that would govern their “asking.” When one understands Jesus, it changes what the person wants and what the person realizes is important.
(2) Jesus said the Holy Spirit (the Comforter, the Helper, the Counselor, the Advocate) would (a) teach them all things and (b) give them perfect recall of all Jesus said to them (see John 14:26). That is quite a blessing! Having taught about Jesus for over 50 years, I would like to be taught all things pertaining to being godly and have perfect recall of all Jesus taught. The “what” of their teaching about Jesus would never be an issue nor occupy their time. They needed to focus on the courage to teach Jesus’ message.
This promise is equally incredible! A deep knowledge of God’s purposes and perfect recall of Jesus’ teachings would be astounding today! The focus of the apostles was to be on sharing Jesus. They needed the courage to share.
However, what did Jesus declare to these special men about suffering? (1) All he said to them is based on Jesus’ premise declared in John 13:16—they were not greater than him. He used two easily understood examples: a slave is not greater than the one who owns him (or her); a person who is sent (on a mission or with a message) is not greater than the person who sent him (or her). These men (by personal choice) belonged to Jesus to take his message to people. Whatever Jesus endured, there was no injustice in these men enduring the same thing. Physical suffering was to be Jesus’ lot; physical suffering was to be their lot.
They needed to understand they were not better or more advanced than Jesus. We also need that understanding.
(2) Thus, as Jesus was hated, they would be hated also (see John 15:18). Why was Jesus hated? Because he did not subscribe to the values of those who led the Jewish people! Why would these men be hated? Because they would not endorse the values of the leaders of the societies they were in! It is the character of God that leads God’s people—not greed, not possession of power, not indulging physical desires, not manipulating other people to achieve personal objectives. It is rare to see compassion, mercy, forgiveness, the true championing of the powerless, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and self-sacrifice in those who lead the societies of our world. It takes enormous courage to live by God’s values in an evil world. It takes even more courage to teach people to live by God’s values in an evil world. Such emphasis is aggressively despised by many who lead people!
God’s values were not popular then, are not popular now, and never will be popular. Those values are difficult in any age because we are attracted to the values of evil. Knowing how to be a positive influence for God is a continual challenge. We never want people to reject God because of our attitude.
(3) These men could expect to be barred from synagogues because they endorsed Jesus’ message about God’s values and focus. Understand that the synagogue was a thoroughly Jewish institution that guaranteed the survival of Jewish people in difficult moments. It was fundamentally a religious institution that served a basic role in Jewish life for centuries. For a Jew to be shunned by synagogues was a serious, unthinkable “kiss of death” (see John 9:18-23). Since synagogues harassed Jesus, synagogues would harass these men.
To a Jewish person (all the apostles were Jewish), synagogue rejection was an unthinkable consequence. The synagogue was a place any Jewish person could go anywhere and find support and encouragement—even in an alien environment.
(4) These men would experience such severe opposition that religious people would consider their deaths to be a service to God (see John 16:2). Consider Paul’s opposition to Jewish Christians in Acts 8:1-3, 9:1, 2, Galatians 1:13, 14, and 1 Timothy 1:12-14 during his pre-Christian existence. Those who said they represented God would kill these men!
Stress that in the Jewish world and the idolatrous world, becoming a Christian was NOT a popular, convenient thing to do. To be part of a “new religion” that rejected common lifestyles and values was considered a foolish, dangerous thing. The Roman world needed to be “protected” from Christianity and its influence.
Never did Jesus promise these men an easy, trouble-free life in this physical world. Jesus did not even pray that these men would be delivered from experiencing the hardships produced by opposition in this world. Read John 17:14-21. Jesus prayed for their endurance, not that they be taken away from the opposition.
In the first century, suffering was a common experience produced as a consequence for being Christian. Only in a few (not in a majority of) modern societies has Christianity been considered to be an asset to the society. Today a society may receive anything Christianity gives, but still regard Christianity to be suspect or an enemy.
If suffering was to be expected by those closest to Jesus, why should today’s disciples feel abandoned by Jesus if commitment to God’s values results in suffering?
From the beginning, suffering in the physical world often has been a consequence of being Christian—the person who has faith in Jesus resists the devil, evil people, and often non-religious people. The manner that those in Christ endure physical suffering is one of the ways Christians show faith in Jesus.
FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION
1. Why is the background so important in this text? What is the general context? When did this conversation occur? Who is the conversation between?
a. The background is critical to prevent us from making applications Jesus neither intended nor promised everyone.
b .General context: This was Jesus’ last night on earth as a physical person.
c. The conversation is between Jesus and the eleven of the twelve apostles.
2. What must we realize? What would Jesus begin with these men?
a. We must realize these men had a special relationship with Jesus.
b. Jesus would begin a world-wide movement with these men.
3. Give and explain two incredible promises Jesus made to these men.
Jesus promised them (a) God would give them anything they asked in his name and (b) the Holy Spirit would teach them all things and give them perfect recall of all Jesus taught them. The explanation should include the understanding that the message would not be a matter of discovery or occupy their time, but all their time would be consumed by sharing Jesus’ message.
4. All Jesus said to them about suffering is based on what premise?
It was based on the premise of John 13:16—they were not greater than Jesus.
5. Why was Jesus hated?
Jesus was hated because he did not endorse the values of those who led the Jewish people.
6. God’s people should NOT be led by what?
God’s people are NOT led by greed, possession of power, indulging physical desires, or manipulating people to achieve personal objectives.
7. What is rare to see?
It is rare to see leaders of societies base their leadership on compassion, mercy, forgiveness, being true champions of the powerless, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and self-sacrifice.
8. Why could these men expect to be barred from synagogues?
They could expect to be barred because they endorsed Jesus’ message about God, His values, and His focus.
9. How severe would the opposition against them be?
Opposition would be so severe that religious people would consider killing an apostle as an act of service to God.
10. Never did Jesus promise these men what?
Jesus never promised the apostles an easy, trouble-free life in this physical world.
11. What did Jesus pray for? What did Jesus NOT pray for?
Jesus prayed for the apostles’ endurance, NOT that the apostles be taken away from opposition.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 8