Returning to the Father / The Gospel of John

 Returning to the Father
John 13-16 June 11, 2023   

1. Introduction:
   1. Have you ever had a very serious conversation with someone because you knew that very soon things were going to change in a big way?  You want to make sure you cover the right things, the most important things and you measure those words carefully. 
      1. Kim and I had one of those conversations with each one of our daughters just about a week before they got married.  For us the most important area we wanted to cover was to see if there were any unresolved hurts between them and us that we could address before they got married so they could start this new relationship fresh and free from any baggage from us.  
      2. Well things are about to change with me and MVC in a big way, and in my last series I wanted to make sure I covered the right things, the most important things – 
         1. Literally, for the last few years, I have been thinking about what I would say and I came up with all kinds of ideas.

I am already thinking and making notes on what I would say in my very last message to this precious church family Kim and I love so much.

1. Well where I landed for this final series is the upper room discourse because these were Jesus’ words to his closest followers and friends right before things were going to change in a very big way.
   1. I have always operated under the conviction that what God has to say in his word is always better and more powerful than my best ideas.  
   2. So I put aside all my ideas and decided to focus upon the areas that Jesus thought were most important for his followers to hear before things were going to change with them in a big way. 
2. Turn to John 13 in your Bibles and let me set a little context  
   1. Literally, Jesus knew that within fifteen hours, he would be hanging on the cross and not long after that, he would be going back to his Father. He was having his last meal, the Passover meal, with his followers and friends, the twelve disciples.
   2. Read John 13:1-4 
   3. During this meal in chapter 13 we see three key things
      1. Judas leaving the meal to set up his betrayal of Jesus  
      2. Jesus washing the feet of his disciples as an example of humble service to one another for them to follow
      3. Finally, we see Jesus giving them the new commandment of loving one another
3. All of this brings me to theme of my message this morning, which was the backdrop and underlying theme of the upper room discourse, a theme that Jesus kept going back to during this time, one which the disciples did not fully understand and kept questioning Jesus about that evening.  

• It is simply this 

1.  Jesus is returning to the Father
   1. We already saw in verses one and three in chapter 13 that Jesus knew he was about to go back to the Father. Now he tells his followers this. Look at v33
      1. As I read this note that, the theme we rightly spend a lot of time on, loving one another as Jesus loved us, flew right over their heads and they had little concern regarding it in light of the news that Jesus was leaving them.
      2. Read v33-38
         1. V33- Jesus had told the Jews the same thing before and they reasoned that either he was going to flee to the dispersion among the Greeks or he is going to kill himself
      3. In v36 Peter wanted to know where he was going – Jesus’ response was “Where I am going you cannot follow me now but you will later!”
      4. V37 why can’t I follow you right now– I will even die for you if I have to – then Jesus predicted that even with all the love and commitment he would still deny him – a lesson we need to humbly consider for ourselves.
   2. He moves on in chapter 14 to tell them where he is going
      1. Read v1-4
      2. Simply, Jesus is going to his Father’s house to prepare a place for them and that he is going to come back again and receive them to himself so that where Jesus is, they can be with him also
      3. Let me quickly cross-reference Jesus final reference to this in this discourse where he makes it very clear, as to where he is going!
         1. Read John 16:28
         2. We see in this verse both the incarnation and the ascension of Jesus – Jesus coming into the world and Jesus leaving the world to be with the father. 
      4. Turn back to John 14:3 - I believe this is referring to the rapture.
      5. That is the exact purpose and a great summary of the events of the rapture of the church.  Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 
      6. We will see later in this discourse that the purpose of the giving us the Holy Spirit is to be with us.   The purpose of verses 2 & 3 is for us to be with him, which is the rapture, so that we might be with him where he is!
   3. But Jesus keeps coming back to this theme repeatedly.  Let me show you a few other places.   
      1. Read John 14:18
         1. We will see in weeks to come that the great promise of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus. indwelling us comes out of the back drop of Jesus leaving but not leaving them alone like an orphan without any help 
      2. Read John 14:28 
         1. Bottom line, if their greatest concern was for Jesus rather than themselves then they would be rejoicing for him because he is going back to the Father
      3. Read John 16:5-6
         1. We see that this information filled their hearts with sorrow
      4. Read John 16:7
         1. Jesus said there is an advantage to him going away – he will be sending the Holy Spirit to them.  
      5. Read 16:17-22 
         1. They still do not get it
         2. Jesus explains that his death will bring weeping, lament, grief and anguish 
         3. But his resurrection will bring them joy and rejoicing
      6. Read 16:28 – where we see Jesus’ final reference to this in the discourse
         1. Again, we see Jesus’ incarnation into this world and his ascension out of this world.
   4. The whole purpose of the upper room discourse is that Jesus is giving them final instructions before he leaves to go back to the Father.
      1. These instructions are essential things for them to know while they live here on earth until Jesus returns for them
      2. So this series is not just about Pat giving final words he wants to say before he leaves but rather words that are essential for each one of us because we are living in that time between Jesus’ ascension to heaven and his return for us.   
2.  Communion
   1. It was during the Passover meal that Jesus instituted the practice we still do today, communion, a time to remember his death for us.  
   2. Turn to Luke 22:14
      1. In Luke we see this same story of the last supper in the upper room from another perspective with some added details
      2. Read v14-18    
   3. Want to note in particular that Jesus said he would not eat and drink the cup with them again until the kingdom of God.
      1. This is a practice, an ordinance that Jesus wants his followers to practice with each other at this time until he returns
      2. Then it will be done again with Jesus and his followers when the future kingdom comes.
   4. This forms our great and ultimate hope.  Paul called it the blessed hope, the time when Jesus returns.   
      1. A person who has God’s grace in operation in their heart deep within is looking forward to this time when Jesus returns.   
      2. Titus 2:13 teaches us that looking forward to Jesus’ return is one of the graces that God works in our hearts! 
   5. As we take communion would you remember what Jesus did for you.  
      1. Search your heart if you are eagerly looking forward to the return of Jesus.
      2. If not ask God to show you what is blocking that within you and ask him to unleash his grace within you to produce it!
   6. Pass the elements