John – Chapter 14:18-31
v. 18 “I will not leave you orphans” – What is said of the sending of the Spirit is also said of Jesus himself. In 13:33 Jesus calls His disciples “children,” but He is not their Father. Jesus’s abiding presence through Word and Sacrament also brings union with His Father and theirs. In this abiding presence is both the gift of the Spirit and thus, of life. “In that day” refers to His cross and resurrection. v.19-20 “A little while” – This is a heavily charged phrase from the Old Testament ( Is 10:25; 29:17; Jer 28:17; Ho 1:4; Ps 36:10). Jesus’ coming will not be long and He will deliver them from their uncertainty. His whole self-revelation is that He is the Resurrection ad the Life (11:25; cf. 5:26-27; 10:18). All who are joined to Him are no longer under death’s power (10:28-30). v. 21 “I will love him and manifest Myself to him” – Jesus circles back to v.15, reminding the disciples of the broader context. “He who has My commandments and keeps them” parallels “hears and follows” (12:47) and “hears and believes” (5:24). Love and fellowship are given through the Word, whereby the Father makes His dwelling in those who receive Jesus. The word translated “manifest” (ἐμφανίζω) only occurs here in John’s Gospel, what is called a “hapax legomena.” It can have several meanings including “to become visible” and “to make clear or plain.” It is used for Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection elsewhere (Mt. 27:53; Acts 10:43; Mk 16:9). v. 22-24 “We will come to him” – Not Judas Iscariot but later identified as Thaddaeus (Mt 3:18) and Lebbaeus (Mt. 10:3). Why must the world be excluded? Wouldn’t the world, on seeing Jesus again, receive Him? No, only those who keep His Word as the Word of the One sent by the Father will “see” Him, now with a new element “and make our home with him.” Keeping His Word is the criterion for loving and belonging to him. The idea of God dwelling with His people is a frequent OT image (Ex 25:8; Ezk. 37:26f; Zech 2:10 ). Now He will dwell in the hearts of the people (4:23-24) by the indwelling of the Spirit (v. 17). Note the use of the first person plural, “we.” Jesus no longer comes alone, as one sent by the Father. He comes, together with…
