Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

I can’t imagine the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that comes from losing your parents—the ones who are supposed to love, comfort, and protect you. When Jesus announced he was leaving, the disciples felt as if they were being orphaned. Jesus assures them that they do not need to fear, for they are not being left vulnerable and exposed (v. 18). What a tender statement from the lips of the Lord! He understands what is taking place in the hearts of his disciples. At a moment when they can’t adequately capture what they’re feeling, he sums it up perfectly and in the same breath gives them three assurances of his love for them.

The first assurance is right there in verse 18: “I am coming to you.” He will return to them. After the resurrection he will not appear to the world—to those who don’t believe—but he will appear to his disciples (vv. 19-20). They will see him again and in such a way that they will never doubt Jesus is the Son of God.

This promise of his postresurrection appearance isn’t made to us two thousand years removed, but the promise of the resurrection is. That statement tucked right in the middle—“Because I live, you will live too” (v. 19)—is true for us. We know of Jesus’s love; we are assured of his love because he rose from the dead, conquering death and the grave for us. He went to the cross because he loved us, and he rose triumphantly so we would no longer need to fear death.

Throughout these verses, he assures them that the Father will send his Spirit to indwell them (v. 16). The Fatherwill give them another Helper. He calls the Holy Spirit the “Counselor”—the Greek word is paraclete. Since it’s only used in John, it’s tough to nail down a precise definition of this term. It’s translated “Helper, Comforter, Advocate.” Some translate it literally as the one who “comes alongside.” The key to understanding this term is to look at the word Jesus uses right before it. He promises the disciples “another” paraclete will come. Another means they currently have a paraclete. The Holy Spirit will come and fill the role Jesus has been fulfilling with the disciples. He will comfort, strengthen, and teach them, just as Jesus has been doing.

Have you ever wished Jesus was sitting next to you and you could have a face-to-face conversation with him? Have you ever found yourself longing to tell him all about your day and ask him to help you make sense of it all? We have that ability and opportunity because of the Spirit. Just as Jesus could comfort and strengthen his disciples, we can be comforted and strengthened through his Spirit who dwells within us.

Have you really embraced this promise? You may be able to theologically discuss why the coming of the Holy Spirit is a good thing, but can you honestly say his role in your life is similar to the presence of Jesus in the lives of the disciples? We have downplayed this promise from Jesus in our lives and churches. Because of our zeal to defend the sufficiency of Scripture, we have forgotten the significant role the Holy Spirit is to play in the life of every disciple of Jesus Christ. This promise is not given so the disciples can get the answer correct on a theology midterm. Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit so they will know that his love for them will never falter or die but will grow and flourish, even though he’s returning to the Father. This promise of the Holy Spirit is their lifeline when the seas get rough over the following days. We can easily take the blessing of the Holy Spirit for granted.

Jesus promises he is going to prepare a home for them in heaven, and now he says he’s also preparing a home for himself in them(v. 17). When the Spirit makes his home in the disciples, he begins his ministry of pointing them to Jesus. Throughout the New Testament we find the Holy Spirit doesn’t take the spotlight and shine it on himself; rather, he is the spotlight operator and always focuses the light on Jesus. Even here Jesus promises the disciples the Holy Spirit will come in his name and remind them of his teaching (v. 26).

A common farewell around the time of Jesus was to wish someone “peace.” When Jesus wishes them “peace,” it’s not a superficial good-bye, but a genuine reality (v. 27). He has brought peace with God, and he’s giving them a peace the world cannot offer. This peace will soothe their hearts when the world around them is in turmoil. The peace Jesus gives comes through his defeat of mankind’s greatest foes: sin, death, and Satan. The cosmic battle is about to begin, but the outcome was decided long ago (v. 30). Satan has nothing to bring against Jesus and will be defeated. Peace for us came through great violence. Peace with God was delivered when Jesus offered up his life to be brutally slaughtered. D. A. Carson reflects on this great irony:

The pax Romana (peace of Rome) was won and maintained by a brutal sword; not a few Jews thought the Messianic peace would have to be secured by a still mightier sword. Instead, it was secured by an innocent man who suffered and died at the hands of the Romans, of the Jews, and of all of us. And by his death he effected for his own followers peace with God, and therefore “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding.” (John, 506)

That’s the beauty of the gospel. We have peace because Jesus fought a war. He fought our fight, so we could have his peace.

One of the most popular Christian anthems is also the simplest. It says, “Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so” (Anna B. Warner, “Jesus Loves Me”).

At the height of persecution in Communist China, a Christian sent a message to a friend. The message escaped the attention of the censors, because it said simply: “The this I know people are well”—but that phrase, the “this I know people” clearly identified the Christian community in China. (Donovan, “Jesus Loves Me”; emphasis original)

“This I know people.” Our confidence is in the love of Jesus. We know he loves us because we’ve experienced his love. His love defines us individually and as a community.