John 14:13-31 Loving Jesus Leads to Obedience
Scripture Reading: John 14:13-31
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jn 14:13–31.
Summary
Jesus reassures His disciples that loving Him naturally leads to obedience. He emphasizes that love for God is not about following rules out of obligation, but about a deep, personal relationship that transforms our desires and actions. He promises that those who love Him will receive the Holy Spirit as their encourager, guiding them in truth and strengthening their faithfulness.
Questions
How does Jesus’ view of obedience differ from the world’s view of obedience? (Compare John 14:15, 21, 24, 31 with a worldly example of obedience based on fear or obligation.)
In what ways does love change the way we act? Think about a time when love for someone influenced your decisions—how does this apply to loving Jesus?
Prayer
Lord, help me to love You more deeply so that my obedience flows naturally from my relationship with You. Remove any legalistic mindset in my heart and replace it with true devotion. May Your Spirit guide me into deeper faithfulness. Amen.
