Jesus Predicts His Death And Resurrection (J57)

“The world won’t see me long, for I must leave;
Satan, prince of this world, comes for me;
Let not your hearts be troubled; do not grieve,
He can’t hold me; Father’s greater than he!
Because I live, you, too, will live again;
On that day, you will know I am in you;
Obey my teaching; your love’s not in vain;
I will dwell with you; my Father will, too!
When I go, my peace I give unto you,
Not as the world gives, which at best is brief;
You’d be glad I go, if you only knew,
My resurrection brings an end to grief!
Before this happens, I have told you so,
That your faith in me continue to grow!”

Scripture Quoted: John 14:19-20, 22-24, 27-31 (NIV)
“ ‘Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.’ “ … Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, ‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.’ … ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. You heard me say If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than me [while He is in the flesh of a man]. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens, you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and will do exactly what my Father has commanded me.’ “ [Brackets added]

Commentary on: John 14:19-31 (NIV)
Jesus was preparing His apostles for the blockbuster events that were immediately in front of them. He would be arrested, tried, crucified, buried, resurrected on the third day, spend 40 days more on the earth in His spiritual body, and then ascend back into heaven. The arresting party, led by Judas Iscariot, was preparing even then to set forth. That was the cause of His statement that “the prince of this earth” was coming. Satan is the one called by that name; he had beguiled Judas to betray Jesus. He thought he would get the upper hand in his battle with God, but the opposite was about to happen.

It is doubtful if the apostles comprehended the significance of what was about to happen; Judas (not Iscariot) asked Jesus why He wouldn’t be seen by the world but the apostles would see Him. Jesus’ answer was not clear to them; what He meant was that during the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension He would not let non-believers see Him, but He would let disciples see Him. When He spoke of them being glad to see Him go, He meant that when He died and then came back to life, that was a promise that all of His disciples would be raised from the dead. When He said that His Father and He would come and live with each believer, He was talking about how the Holy Spirit would indwell them after He returned to heaven. My next blog will discuss Jesus’ promise of sending the Spirit.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not die, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)