Day 39- Jesus Last Teaching Before His Betrayal

In the Upper Room there is a note of finality in Jesus’ every action and word. For tonight, as He speaks, His betrayer comes carrying a coin purse with 30 silver pieces followed by a garrison of armed Roman soldiers and the blood-thirsty Jewish leaders. His disciples feel the intensity of the moment and the significance of their Master's words as the stars rise in the middle-eastern night sky. With everyone, less the betrayer, hanging on every word, Jesus taught them one last time. "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. I know longer call you servants, but friends. They have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. The world will hate you because you belong to me. But do not fear, I will send you the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide you." After teaching Jesus pauses, looks up to Heaven and prays to His Father on behalf of His disciples.

READ: John 15:1-27, 16:1-33, 17:1-26

Major Events

Jesus Last Words to his Disciples Before His Betrayal

  • The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-17)
  • The World Hates the Disciples (John 15:18-16:4)
  • The Work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:5-16)
  • The Disciples' Grief Will Turn to Joy (John 16:17-33)
  • Jesus Prays for Himself and His Disciples (John 17:1-19)
  • Jesus Prays for All Believers (John 17:20-26)

Major Topics

  • Fruitfulness
  • Abiding in Christ
  • Prayer
  • Discipleship
  • Love
  • Commandments
  • Joy
  • Love one another
  • Friend of God
  • Father God
  • Hated by the world
  • Persecution
  • Sin
  • Prophecy
  • Holy Spirit, Helper
  • Holy Spirit, Promised
  • Holy Spirit, Convicts
  • Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth

Video

John 15

John 16

John 17

Key Verses & Words

The Story

  • John 16:5-6 "But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' 6 "But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
  • John 16:17-18 Some of His disciples then said to one another, "What is this thing He is telling us, 'A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me'; and, 'because I go to the Father'?" 18 So they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
  • John 16:29-30 His disciples *said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. 30 "Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God."
  • John 17:13 "But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.

The Teachings of Jesus

  • John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
  • John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
  • John 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.
  • John 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
  • John 16:7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
  • John 16:28 "I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father."
  • John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
  • John 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
  • John 17:11 "I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.
  • John 17:14 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
  • John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
  • John 17:21-23 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.
  • John 17:26 and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

Questions for Reflection

The Vine and the Branches (John 15:1-17)

  • How are we to remain in Jesus? Why?
  • What does it mean to bear fruit as a Christian?
  • In what way is your joy complete?
  • What kind of friend are you to Jesus?

The World Hates the Disciples (John 15:18-16:4)

  • What is "the world"?
  • How does the world today hate the followers of Jesus?
  • When have you experienced the hatred of the world?
  • How has God chosen you out of the world?
  • How and when do you still feel a part of the world?
  • Who is "the Counselor"?
  • How does the Holy Spirit testify about Jesus to the world?

The Work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:5-16)

  • How is the Holy Spirit convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment?
  • Of what sins is the world guilty?
  • How does the Holy Spirit teach believers?
  • How has the Holy Spirit used you to bring glory to Jesus Christ?

The Disciples' Grief Will Turn to Joy (John 16:17-33)

  • What grief or sorrow in your life has God turned to joy?
  • For what can we ask the Father?
  • What relationship do we have with the Father today?
  • What troubles do we have in the world as followers of Christ?
  • How does the fact that Jesus has overcome the world encourage you?

Jesus Prays for Himself and His Disciples (John 17:1-19)

  • What example with regard to prayer did Jesus give us?
  • How can we experience the eternal life of which Jesus spoke?
  • How can we bring glory to God?
  • As believers, what is our relationship to the world?
  • What does your lifestyle indicate about your relationship to the world?
  • When and from what has God protected you?
  • How does God's truth sanctify us or make us holy?

Jesus Prays for All Believers (John 17:20-26)

  • In what way are all Christians one?
  • How are Christians today divided? Why?
  • Why is unity so difficult for Christians to achieve?
  • What relationship do you have with the Father and the Son?

Digging Deeper

Curious Christians

What is Jesus' High Priestly Prayer? (Jn 17)

John 17 contains the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in any of the Gospels. Jesus prays this after He finishes His final instructions to the disciples and before He is betrayed, arrested, and crucified. First, Jesus prays for Himself, then He prays for His disciples, and He closes the prayer by praying for all believers. This intercessory prayer is commonly called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer. Click here to continue.

Living the Lesson

Here is where the Holy Spirit has opportunity to bring great revelation and transformation in your life--in reflection and obedience to what you have been reading and studying in God's Word today. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can respond in obedience to the devotion today. Use the following acronym to prompt you.

Is there a...

  • SIN to confess?
  • PROMISE to claim?
  • ATTITUDE to change?
  • COMMAND to obey?
  • EXAMPLE to follow?
  • PRAYER to pray?
  • ERROR to avoid?
  • TRUTH to believe?
  • SOMETHING for which to praise God?