 
 BACKGROUND - We’re finishing the first part of a
series of teachings by Jesus that address specific themes of departure and
"replacement" of his presence. The lesson is circular rather than strict linear
logic. The passage opens with words about the quality of love that Jesus has modeled for
the disciples during his three years with them. "Love" in the beloved
disciple’s community = obedience and faithfulness to the "commandments" or
teachings of Christ.
PRESENCE - The second part of the lesson moves us away from absence to replacement
presence. The Holy Spirit-breath, wind, spirit-will become the Master Teacher and ensure
that what Jesus began to do and to teach will continue within the Johannine community.
MODEL OF LOVE - When Jesus’ disciples follow his own model of love, then, it
is possible for relationship with Jesus to extend beyond the first generation of
believers. Relationship with Jesus does not depend on physical presence, but on the
presence of the love of God in the life of the community. And the love for God is present
whenever those who love Jesus keep his commandments (v. 21, 23), when they continue to
live out the love that Jesus showed them in his own life and death. [1]
 Love=obedience. That’s what
comes through this discourse of Jesus. "If anyone loves me . . . will obey my
teaching" (v. 23). How does that kind of relationship reflect your own journey with
Jesus?
Nothing is really lost by a life of sacrifice; everything is lost by failure to obey
God’s call. -Henry Parry Liddon
When we have the feeling that on some occasion we have disobeyed God, it simply means
that for a time we have ceased to desire obedience. - Simone Weil
 Explore the following quote from the
NIB as a way to bridge the gap between ancient text and post-modern spirituality:
"When Jesus’ disciples follow his own model of love, then, it is possible
for relationship with Jesus to extend beyond the first generation of believers.
Relationship with Jesus does not depend on physical presence, but on the presence of the
love of God in the life of the community. And the love for God is present whenever those
who love Jesus keep his commandments (v. 21, 23), when they continue to live out the love
that Jesus showed them in his own life and death. Since in the Farewell Discourse Jesus
speaks to the time after his hour, the reader of the Gospel is placed in the same
situation as the narrative audience. That is, the contemporary reader must also discover
what it means to have relationship with Jesus in his absence. The insistence of these
verses on love as the sign of fidelity to Jesus and the way to communion with God, Jesus,
and the Paracletos suggests that the believing community in any generation will enter into
relationship with Jesus only when it takes on and lives out the love of the
incarnation." [2]
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[1] The New Interpreter’s Bible IX (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), page
749-50.
[2] Ibid, pages 749-750.
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