Christosis: Participation in Christ and Imitation of Christනියැදිය

Remember, our main idea is that Jesus became like us so that we could be with Him and become like Him.

I’m sure you’ve had experiences being around someone who consistently repeats themselves or tells the same stories over and over. I know I’ve been that person before.

When we get to our text—John 14:15-31—it can feel like Jesus is that guy repeating himself. Sometimes, I find myself reading the text and thinking, “Jesus, can we get on with the next idea?”

Yet, Jesus is breaking down some critical truths about what it means to be “in him” or to be his “follower.”

I would suggest we break down the text this way:

1. Love is Obedience (John 14:15)
2. Obedience is an Invitation for the Spirit (John 14:16-17)
3. The Spirit Initiates the New Genesis (John 14:18-29)
4. Beware the Alternative to the New Genesis (John 14:30-31)

1. Love is obedience.

Remember that classic song from the 1990s that asked the question, “What is love?” That’s a profound question. The Bible describes love in several ways. Love is complex, but in our text today, Jesus defines love as obedience.

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” – John 14:15 (NLT)

Jesus says that those who truly love Him will obey His commandments.

This is a challenging statement from Jesus, but for His listeners, this was nothing new. In the Jewish world, love and obedience were always connected. Consider the following Old Testament passages that connect obedience and love:

But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. – Exodus 20:6 (NLT)

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. – Deuteronomy 7:9 (NLT)

You could say it this way:

How we live reveals who or what we love.

2. Obedience is an Invitation for the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit indwells followers of Jesus.

Notice how Jesus begins verse 16:

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” – John 14:16–17 (NLT)

He starts with “And.”

Jesus connects the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to obedience to Him.

This means we cannot become entitled about the gift of the Holy Spirit. Instead, the Holy Spirit comes as a result of humility and functions as an agent to encourage obedience.

3. The Spirit Is the Agent of the New Genesis.

John 1 is a parallel to Genesis 1. Both tell the story of a beginning. In other words, John’s Gospel tells the story of a New Genesis.

Jesus is now revealing the behind-the-scenes reality of this New Genesis.

He’s telling His followers how they can be New Genesis people in an anti-Genesis world—how they can be light in the darkness.

First, Jesus envisions the New Genesis Family:

“No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you.” – John 14:18

Many in Jesus’ world would have been abandoned or rejected by their families for choosing to follow Him.

The churches to which Paul wrote were filled with outcasts. The church became their family.

In the New Genesis, we are adopted into God’s eternal family.

You don’t just gain a new Father—you gain new siblings as well.

Secondly, Jesus envisions the New Genesis Life:

“Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.” – John 14:19

This echoes Genesis 1–2, where life was flourishing.

There is one path back to that kind of life—and that path is Jesus. The New Genesis is a reality where life is victorious.

Thirdly, Jesus envisions New Genesis Unity:

20When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them. 22Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” 23Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. - John 14:20-24 (NLT)

Jesus uses the language of the Father in the Son and the Son in us—God is making His home with us.

This brings us back to Genesis, where there was a perfect, uninterrupted union between God and His creation.

Fourthly, Jesus envisions the New Genesis Helper:

“I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” – John 14:25-26

Jesus is transitioning from the ministry of the Son to the ministry of the Spirit. The Spirit is how we become New Genesis people in an anti-Genesis world.

Remember: Jesus was led by and filled with the Spirit:

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit...” – Matthew 4:1a

Paul understood the Spirit of Jesus to be synonymous with the Holy Spirit:

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. - Romans 8:9-11

6And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” - Galatians 4:6

The Spirit’s work is Jesus’ work.

Jesus’ work is the Spirit’s work.

The Spirit is the means by which we participate in the New Genesis.

Lastly, Jesus envisions the New Genesis initiating Peace, Joy, and Hope:

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. - John 14:27-29

Why would Jesus say He is one with the Father (John 10:30; 14:9) and yet also say the Father is greater?

Consider this insight from Edward Klink in his commentary on John:

“This comparison is not to be interpreted like the ancient heretics, the Arians, who argued that the Son was less than equal to the Father... Rather, what is ‘greater’ is the Father’s will, out of which Christ has been sent and to which he has continually been dependent and obedient. Jesus is not trying to separate the Father from the Son according to their distinct persons but to join them together according to their united work.” – Edward Klink

4. Beware the Alternative to the New Genesis.

“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.” – John 14:30 31

Jesus is alluding to the victory of the cross.

The “ruler” of this world will come, and he will always try to convince Jesus’ followers that he has won the day. But he has no power over Jesus. The resurrection will ultimately prove that the ruler of this world has no hold on King Jesus.

In Jesus’ life, death never wins. He is always victorious.

Never choose a lesser story over God’s greater story.

In Summary:

1. Love is Obedience (John 14:15)
2. Obedience is an Invitation for the Spirit (John 14:16-17)
3. The Spirit Initiates the New Genesis (John 14:18-29)
4. Beware the Alternative to the New Genesis (John 14:30-31)

To become like Jesus is to walk in loving obedience to the Spirit.