LIFE THROUGH CHRIST

 John 14:1-24

Wednesday, 31 December 2025

“…… because I live, you will live also.”   -John 14:19

Jesus in this discourse, spoken closer to His trial and crucifixion, is giving strong advice to His disciples and to all of us to cling on to Him and God the Father at times of distress. For Jesus’ disciples, their world is going fall apart very soon; their Shepherd is going to be stricken, and the sheep would be scattered (Matt.26:31).

Jesus was also aware that the church would be established soon after His resurrection and ascension and the intense persecution that the church will pass through. Foreseeing this, Jesus taught His disciples some vital lessons to live a life committed to Him.

• Life fully dependent on Him (Jn.14:19 … because I live, you will live also.)

In John15:6 Jesus said, “if anyone does not abide in Me, He is thrown away as a branch and dries up….” We are indebted to Christ to abide in Him, as He has designed a complete plan for our lives from salvation to eternity!

➢ Jesus took away sin – 1John3:5

➢ Jesus destroyed the works of the devil – 1John3:8

➢ Jesus became our ransom -Mark 10:45

➢ Jesus released us from our sins by His blood – Rev.1:5

➢ Jesus released us from the power of the devil – Heb.2:14-15

➢ Jesus appointed us Kings and Priests – Rev.1:6

➢ Jesus will transform our bodies into conformity with His body of glory – Phil.3:21

➢ Jesus prepared a place for us in Heaven and will come to take us there – John14:2-3 

• Life founded on His Word

Jesus told those who believed in Him to continue in His word in order to be His true disciples (John 8:31). His word gives us hope and guides us in our daily walk. As we study the word of God in John chapter 14 we can see the foundations of living in Christ:

1. The Promise (Holy Spirit)

John14:15-16 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father,     and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” When in John14:18 Jesus said : “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you”, He was not referring to His second coming, but His coming back to this world in the person of Holy Spirit, who will teach us and remind us about all that Jesus had taught. (John 14:26).

We know that on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) Holy Spirit came upon the 120 people who were eagerly waiting for the Promise. By His continuous presence in us, and His teaching and reminding functions, the Holy Spirit helps us to live a life founded on the word of God.

2. The Presence

   Jesus guaranteed His presence to those who decide to follow Him. Jn. 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and will disclose Myself to Him.” Further in Jn.14:23 Jesus said that “If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him,”

We read in Exodus that Moses when faced with tough challenges, yearned the presence of God. He valued the presence of God above everything, (See Exodus 33:15,16) Even their identity in that world, was God’s presence with them. The tangible presence of God was manifested to Moses and he even spoke with Moses face-to-face, God’ presence accompanied them as the Pillar of Cloud and Pillar of Fire all through their journey through the wilderness. In 1 Cor.10:4 Paul states that Jesus was the Rock that accompanied them. Even for us today Jesus promised His continued presence in Matt28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” When we live sensing His presence in our daily walk, we live in Him.

3. The Peace

One of the most important promises of Jesus is His divine peace. John14:27: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” Its only God’s perfect peace that can still our fears and calm our hearts as we live through Him.

Looking back at the past year, can we say we experienced His Presence and Peace in living through Christ? A successful Christian can only have a life through Christ!

Listen: 'Christ be all around me'