John 13-17

Book: John

Jul 19

The Upper Room Discourse

The Upper Room Discourse: Jesus prepares the Disciples to take His word to the world in His absence (13—17).

The section in John 13—17 is a scene in an upper room in Jerusalem. As such it is part of an historical narrative in the Book of John. Thus as interpretation, this is all directed to the chosen apostles, and not to the reader. When one applies this to the reader, it must be done as part of the whole interpretation and application of the book. John 20:31 outlines this purpose and it must only be as part of that purpose that any application can be made. So, at the level of interpretation the reader must be careful not to insert any first person application. That can only come after the whole book is interpreted.

Following the Jews’ rejection of Jesus and soon crucifixion of Him, Jesus has taken the disciples aside and given them instructions regarding the continuance of the Word in His absence (recall that Jesus’ Word is necessary for Life (5:24), and this can be continued even without His physical presence).

Jesus will demonstrate that the disciples need to be just like He is, that is, sacrificial before God to give the new life to fellow believers. In other words, they, like Jesus will need to be willing to give their lives for the sake of the brother, that is that he is able to get the Word of Life. Of course, this sacrifice is related to the taking of the Word of Jesus, and not simply secular servitude.2 However, the service is not something they do on their own, but are passing on what Jesus has given them, the Word that is able to cleanse and put them in a relationship with God.

Following that example (foot-washing; chapter 13), Jesus will instruct them to act on His behalf during His absence. They will receive the Holy Spirit (chapter 14) who will ensure that they are able to carry the exact words of Jesus Christ (recorded in the Gospels, i.e., John), that they are to endure to death based on Jesus as the only source of Life, i.e., the Vine and Branches (chapters 15—16). Then He ends this discourse with a prayer that He be glorified, the apostles successfully carry the word, and for the unity in Him of those who believe through the apostolic word.