Lesson #57 The Upper Room Discourse The Seminal Foundation for the Church John 13:1 Luke 22:7-16 Presented Live on February 11, 2018

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Lesson #57 The Upper Room Discourse The Seminal Foundation for the Church John 13:1 Luke 22:7-16 Presented Live on February 11, 2018 I. Introduction and review A.

1 Lesson #57 The Upper Room Discourse The Seminal Foundation for the Church John 13:1 Luke 22:7-16 Presented Live on February 11, 2018 I. Introduction and review A. Jesus was moving through the passion week in seclusion B. About three days into the week Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives and delivered the Olivet discourse 1. That discourse is not recorded in the Gospel of John, but in all of the other gospels 2. In John there were seven discourses recorded by John a. New birth [3:1-36] b. Water of life [4:1-42] c. Equality with the Father [ 5:19-47] d. Bread of life [6:22-26] e. Life giving Spirit [7:1-52] f. Light of the world [8:12-59] g. Good shepherd [10:1-42] Page 1 of 8

2 h. These discourses are considered minor discourses (1) They are contained in a chapter or less (2) But minor as a description does not speak to their importance, only their length 3. Jesus, during His earthly ministry delivered three (3) major discourses a. The Sermon on the Mount b. The Olivet Discourse c. The Upper Room Discourse 4. To understand what is going on and to adopt the correct the perspective to use when interpreting these passages we must compare and contrast their context and their goals 5. The Sermon on the Mount [Matt. 5-7] a. It looked back to Old Testament Law and applied from God s perspective b. It was delivered in the midst of Jesus preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom c. It was delivered to the Jewish people d. It spoke of how one should prepare for and how it would be in the kingdom 6. The Olivet Discourse [Matt ] a. It was delivered by Jesus on the third day of the Passion week b. It was prompted by the disciples asking Him about the destruction of the Temple that He had predicted c. The only ones present were His disciples d. They were sitting on the Mount of Olives Page 2 of 8

3 e. This discourse contained a tone of farewell in that the focus of God was leaving the nation of Israel, on a temporary basis f. But throughout this discourse Jesus spoke solely of the future of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel, that is about what their future held when they were restored g. Jesus used Old Testament passages, including Dan. 9:27, to explain and support what He was saying to them h. If that contextual understanding is so, does it help us to understand what is important for the Church? (1) Should we search in the Olivet Discourse for explanations or predictions concerning the rapture? (2) More specifically, does verse 24:36 apply to the rapture [24:32-39] 7. The Upper Room Discourse a. Is quite different from the Olivet Discourse b. It occurs on the sixth day of the passion week c. It occurs because Jesus, as He has told His disciples, is leaving this earth and turning over the Church to the Holy Spirit d. Jesus clear focus is to acquaint His disciples with the provisions that God has provided for them to carry out the mandates of the Church e. This discourse is not based on Old Testament provisions and precepts, but instead on unwritten, Page 3 of 8

4 II. III. New Testament doctrines, truths, promises and predictions 8. So it is with that understanding that we should approach the Upper Room Discourse C. Now it was the evening of the Passover and Jesus enters Jerusalem to take part in the Passover Seder John chooses not to tell us much about how it came about, only what was said A. Consider John 13:1 B. Now let s consider a fuller version of the story of the setting of the Upper Room Discourse Luke 22:7-16 The time spent in the upper room was a full and complete discourse, led and directed by Jesus on some very important topics A. Lewis Chafer, the founder of Dallas Theological Seminary and author of Systematic Theology, said this about the upper room discourse B. The Upper Room Discourse... is the seed-plot of that form of doctrine which is later developed in the Epistles. C. But it is much more than just that 1. It is a discussion of ways and means 2. It is also a clear clarion call for discipleship D. Is there a difference between salvation and discipleship? E. It seems that a comparison is in order: 1. Salvation (initially) a. It is a free gift b. It is free because Jesus paid the price for it c. The only prerequisite is faith, and faith alone d. It is immediate Page 4 of 8

5 e. In the description found in Romans, it is called Justification f. All Christians have experienced salvation g. The result is spending eternity with our Lord and Savior 2. Discipleship a. It can be quite costly b. It is the believer who pays the price c. There are multiple conditions and prerequisites d. It is a life long process e. In the description found in Romans, it is called Sanctification f. Many Christians never experience discipleship g. The results are rewards and authority F. There are seven themes or motifs set out in this Upper Room Discourse of Jesus, according to Lewis Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. 5, pgs The believer s union with their Lord 2. Restoration of broken relationship with our God 3. Abiding in Christ as a prerequisite to fruit bearing 4. The Church and her members relationship with the Holy Spirit 5. The relationship between the Church s members 6. How we should not pray 7. The new gospel direction and hope IV. Understanding the key to discipleship A. On God s side of things it s the activity and work of the Holy Spirit Page 5 of 8

6 B. On our side it is faith, that is, the same faith that resulted in our justification empowers our sanctification C. Consider the purpose passage in the Gospel of John D. John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. 1. pisteu,w pisteuo {pist-yoo'-o} Meaning: 1) to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in 2. The same Greek word is used in both places 3. The first time this word is used: verb subjunctive aorist active 2nd person plural a. Aorist The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action b. Subjunctive The subjunctive mood is the mood of possibility and potentiality. 4. The second time that this word is used: a. Participle The Greek participle corresponds for the most part to the English participle, reflecting "- ing" or continuing action b. Present The present tense represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. 5. This second reference to faith is about a continuing faith that forms the foundation of discipleship 6. Those who own homes in this area of the country, should Page 6 of 8

7 know the importance of a good foundation 7. But is faith really the key to discipleship? Consider: a. Colossians 2:6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, b. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. E. Over the weeks to come, we will learn what it is that Jesus thought it important to teach His first disciples. We must: 1. Learn, 2. Practice and 3. Persevere V. One final thought: When the servant of God, is in the will of God, he is immortal until his work here on earth is done Believer s Bible Class, & Douglas W. Brady Page 7 of 8

8 Something to Think About. Without Christ: Without Christ, man would be a corpse waiting to be thrown in the lake of fire. Without Christ, the old sacrificial system would continue without effect. Without Christ, God s love for the world would be unknown and not experienced Without Christ, there would be no new covenant between God and man by which God forgives sinners and remembers their sins no more. Without Christ, the film of the human life with its tragic scenes would remain, waiting to be projected on the Judgment Day. Without Christ, there would be no salvation from the consequences of sin. Without Christ, there would be no deliverance from the power of sin day by day. Without Christ, man would live in the presence of sin eternally. Without Christ, the devil, the world, and the flesh would reign unchallenged. Without Christ, man would be without a Savior and without hope. Without Christ, the whole creation would remain in tragic bondage. Thanks be to God the Father for Jesus the Messiah, and His victorious work. Page 8 of 8

The Light and the Life. Revealed!

The Light and the Life. Revealed! The Light and the Life Revealed! John 20:30-31 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that