The Final Week of Jesus Part 6: The Farewell Discourse (Thursday, April 2, AD 33)
Jesus's Farewell Discourse (also known as the Upper Room Discourse) in the Gospel of John (chapters 13–17) is one of the New Testament's most intimate and theologically rich sections. Spoken on the night before His crucifixion, these words are not just parting advice. They are a final act of love—Jesus preparing His disciples for life without His physical presence. Some theologians have even argued that this section on the New Testament is in line with other farewell discourses, such as the final speeches of Old Testament patriarchs like Moses, which include reflections on past events, guidance for the future, and assurances of God's continued presence and continued provision or protection.
Carson (1980) rightly observes: "… [The] Farewell Discourse must not be treated simplistically, as nothing more than Christian comfort designed to console defeated saints. Rather, it is first and foremost an exposition of the significance of Jesus's ‘going away’ to his Father via the cross. It is elemental theology; and only as such does it offer encouragement and consolation. For troubled Christians, there is little genuine comfort that is divorced from the significance of the events of that one weekend in Jerusalem and its environs almost two thousand years ago. This was especially true for those first believers, whose anguish was made particularly acute by the fact that they themselves participated in those events and were engulfed by them. But modern believers, too, best discover renewed faith and fortitude, not by clinging to isolated spiritual aphorisms and evangelical clichés but by returning to a deep understanding of the historical and redemptive structure of their faith."
The Farewell Discourse begins with an act of humility. Jesus washes His disciples' feet (John 13:1–17), including Judas's. This is not just a moral example; it is a window into the character of divine love—sacrificial, unearned, and indiscriminate. John introduces this moment with a key theological phrase: "Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end" (John 13:1). This sets the tone.
Immediately afterward, Jesus issues a "new commandment." "Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34). What is new is not the command to love, but the standard of that love: Jesus's sacrificial example. This command is repeated in John 15:12 and 17, marking love not as an abstract idea but as the defining trait of discipleship. John's Gospel emphasizes love more than virtually any other New Testament text. The frequency with which the Greek verbs ἀγαπάω (agapaō) and φιλέω (phileō) appear reveals the Gospel's core focus: love is not just a feeling; it is a theological category. It defines God's relationship to the Son (John 3:35), to the world (John 3:16), and to those who believe in Jesus (John 15:9–10). But John also contrasts love with its opposite. The world hates Jesus and His followers (John 15:18). Why? Because the world rejects God's light and loves darkness (John 3:19).
Three Clarifications (John 14:25–31)
The Holy Spirit as the Counselor (John 14:26): The Spirit, sent by the Father, ensures the disciples remember and understand Jesus' teachings. He functions as a divine instructor, preserving and illuminating Christ's words.
The Gift of Peace (John 14:27): Jesus grants a unique, enduring peace distinct from worldly security. This peace stems from faith in Him rather than external stability.
Jesus' Departure and the Father's Greater Plan (John 14:28–31): Jesus' return to the Father fulfills divine purpose and should evoke joy, not grief. His obedience demonstrates His love for the Father and the necessity of His mission.
Intimacy with Jesus (John 15:1–16)
The intimacy between Jesus Christ and the believer is as intimate as the intimacy between Jesus and His Father. Jesus calls believers to remain in His love, just as He remains in the Father's love (John 15:9). The believer's connection to Christ is deeply relational, mirroring the unity between the Father and the Son.
Obedience must show intimacy between the believer and Jesus. Remaining in Christ's love requires obedience to His commands (John 15:10). Obedience is not passive but a response that reflects genuine discipleship and relational commitment.
The intimacy between the believer and Jesus Christ is an intimacy of love that imitates Christ's love for us. Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them (John 15:12). This love is sacrificial, exemplified in Christ's willingness to lay down His life for His friends.
The intimacy between the believer and Jesus Christ is one whose fruit is sustained by mutual love—not in our choice of Christ but in Christ's choice of us. Jesus emphasizes that believers did not choose Him; instead, He chose them to bear lasting fruit (John 15:16). This divine initiative underscores the purpose and permanence of the believer's calling.
The intimacy between the believer and Jesus Christ is an intimacy whose fruit is prayer under Christ's Lordship. Jesus promises that if believers ask in His name, the Father will grant their requests (John 15:16b). This promise is rooted in the believer's alignment with Christ's will, ensuring that prayer remains an act of faithful dependence.
Counting the Cost (John 15:17–16:4)
The hatred of the world stands in marked contrast to the love among God's people. Jesus contrasts the love His disciples should have for one another with the world's hatred toward them (John 15:17–18). This opposition is expected, as believers no longer belong to the world. The world hates both Christ and the church as a mutually exclusive set and resents any lack of conformity to itself. The world inherently opposes Christ and His followers because they do not conform to its values (John 15:19). The church and the world are in direct opposition, making rejection inevitable.
The world hates you because Jesus chose you. Jesus reminds His disciples that their calling is a divine initiative (John 15:19b). Their rejection by the world mirrors His own, reinforcing their identity in Him.
The world hates because sin is exposed. Jesus' words and works revealed the world's sin, removing any excuse for it (John 15:22–24). The world's hatred is ultimately directed at both Christ and the Father.
The world hates because it does not know the Father nor recognize the revelation of the Father in the Son. The world's ignorance of God leads to the persecution of Christ's followers (John 15:21). To reject Jesus is to reject the Father, demonstrating spiritual blindness.
The world hates you for a good reason: you fall within the purview of the sovereign activity of God. The world's hatred fulfills what Scripture foretold (John 15:25). This opposition is not accidental but part of God's sovereign plan, aligning with Old Testament prophecy.
Two Special Ministries of the Spirit (John 16:5–15)
In John 14–16, Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit—the Advocate who will teach, remind, guide, and empower. The Spirit's presence ensures that the community can fulfill Jesus's commands. The disciples are not left alone. Love is not merely taught; it is sustained by divine help. The Holy Spirit has two primary ministries. His work is essential for convicting the world and guiding believers into truth.
The Spirit Convicts the World (John 16:8–11): The Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment by exposing unbelief, revealing true righteousness in Christ's departure, and declaring judgment on the ruler of this world.
The Spirit Guides Believers into Truth (John 16:12–15): The Spirit teaches disciples what they cannot yet understand, revealing Christ's words and glorifying Him. This ministry ensures ongoing divine revelation within the framework of Christ's teaching.
But First, the Cross (John 16:16–33)
All of this takes place on the night before Jesus is arrested. The Farewell Discourse is both beautiful and solemn. It is drenched in the awareness of impending suffering. Jesus is not merely saying goodbye; He is setting the course for how His disciples must live after He is gone. His death is not a failure but the expression of divine love. As John 15:13 states, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." In John 16:16–33, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure, emphasizing that sorrow must precede joy. The disciples are confused by His statement, "a little while," struggling to grasp the connection between His impending death and the resurrection to follow. Jesus acknowledges their grief but assures them it will be temporary, giving way to lasting joy. This joy is not superficial—it is rooted in the personal knowledge of the Father (John 16:25–28). As Jesus moves from figurative speech to more explicit teaching, the disciples begin to understand more deeply, though imperfectly. They claim to believe, but Jesus warns them that their faith will falter under pressure (John 16:29–32). True faith, He suggests, must endure confusion and crisis. Yet Jesus offers a final word of comfort: though they will face tribulation, they can take heart, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33).
Jesus Prays for Himself, His Followers, and the World (John 17:1–26)
In John 17, often called the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and all future believers. He begins by asking the Father to glorify Him so that He may glorify the Father, framing His approaching death not as a defeat but as the fulfillment of His mission—to give eternal life to those the Father has given Him (John 17:1–5). Jesus then shifts focus to His disciples, praying for their protection, sanctification, and unity. He acknowledges that they have received His word, believed in His identity, and are now set apart for God's purposes in the world, though not of it (John 17:6–19). Finally, Jesus prays for all who will believe through their message. He asks the Father to bring complete unity among His followers so that the world may recognize the truth of His divine mission and the Father's love for them. This unity is rooted in the love shared between the Father and the Son, a love Jesus now extends to His people, drawing them into the very heart of the divine relationship (John 17:20–26).
Conclusion
The Farewell Discourse is not sentimental. It is deeply theological, pastoral, and practical. In these chapters, Jesus redefines what it means to follow Him. It means love—costly, humble, enduring love. This love begins among disciples but radiates outward, sustained by the Spirit and shaped by the cross. To hear Jesus in this discourse is to be drawn into the heart of God's mission. It is to be invited into a love that changes everything—not just how we relate to others, but how we understand God Himself.
Works cited or consulted
Carson, D. A. (1980). The farewell discourse and final prayer of Jesus: An evangelical exposition of John 14–17. Baker Books.
Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (Pillar New Testament Commentary). Eerdmans.
Köstenberger, A. J., Taylor, J., & Stewart, A. E. (2014). The final days of Jesus: The most important week of the most important person who ever lived. Crossway.
Ridderbos, H. (1992). The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary (J. Vriend, Trans.). Eerdmans.
White, J. R. (2019). The forgotten Trinity: Recovering the heart of Christian belief (Rev. & updated ed.). Bethany House Publishers.