John 14:8-21 | What's a lesson for the original audience?

Aside from the nature of the Holy Spirit, the original audience would pick up on the three things that Jesus is instructing them in. Believe. Love. Obey.

Our minds tend to be more formulaic whereas the minds of the ancient readers were more cyclical. They would have noticed the pattern here that is more easily missed to us. If you believe, you will love. If you love, you will obey. You obey because you believe and that reinforces love. The cycle then repeats and advances upon itself.

The first instruction that Jesus stresses is to believe. Even if they are not believing directly in Him, at least believe in His works. Jesus understood that if they believe in His works, the eventual natural conclusion would be to believe in Him. Faith is essential. The other instructions are null and void to an individual that does not believe.

The second instruction that will be continuously recurring throughout the book is the command to love. What is interesting in this section is the the instruction of loving is a little less direct. Instead it is obedience to the commands that show up more directly. But if one is to obey, it needs to come out of love. But one who claims to love and does not keep the Lord's commands is a liar. The truth is not in Him. They go hand in hand. And, as stated before, they reinforce each other.

One final thing that the reader would have understood that we tend to glance over is that the end result of these things and the growth therein is both the Father and the Son and the Spirit. All three are present here. In this pattern of faith, love, and obedience, the Godhead is the reward.

What lessons are you seeing?