Meaning of John 14:21

This verse from John 14:21 establishes a direct and profound link between obedience to Jesus' teachings and the experience of His love and the Father's love. Jesus is speaking to His disciples in the upper room during His final discourse before His crucifixion, a context rich with the anticipation of His departure and the promise of the Holy Spirit. The disciples are anxious about His leaving, and Jesus is reassuring them about the nature of their relationship with Him and with God the Father. He emphasizes that genuine love for Him is not merely an emotional sentiment but is demonstrated through active adherence to His commands. This obedience, in turn, becomes the pathway to a deeper, reciprocal relationship with both Jesus and the Father, culminating in a personal revelation of Himself to the obedient believer.

Context and Background

The discourse in John 14 occurs on the night before Jesus' crucifixion. The disciples are grappling with Jesus' impending absence and their own limitations in understanding His mission. Jesus has just spoken about His going to the Father and preparing a place for them (John 14:2-3), and about the Holy Spirit whom He will send as a helper and advocate (John 14:16, 26). In this immediate context, Jesus is addressing the disciples' confusion and fear, offering them comfort and direction. He is shifting the focus from His physical presence to a spiritual and relational one, mediated through obedience and the indwelling Spirit.

Key Themes and Messages

• Love as Obedience: The primary message is that true love for Jesus is expressed through keeping His commands. This is not a legalistic adherence but a heartfelt response to His love, motivated by a desire to please Him and remain in fellowship.
• Reciprocal Love: Jesus highlights the reciprocal nature of divine love. Those who demonstrate their love by obedience will experience the Father's love and Jesus' own love, which includes a personal manifestation or self-disclosure.
• Divine Revelation: The promise "I too will love them and show myself to them" signifies a deeper, intimate knowledge of Jesus. This is not necessarily a physical appearance but a spiritual unveiling, an experiential understanding of who Jesus is and His presence in their lives.

Spiritual Significance and Application

This verse is foundational for Christian discipleship. It underscores that a vibrant relationship with God is not passive but requires active participation. Believers are called to not only believe in Jesus but to live according to His teachings, which are the embodiment of God's will. The application lies in examining our own lives: are our actions consistent with our professed love for Christ? The promise of divine love and revelation serves as a powerful incentive and assurance that our efforts in obedience are not in vain but lead to an ever-deepening communion with God.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

John 14:21 fits within the overarching biblical narrative of God's desire for relationship with humanity, a theme established in Genesis and fulfilled in Christ. The Old Testament law, while a precursor, is now reinterpreted through the lens of Christ's teachings, which emphasize love for God and neighbor. Jesus' fulfillment of the law (Matthew 5:17) means that His commands are the ultimate expression of God's will. This verse also anticipates the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers believers to understand and keep Jesus' commands (John 14:26). The ultimate fulfillment of God showing Himself to His people is seen in the eschatological hope of beholding Him face-to-face (Revelation 22:4).

Analogies

• A Committed Relationship: Imagine a marriage where one partner consistently honors the other's requests and desires. This consistent action is a tangible expression of love and leads to a deeper intimacy and trust between them.
• A Student and Teacher: A student who diligently studies and applies the lessons taught by a respected teacher not only masters the subject but also earns the teacher's admiration and often receives personalized guidance.
• A Gardener and Plant: A gardener who faithfully waters, prunes, and tends to a plant will see it flourish and bear fruit, a direct result of the care and attention given. Similarly, our obedience "nurtures" our spiritual life, leading to fruitfulness and a deeper connection with the divine "gardener."

Relation to Other Verses

• John 15:10: "If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." This parallel verse reinforces the idea that obedience is the means by which believers abide in Christ's love.
• 1 John 2:3-5: "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This, by it we know we are in him." This passage from John's first epistle directly echoes the sentiment of John 14:21, equating obedience with genuine knowledge of and love for God.
• Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of the heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." This verse from the Sermon on the Mount highlights the importance of action over mere profession, aligning with Jesus' emphasis on keeping His commands.
• Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." While not directly about obedience, this verse speaks to the benefits and assurances that come to those who are in a right relationship with God, a relationship that John 14:21 posits is built on love expressed through obedience.