INTRODUCTION:

A. Parting words are difficult.

B. For this reason, John 13-17 hold special significance.

C. Jesus’ last words summarized in three statements:

I. “You Are Not Alone.”

A. I will be with you “a little while longer” (Jn. 13:33; 14:1-3, 18, 16, 26; 16:13).

B. “It is to your advantage that I go away” (Jn. 16:7; 14:3, 29).

C. Jesus is speaking to His apostles (Jn. 16:13; Jude 3; 2 Pet. 1:3; Acts 5:32; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 1:13-14; Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 6:19-20).

II. “Obey My Word.”

A. Obedience and love are inseparably connected (Jn. 14:15, 21, 23; Rm. 6:17).

B. “Obey My Word” is connected to “You Are Not Alone” (Jn. 14:23; Hb. 13:5; Jn. 15:10; 1 Jn. 5:3).

C. If we would abide in God’s presence, we must be concerned with obedience (Jas. 2:14, 26; Jn. 12:48; 2 Cor. 5:10).

III. “Love One Another.”

A. First two statements pertain to our relationship with God while this has to do with our relationship to one another (1 Jn. 4:11-12).

B. Our need for brotherly love (Jn. 15:10, 12; Mt. 23:23).

C. We will never be effective in our outreach without practicing brotherly love
(Jn. 13:34-35; Lk. 19:10).

CONCLUSION:

A. What would it have been like to have been there on that night?
1. “You are not alone.”
2. “Obey My word.”
3. “Love one another.”

B. How will you respond to Christ’s parting words?