Book of John
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class, led by Art Clark, examined the concluding portion of the Gospel of John, focusing on chapters 14 through 16. Beginning with a prayer of thanks, the teacher highlighted Philip’s plea to see the Father and Jesus’ reply that seeing Him was equivalent to seeing the Father. He emphasized the recurring motif of "abiding" in John 15, noting its frequent use to describe the intimate relationship between the Father, the Son, and believers. The discussion turned to the promised Helper, the Holy Spirit, unpacking the Greek term parakletos and its various translations—counselor, comforter, advocate—while connecting this promise to the disciples’ future ministry. Key points included the promise that any request made in Jesus' name would be answered (John 15:13‑14), the notion that the disciples would perform greater works than Christ through the Spirit’s empowerment, and the distinction between the disciples' eyewitness experience and the present believer’s experience of the Holy Spirit. The teacher concluded that abiding in Christ leads to loving obedience, which glorifies the Father, and encouraged the class to apply these truths in daily life. The session closed with reflections on the greatest commandment, the role of the Holy Spirit as a teaching guide, and a call for believers to let Christ dwell richly within them.
Key Scriptures
Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father abiding in me does his works.
If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.