2023 Study Summary 24: Continue In My Love

John 14–17

“CONTINUE IN MY LOVE”

John 14. Jesus speaks of many mansions—He says that He is the way, the truth, and the
life and that to see Him is to see the Father—He promises the first and second Comforters.

John 15. Jesus is the vine; His disciples are the branches—He discourses on the perfect law of love—His servants
have been chosen and ordained by Him—The world hates and fights true religion—He promises the Comforter, the
Spirit of Truth.

John 16. Jesus discourses on the mission of the Holy Ghost—He tells of His death and resurrection, announces that
He is the Son of God, and says that He has overcome the world.

What does the “One God” mean?

The basic Jewish beliefs about God come from the Torah, the first five
books of the Old Testament – which is the Jewish written law. The
most important belief is that there is “one God.” This is called
monotheism and the significance is emphasized in the first
commandment which states: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3-5)
Christianity in general has become confused about the identity and purpose of God the
Father in Heaven, his son Jesus (the Messiah) and the Holy Ghost. Their unity and purpose
was explained many times by the mortal Son of God. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,
the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye
should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him,
Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath
seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest
thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I
speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that
I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye
shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall
ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:6-15)

How can the “One God” be explained?

In a Doctrinal Exposition by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,
published in the Improvement Era, Aug. 1916, 934–42;(https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/
study/ensign/2002/04/the-father-and-the-son?lang=eng) , we learn that there are four purposes
of the scriptures explaining that God the Eternal Father, “whom we designate by the exalted
name-title “Elohim.” One, “He is the actual Parent of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Messiah
and of all the spirits of humanity.” Elder Christoffel Golden Jr. of the Seventy, said; “Our
quest for eternal life is nothing other than a quest to understand who God is and for us to
return to live with Him. The Savior prayed to His Father, “And this is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3)
Two, “A second scriptural meaning of “Father” is that of Creator, e.g., in passages referring
to any one of the Godhead as “the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things
that in them are” (Ether 4:7; see also Alma 11:38–39; Mosiah 15:4). “He was assisted by his
Son. “Jesus Christ, whom we also know as Jehovah . . . the executive of the Father,
Elohim. In the work of creation is set forth in the book Jesus the Christ, chapter 4 [by
(Apostle) James E. Talmage]. Jesus Christ, being the Creator, is consistently called the
Father of heaven and earth in the sense explained above; and since His creations are of
eternal quality, He is very properly called the Eternal Father of heaven and earth.” Three,
“Jesus Christ . . . regarded as the “Father” has reference to the relationship between Him
and those who accept His gospel and thereby become heirs of eternal life.” Jesus, the Son
of God ‘adopts’ us and in that sense becomes a father to us. “Having predestinated us unto
the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself . . .” (Ephesians 1:5) “But to as many as
received me, gave I power to become my sons; and even so will I give unto as many as will
receive me, power to become my sons” (Doctrine & Covenants 39:1–4) . Four, Jesus Christ
(is) the “Father” by Divine Investiture of Authority . . . the title “Father” to Jesus Christ is
found in the fact that in all His dealings with the human family Jesus the Son has
represented and yet represents Elohim His Father in power and authority.”

Who, then, is the Holy Ghost?

The Old Testament refers to the Holy Ghost as “Spirit of God” and “Spirit of Elohim.” In the
Talmud (written Jewish biblical interpretations) and Midrash (a mode of biblical
interpretation prominent in Talmudic literature), “Holy Spirit” is called, ruacḥ ha-kodesh, the
holy “wind” or holy “breath.” Jesus taught; “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”(John 14:26) “The Holy Ghost is the
third member of the Godhead. He is a personage of spirit, without a body of flesh and
bones. He is often referred to as the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the
Lord, or the Comforter. The Holy Ghost works in perfect unity with Heavenly Father and
Jesus Christ, fulfilling several roles to help us live righteously and receive the blessings of
the gospel. He “witnesses of the Father and the Son”(2 Nephi 31:18) and reveals and
teaches “the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:5). We can receive a sure testimony of Heavenly
Father and Jesus Christ only by the power of the Holy Ghost. His communication to our
spirit carries far more certainty than any communication we can receive through our natural
senses.” (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/holy-ghost?lang=eng)

What testimony comes with the title, “vine?”

In Jesus’ statement, “I am the true vine . . .” (John 15:1) there is the implication of “fruit of the
vine.” “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2) The fruit can be
made into “wine,” another name of the Lord. The biblical metaphor of “old wine” may be
what the Jews still follow every Sabbath as they partake of a sip of wine followed by a piece
of bread. The prayers connected with this practice await a future deliverance, greater than
from Egypt under Moses’ direction. After Jesus’ atonement, the practice among His
believers became the “new wine” with bread taken first and followed by wine. This is done in
remembrance of the greatest deliverance. An insight about the “new wine” can be derived
from the prophet Joel’s statements: drunkards (wine drinkers) prefer old wine, the new wine
is taken away (dried up), and then new wine will be returned when the temple is built again.
“Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new
wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.” (Joel 1:5) “The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for
the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.” (Joel 1:10) “And it shall

come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall
flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come
forth of the house of the LORD . . .” (Joel 3:18) The New Testament uses “New Wine” as a
name of the Lord. Jesus’ atonement is now commemorated with the new presentation of an
eternal ordinance (bread and Wine), “This do in remembrance.” (Luke 22:19) . That replaced
the old practice the Jews still have held on to, wine and bread – still in expectation of the
greater deliverance.

How aged is the invitation “Ask and Receive?”

The eternal nature of God’s desire to answer our prayers can be seen in the following Old
Testament invitations. “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of
thine heart.” (Psalms 37:4) “In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night:
and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” (1 Kings 3:5) “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye
shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me,
when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13) Years ago, Rabbi
Yehuda Goetz, who oversaw the Western Wall, told me that the pieces of papers stuffed by
the Orthodox Jews into the cracks of the wall are lists of names for whom they pray.
However, to many others, this has become a “wishing wall.” Notwithstanding, reverently the
papers are removed a few times of the year and buried on the Mount of Olives. Although,
not to be read, Rabbi Goetz told me that he saw a few, fallen open notes and it occurred to
him that in all the years he rarely had seen a “thank you” note!

How should I “ask?”

“It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened
with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and
lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and
understanding.” (Apostle Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Of the First Presidency, Grateful in Any
Circumstances, April 2014) When the Lord says to give thanks in all things, He is inviting us
to thank the Father for blessings both visible and invisible. When He blesses, thank Him, for
things seen and unseen in which we place our hope. That how to continue in His love.

Want More Sabbath School Study Supplements?
Download PDF Version – 2023 Study Summary 24: Continue In My Love

Thinking of visiting the Holy Land? Daniel & Steven Rona are your only LDS licensed tour guides in Israel. For more Israel insights visit our blog on the Holy Land.

Comments

comments