John 14:28 You heard that I said to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
It was clear to Jesus what he had said to them. He was going to leave them, go to the Father, and then return to them. Apparently, there were no signs in the disciples that they understood the significance of His going to the Father and returning to them. They should have rejoiced, but didn’t. Jesus said they didn’t rejoice because they didn’t love Him. The word Jesus used was a form of agape. When they heard Him say that He was leaving and then going to come again, they should’ve rejoiced if they loved Him for they would have known that his greatest desire was to return to the Father having done His will. When you love someone, you know their heart’s desire, and you want their highest good, their greatest joy. But when you don’t love someone, you are concerned with your own happiness, you’re self-occupied. All events are filtered through what makes you happy or unhappy, what pleases you or disappoints you. The disciples didn’t know that it was for their highest good and greatest joy for Jesus to go to the Father on their behalf. They didn’t know how Jesus loved the Father and that His greatest satisfaction was knowing by experience His Father’s love and presence. Our joy should flow out of love for Jesus’ joy. Do we realize that we have Jesus’ life and heart in us? If we love Him, we identify with His life and love. Are we more interested and consumed with being loved as if we are the greatest, or are we interested and consumed with the relationship of the Father and Son that dwells within us? With Jesus, let us love the Father, for He is greater than we are and greater than the Son.
Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com
