“Rise, let us go from here.”
John 14:31 ESV
Through the Bible: John 14–17
What does it mean when a preacher says, “And in conclusion…?”
Absolutely nothing.
I thought of that when I read the last line of the last verse of John 14. Jesus says, “Come now, let us leave.”
But then He keeps talking—for three more chapters!
There are lots of scholarly opinions on why Jesus says “Come now, let us leave” when He is only a quarter of the way through the Upper Room Discourse.
Some theorize that John 14-17 is a compilation of Jesus’ teachings, and the fragments of early manuscripts were arranged in the wrong order.
Others speculate that they did leave, and everything Jesus says from that point on is while they are walking and talking on the way to Gethsemane.
Personally, I like the idea of Jesus longing to linger. Maybe the disciples even stood up, thinking it was time to go, before slowly sitting back down as Jesus launched into John 15: “I am the vine; you are the branches.”
It’s such a tender, human moment. Jesus lingers with the ones He loves, not because He’s long-winded, but because He can’t stop pouring out His heart before the cross. When you know your time is short, you don’t waste words—you speak life until the very last breath.
Every preacher knows what it’s like to say “in conclusion” and still have a few more things to say.
Just like every mother knows what it’s like to say “Oh, one more thing” the first time they leave their toddler with a babysitter.
Just like every lovestruck teenager knows what it’s like to not want to hang up first when they are talking to their girlfriend late at night.
The late Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, was famous for his annual product rollouts. He would go through the minor software updates, new versions of old products, and so forth.
But then, with a twinkle in his eye, he’d smile and say “One more thing…”
That’s when Jobs would unveil his next category-defining device: The iPhone. iPad. Apple Watch. People became accustomed to the “One more thing” being the next big thing.
Jesus did this too. In the next three chapters, He will give His disciples three more “one more things”—truths so deep that they would redefine the world:
- In John 15, Jesus reveals the secret of abiding: “I am the vine; you are the branches.” The life of faith isn’t about striving harder but staying connected to Him.
- In John 16, He promises the coming of the Helper, the Holy Spirit—God’s presence not just with us, but in us. The Spirit will convict, guide, and comfort, continuing Jesus’ ministry in every believer.
- In John 17, Jesus prays what’s often called His High Priestly Prayer—a prayer that stretches from that upper room all the way into eternity. He prays for His disciples, and then for all who will believe through them. He prays for us.
Each “one more thing” is more personal, more powerful, more permanent than the last. Jesus isn’t unveiling a new product; He’s unveiling a new creation.
So when Jesus says, “Rise, let us go,” He doesn’t leave.
And here’s the beautiful thing: He never will. The same Savior who lingered in that upper room still lingers with us today. Through His Spirit, He abides with us just as He invited the disciples to abide in Him. We may think the conversation is over, but He always has more to say—more comfort to give, more peace to breathe, more grace to pour out.
Related Content for this Day
This blog will always be a free resource for anyone who wants to grow in their love for God’s Word. If it has blessed you and you would like to support the ministry of 66in52, please consider a one time or recurring donation. Thank you!
Leave a Reply