“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 several scholarly opinions about why Jesus says it’s time to leave when He’s nowhere near finished with what we call the Upper Room Discourse.
Some scholars believe John 15–17 represents additional teaching that John incorporated into Jesus’ farewell address. Others suggest that Jesus and the disciples actually did leave at that point, and everything that follows was spoken as they walked toward Gethsemane. Perhaps they even passed a vineyard along the way, prompting Jesus’ words, “I am the true vine” (John 15:1).
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.”
Maybe the disciples stood up when Jesus said, “Rise, let us go,” only to settle back down when He started talking again.
I realize that’s speculation. But I love the picture of Jesus lingering with the people He loved, even knowing that before the night was over, one would betray Him, another would deny Him, and all of them would abandon Him.
Every mother knows what it’s like to say “Oh, one more thing” the first time they leave their toddler with a babysitter.
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.
Steve Jobs, the legendary CEO of Apple, was famous for ending his product presentations with the words, “One more thing…”
The audience knew what that meant. The biggest announcement might still be coming.
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.
I believe Jesus did the same thing in the following chapters. He introduces three “one more things” after saying, “Come now, let us leave.” And they are some of the most profound teaching Jesus ever gave His disciples.
One more thing: Stay connected to Me.
In John 15, Jesus tells them, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” He knows they are about to face the greatest crisis of their lives. And He reminds them that the secret to bearing fruit isn’t trying harder. It’s abiding in Him.
One more thing: You won’t be alone.
In John 16, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit, who will guide them into truth. Jesus is leaving, but He isn’t abandoning them. In fact, He tells them something astonishing: “It is to your advantage that I go away” (John 16:7). His physical departure will make way for the Spirit’s continuing presence.
One more thing: I’m praying for you.
In John 17, Jesus turns His attention from His disciples to His Father. He prays for their protection, their sanctification, and their unity. Then He extends that prayer beyond the eleven men in the room to everyone who will believe in Him through their testimony.
That’s you and me.
Think about that. With the cross only hours away, Jesus prayed for us.
We don’t know for certain whether Jesus spoke those final three chapters in the upper room or along the road to Gethsemane. But we do know this: The One who was preparing to leave His disciples was also promising that He would never leave them alone.
That’s what makes this such a beautiful long goodbye.
Jesus knew the disciples would soon lose sight of Him. But He wanted them to know they would never lose His presence.
And two thousand years later, that promise still holds.
He is the vine, and we are His branches. His Spirit still dwells within us. And according to Hebrews 7:25, He still lives to intercede for us.
The goodbye was long. But the promise was forever.
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