In between the Last Supper and being arrested, Jesus had a lot to say to his disciples. The Gospel of John records four chapters of teaching, encouragement, and prayer in the last moments before Jesus' arrest. The teachings are generally pretty theologically heavy and sometimes confuse the disciples.
Who was present? Probably those that were at the Last Supper, minus Judas Iscariot. This would be the remaining Eleven (Twelve minus Judas) and Lazarus (the disciple whom Jesus loved). We also can infer that the author of the Gospel of Mark may have been there.
Other reasonable possibilities include the sisters of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, because they seem to be present wherever Lazarus is. They also live near Jerusalem and Jesus ate with them before having his body prepared for burial by Mary.
I prepare a place (14:1-14)
Jesus says he is going away to prepare a place for them. He also outlines that he is going to the Father and the places for them are in the Father's house.
This seems to be a reference to his death. He will return to the Father to prepare the places for the disciples. This confuses Thomas, who states he cannot follow Jesus if does not know where he is going.
Philip and Jesus have an interesting discussion in which Jesus states that if you have seen Jesus, then you have seen the Father. For us living centuries later, we cannot see Jesus the way the disciples did as Jesus walked on earth, but we can read and follow Jesus' example, knowing that it is what the Father would have done on earth as well.
Jesus also says something peculiar - anyone who has faith in Jesus will do what Jesus has been doing. What does this entail? The things that Jesus commanded were:
1. Love God
2. Love your neighbor
3. Go unto all the world and preach the Gospel
4. Heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead
The promise of the Holy Spirit (14:15-31)
Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit will come to empower the disciples. The Holy Spirit will do a number of things, one of which is to remind the disciples of what Jesus had said. Presumably, no one was writing down what Jesus had said during the ministry. The Holy Spirit will help with this.
The Vine and the Branches (15:1-17)
Jesus uses an analogy with a vine to illustrate the relationships between Jesus, the Father, and the disciples. Jesus is the vine and the disciples are the branches. The branches must remain in the vine to bear fruit. The gardner comes and either prunes the branches to grow more fruit, or if there is no fruit, the branch is discarded.
We all go through seasons of either being pruned or possibly even disconnecting from Jesus and the fruit begins to dry out. We might not be in control of how much the gardner prunes us, but we are in control of how much we connect with Jesus. In turn, we are in somewhat of control of how much fruit we have.
With regard to disconnecting from Jesus, we know from other passages of Jesus grace and mercy. In fact, Simon Peter is about to publicly disown Jesus three times, clearly a disconnection. Likewise, the other disciples will scatter and be disillusioned. But Jesus will forgive them and even reinstate Simon Peter.
In this passage, Jesus makes a few other interesting points.
First, Jesus calls his disciples friends and no longer servants. Likewise, they are all appointed to do something. As I mentioned, this group probably was not just the remaining Eleven, but his general disciples. Jesus calls all his disciples friends, which means us too.
Second, Jesus said that he "chose you". This raises the issue of whether faith is a free will, task, or gift. Yes, all of the above. Further, Christians disagree.
On one hand, we have faith traditions that leans towards salvation by works. Here, I would include Catholicism, saying Hail Mary, and the concept of Purgatory.
On another, we have some of the concepts of election and predestination espoused by John Calvin.
Personally, I am not an expert on the reasoning of either group, but what from I have seen, I find not persuasive. Rather, it must be in the middle somewhere and perhaps is one of the dichotomies of the Christian faith that live in tension.
On one hand, choice and free will must exist - both in the world of angels and man - in order for anything to make sense. If there were none, then we can trace the only real choice as to God's decision to make the universe or not. If God created the world knowing that angels and humans will fall away, and still removed the ability for them to make the choice, then God is to blame for sin. That is the implicit result if there were no free will.
On the other hand, if free will were absolute, then God would be paralyzed and do nothing - ever. God's actions by necessity mean the absence of free will for anyone else because God's will is supreme over everyone else's - angels or man.
Rather, I think it is a blend. Sometimes God acts and sometimes not. Sometimes God delegates choice, to angels and men. Sometimes God chooses and sometimes angels and men choose. Sometimes God tells angels and men what they should do, but allows them go their own way. Sometimes angels and men follow God's ideas.
This is what I think the parable of the Prodigal Son was about, for angels and men. But at least for men, we have the option of turning back to God for forgiveness for going our own way and messing up our own lives. I am not aware if the angels have that option.
Persecution and the Holy Spirit (15:18-16:33)
Jesus warns is disciples that the world will hate them on account of him. However, the Holy Spirit will come and lead and encourage them.
Jesus also commissions the disciples that have been with him since the beginning to testifh about him.
Jesus' Prayer (17)
John 17 covers a long prayer by Jesus for himself, his disciples, and all believers.
After saying all this, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane, where he was arrested.
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