Paper 180 Overview: The Farewell Discourse

After the Last Supper, Jesus gave his final teachings to the apostles before his arrest. He told them to be prepared for troublesome times ahead, as he would soon leave them to return to his Father. Jesus asked them to show love for one another, just as he had loved them, as a way to show others they were his followers.

Jesus taught them many important lessons that night, including how to remain connected to him spiritually even after he was gone. He promised to send them a helper, the Spirit of Truth, to guide and comfort them after his departure. This spirit would help them understand and share his teachings even without his physical presence.

After singing a psalm at the end of the Last Supper, the apostles thought Jesus would return to their camp. Instead, Jesus asked them to sit down for more teaching. He warned them that troublesome times were coming and they would need to be prepared, suggesting they should now carry money with them.

Jesus told his apostles that he would only be with them a little longer before going to his Father. He explained that while they would not be able to follow him now, they would be able to see him in the future when they ascended to the kingdom his Father had given him.

Jesus reminded the apostles of how he had washed their feet as an example of serving one another. He then gave them a new commandment: to love one another as he had loved them. This was so all people would recognize them as his disciples by seeing this special love they showed for each other.

Jesus explained that this commandment wasn't a burden but a source of joy. He taught that the greatest love is shown by someone willing to lay down their life for friends. Jesus called them his friends, not servants, and said he had chosen them to go into the world and show this loving service to others, just as he had revealed the Father to them.

Jesus used the image of a vine and its branches to teach an important lesson. He said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. I am the vine, and you are the branches." He explained that branches that don't bear fruit are removed, while fruitful branches are pruned to produce even more fruit.

Jesus taught that they must stay connected to him to bear spiritual fruit, just as a branch must stay connected to the vine to produce grapes. If they remained in his love and kept his words in their hearts, they would bear much fruit and experience great joy. Their prayers would be effective when aligned with God's will, not just when asking for selfish things.

Jesus warned his followers not to be discouraged by the hatred of the world. He said they should remember that the world hated him first before hating them. Because Jesus had chosen them out of the world, the world would not love them, since they were no longer part of it.

Jesus promised not to leave them alone in the world. He would send a spirit helper to take his place among them, to teach them and comfort them. Jesus assured them that though he was leaving, they should not let their hearts be troubled. He told them he was going to prepare places for them in his Father's universe, and would someday return for them.

Jesus told his apostles that after he had gone to the Father, he would send them the Spirit of Truth. This spirit would be poured out upon all flesh. Believers would easily recognize this spirit while unbelievers would not at first listen to its teachings.

Jesus explained that this spirit would be better than his physical presence, because through this spirit he could be with all believers everywhere at the same time. The Spirit of Truth would guide and comfort them and eventually lead them into all truth. This spirit would help them remember everything Jesus had taught them.

Jesus said the Spirit of Truth is not just a set of written laws or formal expressions of truth. Instead, it is a living and growing conviction of truth that expands and adapts. This divine helper functions on spiritual levels rather than in strict religious rules.

Truth, Jesus explained, cannot be captured in human formulas, codes, or creeds. When humans try to imprison truth in rigid forms, it dies. Living truth is dynamic and experienced in the human mind, not just memorized as facts. The golden rule comes alive with its true meaning when understood through the Spirit of Truth rather than as just a rule for ethical behavior.

Jesus told his apostles that he was warning them about what was to come so they would not stumble into serious error. He said authorities would not just throw them out of synagogues, but would even kill some of them, thinking they were serving God. These persecutions would happen because people did not know the Father or accept Jesus.

Jesus explained that he needed to leave them because the Spirit of Truth could not come until after he had gone away. This spirit would help them understand the difference between sin and righteousness. Though they would be sad at his departure, Jesus promised their sorrow would be turned into joy, like a woman who forgets her pain after childbirth when she sees her newborn child.