On That Day

John 14:20-24 “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”
 
“ON that day,” Jesus teaches. To what day does he refer? It can be the day of his resurrection. His disciples will see their Lord
physically returned from the grave. “That day” can be the day of Pentecost when the Spirit empowered the apostles to begin the church. They will see Jesus even more completely as their resurrected Lord. Jesus can also be using, “that day” to refer to the end of the age when he returns to form the new Heaven and earth. All on earth will know Jesus on that day. 
   On that day points to his six promises in John 14:12-19. When the disciples see their Lord alive from the grave, and he is teaching, eating, walking and ministering again on that day, they will fully believe Jesus is the eternal Son of God. Their hearts will know he has come from the Father to display God’s glory on earth.
   At Pentecost, then, the disciples will watch the Holy Spirit, the Helper, empower their ministry. He will join more people of the earth under the Father’s care that day and forever. Then on one future day, too, all people who love God will be counted as Jesus’ disciples. They will know they are alive in Jesus because they believe.
   Do you see the difference between seeing Jesus, the Son of God, and not seeing him? When you truly see Jesus you live in loving obedience to God’s commands, don’t you? When one believes on that day that Jesus is Lord, and on that day obeys Jesus’ commands, the redeemed will listen closely when Jesus says, “I tell you the truth”. (John 14:12a) Yes, on that day those who know Jesus will see the fullness of his glory. They will be joined to God in Heaven and to his universal church around the world and throughout the ages.
   Love God. Love others. Pray for others to love him, too. Begin your discipleship walk each day with, “I love you, Lord. Thank  you for the day you saved me.” Mark your life with joy – a contentment and peace that extends into all circumstances –because you know on that day of God’s choosing, you will be face to face with your Savior forevermore.