Jesus gave three great sermons. We often refer to them as “The Three Discourses.” Number one was the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5- 7.) What is the theme of the Sermon on the Mount? The Kingdom — the Messiah came to bring a kingdom, right? All of the Jews were looking for the Messiah who would come and establish an earthly kingdom. And He said, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If you want to enter My Kingdom, this is how you’re going to do it: it’s going to take regeneration, and it’s going to take obedience.” Right? So He lays down the laws of the Kingdom.
The second message is Matthew 24-25. Also Luke 21, Mark 13. In the Olivet Discourse, what is He talking about? Tribulation. Second Coming. That’s the whole focus of the Olivet Discourse. Jesus gives us an outline. You notice in verse nine the word “tribulation.” Then you notice in Matthew 24:15 “Abomination of Desolation.” Then after that you’ll notice that there is “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21.)
Remember in Matthew 24-25 who is He talking to? He’s not talking to “The Church.” This is a mistake that we often make. We think everything in Scripture is directed to us. It’s not. It’s all for us; it’s all beneficial to us, but it’s not addressed to us. This is addressed to His disciples — Jewish believers. Matthew 24:36 says, “Of that day and hour no one knows.” So we have to identify what day are we talking about? A lot of people take that day to be referring to the rapture. It’s not. This whole section is all about Tribulation and Second Advent. So once we get ourselves into that mindset, it becomes easier. The third one — Upper Room — John 13-17. And the whole focus of the Upper Room is the Church Age. This is the only one that is addressed directly to us — all who are in Christ by faith.
Remember what was the first thing Jesus did? Wash their feet. That’s the simplest way to explain the filling in the Spirit. So He started with the foot washing to show them the importance of cleansing. With Peter, He described the difference between taking a bath, which means salvation, and foot washing, which is restoration of fellowship. So you remember when Peter said, “You will never wash my feet?” And Jesus said, “If I don’t wash your feet, you have no part with Me.” That’s where John picks up, “If we confess our sins …” on a day by day basis, “… He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” That’s how we’re restored to fellowship. What we’re doing is letting Him wash our feet, just the same as He asked the disciples to do.
So John 13-17 tells us about the coming of the Holy Spirit, and His permanent indwelling. It talks about the fact that He is going to guide us into all truth. It teaches us how to abide in Christ and be witnesses for Christ. All of the things that relate to us in the church age.