What is one lesson we can learn from Jesus’ Upper Room Discourse?

John 13–17, which contains the Upper Room discourse, floods us with lessons about Jesus. One of my favorite lessons is that, in John 12, Jesus spoke about His heart being troubled, then in chapter 14, He says to the disciples, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.” On the one hand, He shows an amazing love for them, and on the other hand, I think, “How can it be that He who is so deeply troubled can tell them not to be troubled?” The answer is that Jesus was prepared to be deeply troubled. He was taking their ultimate trouble upon Himself in order that they might not be troubled.

Another thing that deeply moves me in these chapters is the way in which Jesus describes us as “those whom the Father has given Me.” In our world, which has lost a sense of identity, it is wonderful for a Christian to say: “Who am I? I am somebody of whom the Father has said, ‘Jesus, I want to give this person to You.” Who could want more dignity than that? What could be more encouraging than to think that the Father has loved me so much and loves His Son so much that He says to His Son, “Son, I would like for you to have him”? I think that is beautiful.