Resurrection is… Further up and Further in.

John 14:23-29

The phrase “Further up and further in” comes from the final pages of C.S. Lewis’s The Last Battle, the concluding book in The Chronicles of Narnia. As the characters enter Aslan’s Country—an image of eternal life—they are drawn ever deeper into wonder, joy, and beauty, each step more glorious than the last. With every threshold they cross, Aslan calls them again: “Come further up, come further in.” This summons captures something of the invitation Jesus offers His disciples—and to us—in John 14:23–29. He is not merely giving information. He is drawing us into a deeper life, a higher love, and a more intimate communion with God. And like Lewis’s Aslan, Jesus is leading us further up and further in.

It begins with love. Jesus answers Judas (not Iscariot) by saying that those who love Him and keep His Word will receive the presence of both the Father and the Son making their home in them. This is not a new idea, but the climax of a biblical pattern: from the garden, to the tabernacle, to the temple—God has always desired to dwell with His people. But now, through Jesus, God goes further up and further in—not just dwelling among us, but within us. Love for Christ opens the door to this indwelling presence, and suddenly our hearts become holy ground.

Then, Jesus goes further up and further in again. He promises help—the Holy Spirit, the Comforter who will not only teach but remind, guide, and sustain. We are not left to wander this path alone. The Spirit empowers our obedience and deepens our love, enabling us to keep Jesus’ words. When you feel your strength falter or your memory fade, remember this: you have not been left as an orphan. Help is on the way—and already here.

But even that is not the end. Jesus takes us further up and further in still—by giving us His peace. Not a peace like the world gives, flimsy and fleeting, but the calm strength that sustained Him in storms, temptation, betrayal, and even death. His peace steadied Him in Gethsemane and held Him fast at Calvary—and now He gives that peace to us. It doesn’t mean life is easy, but it means we are never without the stillness of Christ’s presence—even in the midst of chaos.

And yet again, Jesus goes further up and further in. He tells the disciples they should rejoice that He is returning to the Father—because the Father is greater. This is not a departure into absence, but an ascension into abundance. As Jesus returns to the Father, He brings us with Him. We are not left behind; we are drawn deeper into the love of the Triune God. The blessings we receive in Christ are just the beginning—greater things still await as we are brought into the embrace of the One who sent the Son.

Jesus concludes by saying that He tells them these things before they happen so that when they do, their faith might be strengthened. And so it was. Everything He promised unfolded before their eyes over the next several weeks. The home, the Helper, the peace, and the Father—they experienced it all. And in that experience, their love grew, and they stepped further up and further in to the life of God.

So here is the invitation that still stands for us today: Will Jesus disclose Himself to you? The answer is found in love. If you love Him, keep His word. And if your love feels small or uncertain, don’t wait—seek Him. Seek Him in His Word. Seek Him in worship. Seek Him in the quiet moments of prayer. For every step of love you take toward Him, He draws you further up and further in.

And when you do, you’ll find not just insight, but intimacy. Not just truth, but transformation. Not just promises, but presence. All of this awaits those who respond—not out of obligation, but out of love.

So let your love respond. Let the Spirit move you. And take the next step—further up and further in.

Watch the full Sermon HERE. Listen to Sermon HERE.

Peace Be With You,

Pastor Bruce