Read John 14
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 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 keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
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, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone 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.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
Go Deeper
In John 14, Jesus is still spending time with His disciples prior to His impending arrest. He knows what is to come and He is trying to explicitly communicate everything He wants them to know. Of the 31 verses in this chapter, 28 of them are recounting words from Jesus. There are only 3 verses that contain words from anyone else. If you noticed, each instance is characterized by confusion from the disciples. Here are the 3 verses:
- John 14:5: Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
- John 14:8: Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
- John 14:22: Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
All three times, Jesus would finish speaking and a disciple followed up with a question like they weren’t even listening! While it’s embarrassing for the disciples, it’s easy to understand where they are coming from. They are trying to understand the mystery of God and assumed it was difficult to grasp. But each time Jesus answered them, He gave them a simpler answer than they expected. Jesus told the disciples “I am the way,” and “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me,” and “Anyone who loves me… My Father will love them.”
In other words, Jesus is telling them “I am The Answer to your questions.” This chapter is a reminder to us that while we have hard questions about life, many times the answer is simply found in Jesus (despite our best efforts to look elsewhere). While the meaning of life was once a mystery, it is now clear through the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is The Answer to your questions. And while that is a simple answer, we can spend our whole lives searching Him out and barely scratch the surface on the depth of His goodness.
Questions
- What stood out most to you about Jesus’s teaching?
- Why do you think the disciples were so confused by Jesus?
- Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Which one of those characteristics have you seen most in your life?
Did You Know?
The Judas (not Judas Iscariot) mentioned in John 14:22 is Judas the son (or brother) of James (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). He is likely also the same man as Thaddaeus (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19).
4 thoughts on “John 14”
The end of Christ’s earthly ministry is winding down and the special compassion he shows his followers is noteworthy. He knows their hearts will be troubled, fearful and full of questions, so he patiently leans into them and addresses each one. To Thomas he replies “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” To Philip he states “The one who has seen me has seen the Father.” To Judas he remarks “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.” He assures them that believers will receive the treasured gift of the Counselor/Holy Spirit. I love what verse 26 states, the Holy Spirit will remind believers of the truth that Jesus taught and help them apply it to their lives. We are forgetful people and need reminding. The opening and closing verses of this chapter echo the command of Christ “Your heart must not be troubled.” Not of Covid-19, death, finances, relationships, government, etc., Christ has dominion over all! I’m taking hold of his peace today and offering prayers in Jesus name of thanksgiving and petitions to the Father that I can be included in taking the gospel to the ends of the earth.
What a great chapter! All we need is found in Jesus!
Before God we have an Advocate. In tribulation we have a Comforter. The Holy Spirit even intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray, breathing through our wordless groans in accordance with God’s perfect will (Romans 8:26-27). Thank you, Jesus, for not leaving us as orphans (v. 18). Thank you for giving us a Helper who will not desert us, but be with us forever (v. 16).
Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Jesus grants us access to the Father by dying on the cross. It is through Jesus that we are healed, we are free, and we are loved. There is no love greater than that of our Heavenly Father and this lesson today reminded me that in spite of what the mind says, the Holy Spirit is the truth. I will always be submissive to that.