If you were alone, or in a small group with Jesus, what question would you ask him?
Let’s say you could only ask one question, what would it be?
How about: "How do I know I’m going to heaven?"
Or: "What is heaven like?
Or: "How about "How do I see God?, or How do I experience God?
Or: "How do I know I’m saved and the person next to me is or is not?
Other than maybe asking about our friends or family’s salvation, this is about the best questions I could come with that would be the most important thing for me to ask.
Chapter 14 is Jesus giving the answers to these most important questions.
In Verse 5, Thomas asks Jesus:
"Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Which is his way of asking, "How do I know I’m going to heaven?"
Thomas is probably wondering in this verse what heaven would be like.
In Verse 8, Phillip asks Jesus "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Phillip is asking to "see" God. He wants to know what God is like!
That is a need within all of us.
What is God like? How do I please Him?
The last question is in Verse 22: Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?" (emphasis added)
This is (another) Judas asking "Why are you going to "show" yourselves to people who believe in you and not non-believers. Don’t you realize it will be a lot easier to witness for Jesus if everyone could see you (and have undeniable proof that Jesus is God?)
(Part of the answer to this question is partially that God wants to us to come to him by faith, not that the evidence is overwhelming.)
All of these are excellent questions.
These are the questions the disciples asked Jesus at the "Last Supper"
I probably would have asked them myself if I were there.
In Chapter 14, Jesus’ gives answers about these issues we are all curious about.
Issues like
salvation,
exclusivity, (Is Jesus the only way to God?) and
seeing and experiencing God for ourselves.
Before we go on to Chapter 14, it helps to review a little of Chapter 13.
Remember that the "chapter breaks" were not added until about the 13th century.
There is no break in the action between chapters 13 & 14.
By the time we get to the first verse of chapter 14, the disciples were discouraged.
In chapter 13:21, Jesus announced that one of the disciples would betray Him.
In chapter 13:28, Jesus announced Peter would deny him three times
The other disciples knew Peter was "the bold one", and probably the leader of the group. Imagine the shock that of all people, Peter was the one who would deny Him.
In chapter 13:33, Jesus announced that He would leave them.
Given all this background, you can imagine that discouragement was settling in to the disciples at this time.
As you read the opening verse of Chapter 14, remember a time when you were discouraged and thinking about all your problems.
Chapter 14, Verse 1: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
A good literal translation of Verse 1a is: "Set your heart at ease"
In the immediate context, Jesus is saying:
Don’t worry about my upcoming announcement of me leaving you.
Which the disciples at this point didn’t understand meant death.
Although you don’t know about the resurrection, I do.
Ray Stedman calls this verse "The manual for stress management."
While we don’t see the big picture, God does.
While we don’t understand the circumstances we’re going through, God does. God has a purpose for allowing us to go through this circumstance.
One of the most beloved verses of the Bible applies here:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV)
"All" means all. There are no exceptions.
Think about this verse the next time trouble arises.
Verse 1 is not a promise for God to prevent stress in our lives.
It is a promise that we can overcome it. God can give us peace during it.
Verse 2: In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
Jesus never speculated about a future life; he spoke as one who was as familiar with eternity as one is with his hometown.
We need that type of confidence in our daily lives!
Daily reading time with the Bible helps to give us that reassurance.
Verse 2 is a whole Bible lesson unto itself. What is heaven like and what does Jesus mean when he says he is preparing a place for us?
The commentators vary widely on what heaven is like.
You can read about how we become spiritual beings like Jesus after the resurrection and inhabit the whole universe.
Other commentators point out that God gives us the desires of our hearts in heaven. For example, if we desire gardening, he is going to give us a big mansion with lots of landscaping to maintain!
The truth is, we don’t know a lot about our "room" or "mansion" in heaven until we get there. (The Greek word literally means "abiding place".)
We can get "clues" reading Revelation 21 & 22, but they are just clues.
I like what Chuck Smith (of Calvary Chapel) says:
"God took six days to create the heavens and the earth. He has taken 2,000 years to prepare a place for us. Imagine how glorious it will be."
Jesus is using this verse to reassure Peter and the rest of the disciples that they have a place in His Father's house (i.e. heaven) despite their faults.
Remember that Jesus told Peter he was going to deny Peter. Jesus is reassuring Peter that He is still making a place in heaven for Peter despite his failures.
Remember that Jesus’ reassurance happens prior to Peter actually committing the sin!
God knows about our sins, past present & future.
God knows all things, therefore God can not learn
This does not excuse our sin, it means that God (through Jesus) provided payment for our sins.
God demands obedience, but he also understands we are prone to sin. He simply wants us to confess our sins and move on.
God understands our dilemma of the fact we want to do good, but we are still prone to sin. This verse is a reassurance that God still has wonderful plans for our lives despite our failures, past present and future.
Paul gives a good summary of this dilemma in Romans 7
"So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I'm in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free." {Romans 7:24-25, (Paraphrasing from Living Bible)}
Verse 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.
Jesus is comforting the disciples with several facts.
The fact that Jesus is preparing a place for us.
The fact that Jesus will come again.
The fact that Jesus will be with us always.
This is the first time in the Bible where you find a mention of God taking anyone off this earth to go out to a place that He has prepared.
Again, this is a reminder to focus on the BIG picture.
Don’t sweat the small stuff of this world. Read the last chapter of the Bible. To paraphrase the last chapter of the Bible in 2 words: "We Win."
It’s like watching a TV Drama, where you know that in 60 minutes, somehow things are going to work out. You don’t know how the hero’s are going to get out of the predicament, but they always do.
We are like the characters in the middle of the predicament. We don’t see the end, but God does.
This verse is also one of the "hints" of the Rapture of the church.
The word "rapture" is not found anywhere in the Bible.
It is from a Latin term, meaning to be "caught up"
There are three major Biblical views on the Rapture.
One is called "Pre-Tribulation". This is where the believers are raptured up into heaven prior to a seven-year tribulation as described in the Book of Revelation.
The second is called "Mid-Tribulation". Where the saints are caught up with Jesus at the middle of the seven-year period.
The third view is called "Post-Tribulation". Where the saints are caught up with Jesus at the end of the seven-year period.
There is also the "al-millennial" view, where the Book of Revelation covers a period of all Post-Jesus history, and we are caught up with Jesus "at the end".
The 1st and 3rd views are the preferred by most Bible scholars, although all views are considered "acceptable".
Verse 4: You know the way to the place where I am going."
This verse sets up the first question of the night.
The next question shows the disciples didn’t "get it".
Verse 5: Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Thomas' problem was not that he did not know the Father;
it was that he had not realized that he knew the Father (Ray Stedman)
Thomas didn’t get it at this point. Despite Jesus explanations, Thomas needed Jesus to put it bluntly and simply so Thomas would understand.
God works that way with us too.
He wants us to understand His plan for his life.
If you don’t get it, God will patiently work with you to help you understand.
Here comes Verse 6. It is simple and to the point. One of the most powerful verses in the Bible.
Verse 6: Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If you haven’t memorized this verse, please do.
You will not find a verse more powerful in the Bible that plainly says the only way to get through heaven is through Jesus.
To quote an old Christian proverb:
You don’t go to heaven to find Christ, you go to Christ to find heaven!
If you think John is the only source that says Jesus is the only way to heaven, listen to Paul in Acts 4:12:
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 NIV)
Jesus uses three key nouns to describe himself in these verses:
I am the way (1), the truth (2), and the life (3),
"He is not just a person who shows the way, but He, personally, is the way."
"He is the bureau of standards for truth" (J Vernon McGee)
He is not just stating He is alive. He is the creator and source of life:
Christ himself is the Creator who made everything in heaven and earth, the things we can see and the things we can't; the spirit world with its kings and kingdoms, its rulers and authorities; all were made by Christ for his own use and glory. (Colossians 1:16 The Living Bible)
I believe one of the great questions underlying Thomas’ question of "How can we know the way" is what do we have to do to get to heaven?
First of all, you can’t earn your way into heaven. I think this is what Thomas was asking. That’s what Jesus did on the cross. You can have a life of obedience out of gratitude of what Jesus did foryou.
I believe what Jesus is saying in this verse is that living for Jesus is the greatest way of having a satisfactory life.
There is no pleasure in life that can match doing God’s will.
If you have never read or studied the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastics, this is an excellent example of the benefits and pleasures of living for God.
The book was written by Solomon.
Solomon had everything in life one could humanly imagine.
Israel was at the height of its power. He had the money & power that any King would envy.:
Yet, in the end he said it was all futility (or "vanity".)
Solomon calls himself a "preacher’ in this book as he wants to warn others that the only way for a satisfying life is through God. That is one thing Jesus is stating in this verse (along with the fact Jesus is equal with God!).
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastics 12:13 NIV)
Verse 7: If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Jesus is telling His disciples and us that if you have seen me, you have seen God.
The disciples couldn’t comprehend this. Which sets up Question #2 of Chapter 14:
Verse 8: Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
Phillip wanted one of those experiences like he heard about in the Old Testament.
He wanted a "burning bush" like Moses got.
He wanted to see the great cloud cover the temple like it did in Mt. Sinai.
The problem with "experiences" is that they are never enough.
You always want more.
Were the Jews happy with just one miracle, or did they ask Jesus for more?
People think that if they get some sort of "great sign" from God, then they can believe.
Faith in God comes from developing a relationship with God, (prayer, Bible study, time with other believers) and not from some great "experience".
Jesus said this himself: 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16:31 NIV)
Here comes Jesus response in Verse 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 are not just my own. 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 miracles themselves.
Jesus is stating that: If you want to find God, you are looking right at ‘em.
Everything that God is, I am.
Everything you want to know about God, you can find out by watching and listening to me.
Re-read Verse 10 and 11and notice how many times Jesus uses the word "in".
Jesus is emphasizing the relationship of "I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Two aspects of the Trinity. Separate in being, but part of one God. (The 3rd part of the trinity, we are getting to later in this chapter.)
(The best visualization I’ve heard of explaining the "Trinity" is think of a test-tube filled only with water, ice and steam. Three distinct entities, but "still one".)
What makes Verses 10 & 11 so powerful is the fact that the "God in Jesus" and Jesus in God" is expanded in Verse 20 to include you and I!!!
On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:20 NIV)
At the end of Verse 11 Jesus says "at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves."
Jesus is re-assuring Phillip, if you don’t get the big picture right now, just trust the miracles that you have seen to validate what I am saying right now.
Sometimes for us, "the big picture" is hard to comprehend.
Keeping a journal of how God has gotten us through past experiences can often help us in our present situations.
Jesus continues his answer in Verse 12: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He 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 Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus wanted to impress upon this group that after Jesus leaves He expected them to do even greater miracles than the ones he did already!
How can we do greater miracles than curing the blind or raising someone from the dead?
Jesus is talking about conversion of people to Christianity.
How many people became Christians prior to the Cross? Few.
How many people became Christians after the Cross
(i.e. after the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost?)
Thousands
in the Books of Acts!
Millions
over the last 2,000 years!
That’s what Jesus means by "greater things" (Verse 12).
I put these 4 verses in one paragraph, as it is important to read them in perspective.
A lot of Christians read Verse 13 & 14 out of context.
They think that if they just ask Jesus for a million dollars, he will do it.
They read Verse 13 & 14, think "this is some sort of magic lamp" & wish it.
You can’t say "I pray this in Jesus name" like "Abra Cadabra"!
And then expect God to drop a million dollars in your lap!
The key words is in Verse 13: is "so that":
Verse 13: I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
If we make requests of God that bring glory to His name, He will grant them.
Remember that God’s timing is not always our timing.
God may want to grant your request, but not right now.
What we want to be asking God is "What is His will for our lives?"
The reason Christians end their prayer "In Jesus name we pray, Amen" is that Jesus is at the right hand of God making bringing our request to God.
We pray to God through Jesus.
Therefore he (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25 NIV)
Verse 15: If you love me, you will obey what I command.
Verse 15 also ties in with our prayer life.
Jesus says he wants our praying life for the Father to be glorified in the Son
Verse 15 says this depends on our obedience to Christ.
Obedience to Jesus is the evidence of our Love for Him.
This ties to what James says:
"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?" (James 2:19-20 NIV)
Jesus is saying "put your money where your mouth is"
If you believe what I say is true, practice it, don’t just preach it.
Verse 16: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to 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.
Jesus is making a promise to the believers to comfort them through the upcoming trial.
Jesus is talking about "The Holy Spirit".
"The Holy Spirit" describes Him. "Comforter" or "counselor" is His name.
Verse 16 is the one verse in the Bible that mentions all 3 persons of the Trinity.
"God the Son prays to God the Father that He might send God the Holy Spirit to us"
One of the key words in Verse 16 is "another": ."…he will give you another Counselor".
In the Greek, there is two words that are translated "another"
Another of the same kind (used here),
and another of a different kind.
This implies the Holy Spirit is equal in stature to the father and the son.
The other key word of Verse 16 is "forever"…" to be with you forever.
This shows the permanence of the Holy Spirit indwelling in us.
In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God could be taken away from someone.
David said " Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me." (Psalm 51:11 NIV)
We can’t pray that prayer! If you are a believer, this is permanent!
Back in the beginning, I talked about the question: "How do I know I’m saved and the person next to me is or is not?"
This is what Jesus was talking about with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us!
The world can not comprehend the Holy Spirit
Remember Jesus’ words to Nicodemus in Chapter 3.
He compares the Spirit of God to "wind", as we don’t see wind, just the "evidence" of wind.
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:8 NIV)
Verse 19: Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
The whole Gospel hinges on the fact that Jesus was resurrected from the Dead.
"Because I live, (therefore) you also will live".
"If we will never live again after we die, then we might as well go and have ourselves a good time: let us eat, drink, and be merry. What's the difference? For tomorrow we die, and that ends everything!"
1 Corinthians 15:32b, The Living Bible)
To me, there is no greater historical fact easier to prove than the resurrection.
The Pharisee’s must have looked extremely hard for Jesus’ body, to disclaim Jesus’ followers. But never found it!
The disciples never bothered to look for the body. They were convinced (all except Mary & Martha!) that Jesus was dead. Why look for a body to go "hide" it?
Almost all the disciples were tortured and killed for their belief that Jesus was raised from the dead. Many people are willing to die for what they believe is the truth. How many people are willing to be tortured and die for what they know is a lie? No one.
This is the evidence that convinces me Jesus rose from the dead!
Because Jesus lives, we shall live also!
Verse 20: On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
When is that day? That day is today!
The day we become born-again believers. On that day, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit come to dwell within us.
Paul says "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV)
This is why we practice the ritual of baptism.
Baptism is a ceremony to be identified with Jesus. It is a public declaration that you wish to be identified with Jesus. That like Jesus, you died (spiritually) were buried (in your sinful life) and rose-again (born-again).
Verse 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."
The key word to me is "will". Re-read this verse and notice the two "wills".
This is a promise of God to us!
Our love for Jesus is manifested in our obedience.
"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:3-4, NIV)
"We learn that we are not required to demonstrate how much we can do for God, but what he can do through us! (Ray Stedman)
Time for Question Number 3: Verse 22: Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
Remember the disciples wanted Jesus to reign over the world. They didn’t understand why Jesus would just show Himself to believers and not be King of the World.
We do that too when we see injustice happening.
We might say "Hey God, why don’t you just zap that person?!"
Peter answers that question in his second letter:
"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)
Jesus says here that only believers would see Him. Compare this verse with what Jesus taught the disciples earlier about His second coming:
"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30 NIV)
Matthew 24:30 is a reference to his second coming. Then everyone will see Him.
Until then, it is only those who have the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 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.
The important word here is "obey". It is used twice in these two verses.
A lot of people give Jesus "lip service". Again it is also a matter of obedience.
"Professions of Faith" and church membership are not tickets into heaven. Obedience is the ticket. If you believe that Jesus is God, you will act on it.
Verse 25: All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, 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.
A function of Holy Spirit is teaching He instructs from within and recalls to the memory what Jesus taught.
This is how the disciples remembered what Jesus taught when they wrote the Gospels years later.
The human brain has an amazing capacity to remember details. A good hypnotist can often help someone to remember facts and details. This is the closest I can get to describing what the Holy Spirit does. He helps us to remember Bible verses when we need them. (By the way, this is no excuse to get out of Bible Study. God can’t bring a verse into "recall" if it wasn’t there in the first place!.
The Holy Spirit will bring the right versus to mind when you need it.
"But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Mat 10:19-20 NIV)
One of my favorite promises of the Bible is Verse 26:
The next time you are confused about a Bible Verse, Pray "Verse 26";
God, you promised me that the Holy Spirit will teach me all things. I don’t understand this verse. I claim this promise and ask me that you teach me this verse. In Jesus name, Amen.
Now watch God work. Sometime in the next day, week, or year, God will explain that Verse to you. It may be in another Bible reading. It may be a radio commentator. If you are open for answers, God will give it to you!.
Last set of verses: Verse 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 speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave.
Jesus says in Verse 28: Father is greater than I"
This refers to position rather than essence.
"The Prince of this World" refers to the devil.
When the devil tempts Jesus by saying "bow down and worship me and I will give you the kingdoms of this world." (Matthew 4:9)
Jesus never denies that world belonged to Satan.
Jesus came to redeem the world to God.
We’ll get to that more in Chapter 16:
Jesus says: "and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned." (John 16:11 NIV)
Re-reading this chapter a few times, one really notices how Jesus is focusing on giving the disciples comfort.
The disciples are worried, and all 3 of their questions reflects their doubts and worries.
Jesus reassures them of their worries by telling them about heaven, and how their salvation is assured despite their short comings.
Jesus reassures us with the great power they (and we) have through prayer life.
If
it is done to God’s glory and they practice obedience.
Finally, Jesus reassures us that the Holy Spirit is going be sent a "comforter".
I’ll end on two more quotes:
"If you are going to worry, why pray, if you are going to pray, why worry?"
Worrying is assuming responsibility for something God did not intend for you to resume responsibility for!
(The original sources for both quotes are unknown)
Let’s Pray: Father, so often we worry and stress over our present situation. We forget so easily of all the past victories that you have lead us through. Forgive us of our doubts. Help us to remember that you are watching out for us at all times. Help us to remember that you love us with an everlasting love and you want the best for our lives. Help us to learn the lessons you want us to learn from our present trials and to look for your guidance through these situations. Finally, help us to have a good Christian attitude of love for one another. Help us to be good witnesses. Help us to let other people see you in our lives, to work in us and through us. We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.