Post by foxjj on Aug 6, 2024 7:43:55 GMT
John Chapter 14 - NIV
The discourse John recorded in this chapter occurred in the upper room, after the last Passover meal Jesus celebrated with the disciples before His crucifixion - popularly known as the last supper. In the previous chapter, John recorded how Jesus had stunned the disciples by stating one among them would betray Him. He also announced He was soon going to a place where they cannot follow at this time. Jesus then encouraged them when he said:
“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.”
With these encouraging words, Jesus has given the disciples new hope. In verse one Jesus links belief in God with belief in Himself. Using the metaphor of God’s house; Jesus then gives them the good news that He is going to prepare a place in Heaven for them where they will be with Him. Although He is speaking to the disciples - believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord - can confidently take the promise’s to have been recorded as expectations for all believers in the Lordship of Jesus. John would later record the prayer of Jesus when He prayed: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,”
The following verse’s are among the numerous significant verses declaring the uniqueness of salvation through Jesus Christ:
“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.”
These profound statements of Jesus cancel out the notion that all religions are the same, and lead to God. Only Jesus can claim to be the one and the only way to God because, He is God in the flesh, as Colossians 2:9 states: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” As The Incarnate Son of God, Jesus both proclaimed the truth, and is The Truth. He is The Word of Truth as 1 John 1:1-2 proclaims: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”
Verse 7 of John 14 is a unique truth known only to Biblical Christianity. When a sinner has experienced forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, they become born from above - born again. Their new spiritual life brings them into a personal relationship with Jesus and The Father.
Continuing in John 14 Jesus once more speaks to the unique relationship with The Father:
“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.”
At first this revelation was difficult for the disciples to comprehend. However, after spending three years witnessing the unique ministry of Jesus, any question relating to the unique relationship between Jesus and The Father, answers itself. Only God could have performed such miracles as giving sight to one born blind, and who but God can raise the dead?
Jesus continues:
“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.”
The works that Jesus refers to are the miracles that accompanied His ministry. The Acts of the Apostles records many miracles performed by the disciples. Asking in Jesus’s name is a serious matter usually reserved for ministerial needs, or health needs.
After telling the disciples that He was soon leaving, Jesus then speaks of sending 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.”
An advocate is one who stands beside, who supports your cause.
The indwelling of The Spirit in a believers life is unique to Biblical Christianity. In Romans 8:9-10, Paul describes the difference between a life without The Spirit, compared to a life with The Spirit: “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”
John continues with another promise from Jesus:
“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.”
Unbeknownst to the disciples, Jesus was about to be crucified and buried in a tomb. Thereby, the world would not see Him anymore. However, on the third day He arose and showed Himself to the disciples, along with hundreds of believers over a period of forty days before ascending, back to The Father.
The following verse’s define born again believers who know their Savior and their God:
“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.”
When The Spirit comes into our lives He becomes our teacher, helping you and I to better understand Scripture:
“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.
One of the titles of Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, is Prince of Peace. As Messiah, Jesus now offers His peace to His followers:
“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.”
The peace that Jesus offers is unlike anything else that we may experience in life. It is the peace of knowing we are forgiven and justified before God. This peace lasts throughout life no matter our circumstances.
The close of chapter 14 records Jesus telling the disciples that He is going to The Father so that when it occurs, they will remember that He had foretold it. Jesus also speaks of Satan as the prince of this world, showing the sad truth regarding unbelief throughout the world:
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.”
Today, let us give thanks for the obedience of Jesus to The Father.
John Joseph Fox.
The discourse John recorded in this chapter occurred in the upper room, after the last Passover meal Jesus celebrated with the disciples before His crucifixion - popularly known as the last supper. In the previous chapter, John recorded how Jesus had stunned the disciples by stating one among them would betray Him. He also announced He was soon going to a place where they cannot follow at this time. Jesus then encouraged them when he said:
“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.”
With these encouraging words, Jesus has given the disciples new hope. In verse one Jesus links belief in God with belief in Himself. Using the metaphor of God’s house; Jesus then gives them the good news that He is going to prepare a place in Heaven for them where they will be with Him. Although He is speaking to the disciples - believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord - can confidently take the promise’s to have been recorded as expectations for all believers in the Lordship of Jesus. John would later record the prayer of Jesus when He prayed: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,”
The following verse’s are among the numerous significant verses declaring the uniqueness of salvation through Jesus Christ:
“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.”
These profound statements of Jesus cancel out the notion that all religions are the same, and lead to God. Only Jesus can claim to be the one and the only way to God because, He is God in the flesh, as Colossians 2:9 states: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” As The Incarnate Son of God, Jesus both proclaimed the truth, and is The Truth. He is The Word of Truth as 1 John 1:1-2 proclaims: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched —this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”
Verse 7 of John 14 is a unique truth known only to Biblical Christianity. When a sinner has experienced forgiveness through the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, they become born from above - born again. Their new spiritual life brings them into a personal relationship with Jesus and The Father.
Continuing in John 14 Jesus once more speaks to the unique relationship with The Father:
“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.”
At first this revelation was difficult for the disciples to comprehend. However, after spending three years witnessing the unique ministry of Jesus, any question relating to the unique relationship between Jesus and The Father, answers itself. Only God could have performed such miracles as giving sight to one born blind, and who but God can raise the dead?
Jesus continues:
“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.”
The works that Jesus refers to are the miracles that accompanied His ministry. The Acts of the Apostles records many miracles performed by the disciples. Asking in Jesus’s name is a serious matter usually reserved for ministerial needs, or health needs.
After telling the disciples that He was soon leaving, Jesus then speaks of sending 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.”
An advocate is one who stands beside, who supports your cause.
The indwelling of The Spirit in a believers life is unique to Biblical Christianity. In Romans 8:9-10, Paul describes the difference between a life without The Spirit, compared to a life with The Spirit: “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.”
John continues with another promise from Jesus:
“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.”
Unbeknownst to the disciples, Jesus was about to be crucified and buried in a tomb. Thereby, the world would not see Him anymore. However, on the third day He arose and showed Himself to the disciples, along with hundreds of believers over a period of forty days before ascending, back to The Father.
The following verse’s define born again believers who know their Savior and their God:
“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.”
When The Spirit comes into our lives He becomes our teacher, helping you and I to better understand Scripture:
“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.
One of the titles of Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, is Prince of Peace. As Messiah, Jesus now offers His peace to His followers:
“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.”
The peace that Jesus offers is unlike anything else that we may experience in life. It is the peace of knowing we are forgiven and justified before God. This peace lasts throughout life no matter our circumstances.
The close of chapter 14 records Jesus telling the disciples that He is going to The Father so that when it occurs, they will remember that He had foretold it. Jesus also speaks of Satan as the prince of this world, showing the sad truth regarding unbelief throughout the world:
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.”
Today, let us give thanks for the obedience of Jesus to The Father.
John Joseph Fox.