SCRIPTURE: JOHN 14
JESUS COMFORTS HIS DISCIPLES (vs. 1-14)
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 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. 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. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
JESUS THE WAY TO THE FATHER (vs. 5-14)
Thomas said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (v. 5) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (vs. 6-7)
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (v. 8) Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father?” 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. Believe me when I say that I am in the Fat her and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 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. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (vs. 9-14)
JESUS PROMISES THE HOLY SPIRIT (vs. 15-31)
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – 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. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 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.”” (vs. 15-21)
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” (v. 22) 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. 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. all this I have spoken while still with you. 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. Peach 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. (vs. 2-27)
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. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 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.” (vs. 28-31)
THOUGHTS:
Before Jesus left this world he told his disciples about Himself and the Father as follows:
- He assured them that there are many rooms in His Father’s house. He is going there to prepare a place for them. He will be coming back to take them to His place.
- He revealed that He and His Father are one.
- He promised to do whatever they ask in His name to bring glory to the Father.
- He will ask His Father to send them another Counselor – The Holy Spirit to teach them.
- Those who obey His commands love Jesus and they will be loved by His Father.
- He is going to give them a kind of peace which is different from that of the world. Those who love Him, seek Him and obey Him will experience His peace with the Father and the Son in love.
- He loves the Father and does exactly what His Father has commanded Him.
- He is the way to the Father and He will share the life of the Father with those who have deep fellowship with Him.
Jesus says: “I am the way, the truth and the life” As the way, Jesus is our path to the Father. As the truth, He is the reality of all God’s promises. As the life, He joins his divine life to ours, both now and eternally.
When Jesus said we can ask anything in His name and he will do it, it does not mean that God will grant our requests that are contrary to His will. We cannot use His name as a magic formula to fulfill our selfish desires. He will only grant our requests in line with what he wants.
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit was poured out on all the believers at Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is the very presence of God within all believers to help us live as God wants.
God told us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” because he had sent the Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us and to live in the believers. The Holy Spirit can help us plant truth in our mind, know of God’s will and remind us when we stray from it. The end result of the Holy Spirit that works in our lives is lasting peace.
Jesus said that his followers show their love for him by obeying him. Love is more than lovely words. It is commitment and conduct. If you love Christ, then prove it by obeying what he says in his Word.
In this troubled world, numerous uncertainties, doubts, fear and other forces are at war within us. It is the peace of God that can restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Jesus is giving us that peace if we are willing to accept it from Him.