John 14 Commentary

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John 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

  • not: Joh 14:27,28 11:33 *marg: Joh 12:27 16:3,6,22,23 Job 21:4-6 23:15,16 Ps 42:5,6,8-11 43:5 Ps 77:2,3,10 Isa 43:1,2 Jer 8:18 La 3:17-23 2Co 2:7 4:8-10 2Co 12:9,10 1Th 3:3,4 2Th 2:2 Heb 12:12,13 
  • ye: Joh 5:23 6:40 11:25-27 12:44 13:19 Isa 12:2,3 26:3 Ac 3:15,16 Eph 1:12,13,15 3:14-17 1Pe 1:21 1Jn 2:23,24 5:10-12 

Related Passages: 

John 12:27 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

John 13:21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

CONTEXT: continues in the upper room where the disciples had gathered with Jesus before He was arrested. Judas had been dismissed (Jn 13:30) and Jesus had begun His valedictory address to the remaining 11. The world of the disciples was about to be shattered; they would be bewildered, confused, and ridden with anxiety because of the events that would soon transpire. Anticipating their devastation, Jesus spoke to comfort their hearts. (Jn 16:33)

Lowell Johnson - Jesus had just dropped a major bombshell on His disciples. He has just told them that one of them was a traitor and that he would be betrayed by one of their number (John 13:21). Jesus tells them that he is going to leave them and that they cannot go with Him (John 13:33). Then He tells them that their leader, Peter, will deny Him three times (John 13:37-38). After these three bombshells, Jesus sees that their hearts are troubled and he begins to offer them, what we might call, arguments against a troubled heart or a cure for their troubled hearts. The bottom line was this: They did not need to be troubled, because He was there for them and after He left, He would leave One just like Himself to minister to them and empower them and comfort them. What a blessing to know that in my difficulty there is a Divine Person there for me! There have been occasions where just knowing that He is there for me makes all the difference.

Do not let your heart be troubled (tarasso) -  Your is plural so Jesus is addressing all 11 disciples. This command is in the present imperative with a negative which ultimately calls for one to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey. Jesus is encouraging His little band of stalwarts to stop being anxious and distressed, emotions which they were already manifesting. "Stop letting your hearts be troubled." This command was necessary because they had just heard about the coming absence of Jesus and that Peter would deny him. Jesus knows how troubled they will soon be and so He repeats this same command at the end of this chapters (John 14:27). 

But Jesus doesn't just leave them with a command. He will also speak of the enablement to carry out His command. What "secret to success" does Jesus teach His disciples so that they might not be continually stirred up inside with fear and dread? Fear of men will bring a snare. Trusting in God and taking refuge in His promises brings security even in the face of shaky circumstances (Jn 16:33). Jesus tells them to keep on believing in God and in Him. But what were they to believe specifically? When you believe in "Jesus" what does that convey? Belief in His name equates with belief in all that HIs name conveys, e.g., His righteousness in place of our own "righteousness" (1Co 1:30), His abiding presence (Heb 13:5), etc. And also believe in God the Father. Believe that His name is a strong tower & the righteous run into it and are safe (Pr 18:10). He is El Shaddai (the Almighty), the Lord of Sabaoth (of hosts, of armies...He is able to protect and defend us, Ps 91:1), El Elyon (the Most High God of Daniel), etc.

THOUGHT - Faith in God is equated essentially with faith in Jesus and is an ''antidote'' that will keep one's heart from being troubled. Take up the shield of faith that you may be able to extinguish all the flaming anxiety producing missiles of the evil one. And it's a lot easier to "take up the shield of faith" if you've been eating His Word daily and walking in manner worthy of the Lord. 

Believe (pisteuoin God, believe (pisteuoalso in Me - First note that Jesus in effect is claiming equality with God. So this is another verse to refute the frequent skeptical accusation that Jesus never claimed to be God! Next notice that in effect believing in this context is in a sense an "antidote" Both verbs are in the present imperative (see need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey). Jesus commands them to keep on believing in God and in Him. But what were they to believe specifically? When you believe in "Jesus" what does that convey? Belief in His name equates with belief in all that His name conveys, e.g., His righteousness in place of our own "righteousness" (1Co 1:30), His abiding presence (Heb 13:5), etc. And also believe in God the Father. Believe that His name is a strong tower and the righteous run into it and are safe (Pr 18:10). He is El Shaddai (the Almighty), the Lord of Sabaoth (of hosts, of armies...He is able to protect and defend us, Ps 91:1), El Elyon (the Most High God of Daniel), etc.

TECHNICAL NOTE - Some favor taking the first believe as indicative and the second as imperative, producing the translation “You believe in God; believe also in me.” (See NET NOTE for more full discussion)

Lowell Johnson - Once more he presses on them the old lesson, the lesson with which they first began: “Believe! Believe More! Believe distinctly on Me! Believe personally in Me!” Never let us forget that there are degrees in faith and that there is a great difference between weak faith and strong faith. The weakest faith is enough to give a man a saving interest in Christ, and ought not to be scorned; but it will not give a man the same inward comfort that it gives a man with strong faith. A man with weak faith has a dimness of perception and does not see clearly what they believe and why they believe it. Strong, deep faith in Christ is the surest remedy for the troubled heart. Jesus gave them as an antidote for troubled hearts (in following passages): (1) He told them heaven is sure, (2) Christ is the certain and only way to heaven, (3) When Christ departs, His work for them will never cease, (4) in the absence of Christ, His disciples will have the presence and help of the Holy Spirit, (5) Christ will not leave his people forever, but will come back again to receive them unto Himself, (6)He will give the His peace to cheer and encourage them.

Keep on believing equates with keep on obeying (cf Jn 14:15, Jn 14:23). Obedience doesn't save us but it does show that we are saved and it does bring greater insights into God us (Jn 7:17) and greater intimacy with Jesus (Jn 14:21). 

THOUGHT - Where are we troubled and so ultimately where do we need to believe. Is this truth just to be in our minds? Obviously not. But we must take it into our hearts, the center of our thinking (mind), our feeling (emotion) and our choosing (will). So knowledge alone is not enough. We have to receive His life-giving Word into our innermost being and then our heart will not be troubled regardless of our circumstances. This truth is easy to read but not so easy to put into practice, as the temptation is always there to walk by sight rather than by faith in God & in Jesus (the Living Word).

Ryrie -  In view of His departure from them, Christ gave the disciples (in this chapter) specific encouragements. These include the provision in the Father's house (v. 2), the promise to return (v. 3), the prospect of doing greater works (v. 12), the promise of answered prayer (v. 14), the coming of the Holy Spirit (v. 16), and the legacy of peace (v. 27). 


Believe (4100) (pisteuo from pistispistos; related studies the faith) means to consider something to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust. To accept as true, genuine, or real. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something or someone. To consider to be true. To accept the word or evidence of. Vincent says pisteuo "means to persuade, to cause belief, to induce one to do something by persuading, and so runs into the meaning of to obey, properly as the result of persuasion."  In secular Greek literature, as well as in the New Testament, pisteuo has a basic meaning of intellectual assent or belief that something is true. The other meaning that is more common in the New Testament is the transitive or active use which means to "put faith in" or "rely upon" someone or something. Faith is shown to be genuine, saving faith by it actions. That is while faith alone saves a soul from hell, the faith that truly saves is not alone, but is shown to be valid by works/obedience. If a person says they believe and there is never a change in their lifestyle, then that person needs to be wary of falling into the trap of intellectual assent to the truth about Jesus, without any evidence that they are a new creature in Christ (2Cor 5:17+, see also 2Cor 13:5+). Be aware that there is a false teaching in evangelical circles which says if a person claims to believe in Jesus, they are saved regardless of whether there is ever a change in their life or lifestyle. This is a dangerous teaching (see Mt 7:21-23+ and note the adjective "many" and the criterion Jesus uses to judge them - they practice [as their lifestyle] lawlessness)!  The respected Greek lexicon author W E Vine defines saving belief as consisting of (1) a firm conviction which produces full acknowledgment of God's revelation of Truth - (2Th 2:11+ -"in order that they all may be judged who did not believe [pisteuo] the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."), (2) a personal surrender to the Truth (Jn 1:12+ "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe [pisteuo] in His name") and (3) a conduct inspired by and consistent with that surrender. See related discussion on the phrase the obedience of faith

Pisteuo in the Gospel of John - Jn. 1:7; Jn. 1:12; Jn. 1:50; Jn. 2:11; Jn. 2:22; Jn. 2:23; Jn. 2:24; Jn. 3:12; Jn. 3:15; Jn. 3:16; Jn. 3:18; Jn. 3:36; Jn. 4:21; Jn. 4:39; Jn. 4:41; Jn. 4:42; Jn. 4:48; Jn. 4:50; Jn. 4:53; Jn. 5:24; Jn. 5:38; Jn. 5:44; Jn. 5:46; Jn. 5:47; Jn. 6:29; Jn. 6:30; Jn. 6:35; Jn. 6:36; Jn. 6:40; Jn. 6:47; Jn. 6:64; Jn. 6:69; Jn. 7:5; Jn. 7:31; Jn. 7:38; Jn. 7:39; Jn. 7:48; Jn. 8:24; Jn. 8:30; Jn. 8:31; Jn. 8:45; Jn. 8:46; Jn. 9:18; Jn. 9:35; Jn. 9:36; Jn. 9:38; Jn. 10:25; Jn. 10:26; Jn. 10:37; Jn. 10:38; Jn. 10:42; Jn. 11:15; Jn. 11:25; Jn. 11:26; Jn. 11:27; Jn. 11:40; Jn. 11:42; Jn. 11:45; Jn. 11:48; Jn. 12:11; Jn. 12:36; Jn. 12:37; Jn. 12:38; Jn. 12:39; Jn. 12:42; Jn. 12:44; Jn. 12:46; Jn. 13:19; Jn. 14:1; Jn. 14:10; Jn. 14:11; Jn. 14:12; Jn. 14:29; Jn. 16:9; Jn. 16:27; Jn. 16:30; Jn. 16:31; Jn. 17:8; Jn. 17:20; Jn. 17:21; Jn. 19:35; Jn. 20:8; Jn. 20:25; Jn. 20:29; Jn. 20:31

Troubled (disturbed, stirred up) (5015tarasso literally means to shake back and forth and therefore to agitate and stir up (like the pool in John 5:4,7, Lxx = Ezek 32:2, 13, Isa 51:15). To shake together, stir up, disturb, unsettle, throw into disorder (Lxx = Ps 46; 2Sa 22:8 = of earth shaking). Most of the NT uses of tarasso are figurative and describe the state of one's mind as stirred up, agitated or experiencing inward commotion. The passive voice is always used in the NT with a negative meaning, conveying the sense of emotional disturbance or inner turmoil, so that one is unsettled, thrown into confusion, or disturbed by various emotions, including excitement, perplexity, fear or trepidation. Tarasso conveys the idea of to disturb mentally or to cause a deep emotional disturbance and thus refers to an unsettled mind, as when Herod heard of the birth of Jesus (Mt 2:3), Zacharias' fear when he saw the angel (Lk 1:12), the terror of the disciples when they witnessed Jesus walking on the water (Mt 14:26), Jesus' reaction to the lack of faith among the people before He raises Lazarus (Jn 11:33), in Jesus' command to not let their hearts be troubled (Jn 14:1) and of disturbing the faith of someone (Gal 5:10). Tarasso emphasizes the intensity of the Lord's reaction to His impending death (Jn 12:27) and His response to Judas' imminent betrayal. Tarasso is a strong word, meaning “to deeply upset,” “to deeply disturb,” “to perplex,” or “to create fear.” Tarasso also describes the potential effect of false teaching in Galatians 1:7 and Gal 5:10. Click here for an in depth discussion of tarasso in the New International Dictionary of the New Testament

Tarasso - 18v - Matt. 2:3; Matt. 14:26; Mk. 6:50; Lk. 1:12; Lk. 24:38; Jn. 5:4; Jn. 5:7; Jn. 11:33; Jn. 12:27; Jn. 13:21; Jn. 14:1; Jn. 14:27; Acts 15:24; Acts 17:8; Acts 17:13; Gal. 1:7; Gal. 5:10; 1 Pet. 3:14


An Untroubled Heart

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. — John 14:1

Today's Scripture : John 13:31-14:1

Noted British preacher J. H. Jowett believed that inner peace comes not from tranquil circumstances but from an untroubled heart. He said: “If we were to hear 100 people repeating the sentence, ‘Let not your heart be troubled,’ we should find that 99 of them put the emphasis upon the word troubled. . . . I feel led to believe that the purposed emphasis is on the word heart. . . . The heart is to be clothed in serene regality even when hell is knocking and rioting at its very gates.”

Jowett’s perceptive words caused me to wonder if I’m spending more energy trying to avoid difficulties than on letting them help me get to know Christ better. If so, I’m headed for nothing but frustration and failure.

Jesus told His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled” (Jn. 14:1). This was to prepare them for the dark day of His crucifixion. He knew they could weather the storm only by trusting Him in spite of the apparent triumph of evil.

Today, we can focus on the trouble in the world and in our lives, or we can focus on the victory we have in Christ because His death was followed by His resurrection. This wonderful fact gives new meaning to His words, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (16:33). By:  David C. McCasland (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

A troubled heart, a wearied mind
Are burdens hard to bear;
A lack of peace, a heavy load
Are lifted by God's care.
—Fitzhugh

When we keep our mind on God, God gives us peace of mind.

John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

  • In My Father’s house: 2Co 5:1 Heb 11:10,14-16 13:14 Rev 3:12,21 21:10-27 
  • if it were not so: Joh 12:25,26 16:4 Lu 14:26-33 Ac 9:16 1Th 3:3,4 5:9 2Th 1:4-10 Titus 1:2 Rev 1:5 
  • I go to prepare: Joh 13:33,36 17:24 Heb 6:20 9:8,23-26 11:16 Rev 21:2 

JESUS' PURPOSE FOR LEAVING
TO PREPARE MANSIONS IN HEAVEN

In My Father’s house (oikia) are many dwelling places (KJV - mansions) -  With the phrase My Father's house Jesus is repeating His oneness with the Father and by using the word house alludes to the ideas of family, of love, of fellowship, of joy, etc in Heaven.  According to Jesus, heaven is a real place. It is not a product of religious imagination or the result of a psyched-up mentality, looking for “pie in the sky by and by.” Heaven is the place where God dwells and where Jesus sits today at the right hand of the Father. Heaven is described as a kingdom (2 Pet 1:11), an inheritance (1 Pet 1:4), a country (Heb 11:16), a city (Heb 11:16), and a home (Jn 14:2). 

Jesus repeatedly calls God His Father in the Gospel of John - John 2:16 John 5:17, John 5:43, John 6:32 John 6:40 John 8:19 John 8:38 John 8:49 John 8:54 John 10:18 Jn 10:25 John 10:29 John 10:37 John 14:2 John 14:7 John 14:20 John 14:21 John 14:23 John 15:1 John 15:8 John 15:10 John 15:15 John 15:23 John 15:24 John 20:17

TECHNICAL NOTE on dwelling places - "the idea of a permanent dwelling place, rather than a temporary stopping place, would be in view.....Most interpreters have understood the reference to my Father’s house as a reference to heaven, and the dwelling places (μονή, monē) as the permanent residences of believers there. This seems consistent with the vocabulary and the context" (See NET NOTE for lengthy discussion)

It is unfortunate that some unbiblical songs have perpetuated the error that faithful Christians will have lovely mansions in glory, while worldly saints will have to be content with little cottages or even shacks. There is a more serious potential pitfall in modern day evangelicalism that teaches that one can live a lifestyle of worldliness and still profess to be a blood bought saint. Every so-called "worldly" saint needs to carefully examine their heart as to whether they are in fact truly a saint. Saints are "set apart" from the WORLD and to GOD. So if a so-called saint manifests continuing affinity for the WORLD (2Ti 4:10, 1Jn 2:15-17, Jas 4:4, Mt 6:24, etc), it is very possible that he or she is not really a saint but is in fact deceived and will receive a rude awakening from the Lord Jesus some day (Mt 7:21-23). And don't let scoffers accuse you of being "judgmental" or "unloving" by holding and (in love) vocalizing these views, using as their cover the verse to "judge not lest ye be judged" (Mt 7:1). Sinners who claim to be saints don't like to hear this truth because the light exposes their deeds and ultimately their destiny (cf Jn 3:20). 

Believer's Study Bible - The word for "mansions" (monai, Gk.) is found only here and in v. 23 and can be translated "resting places," "abodes," or "permanent dwelling places." Clearly, Jesus knew that the disciples anticipated some such heavenly abode. He assures them that He would have corrected the notion if it were not true. The place where Christians will abide is a "prepared" place in heaven. While it is impossible to determine its location, the believer is promised the escort of Jesus Himself (possibly a reference to the rapture of the church, cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18), and then eternal fellowship with the Lord (v. 3). "I will come again" (v. 3) is a futuristic present tense in the original Greek: "I am coming back." The present tense is used to express the certainty of the future return. This is an explicit statement from Christ's lips. He is coming again! His purpose will be to receive us.

if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare (hetoimazoa place (toposfor you - Jesus is referring to a place in Heaven. 

Lowell Johnson - “Newsweek” did a poll in America recently (ED: OVER 20 YEARS AGO) and they said that the poll found that 77% of the people in America believed that Heaven really does exist. Of those 77% that believe in heaven, 75% believed that they were going there. What does this tell us? It tells us that most Americans believe that the way to Heaven is broad and almost anyone who is drawing breath and has a heartbeat will eventually get there. Yet, Jesus said the gate is small and the way narrow. Few will enter it. Matt. 7:13-14 (I came across another poll this past week that showed that 92% of Americans believed in heaven and nearly all of those were somewhat confident that they would be there.)

ILLUSTRATION - PLACE - London newspaper held a contest to determine the best definition of “home.” The winning entry was, “Home is the place where you are treated the best and complain the most.” The poet Robert Frost said that home is the place that, when you arrive there, they have to take you in.  


John 14:2 Happy Memories

The Lord Jesus is now in heaven, the “Father’s house.” He has gone there to “prepare a place” for all who have put their trust in Him. There is a sense, however, in which believers may have a part in preparing that place. That thought was brought to my attention as I read these observations by an unknown writer:

“I once had friends who were traveling abroad. Intending to build a new house upon their return, in all their journeying the dream of that new home was constantly in their minds. When they therefore could secure a beautiful picture, statue, or vase, they purchased in and sent it on ahead to await their arrival. The same thing was done with rare and curious treasures, which afterward, when placed in their new home, could be linked with happy memories and in this way contribute to their future enjoyment.”

The writer then made this application: “I love to think that we, in these pilgrimage days on earth, are doing the same for our heavenly home. The kindly deed that made a rare picture in somebody’s life, the little sacrifice that blossomed into joy, the helpful friendship—all these we shall find again. Whatever of beauty, tenderness, faith, or love we can put into other’s lives will be among our treasures in heaven.” Our Daily Bread, January 30, 1994 (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)


The Homeless

In My Father's house are many mansions. —John 14:2

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-7

I have seen them curled up on park benches in Chicago. I’ve observed them asleep in doorways within the shadow of the White House. They slump against the walls of a New York subway. They huddle in the alleys of Los Angeles. They are the homeless—restless, furtive, often sick.

To me, homelessness illustrates the human condition without God. The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isa. 53:6). To deny God, as so many people do today, is to be homeless in a world He designed for His own glory. To abandon His moral law is to drift aimlessly. To deny Him is to make life meaningless. To refuse His love is to sink into the coldness of despair.

The answer to the human dilemma is to believe in Jesus Christ. The early church leader Augustine (354-430) said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and the heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.”

To trust in Christ is to come into the warm and loving family of God (Jn. 1:12). To hope in Him is to look forward to a heavenly home that will last forever (14:1-3). To receive Him is to become part of His world of truth, morality, and peace.

Are you feeling homeless? Come home to God. By:  David C. Egner (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Adrift in a world that lacked meaning,
I felt a compulsion to roam,
And then one bright day I met Jesus,
At last I had found my heart's home!
—K. De Haan

We are homeless until Christ is at home in our hearts.

John 14:3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

  • I will come again and receive you to Myself,: John 14:18-23,28 John 12:26 John 17:24 Mt 25:32-34 Ac 1:11 Acts 7:59,60 Ro 8:17 2Co 5:6-8 Php 1:23 1Th 4:16,17 2Th 1:12 2Th 2:1 2Ti 2:12 Heb 9:28 1Jn 3:2,3 Rev 3:21 Rev 21:22,23 Rev 22:3-5

Related Passages: 

1 Thessalonians 4:13+ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up (harpazo; Latin - rapturo ~ "raptured") together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.


Buster Keaton looking expectantly

JESUS' PROMISED
FUTURE RETURN & RECEPTION

If I go and prepare (hetoimazo) a place (topos) for you - NLT says "When everything is ready." NJB = "after I have gone." International Children's Bible has "After I go and prepare a place for you." While Jesus had discussed His future return on several previous occasions, this was the first time He had applied it personally to His disciples.

Bob Utley on if I go - "If" This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, which means potential action. Jesus has told them He is returning to the Father soon (i.e., John 7:33; Jn 16:5,10,17,28) and He will prepare a place for them. The Help for Translators from United Bible Societies on John by Newman and Wider says that this clause should be understood in a temporal sense of "after I go" or "when I go" or "since I go" (p. 456).

I will come again and receive (paralambano) you to Myself - Note two promises. First, Jesus will return. Second, Jesus will receive them to Himself. The verb receive (paralambano) is in the middle voice which is reflexive (i.e., "to Himself") and gives a beautiful picture of Jesus with arms open wide ready and willing to take us to His bosom! The idea is that we will accompany Him for He will take us along. In addition paralambano implies "welcome a person" which gives us a wonderful picture of Heaven as the place where we will experience personal fellowship with God! Amazing grace indeed! As Paul said after describing a similar reception of saints by the Lord Jesus, "Comfort (parakaleo in present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) one another with these words!" (1Th 4:18+). Note that this is a reference to Jesus' personal return and not a reference to His sending the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. 

That where I am (present tense), there you may be (present tensealso - Notice the two uses of the present tense, in context speaking of them (and all saints) forever being with our Lord Jesus Christ. I can hear a "Hallelujah" from some of you reading this. Amen! Maranatha, Lord! Compare the parallel passage in 1Th 4:17 "we shall always be with the Lord." Another "Hallelujah!"

Utley remarks that "The Bible is surprisingly silent about the afterlife. A good brief book is William Hendriksen's, The Bible On the Life Hereafter (BORROW)." (Another book you might consider borrowing is Erwin Lutzer's One Minute After You Die or Lutzer's other book Heaven and the afterlife : the truth about tomorrow and what it means for today)

Jesus is coming to earth again – What if it were today?
Coming in power and love to reign – What if it were today?
Coming to claim His chosen Bride, All the redeemed and purified,
Over this whole earth scattered wide – What if it were today? 
REFRAIN

Faithful and true would He find us here, If He should come today?
Watching in gladness and not in fear, If He should come today?
Signs of His coming multiply, Morning light breaks in eastern sky;
Watch, for the time is drawing nigh – What if it were today?

REFRAIN
Glory, glory! Joy to my heart 'twill bring; Glory, glory!
When we shall crown Him King, Glory, glory! Haste to
Prepare the way; Glory, glory, Jesus will come someday.


Prepare (ready) (2090hetoimazo from heteos = fitness - see study of related word hetoimasia) means to make ready, specifically to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity. Our English word prepare (from pre/prae = before + parare = to procure, to make ready) includes ideas such as to fit, adapt or qualify for a particular purpose, end, use, service or state, by any means whatever (eg, men and women are prepared to be disciples by being properly discipled! Webster's 1828 = "holiness of heart is necessary to prepare men for the enjoyment of happiness with holy beings."), to put in a proper state of mind (eg, a heart prepared to hear from the Lord in one's "quiet time"), to work out the details, to plan or make ready in advance usually for a particular use or disposition (eg, prepare the roads for a King's arrival, prepare strategy for a fund raising campaign, to prepare a meal, to prepare the table for entertaining company, to prepare to go, etc), to put together (eg, prepare a prescription), to put in written form (eg, prepare a sermon or doctoral thesis), to make ready for use or consideration, make or get ready to do or deal with something (eg, prepared to preach or teach this coming Sunday), to be prepared to do something, to be willing (and able) to do something, to equip or outfit as for an expedition (cp 2Ti 2:21).

Place (opportunity, room) (5117topos is literally a place, position, region (Mt 14:35; 26:52; Mk 1:35; 15:22; Lk 16:28; J 5:13; 11:48; 20:25; Ac 6:13; 12:17; 16:3; 27:2; 1 Cor 1:2; Rev 2:5. A room (Lk 2:7; 14:9, 22), In the plural = regions, districts (Mt 12:43; Mk 13:8; Ac 27:2) A place, passage in a book Lk 4:17. A position, office  = Acts 1:25a. A possibility, opportunity, chance = Acts 25:16; Ro 12:19; 15:23; Eph 4:27; Heb 12:17 Topos can refer to an area of any size depending on the context.

Receive (3880paralambano from para = beside + lambano = appropriate, receive) means to receive from another, to receive alongside or to take to oneself (into close association). There are two basic ideas - to take or to receive. To take with one in order to carry away (eg, Jesus' reference to the Rapture in John 14:3 below where the taking also conveys a sense close fellowship and agreement associated with the receiving to Himself)


Verses like John 14:3 should inspire in each of us "vertical vision." Vertical Vision is a Word centered, Spirit enabled mindset that is continually looking heavenward (Ge 15:5+), looking expectantly toward Christ (Heb 12:2+), looking toward future grace in eternity (1Pe 1:13+), looking toward your citizenship in heaven (Php 3:20+), looking toward all that is true and honorable and right (Php 4:8+), looking for the city which has foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God (Heb 11:10+, Jn 14:3+), a city which endures forever (Lk 21:33+). And the list goes on...and you can mark it down as an axiomatic truth that...

EXPECTANT Looking
Is a great "Antidote" for
APATHETIC Living 

The Holy Spirit desires believers to be heavenly minded, not earthly minded, which is one reason that inspired approximately one of every 20-25 verses to speak directly or indirectly about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is axiomatic that what you are looking for will affect what you are living for. Or stated another way, Who you are looking for (Jesus), will (should) radically impact what you are living for. In short, a heavenly uplook is one of the best antidotes for an earthly outlook. Stated another way vertical vision will motivate horizontal living and godliness. If you are looking for Jesus, the chances are very much increased that you will be living for Jesus. The choices you make each day can and will be radically impacted by such vertical vision. 

Vertical Vision is a simple, but powerful Biblical principle to motivate daily growth in Christlikeness! In Titus 2:13 Paul says we are to be "looking for the Blessed Hope (Phillips = "the glorious dénouement") and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus." In the preceding passage Paul calls for us (enabled by the Spirit)  to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present (passing, temporal) age! If you are looking for Jesus to return in Titus 2:13 (Vertical Vision), you are far more likely to be living for Him, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, and instead living sensibly, righteously and godly in this present evil age (Horizontal Living)! If we are continually looking for Him, His Spirit will give us the desire and the power (Php 2:13NLT+) to be continually living for Him. This future hope (absolute assurance God will do good to us in the future) empowers present behavior. Have you allowed the world to weigh you down and cause you to take your eyes off of His return? Are you living more for your passing pleasure than for His glorious appearing? Don't be downcast. Confess it. Repent. And begin to live as if His return could be today (because it COULD BE TODAY!).

Dr M R De Haan founder of Our Daily Bread ministry kept a motto on his desk which read "PERHAPS TODAY!" You will be amazed at what a difference "a DAY" will make in your personal perspective, prerogatives and practices! And all God's people say "Yes! AmenMaranatha!" Play Dinah Washington's What a Difference a Day Makes and think about our Bridegroom in place of the secular phrases! (See the full article Vertical Vision Empowers Horizontal Living)


The Best Is Yet To Be

He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” — Revelation 21:5

Today's Scripture : Revelation 21:1-8

Before Jesus left this earth, He promised to prepare a special place for those who love Him (John 14:2-3). Years later He spoke to His disciple John in a vision, giving him as much detail as man’s finite mind could grasp. Since then, God’s people have pondered with eager anticipation “a new heaven and a new earth,” where there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain (Rev. 21:1,4).

When we are released from sin’s curse, we will serve God without weariness (22:3-4). We will see Jesus and be like Him (1 John 3:2).

Thinking about these joys moved the renowned English physician Thomas Browne (1605-1682) to write, “When we begin to talk about life after death, we’re like two infants in a womb discussing the nature of their future life. The difference between our present knowledge and understanding of what it will be to share God’s glory is no less great than what exists between unborn babes and a man in the strength of his days. . . . As Christians, we know it is indescribable and thus we can rejoice, but it will be even greater than our wildest imagination.”

In life’s darkest or most joyous moments, let’s never forget that the best is yet to be. By:  Dennis J. DeHaan (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

To see His face, this is my goal,
The deepest longing of my soul;
Through storm and stress my path I’ll trace
Till, satisfied, I see His face!
—Chisholm

Heaven: no pain, no night, no death, no tears.


It’s For Sure!

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. — John 14:3

Today's Scripture : 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Before our second child was born, my wife and I attended a childbirth class offered by the hospital. During the course we watched a film designed to relieve the fears of expectant parents. All of us had questions like: When will the labor begin? Will there be plenty of time to get to the hospital? Will the delivery be hard? And what about our baby? Will it be a boy or a girl? Will it be large or small? Will it be healthy?

The narrator then summed it up like this: “Yes, there are so many questions left unanswered. But one thing is for sure: You will deliver. You will give birth!” The class laughed. One thing was certain—the baby would come.

The experience reminded me of the Lord’s second coming. We have so many questions about it. What will it be like? Will it be a startling experience? Will we be happy when we see Jesus? Where will we be when it occurs? Will we be living, or will we be among those who are raised from the dead?

Yes, as we anticipate the birth of that new day, there are many unanswered questions. But one thing is for sure—He is coming! That is why we should prepare ourselves through faith, hope, and love (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Then we will be ready for the blessed event.  —MRD II  (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)


I Will Come Back For You

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. —John 14:18

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

In 1914 Ernest Shackleton led an expedition to sail to Antarctica, and then walk to the South Pole. The expedition went according to plan until ice trapped the ship and eventually crushed its hull. The men made their way by lifeboat to a small island. Promising to come back for them, Shackleton and a small rescue party set out across 800 miles of perilous seas to South Georgia Island.

With only a sextant to guide them, they made it to the island. Shackleton then led his party over steep mountainous terrain to the whaling port on the other side. Once there, he acquired a ship to rescue his crew. Their leader had kept his word and returned for them. Not one man was left behind.

As Jesus was preparing to leave His disciples, He promised to return. He said, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). After enduring the horrors of the cross, Jesus rose from the dead to provide eternal life to all who believe in Him as their Savior. He indwells us today by the Holy Spirit, but one day He will return and gather us into His presence (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). Jesus is true to His word. - Dennis Fisher (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

If you are His, He will come back for you!


No Joke!

I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. — John 14:3

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

I have heard that humor is sometimes used to deal with important things we don’t really understand. If that’s true, I can see why there are so many jokes about heaven.

We understand so little about what life is like for those who are “with the Lord.” When we lose a loved one, we struggle to grasp why God “needed” that person more than we did. Because justice and reward are so imperfect on earth, it seems hard to imagine a place where God perfectly administers both. So we chuckle at stories about someone “who died and knocked on the Pearly Gates.”

Even the most knowledgeable theologian knows little of that marvelous place the Bible calls heaven. Jesus didn’t give a detailed description of life after death, but He promised His followers an eternal home with Him. He said, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:3).

We don’t understand everything about heaven, but we believe our Savior’s promise. By faith in the integrity and power of the One who has spoken, we accept what we cannot fully comprehend. We live with hope and assurance of all that He has in store for us. And that’s no joke. By:  David C. McCasland (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

What Do We Know About Heaven?
Psalm 16:11; 115:3;
John 17:24; 1 Peter 1:3-4;
Revelation 7:15-17; 14:13; 21:3-4; 22:1-5

People joke about heaven and hell, but heaven and hell are no joke.


A Better Place

I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. —John 14:3

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

When death invades our lives, we need a sanctuary—a place of safety that gives us a glimmer of hope against an oppressive backdrop of sorrow. This was never more clear to pastor John Claypool than in the days following the death of his young daughter.

The Sunday after the funeral, Claypool told his congregation that he loved the promise in Isaiah 40:31 of renewed strength to those who trust the Lord. But on that morning his spirit was not soaring as an eagle, nor was he running. In fact, he said, he was barely walking.

Claypool did find strength and courage, though, to survive his loss in another passage—John 14. As he read about Jesus’ promise to believers that they will be with Him in heaven, Claypool began to find comfort. He was confident that Jesus had prepared a better place for his daughter—and that she was with the Lord. “The only thing that keeps me going,” he told his listeners, “is the promise that my daughter is in the arms of Jesus.”

Our Savior is preparing a better place for all who have put their trust in Him. It’s not just a future hope; it’s also a present reality—a reality that gives us the comfort we need to face the death of someone close. By:  Dave Branon (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

The death of people whom we love
Brings sorrow and deep pain;
But if our loved ones know the Lord,
Our loss becomes their gain.
—Sper

Our greatest comfort in sorrow is to know that Jesus lives.


The Catcher

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. — John 14:3

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

Life is a risky enterprise. Sometimes we fly high, enjoying great success. But then suddenly we fall into deep disappointments and the haunting reality of failure, leaving our hearts wondering if there is anything worth looking forward to.

At a funeral recently, the pastor told the story about a trapeze artist. The performer admitted that although he is seen as the star of the show, the real star is the catcher—the teammate who hangs from another trapeze bar to grab him and guarantee a safe landing. The key, he explained, is trust. With outstretched arms, the flyer must trust that the catcher is ready and able to grab him. Dying is like trusting in God as the catcher. After we have flown through life, we can look forward to God reaching out to catch His followers and to pull us safely to Himself forever. I like that thought.

This reminds me of Jesus’ comforting words to His disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled . . . . I go to prepare a place for you. And . . . I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

Life is indeed a risky business, but be encouraged! If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Catcher is waiting at the end to take you safely home. By:  Joe Stowell (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Home from the earthly journey,
Safe for eternity;
All that the Savior promised—
That is what heaven will be.
—Anon.

Our heavenly Father’s arms will one day catch His children.


Are You Looking Up? - Are you so eager for Christ's return that you hope it will take place today? I wouldn't be honest if I answered an unqualified "Yes" to this question. You see, I'm enjoying life right now. I love what I'm doing. My wife and I are having fun watching our grandsons grow toward manhood. There are still people and places we would like to visit during our retirement years.

Does this mean that I'm not "looking (prosdechomai in present tense = anticipating with idea of welcoming) for the blessed hope and glorious appearing" of Jesus Christ? (Titus 2:13+). No, it doesn't. I believe that His return is indeed "the blessed hope." Earthly pleasures are only temporary and cannot compare with the joys of heaven. Besides, I am troubled by the sin, sorrow, and suffering all around me.

All Christians are thankful for Jesus' promise, "I will come again and receive you to Myself" (Jn. 14:3). But our own circumstances affect how eagerly we anticipate His return. Whether life for us today is a joy or a struggle, we are to deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts" and to "live soberly, righteously, and godly" (Titus 2:12+).

God wants us to enjoy life. But He also wants us to live each day as if it may be the one in which He will return. Are you looking up? — Herbert Vander Lugt (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Take the world but give me Jesus--
In His cross my trust shall be;
Till, with clearer, brighter vision,
Face to face my Lord I see.
-Fanny Crosby

Enjoy life, but anticipate heaven!

John 14:4 “And you know the way where I am going.”

  • And you know: Joh 14:2,28 13:3 16:28 Lu 24:26 
  • the way where I am going: Joh 3:16-17, Jn 3:36 Jn 6:40,68,69 Jn 10:9 Jn 12:26 

THE WAY BACK TO THE
RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER

And you know the way where I am going - Only a short time earlier Jesus had told them "Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come." (John 13:33) Of course where He was going refers to His ascension (Acts 1:9-11) to the right hand of His Father in Heaven. At this time they could not follow Him because the way back to His Father, would be through His death on the Cross and His resurrection, events which they would only be able to witness but could not themselves experience. Jesus had alluded to the way of the Cross in John 12:32-33+ declaring "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth (THE CROSS), will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die." As Jesus would explain in Jn 14:6 the way for the disciples to come to Heaven was not through the Cross but through Him, through belief in His substitutionary, fully atoning sacrifice on the Cross and His subsequent resurrection.

John 14:5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

  • Thomas: Joh 20:25-28 
  • we do not know: Joh 15:12 Mk 8:17,18 9:19 Lu 24:25 Heb 5:11,12

DOUBTING THOMAS SPEAKS
FOR THE ELEVEN

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Thomas is not so sure he knows the way where Jesus is going (Jn 14:4) so it prompts his question! They would remain puzzled until after His death and resurrection and until the coming of the Holy Spirit Who would give full understanding. They had all the information but they could not put it together. All mankind owes "doubting" Thomas a thanks because His question prompted one of the most powerful verses ever spoken about how a sinner can one day come into the present of the perfectly Holy God! 

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

  • I am: Joh 10:9 Isa 35:8,9 Mt 11:27 Ac 4:12 Ro 5:2 Eph 2:18 Heb 7:25 Heb 9:8 10:19-22 1Pe 1:21 
  • the truth: Joh 1:14,17 8:32 15:1 18:37 Ro 15:8,9 2Co 1:19,20 Col 2:9,17 1Jn 1:8 5:6,20 Rev 1:5 3:7,14 19:11 
  • the life: Joh 14:19 1:4 5:21,25-29 6:33,51,57,68 8:51 10:28 11:25,26 17:2,3 Ac 3:15 Ro 5:21 1Co 15:45 Col 3:4 1Jn 1:1,2 5:11,12 Rev 22:1,17 
  • no one: Joh 10:7,9 Ac 4:12 Ro 15:16 1Pe 2:4 3:18 1Jn 2:23 2Jn 1:9 Rev 5:8,9 Rev 7:9-17 13:7,8 20:15 

ONE OF THE GREATEST
EGO EIMI'S IN THE BIBLE

Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am (ego eimi) the way, and the truth (aletheia), and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me - This time we can thank Thomas for expressing some doubt in Jn 14:5, as it brings forth the great "I Am" statement that reveals the path one must walk on to experience eternal life with the Father. The I am (ego eimi) in the present tense signifies Jesus is continually the way, that He is continually available to the one lost who is searching for why he or she is here and where they are going when they die. Notice the three uses of "the" (Greek definite article "he"), which is crucial to comprehend. Jesus is saying with each use of "the" that He is the definitive way, the definitive truth and the definitive life. The clear implication is that there is absolutely NO OTHER way, truth or life! Jesus Christ not only states the truth; he is the truth

It is notable that the early church was known as "the Way" (cf. Acts 9:2; 19:9,23; 24:14,22).

John Hall - Whosoever is not in Him as the Way, is out of the way and lost; whosoever is not in Him as the Truth is in fatal error; whosoever is not in Him as the Life is dead in sins.

The issue...is not whether or not we like this claim, but whether or not it is true.
-- Walter Kaiser

Walter Kaiser adds that "The issue, then, is not whether or not we like this claim, but whether or not it is true. The usual smokescreen is to say, “What about those who have never heard of Jesus?” The response to this is twofold: (1) there is a missionary imperative in the New Testament to minimize this problem (that is why, for example, Paul dedicates his life to preaching Jesus where he has not yet been preached) and (2) how God may choose to reveal himself or deal with those who have no human messenger is his business. If we know God’s character, we can trust him to do his business well. Our problem is that we do know about Jesus and are living in a culture in which Jesus is all too well known. Furthermore, the missionary imperative falls to those of us who believe." (ED: I would add Romans 1:20 [commentary] also addresses those who never heard for Paul writes "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse." See also Gotquestions - What happens to those who have never heard about Jesus? and Walter Kaiser on page 508 Is God Fair to Condemn Those Who Have Never Heard?)

Note that Jesus differentiates Himself clearly from false "ways" by not saying He is "A way" which would leave open the door for the interpretation that He was one of many ways to God. He did not leave the door open for that damning teaching. Further, Jesus differentiated Himself from other false ways that are a dead end street (pun intended!) Buddha said, “I am a guide to way.”  Mohammed said, “I am a teacher of the truth.”  Jesus said, “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life.” The clear implication of Jesus' words is that Jesus is the only way and the only truth and the only life. 

I am the way, without me there is no Going
I am the Truth, without me there is no Knowing
I am the Life, without me there is no Growing.

No one (oudeis) comes to the Father (pater) but through Me - No one (oudeis) in simple terms means "ABSOLUTELY no one!" Jesus is clearly and plainly making the point that He and He Alone is the only way to come to the Father. There is absolutely no other way! Jesus is "narrow minded" because He wants everyone to fully understand that the way is narrow! In His Sermon on the Mount He warned "Enter (aorist imperative see the need of the Holy Spirit to obey Jesus' command, cf Jn 3:5-8+) through the narrow gate; FOR (CRUCIAL term of explanation) the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. FOR (ANOTHER CRUCIAL term of explanation - Jesus explains why one must obey His command) the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Mt 7:13-14+)  Notice Jesus use of the two adjectives "many" and "few" which sound a clear warning that one must enter through Him or they will forever suffer loss and destruction (eternal punishment)! 

Someone said that you are either ON the way or IN the way; in the way of others who need to find the way.

As an aside remember that all three monotheistic faiths, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, teach a doctrine that only one particular religion or belief system is true. Thus Judaism says it is through the Mosaic Covenant, Islam through the Koran and Christianity through a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ and His belief in His death, burial and resurrection.  Inclusivism vs. exclusivism-what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.org (Is personal faith in Jesus the only way to heaven (exclusivism), or did Jesus’ death also provide salvation for some who do not believe (inclusivism)?)

John Phillips has an interesting comment about Jesus repeatedly reference to God as Father (pater) - Many times the Lord had spoken to his disciples about his Father. He delighted to use this novel name for God. Throughout the Old Testament, God is seldom spoken of as a Father. This lovely name for God was, really, the Lord's revelation, and a wonderfully comforting one it is. God is not merely Elohim, the awesome God of creation, omniscient in his purpose, omnipotent in his power, omnipresent in his person; he is not just Jehovah, the God of covenant, wise and loving, but strict in his requirements; nor is he merely Adonai, God of command, sovereign Lord, and owner of the universe, who must be obeyed. He is a Father, a God of comfort, a God of compassion, one who has a home and a family. The Lord used this name for God over and over again. How well John remembered it! In his gospel the expression "the Father" or its kindred expression "my Father" occurs 156 times. (Borrow Exploring the Gospel of John)

Father is found 23 times in 17 verses in John 14 - Jn. 1:14; Jn. 1:18; Jn. 2:16; Jn. 3:35; Jn. 4:12; Jn. 4:20; Jn. 4:21; Jn. 4:23; Jn. 4:53; Jn. 5:17; Jn. 5:18; Jn. 5:19; Jn. 5:20; Jn. 5:21; Jn. 5:22; Jn. 5:23; Jn. 5:26; Jn. 5:36; Jn. 5:37; Jn. 5:43; Jn. 5:45; Jn. 6:27; Jn. 6:31; Jn. 6:32; Jn. 6:37; Jn. 6:40; Jn. 6:42; Jn. 6:44; Jn. 6:45; Jn. 6:46; Jn. 6:49; Jn. 6:57; Jn. 6:58; Jn. 6:65; Jn. 7:22; Jn. 8:16; Jn. 8:18; Jn. 8:19; Jn. 8:27; Jn. 8:28; Jn. 8:38; Jn. 8:39; Jn. 8:41; Jn. 8:42; Jn. 8:44; Jn. 8:49; Jn. 8:53; Jn. 8:54; Jn. 8:56; Jn. 10:15; Jn. 10:17; Jn. 10:18; Jn. 10:25; Jn. 10:29; Jn. 10:30; Jn. 10:32; Jn. 10:36; Jn. 10:37; Jn. 10:38; Jn. 11:41; Jn. 12:26; Jn. 12:27; Jn. 12:28; Jn. 12:49; Jn. 12:50; Jn. 13:1; Jn. 13:3; Jn. 14:2; Jn. 14:6; Jn. 14:7; Jn. 14:8; Jn. 14:9; Jn. 14:10; Jn. 14:11; Jn. 14:12; Jn. 14:13; Jn. 14:16; Jn. 14:20; Jn. 14:21; Jn. 14:23; Jn. 14:24; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 14:28; Jn. 14:31; Jn. 15:1; Jn. 15:8; Jn. 15:9; Jn. 15:10; Jn. 15:15; Jn. 15:16; Jn. 15:23; Jn. 15:24; Jn. 15:26; Jn. 16:3; Jn. 16:10; Jn. 16:15; Jn. 16:17; Jn. 16:23; Jn. 16:25; Jn. 16:26; Jn. 16:27; Jn. 16:28; Jn. 16:32; Jn. 17:1; Jn. 17:5; Jn. 17:11; Jn. 17:21; Jn. 17:24; Jn. 17:25; Jn. 18:11; Jn. 18:13; Jn. 20:17; Jn. 20:21

Spencer - A carpenter sees by his eye, when he applies the square, whether the wood be straight or not; but yet his eye (without which he could not see) is not the judge to try whether the wood be straight or not: of that, the square alone is the judge. So reason in man, without which, it is true, he could not judge, is not the square to try what is right or wrong in order to salvation. The word of God alone can determine that.


Life (2222zoe  in Scripture is used (1) to refer to physical life (Ro 8:38+, 1Co 3:22+, Php 1:20+, Jas 4:14+, etc) but more often to (2) to supernatural life in contrast to a life subject to eternal death (Jn 3:36+, see all 43 uses of "eternal life" below). This quality of life speaks of fullness of life which alone belongs to God the Giver of life and is available to His children now (Ro 6:4+, Ep 4:18+) as well as in eternity future (Mk 10:30, Titus 1:2+). 

Wuest (in comments on 2Pe 1:3+) writes that zoe…speaks of life in the sense of one who is possessed of vitality and animation. It is used of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God. It is used to designate the life which God gives to the believing sinner, a vital, animating, spiritual, ethical dynamic which transforms his inner being and as a result, his behavior. (In comments on 1John 1:2 Wuest adds that the) life that God is, is not to be defined as merely animation, but as definitely ethical in its content. God is not the mere reason for the universe, as the Greeks thought, but a Person with the characteristics and qualities of a divine Person. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life which God is, are communicated to the sinner when the latter places his faith in the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and this becomes the new, animating, energizing, motivating principle which transforms the experience of that individual, and the saint thus lives a Christian life. (ED: ENABLED BY THE SPIRIT OF JESUS) The message of (the epistle of) John is that since the believer is a partaker of this life, it is an absolute necessity that he show the ethical and spiritual qualities that are part of the essential nature of God, in his own life. If these are entirely absent (ED: THIS IS CONTRA WHAT A NUMBER OF EVANGELICAL COMMENTATORS BELIEVE!), John says, that person is devoid of the life of God, and is unsaved. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life were exhibited to the human race in the earthly life of the Lord Jesus. His life thus becomes the pattern of what our lives should be in holiness, self-sacrifice, humility and love (ED: SEE The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked!). (Wuest's Word Studies  Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission)

No one (nothing) (3762oudeis from ou = not + dé = but + heis = one) Literally "but absolutely not one" no one, nothing, none at all;  emphasizes not even one, not the least. Oudeis is used as a negating adjective (not even one) to negate a noun, denying absolutely and objectively (e.g., Lk 4:24) Note that oudeis differs from medeís which also is often translated "no one" as the negative particle ou differs from me. Thus ou = absolutely NOT and is objective while  me = conditionally NOT and is subjective.  For example Paul uses oudeis twice in 1 Cor 12:3+ "Therefore I make known to you that NO ONE speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and NO ONE can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." 

Through (1223dia is a preposition occurs about 670 times in the NT as a preposition with the genitive and accusative cases. in the NT and over 1500 times in the Septuagint. The majority (225x) of NT uses are translated with the English word "through." Click for partial list of NT uses of dia (Mt thru Romans 5:11). Dia is used with two Greek noun cases - (1) with the genitive case dia can motion through a place (see summary below) or describe the instrument of an action (by, by means of) (Stated another way dia with this meaning introduces the intervening agent or "instrument" as the necessary "go-between"). (2) with the accusative dia  gives the basis of an action =  on account of, by reason of, for the sake of, because of; through, Luke 17:11

Dia with the genitive; (1) spatial through, by way of (Jn 10.1); (2) temporal; (a) of a whole duration of time through, throughout ( Lu 5.5); (b) of time within which something takes place during, within (Mt 26.61); (c) of an interval of time after (Acts 24.17); (3) modal; (a) denoting manner through, in, with (Lk 8.4); (b) of accompanying circumstance with, among, in spite of (Acts 14.22 ); (4) causal; (a) of the efficient cause in consequence of, by, on the basis of, on account of (Ro 12.1); (b) of the intermediate agent of an action by, through, by agency of (Gal 1.1; 1Co 1.9) (Borrow Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament)

For more in depth discussion click here for 4 pages on "Dia" in the Dictionary of New Testament Theology (volume 3, page 1180)  Here is an excerpt - Originally dia signified “passing through and out from,” a sense reflected in Matt. 4:4 (“… every word that proceeds from [ekporeuomenō dia] the mouth of God”) and 1 Cor. 3:15 (“he himself will be saved, but only as one who escapes through fire,” dia pyros)....Means or Instrument. From the local sense of dia there naturally developed the instrumental sense, which marks the medium through which an action passes before its accomplishment.


Walter Kaiser - Hard Sayings page 466 - John 14:28  The Father Is Greater?

When we read John 14:6, it sounds like a very exclusive statement. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Does this statement mean what it seems to imply, that no one can be saved without Jesus? What about those who lived before Jesus? Are they all damned? This verse appears so out of place in our tolerant society in which we have learned to respect the beliefs of others.

John 14:6 is one of those verses that are difficult not because we do not understand them but because we understand them all too well. It is the central verse of the whole section, John 14:1–11. It builds on the question of Thomas in the previous verse: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus has told his disciples that he is going to his Father’s house to prepare a place for them. Thomas is concerned about how they will get there to be with Jesus. This verse is Jesus’ answer. It is followed by a discussion of who the Father is.

In this verse Jesus speaks of himself as “the way, the truth and the life” (KJV). The emphasis is clearly on “the way,” for that is the question that Thomas was asking. Jesus does not show or teach about the way; he is the way to the Father’s house. He is the way, of course, because he is also the truth (a term found twenty-one times in John, beginning with the Logos passage [Jn 1:14, 17]) and the life (found thirty-nine times in John, beginning with Jn 1:4, but especially important in Jn 5:21–29 with reference to raising the dead). The concept of truth is what will lead us forward into the next section of the chapter, for it is his being full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14) that is connected to his being the full revelation of the Father on earth.

Why did John, who admits that he had much more material than he included in his Gospel, put this material into his book? First, John includes a lot of discussion between Jesus and the Jews. The issue is whether Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament hopes or not. Jesus in the Gospel consistently indicates that he is that fulfillment and that he supersedes Jewish expressions of worship (for example, Jn 2:13–22, in which it is his body which is the true temple, and Jn 4:21–26, in which the presence of the Messiah, Jesus, makes both Jerusalem and Gerazim irrelevant). Thus John surely interprets this saying as indicating that the old ways of Jewish worship, good as they were (“salvation is from the Jews”) will no longer do. A new era has dawned in Jesus and the way of salvation and life is through him.

Second, this Gospel was written in a Gentile-dominated world. In that world there were many cults offering salvation and many saviors associated with those cults. Also part of that world was the idea that one need not be totally committed to any one cult. One “worshiped” the Roman deities, of course, for it was one’s patriotic duty, much as Americans honor the American flag. And then there were the deities of one’s city, trade guild (if one were an artisan) and clan. The various mystery religions and exotic cults (many of them with Eastern roots) were on top of all of this. In the Greco-Roman world there were many “ways,” and while one selected what one felt was the best way, one also tried to keep all of the deities happy. It is obvious that Jesus’ words in such a world are quite exclusive. There are no other ways to the Father, there is no other source of real life, there is no alternative source of truth. Jesus is the Logos incarnate. Thus he is the final revelation from God. He is the one to whom the Father has committed the resurrection of the dead (see John 11 as well as John 5). No one comes to the Father who does not come through him, for he is the way.

John is certainly aware of this exclusive claim, for it repeats in different forms over and over again in the Gospel. It is also clear that the Gospel was written for people who do not yet believe, for that is clearly stated in the author’s purpose statement: “But these are written that you may believe [the best manuscripts imply ‘come to believe’] that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (Jn 20:31). These people are probably not Jews, for otherwise he would not have presented “the Jews” in such a negative light. What John appears to be doing is telling his Gentile readers that none of their former ways to life will do. Jesus is the only way.

John’s Jesus may in fact be offensive to us, but this is part of the offense of classic Christianity. The belief that Jesus is the way to God is also presented in Acts 2 and 3 (to Jews) and Acts 17 (to Gentiles). First Peter, written to Gentiles, claims that the whole world will appear before God to be judged according to the standards Jesus gave (for example, 1 Pet 4). The author of Hebrews does not believe that there is any salvation for those who turn back to Judaism from Jesus. The whole New Testament teaches that Jesus is the exclusive way to God or eternal life (it uses a variety of terms for these concepts).

The issue, then, is not whether or not we like this claim, but whether or not it is true. The usual smokescreen is to say, “What about those who have never heard of Jesus?” The response to this is twofold: (1) there is a missionary imperative in the New Testament to minimize this problem (that is why, for example, Paul dedicates his life to preaching Jesus where he has not yet been preached) and (2) how God may choose to reveal himself or deal with those who have no human messenger is his business. If we know God’s character, we can trust him to do his business well. Our problem is that we do know about Jesus and are living in a culture in which Jesus is all too well known. Furthermore, the missionary imperative falls to those of us who believe.

If, then, this claim is true, two conclusions follow. First, we are deceiving ourselves if we think that we can come to God any other way than through Jesus. What is more, no other way will supplement or add to Jesus as the way. Second, if we are already following Jesus, we are called, in John’s terms, to be witnesses to the truth and life found in Jesus.


Getting “In The Way”

Jesus said . . . , “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

The ancient Romans were known for their roads, which crisscrossed their empire with wide, heavily traveled highways. It’s what Jesus’ audience would have pictured when He claimed, “I am the way” in John 14:6.

While this verse indicates that He is the way to heaven, there’s really more to His statement. Cutting through the underbrush of the dense jungle of our world, Jesus is our trail-guide who makes a new way for us to live. While many follow the way of the world by loving their friends and hating their enemies, Jesus carves out a new way: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matt. 5:44). It’s easy to judge and criticize others, but Jesus the Way-maker says to take the plank out of our own eye first (7:3-4). And He cuts a path for us to live with generosity instead of greed (Luke 12:13-34).

When Jesus said “I am the way,” He was calling us to leave the old ways that lead to destruction and to follow Him in His new way for us to live. In fact, the word follow (Mark 8:34) literally means, “to be found in the way” with Him. You and I can make the choice to travel the familiar and ultimately destructive ways, or we can follow Him and be found in the way with the One who is the way! By:  Joe Stowell (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

As people of the Lord we’re called
To follow in His way;
And though the world won’t understand,
They’ll see Him on display.
—Sper

We don’t need to see the way if we’re following the One who is the Way.


Nowhere Tickets

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

We kept getting tickets to nowhere. We had finished a missions trip to Jamaica and were trying to get home. However, our airline was having problems, and no matter what our tickets said, we couldn’t leave Montego Bay. Over and over we heard, “Your flight has been canceled.” Even though we had purchased our tickets in good faith, the airline could not back up its promise to transport us to the US. We had to stay an extra day before boarding a plane that could take us home.

Imagine thinking that you are headed for heaven, but discovering that your ticket is no good. It can happen. If you trust the wrong plan, you will get to the gate of eternity but be denied entrance into heaven to live with God forever.

The apostle Peter said there is salvation in no one else but Jesus (Acts 4:12). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The only ticket to heaven goes to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross as payment for their sin.

Some offer other ways. But those tickets are worthless. To make sure you’re going to heaven, trust Jesus. He’s the only way. By:  Dave Branon (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Lord, I know I’m a sinner and cannot save myself. I need You as my Savior. Thank You for dying in my place and rising again. I believe in You. Please forgive my sin. I want to live with You in heaven someday.

Jesus took my place on the cross and gave me a place in heaven.


Gate-Crasher

I am the way . . . . No one comes to the Father except through Me. — John 14:6

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

Scott Kerman calls himself a professional gate-crasher—and with good reason. He claims he has attended 300 sporting events or concerts, including 25 World Series baseball games, and he has done so without paying a penny. In fact, he has written a book that describes 50 ways to sneak into concerts and sporting events.

Scott’s gate-crashing raises all sorts of ethical questions, but let’s move beyond that to a higher issue. Think with me about what it takes to get into heaven. Jesus said there’s only one way to get in—through Him (Jn. 14:6). The “ticket” is personal faith in Christ, believing that He paid the penalty for our sin and accepting His offer of forgiveness as a gift (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:23). That and that alone guarantees admission.

There’s no way to crash the gates of glory—and it makes absolutely no sense to try. Nobody will enter the radiant presence of God unless that person is escorted by Jesus Christ Himself.

People gate-crash events because of the high cost of tickets and the thrill of sneaking in. We could never pay the price to get into heaven, but Jesus paid it for us. There will be no greater joy than being there with Him. By:  Vernon Grounds (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

He the pearly gates will open
So that I may enter in,
For He purchased my redemption
And forgave me all my sin.
—Blom

Christ is the only door into heaven.


John 14:6 Need for Godly Leaders

The need for godly leaders has been a popular topic in the Christian community. And rightly so. Leadership has often been sadly lacking within the church. But “fellowship” also needs attention. When believers aren’t prepared to follow, they cast doubt on their status as believers.

The following account comes to us from E. Stanley Jones. He told of a missionary who lost his way in an African jungle. He could find no landmarks and the trail vanished. Eventually, stumbling on a small hut, he asked the native living there if he could lead him out.

The native nodded. Rising to his feet, he walked directly into the bush. The missionary followed on his heels. For more than an hour they hacked their way through a dense wall of vines and grasses. The missionary became worried: “Are you sure this is the way? I don’t see any path.”

The African chuckled and said over his shoulder, “Bwana, in this place there is no path. I am the path.”

Today in the Word, May, 1996, p. 24


Barna Statistics

Even those who claim to be Born Again are not necessarily firmly grounded in the truths of the Bible. In his book which provides a statistical analysis of religious beliefs in America, George Barna cites several fascinating statistics which are based on a national survey.

In chapter four he states, “The Devil, or Satan, is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” Then asking that segment of his survey respondents who have identified themselves at being Born Again, he states, “Do you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly with that statement?”

The Born Again population reply with 32 percent agreeing strongly, 11 percent agreeing somewhat and 5 percent did not know. Thus, of the total number responding, 48 percent either agreed that Satan is only symbolic or did not know!

Should it then be surprising that a few pages later Barna would receive some very startling responses? His next question, “Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and others all pray to the same God, even though they use different names for that God.” Again, the respondents were asked to agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly.

Of that population surveyed who identified themselves as Born Again, 30 percent agreed strongly, 18 percent agreed somewhat and 12 percent did not know. That is a total of 60 percent! (What Americans Believe, pp. 206-212). Watchman Expositor, Vol. 10, No. 4, 1993, p. 31


Hundreds of Religions

H. A. Ironside was occasionally interrupted during his sermons with the objection that there were hundreds of religions,” and that no one could determine which was the right way. Ironside would answer by indicating that he knew of only two religions. “One,” he would say, “covers all who expect salvation by doing; the other, all who have been saved by something done. The whole question is very simple. Can you save yourself, or must you be saved by another?”


'I Know The Way'

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. —John 14:6

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

Dwight Slater, who is a retired missionary doctor, told me that while serving in Africa he had trained a brilliant but unschooled man to serve as his surgical assistant. Kolo was a quick learner, and soon he was able to perform surgeries.

A team of doctors from the United States was in Africa to provide some short-term help. They were performing operations when they came across a condition rare in the US but common in Africa. When they weren’t sure what to do, Kolo took the surgical instruments, cut through layers of tissue and ligaments, and corrected the problem.

When the amazed doctors began quizzing Kolo on the specifics of the complicated procedure, he answered simply, “I do not know the terms; I just know the way.”

Many Christians may not be able to define complex theological terms like redemption, justification, and propitiation, but they can still be effective witnesses because they know Jesus, who is the way to God (Jn. 14:6). Unbelievers need the simple gospel—that Jesus died for their sin and that they must accept Him by faith.

You don’t need to be afraid to witness. If you know the way, you can show others the way—Jesus Christ! By:  David C. Egner (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

A guilty soul longs most to hear
The simple message true and clear
That tells how Jesus bled and died,
And for man's sin was crucified.
—DJD

Only one road leads to heaven—Jesus Christ is the way.


River Of Disappointment

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." —John 14:6

Today's Scripture : Acts 4:5-12

Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820) is a Canadian hero. An early fur trader and explorer, he led a daring expedition across Canada to the Pacific Ocean. His incredible journey was completed in 1793, 11 years before Americans Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition to the West.

Mackenzie was determined to succeed, for an earlier attempt in 1789 had ended in failure. His crew of 12 explorers in three canoes had set out from Lake Athabasca in an effort to find a water route to the Pacific. The valiant group followed a mighty river (now named the Mackenzie) with high hopes, paddling furiously amid great danger. Unfortunately, it didn’t empty into the Pacific but into the Arctic Ocean. In his diary, Mackenzie called it the “River of Disappointment.”

Many people are following religions that lead to ultimate disappointment. Because these beliefs do not point to Christ, they are false and will not lead to heaven. Only Jesus can take us to the waters of eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).

We must not be fooled by those who teach another way to God. And we must help others to see that Jesus Christ is humanity’s only hope. By trusting Him as our Savior, we will not end up on a “River of Disappointment.”   By:  David C. Egner (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Man gropes his way through life's dark maze,
To gods unknown he often prays,
Until one day he meets God's Son—
At last he's found the Living One! 
—D. De Haan

Those who put their hope in Christ will never be disappointed.


Two Ways To God?

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. —John 14:6

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

In the marketplace of ideas, all vendors have an equal right to sell what they believe. But that doesn’t mean all their ideas are equally right.

Christians proclaim that Jesus is the only way to God not because they are bigots but because they believe it is true. They take at face value His claim that He alone is the true and living way to God.

Many people shrug off the claims of Jesus as the only Savior of the world by saying, “Well, that’s all fine and good, but you have your way to God and I have mine.” Jesus stood such thinking on its head when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6).

If Jesus’ claims are true, they are true for everyone. If they are false, the sooner we are proved wrong and put on the right road the better. As C. S. Lewis put it, “Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

There are no two ways about it. Jesus doesn’t ask for our vote as the most appealing candidate for Savior of the world. He simply states His lordship of the universe and demands our allegiance. Does He have yours? By:  Haddon W. Robinson (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

THINKING IT OVER
What did Peter say about Jesus in Acts 4:12?
What did John the Baptist say about Jesus? (Jn. 1:29).
What did Jesus say about Himself? (Jn. 14:6).

Christ is the only door into heaven.


A Person Is The Pathway

There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6

The pilot of a military plane was forced to parachute into a jungle in southeast Asia. How could he possibly find his way out? A local man saw what had happened and came to the pilot’s rescue, slashing through the tangled underbrush. The frightened pilot cried out, “Where’s the road? Where’s the way out?” The rescuer shouted back, “No road! I’m the way! Follow me!” The pilot trusted the man, who led him through the jungle to safety.

Some people have a difficult time accepting similar words spoken by the Lord Jesus. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Critics call this teaching intolerant and divisive. But because the Son of God said it, and the Word of God records it, it is true no matter how much it is challenged. Faith in Jesus is the only way to eternal fellowship with God.

The pathway to God is not found by following a creed, developing moral character, or attending church. It’s found by trusting Jesus to forgive our sin and reconcile us to the Father. When we open our hearts to the crucified and risen Savior, we are on the only pathway that will bring us home to God. By:  Vernon Grounds (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Not all roads lead to God,
As many people claim;
There's only one true way—
Christ Jesus is His name.
—Sper

No one can bypass Jesus and get to heaven.


Valid Entry

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-10

On a teaching trip outside the US, my wife and I were denied entry into our country of destination because of visa problems. Although we were under the assumption our visas had been correctly issued by the country we planned to visit, they were deemed invalid. Despite the efforts of several government officials, nothing could be done. We weren’t allowed in. We were placed on the next flight back to the States. No amount of intervention could change the fact that we did not have the proper validation for entrance.

That experience with my visa was inconvenient, but it can’t begin to compare with the ultimate entry rejection. I’m speaking of those who will stand before God without valid entry into heaven. What if they were to present the record of their religious efforts and good deeds? That would not be enough. What if they were to call character references? That wouldn’t work. Only one thing can give anyone entry into heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Christ alone, through His death and resurrection, paid the price for our sins. And only He can give us valid entry into the presence of the Father. Have you put your faith in Jesus? Make sure you have a valid entry into heaven. By:  Bill Crowder (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

There aren’t many ways into heaven;
The Bible says there’s only one;
Good works won’t gain anyone entrance;
t’s only through faith in God’s Son.
—Sper

Only through Christ can we enter the Father’s presence.


Truth In A Taxi

I am the way, the truth, and the life. — John 14:6

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-11

One day when I was in downtown Chicago, I hailed a taxi. Once inside, I noticed several advertisements for a New Age guru posted on the seat in front of me. The driver claimed that this mystic was the “divine one” for our day. He believed that God appointed various leaders throughout the ages, and that Jesus had merely been the appointee for His time.

Of course, I had to disagree. As we talked, I mentioned Jesus’ words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Contrary to the cabbie’s belief, Jesus was not just one in a series of enlightened religious leaders—He is the only way to know God, and only through Him can we get to heaven.

As the “Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16), Jesus didn’t simply declare Himself to be the ultimate spiritual authority. He proved it with His death and resurrection. Christ “offered one sacrifice for sins forever” (Heb. 10:12).

Jesus said of Himself: “I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:11). Therefore we don’t need to investigate any “new” path of salvation. It’s better to learn all we can about Christ; He is the only One who can provide spiritual certainty. By:  Jennifer Benson Schuldt (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

My heart is stirred whene’er I think of Jesus,
That blessed Name that sets the captive free;
The only Name through which I find salvation,
No name on earth has meant so much to me.
—Eliason

Spiritual phonies will only take us for a ride, but Jesus will take us all the way to heaven.


Is Jesus Exclusive?

Jesus said . . . , “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-12

I once saw Billy Graham’s daughter Anne Graham Lotz on a popular news talk program. The interviewer asked, “Are you one of those who believe that Jesus is exclusively the only way to heaven?” He added, “You know how mad that makes people these days!” Without blinking she replied, “Jesus is not exclusive. He died so that anyone could come to Him for salvation.”

What a great response! Christianity is not an exclusive club limited to an elite few who fit the perfect profile. Everyone is welcome regardless of color, class, or clout.

In spite of this wonderful reality, Christ’s claim in John 14:6 to be the only way to God continues to offend. Yet Jesus is the only way—the only option that works. All of us are guilty before God. We are sinners and cannot help ourselves. Our sin had to be dealt with. Jesus, as God in the flesh, died to pay the penalty for our sins and then rose from the dead. No other religious leader offers what Jesus provides in His victory over sin and death.

The gospel of Christ is offensive to some, but it is the wonderful truth that God loves us enough to come and take care of our biggest problem—sin. And as long as sin is the problem, the world needs Jesus! By:  Joe Stowell (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

No one could enter heaven,
Our many sins stood in the way;
So God in love sent Jesus,
For He alone sin’s debt could pay. 
—D. De Haan

Embrace the good news: Jesus is a non-exclusive Savior.

JESUS' SEVEN
"I AM" STATEMENTS

One striking feature of John are the seven "I Am" statements none of which are found in the Synoptic Gospels (in fact 92% of John is unique material not found in the Synoptic Gospels!). Note Jesus' repeated use of metaphors - Bread, Light, Door, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and Life, Way, Truth and Life, and Vine.

John 6:35+ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. -

The Son has the resources to meet all of man's needs.

John 8:12+ Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” -

The Son has the power to overcome the darkness of sin in our life.

John 10:7+ So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. -

The Son by virtue of His sinless life and sacrificial death is literally the only way through which man can enter the Kingdom of God.

John 10:11+I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me -

The Son is our Divine Shepherd whose infinite resources meet all of our needs for guidance, care and protection.

John 11:25+ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.

The Son of God has the power to raise the dead from the grave.

John 14:6+ Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Only the Son can bring us into the presence of His Father, can counter the lies of Satan with the Truth and can give us eternal life.

John 15:1+I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

The Son (via His Spirit) is the sole supernatural source that enables His followers to be spiritually productive.

John 14:7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”  

  • If you had known Me: Joh 14:9,10,20 1:18 8:19 15:24 16:3 17:3,21,23 Mt 11:27 Lu 10:22 2Co 4:6 Col 1:15-17 2:2,3 Heb 1:3 
  • from now on you know Him, and have seen Him: Joh 14:16-20 16:13-16 17:6,8,26 

Related Passage:

John 1:18  No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. 

John 12:44-45 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.

2 Corinthians 4:4  in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 

TO KNOW CHRIST IS
TO KNOW THE FATHER

If you (plural) had known (ginosko) Me, you would have known (eido) My Father also; from now on you know (ginoskoHim, and have seen Him - Jesus had been addressing Thomas in Jn 14:6 but now the you is plural so He is addressing all 11 disciples. They had received previous "clues" regarding Jesus' relationship with His Father. For example, Jesus had clearly stated that to see Him was to see the Father (see passages above)! Jesus is saying that if the 11 had understood (ginosko) Who He was, they would have known the Father beyond a shadow of a doubt (that's the idea of this verb eido). Once again Jesus is clearly claiming His Deity and equality with His Father. And this makes sense because the only way He could have been the way to the Father in Jn 14:6 is if He was God Himself (Jn 1:1-3, 14, 17, 18, Jn 5:18, Jn 8:58, Jn 10:30-33). 

There is some variation in how this IF is translated but most favor the "IF" as a first class conditional statement, so that it would read "if you had known Me and you do, then you would have known My Father, which you do." (See NET NOTE for lengthy discussion)

MacArthur explains that "It was only after Christ's death, resurrection, ascension, and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost (John 14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:13) that the disciples would finally understand Jesus' deity and relationship to the Father (John 20:28; Acts 2:22ff.; 3:12ff.; 4:8-12; 5:29-32). Because that understanding would certainly come in the future, Jesus spoke of it as if it were a present reality.

John 14:8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

  • Philip: Joh 1:43-46 6:5-7 12:21,22 
  • show: Joh 16:25 Ex 33:18-23 34:5-7 Job 33:26 Ps 17:15 63:2 Mt 5:8 Rev 22:3-5 

PHILIP IS ASKING FOR
A THEOPHANY!

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show (deiknuo/deiknumi) us the Father, and it is enough for us - What is Philip asking for? Philip failed to perceive the truth that Jesus had already shown the the Father so now he asks for a "Theophany" a visible manifestation of the Father. Us (plural) suggests that Philip was speaking for all 11 disciples. Show us and we will believe. 

Bob Utley - These disciples wanted some type of confirmation just like the Pharisees. However, believers must walk by faith and not depend on sight (cf. 2 Cor. 4:18; 5:7) in spiritual matters. Trust is the issue! Miracles/signs can be counterfeit (cf. Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9; also note Exod. 7:11,22; 8:7; 2 Tim. 3:8).


Show (1166deiknuo/deiknumi means to show and has the sense of (1) to draw attention to, to point out, to show, to make known, to exhibit something (by visual, auditory, gestural, or linguistic means) so that it can be apprehended by the senses, to cause to see (Mt 4:8, Lk 4:5, Mt 8:4) or (2) to show so as to prove something is true or to make clear by evidence or reasoning. Show in the sense of demonstrate or prove as in Jas 3:13). To exhibit or present to the view of others. To explain the meaning or significance of something by demonstration.

John 14:9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

  • Have I been so long with you: Mk 9:19 
  • He who has seen Me has seen the Father;: Joh 14:7,20 Jn 12:45 Col 1:15 Php 2:6 Heb 1:3 
  • how can you say: Ge 26:9 Ps 11:1 Jer 2:23 Lu 12:56 1Co 15:12 

JESUS REITERATES
ONENESS WITH HIS FATHER

Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you (plural), and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? - Jesus in effect rebukes not just Philip but all 11 (you = plural), because Jesus knows that Philip is just the spokesman for what all 11 desired, a vision of the Father ("Theophany"). 

He who has seen Me has seen the Father (pater); how can you say, ‘Show (deiknuo/deiknumius the Father’ - Jesus had just declared to the 11 disciples "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." And before the Upper Room discourse Jesus had taught "He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me (CLEARLY ALLUDING TO HIS FATHER)." (Jn 12:45+).


Knowing The Unknowable

My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. — Isaiah 55:8

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-11

In an attempt to express the in expressible, a Christian businessman kept this motto on his desk: “How great must be the God we need! How much greater is our God than our greatest need!”

John Wesley captured that same truth in a different way. “Give me a worm that can understand a man,” he wrote, “and I will give you a man who can understand God.” And in Psalm 145:3, David said of God, “His greatness is unsearchable.”

In trying to grasp the mind-baffling nature of our Creator, the best we can do is use comparisons. He is like a faithful shepherd, a wise and just king, a loving parent, a trustworthy friend. All these analogies give us a glimpse of God’s greatness, but they are wholly inadequate to comprehend Him fully.

That is why it is so difficult to understand how we may know the Creator at all. Yet that is the glorious message of the gospel. Our infinite God has revealed Himself to us in His incarnate Son Jesus Christ. In the Gospels we read with awe and gratitude that the Creator became our Savior. Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn. 14:9). When we look to Jesus and listen to what He has said, we can know the unknowable. By:  Vernon Grounds (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious—Thy great name we praise.
—Smith

If you're looking for God, you'll find Him in Jesus.


Now We Know

He who has seen Me has seen the Father. — John 14:9

Today's Scripture : John 14:5-11

When he was only 13 years old, violinist Yehudi Menuhin was invited to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. With distinguished musicians in the audience listening to him, the youthful genius played some of the most difficult compositions by Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms.

The response was so enthusiastic that the management called in the police in case the crowd got out of control. Albert Einstein, who had listened with utter delight to the prodigy, avoided the authorities by running across the stage into Yehudi’s dressing room. He embraced the surprised violinist and exclaimed, “Now I know there is a God in heaven!”

While the beauty of music does indeed bear witness to God’s reality, it takes more than a concert to convince us there’s a God in heaven. It takes God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:9). Only through the supernatural life and ministry of Christ recorded in the Gospels are we able to know God with unshadowed certainty. We read the Gospels and we exclaim with awe and adoration, “Now we know there is a God in heaven!”

If you are troubled by an attack of doubt, read the Bible and have your faith renewed and strengthened. By:  Vernon Grounds

We need not prove there is a God,
Nor would we even try,
For Christ has shown us who He is—
On Him we can rely.
—DJD

Christ bridged the gap between the infinite God and finite man.


One Way To Reality

He who has seen me has seen the Father. — John 14:9

Today's Scripture : John 14:7-18

In the 1960s, many restless young people were duped into believing that getting high on drugs was the way to find the “reality” they craved. Those highs, however, were only illusions, not the real thing.

The Lord knows that we often look in the wrong places for what our longing hearts crave. He knows that we can be satisfied only by knowing Him, and He wants us to discover that He is the truth.

Jesus said to His disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6). But Philip didn’t yet understand that Jesus was all he needed. He wanted to see the Father as well, and said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us” (v.8). Jesus replied, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (v.9). He was declaring that He is equal with God the Father, and because of that He is all we need.

I recently saw these words on a bumper sticker on a car: Still Looking For The Ultimate High. What that driver really needs is a relationship with Jesus Christ, not some artificial high. He alone brings true meaning and satisfaction to our lives. Have you found Christ to be your ultimate reality? By:  Joanie Yoder (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life:
Without the Way there is no going;
Without the Truth there is no knowing;
Without the Life there is no living.
—Anon.

Our search for reality ends when we find Christ.


Seeing God

He who has seen Me has seen the Father. — John 14:9

Today's Scripture : Exodus 24:1-8

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Yet the apostle Paul spoke of God as One “whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:15-16). I have often thought about this seeming contradiction. How can we reconcile our Lord’s statement with the words of Paul?

I believe we must first recognize that God in His essential being is pure Spirit (John 4:24), and therefore is invisibly present everywhere in His vast creation (Psalm 139:7-12). But we read in the Bible that on various occasions God appeared to people in a visible way (Genesis 18:1-3). He created a burning bush from which to challenge Moses (Exodus 3:2). And in today’s Scripture reading, the glory of His presence was revealed, and “there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone” (Exodus 24:9-10). God can appear in any form He desires, even while He Himself remains invisibly present throughout the universe.

One day in heaven the unseen, infinite God will graciously make Himself visible to us. But even then we’ll be unable to look upon His full glory. Instead, we will see Jesus and live in His light (Revelation 21:23). But seeing Him will be seeing God, for He is God. What a blessed prospect!  —HVL By:  Herbert Vander Lugt (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

No mortal can see God and live,
His brilliance would destroy all sight,
But Jesus' glory we shall see
For He as God is truth and light. 
—D. De Haan

To see God, look to Jesus.


Meeting Jesus

He who has seen Me has seen the Father. — John 14:9

Today's Scripture : John 14:1-12

Do you believe in God? When George Gallup and his associates put that question to a cross section of Americans, the vast majority responded yes. When asked what they thought about God, 84% saw Him as a heavenly Father who can be reached by prayer, 5% viewed Him as an idea but not as a being, 5% said they didn’t believe in Him, 2% said He is an impersonal creator, and 4% said they didn’t know.

Most people, then, at least in the United States, believe in a Supreme Being. They also believe that the God who created the universe cares enough for insignificant human beings to listen as they tell Him about their needs and desires. But beyond those rather vague notions, there is little understanding of who God is.

Philip’s plea, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us” (John 14:8), is still the silent cry of countless hearts. He was asking Jesus to reveal what God is really like. Jesus replied, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (v.9). The invisible God has been made visible in Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:3). As we observe His life in the pages of Scripture, we see the very heart and holiness of God the Father.

You may believe that there is a God, but you can also know Him personally by meeting His Son Jesus. By:  Vernon Grounds (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Man gropes his way through life’s dark maze,
To gods unknown he often prays,
Until one day he meets God’s Son—
At last he’s found the Living One.
—DJD

Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.

John 14:10 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.

  • Do you not believe that I am in the Father,: Joh 14:20 Jn 1:1-3 10:30,38 Jn 11:26 Jn 17:21-23 1Jn 5:7 
  • The words that I say to you: Joh 3:32-34 Jn 5:19 Jn 6:38-40 Jn 7:16,28,29 Jn 8:28,38,40 Jn 12:49 Jn 17:8 
  • but the Father abiding in Me: Ps 68:16-18 2Co 5:19 Col 1:19 2:9 
  • does His works.: Joh 5:17 Ac 10:38 

Related Passages:

John 5:17  But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

John 5:19 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.

John 14:24  “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me. 

John 5:30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 

John 7:16-18  So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. 

John 8:28 So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

John 10:38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

John 12:49 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.

Do you (singular) not believe (pisteuothat I am in the Father (pater), and the Father (pateris in Me? - Jesus' question expects a "Yes" answer. Note that the first "you" is singular thus referring to Philip, while the second "you" in the following clause is plural referring to the Eleven. 

The words that I say to you (plural) I do not speak on My own initiative, but (term of contrast) the Father (pater) abiding (present tense - continually) in Me does His works (NET = "His miraculous deeds") - The words that I say to you (plural) refers to His teaching He had spoken to all Eleven.  His point is that what He had said (taught) did not originate from Himself but (term of contrast) from His Father Who continually abided (permanently) in Him. Given this intimate permanent relationship between Son and Father, Jesus is explaining that the works He does are the works the Father does through Him. While some (Augustine, Chrysostom) felt the works here were equated with Jesus' words, but most interpreters see these works as separate from His words. They were the miraculous works Jesus performed which testified to the supernatural source of the works.

NET NOTE adds that "It is probably best to see the two terms (words...works) as related but not identical; there is a progression in the idea here. Both Jesus’ words (recall the Samaritans’ response in John 4:42) and Jesus’ works are revelatory of Who He is, but as the next verse (Jn 14:11) indicates, works have greater confirmatory power than words.

John 14:11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

  • otherwise believe because of the works themselves: Joh 5:36 Jn 10:25,32,38 Jn 12:38-40 Mt 11:4,5 Lu 7:21-23 Ac 2:22 Heb 2:4 

Related Passages:

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me.

John 10:32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?”

John 10:38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.”

IMPORTANCE OF 
JESUS MIRACLES

Believe (pisteuo - present imperative see need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) Me that I am in the Father (paterand the Father (pateris in Me; otherwise believe (pisteuo - present imperativebecause of the works themselves - In Jn 5:36 spoke of these works declaring "the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish–the very works that I do–testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me." Jesus put a high premium on His miracles and repeatedly pointed to His miraculous works as confirmation of His claim to be the Son of God and the Messiah (John 10:25, 37-38; Mt. 11:3-5) Recall that it was the miracles of our Lord that caused Nicodemus to admit that Jesus was “sent from God” (John 3:2)


Lowell Johnson - seven things related to our Lord's miracles:

1.Their number – Jesus performed MANY miracles. There are no less than 35 listed in the Gospels, but the Gospel writers declare that He performed many more. John said that there were so many things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, the world could not contain the books that would be written (Jn 20:30, 21:25)
2.Their greatness – They were not small miracles, but great and mighty ones.
3.They were Public – They were not done in a corner, but before all.
4.Their character – They were acts of love, mercy, and compassion.
5.They were irrefutable – They were visible and would bear any examination.
6.The miracles reveal God. God's very nature, power, and character are seen in the miracles.
7.The greatest testimony (MIRACLE) for Christ is the power to transform the lives of men.

Some liberals try to explain away our Lord's miracles; and, in doing so, they try to take away His deity. But there is one miracle the liberals have never been able to explain away – the last and greatest miracle of His own resurrection from the dead. If He could perform this last, great miracle, why would any hesitate to believe His other miracles?

John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.

  • the: Mt 21:21 Mk 11:13 16:17 Lu 10:17-19 Ac 3:6-8 4:9-12,16,33 8:7 Ac 9:34,40 16:18 1Co 12:10,11 
  • greater works than these he will do: Ac 2:4-11,41 4:4 5:15 6:7 10:46 19:12 Ro 15:19 
  • because I go to the Father.: Joh 14:28 Jn 7:39 Jn 16:7 Ac 2:33 

Related Passages:

John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 16:7   “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

Acts 2:33  “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

JESUS PROMISES DISCIPLES
GREATER WORKS

Truly, truly (amenamen) I say to you - Only Jesus begins a sentence with amen and even doubles it 25 times, all in the Gospel of John. The idea is truth, trustworthy, certain. This declaration places great emphasis on the truth of what follows, which calls for careful attention. 

Truly, truly - 25x/25v - Jn. 1:51; Jn. 3:3; Jn. 3:5; Jn. 3:11; Jn. 5:19; Jn. 5:24; Jn. 5:25; Jn. 6:26; Jn. 6:32; Jn. 6:47; Jn. 6:53; Jn. 8:34; Jn. 8:51; Jn. 8:58; Jn. 10:1; Jn. 10:7; Jn. 12:24; Jn. 13:16; Jn. 13:20; Jn. 13:21; Jn. 13:38; Jn. 14:12; Jn. 16:20; Jn. 16:23; Jn. 21:18

He who believes (pisteuoin Me, the works that I do (poieo), he will do (poieoalso - Note that in this passage Jesus clearly links believing with doing. Intellectual assent to the facts about Jesus will not save anyone. There must be heart belief to assure salvation (Ro 10:9-10). As James says believing without doing is dead, non-saving faith (Jas 2:17+). In the book of Acts the apostles did indeed do many of the works Jesus did, even raising the dead (cf Peter in Acts 9:37,40+)

and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father - What will transpire when Jesus goes to the Father? He will send the Holy Spirit to indwell believers and they will have supernatural power to carry out works. How would they be greater? Believers can share the Gospel in places Jesus did not and they can go to the Gentiles, while Jesus went primarily to the Jews. And there was only one Jesus, while there are manifold believers who together can do greater works. 

John MacArthur on greater works - When the Lord spoke of His followers performing greater works, He was referring to the extent of the spiritual miracle of salvation. Jesus never preached outside of Palestine, yet His followers would spread the gospel throughout the world. Jesus had only a limited outreach to Gentiles (cf. Mark 7:26ff.), but the disciples (particularly Peter and later Paul) would reach the Gentile world with the gospel. The number of believers in Christ would also grow far beyond the hundreds (Acts 1:15; 1 Cor. 15:6) that were numbered during His lifetime. (See John Commentary)

In another answer on greater works MacArthur says "The astonishing promise to the one who believes in Christ is that the works that He does, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do. The greater works to which Jesus referred were not greater in power than those He performed, but greater in extent. The disciples would indeed perform miraculous works, as Jesus had (cf. Acts 5:12–16; Heb. 2:3–4). But those physical miracles were not primarily what Jesus had in mind, since the apostles did not do more powerful miracles than He had. When the Lord spoke of His followers performing greater works, He was referring to the extent of the spiritual miracle of salvation. Jesus never preached outside of Palestine, yet His followers would spread the gospel throughout the world. Jesus had only a limited outreach to Gentiles (cf. Mark 7:26ff.), but the disciples (particularly Peter and later Paul) would reach the Gentile world with the gospel. The number of believers in Christ would also grow far beyond the hundreds (Acts 1:15;1 Cor.15:6) that were numbered during His lifetime. The power to perform those greater works would only be available because Jesus was going to the Father. It was only then that He would send the Holy Spirit (John 7:39; cf. 14:16–17, 26; 15:26; 16:13; Acts 1:5) to indwell believers (Rom. 8:9–11) and empower them for ministry (Acts 1:8;1 Cor.12:4–11;cf.Eph.3:20). Christ’s promise to send the Holy Spirit offered further comfort to the disciples. Though Jesus would no longer be visibly present with them, the Spirit would provide them with all the power they needed to extend the work He had begun (cf. Acts 1:8).

Lowell Johnson on greater works - Spiritual miracles are greater in importance than physical miracles because physical miracles are temporary. Christians have a greater message to give today. We not only have the O.T., we have the Gospels, the epistles, the book of Acts, and Revelation. The Lord never preached outside of Israel. We have the whole world at our disposal. Christians have been enabled to do greater works because the Holy Spirit works through the believer. On the Day of Pentecost 3,000 were saved. We are also able to do greater works because our Lord is interceding for us. Heb. 7:25 Our work is His work when He initiates the work and when the work is done for His glory. Isn't it just like our sweet, wonderful Lord to encourage and comfort us by saying, “I want you to do greater works than I.”?

D L Moody has a most interesting thought on greater works - I used to stumble over that verse, but the longer I live the more I am convinced it is a greater thing to influence a man whose will is set against God, to have that will broken and brought into subjection to God’s will—or, in other words, it is a greater thing to have power over a living, sinning, God-hating man, than to quicken the dead. He who could create a world could speak a dead man into life; but I think the greatest miracle this world has ever seen was the miracle at Pentecost. The men who surrounded the apostles were full of prejudice, full of malice, full of bitterness, their hands, as it were, dripping with the blood of the Son of God; and yet an unlettered man, a man whom they detested and hated, stood up and preached the gospel, and three thousand of them were immediately convicted and converted, and became disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:41+).


David Jeremiah - The Greater Works - 

It is exciting to me to understand what begins to happen as we pray. It’s not that we pray in order that we might do the work. Take another look at the verse: “And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do.” If you ask anything in His name, He will do it.

That is no small distinction! Sometimes Christians get weary because we forget. We think God wants us to do His work for Him. That will make you tired very, very quickly. You can’t do it! I can’t do it! Our legs are too short to run with God! What Jesus is saying is this: When we pray, God is going to do His work through us, and we will be channels for His work.

I remember hearing about a preacher who said he could build a great church even if there was no God. I’m not sure that’s a compliment. Sometimes we do commendable, praiseworthy things in the energy of our flesh. But when God begins to do the work through us, it is an entirely different proposition altogether. Incredible things begin to happen. (Sanctuary)


Oswald Chambers - Greater works

Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work. We think of prayer as a commonsense exercise of our higher powers in order to prepare us for God’s work. In the teaching of Jesus Christ prayer is the working of the miracle of Redemption in me which produces the miracle of Redemption in others by the power of God. The way fruit remains is by prayer, but remember it is prayer based on the agony of Redemption, not on my agony. Only a child gets prayer answered; a wise man does not.

Prayer is the battle; it is a matter of indifference where you are. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray. Never allow the thought—‘I am of no use where I am’; because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Wherever God has dumped you down in circumstances, pray, ejaculate to Him all the time. “Whatsoever ye ask in My name, that will I do.” We won’t pray unless we get thrills, that is the intensest form of spiritual selfishness. We have to labour along the line of God’s direction, and He says pray. “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.”

There is nothing thrilling about a labouring man’s work, but it is the labouring man who makes the conceptions of the genius possible; and it is the labouring saint who makes the conceptions of his Master possible. You labour at prayer and results happen all the time from God’s standpoint. What an astonishment it will be to find, when the veil is lifted, the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you had been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ.


QUESTION - Is it really possible for Christians to do greater works than Jesus

ANSWER - In John 14:12, Jesus makes an amazing statement: “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” (emphasis added). Jesus performed many amazing and wonderful works—raising the dead, walking on water, and feeding thousands come to mind—how can it be true that those who have faith in Him will perform “even greater” works than those?

Jesus was not saying that every Christian would walk on water and raise the dead

In saying that those who believe in Him would do the works that He did, Jesus was not saying that every Christian would walk on water and raise the dead. The apostles in the book of Acts performed some miracles that were similar to Jesus’ works, but even they did not walk on water or feed multitudes, as far as we know. The Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different people as He sees fit (1 Corinthians 12:4). Not everyone has the same set of gifts. Some believers have more public gifts, and others have quieter, more private gifts.

this is not a reference to the works’ being greater in power.

Jesus said that not only would His followers do the same works, but they would do “greater” works than He. Again, this is not a reference to the works’ being greater in power. Jesus had raised Lazarus, who had been four days in the tomb (John 11); humanly speaking, not even the apostles did a greater work than that. No one has ever exceeded the power or majesty of Jesus’ miracles.

So, what did Jesus mean that His faithful followers would do “greater” works than He?

So, what did Jesus mean that His faithful followers would do “greater” works than He? Without a doubt, the works of Jesus’ followers would be greater in extent. Jesus’ earthly ministry had been largely limited to Galilee and Judea; His disciples, however, were going to extend His ministry to the uttermost parts of the earth. When Jesus ascended to heaven, His followers numbered in the hundreds; forty days later, in response to the preaching of the apostles, that number leaped into the thousands (Acts 2:41). By the end of Acts, the gospel had made its way to Rome.

Jesus links the works of His followers with the fact of His return to heaven. In fact, He says His absence is the cause of their greater works: “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” (John 14:12, emphasis added). Jesus later told His disciples that the gift of the Holy Spirit depended on Jesus’ return to heaven (John 16:7). It was through the Spirit that the church is enabled to do the work of God.

Jesus also links the greater works His followers will do to the promise of answered prayer. His very next words: “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13–14).

The words of Jesus in John 14 were of great comfort to His eleven disciples. He was about to be arrested and suffer a cruel and unjust death. The disciples themselves would be scattered that night. But Jesus assures them that, no matter what happens, God’s work will continue in the world. Even after Jesus’ earthly ministry ended, His work would go on. The followers of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, would continue to help and heal people. The gospel would have a worldwide impact. As God’s people pray in Jesus’ name, answers would come, and the greatest miracle of all—the spiritual transformation of a sinful heart through faith in Christ—would become commonplace, to the glory of God.


Walter Kaiser - Hard Sayings page 468 - John 14:12 - What Greater Things? 

In John 14:12 Jesus says that those who have faith in him will do “greater things than these.” What are these “greater things” that he is talking about? Surely he could not be talking about greater miracles? How can any person do greater things than the Son of God?

In the discussion of John 1:51 we saw that Jesus spoke of his miraculous works as “see[ing] heaven open.” He was the gate between God and human beings, so to speak, and through him the powers of heaven were opened to those on earth. He continues this theme in John 5:19–20.

What Jesus is saying is that he does not act on his own but participates in the works of his Father. He is indeed a window into heaven, and while his listeners see Jesus in the flesh, the one actually doing the deeds is the Father.

With this background we now turn to John 14. The request that began the discussion was “Show us the Father” (Jn 14:9). Jesus’ response was “You have seen the Father in me.” He explains this by noting that the Father was the one actually doing the works. Thus the disciples should believe that he was in the Father and the Father in him because of the works. What are these works? We know that they are not his teachings, for he refers to his words as evidence for believing his teachings. Thus they must be “the miracles” (as the NIV correctly translates), for those are the works which in John are connected with people believing. It is immediately after this that Jesus says that “anyone who has faith in” him will do “greater works” than these. Given the context, the greater things can only be greater miracles.

This brings us to the other part of the problem: how can believers do greater miracles than Jesus? (The greater works are not preaching the gospel, for Jesus has distinguished between believing his claims about himself, that is, his preaching, and believing his works, which in context are clearly his miracles; in this text it is greater works than his that people will do, not greater preaching than his.) For Jesus this is no problem. He will be with his Father and he promises to do whatever believers ask. Presumably this is conditioned by their being in harmony with him, for that seems to be the purpose of John 14:15.

The next section in the chapter adds to this picture, for it describes the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is viewed as another of the same type as Jesus. He will “be in you” (Jn 14:17). This is amplified as “I will come to you” (Jn 14:18 RSV). Finally, Jesus notes in John 14:23 with reference to his Father, “We will come to him [the one who loves Jesus and keeps his commandments] and make our home with him.” Thus through the Spirit there is a unity produced: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (Jn 14:20). Thus there is no problem with believers doing the works, for they will not be doing the works on their own at all. Through the Spirit the believer will have God inside of him or her. Just as the Father did the works which people saw Jesus doing, so he (or Jesus or the Spirit—the text refers to all as inside the believer) will do the miracles that the believers will do.

This point of view would not be strange to the rest of the New Testament. Acts reports miracles done by the apostles which are fully as impressive as any done by Jesus. Are they greater miracles? We must respond, By what standard? They are at least equal in kind and could be viewed as greater in the sense that they are done over a wider area and thus on a scale that Jesus could not do while on earth but can do as glorified in heaven. Galatians 3:5 refers off-handedly to God’s having worked miracles through the Galatians (the issue there is not whether they worked miracles, but how they did, by faith or by following Jewish practices). First Corinthians 12 refers to a gift of miracles as if it were a known example of spiritual gifts. James 5:14–16 mentions effective prayers for healing in an end-of-the-letter context where one would expect to be reminded of old teaching, not introduced to new. Hebrews 6:4–5 indicates that that community had experienced the “powers of the age to come” (RSV), probably meaning miracles. In other words, wherever we turn in the New Testament, we find a miracle-working community of faith. John 14:12 would not have caused any of them problems. They knew their own limitations, but they also knew what God could do through them.

So the deeper difficulty for the modern reader, once they understand that it is God doing the works through them and not their own having to produce the works, is why they may not be experiencing such events. At least part of the response John might make would be to point us to “If you love me you will obey what I command” (Jn 14:15). This is amplified in John 14:21, “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.” This is not a legal statement but a relational one: if you are in harmony with me, then you will receive. The fact is that two cannot walk together unless they are agreed. Jesus lived in harmony with the Father, listened to the Father and did his works. The believer lives in harmony with Jesus (which includes obedience), experiences the presence of Jesus and his Father and does their works. Of course, we also remember that one of the works the Father had in store for Jesus was the cross, which is a form of following Christ that this section of John does not leave out (Jn 13:36).

There are, then, two further responses to our question: maybe our naturalistic worldview keeps us back from hearing the voice of the Father calling us to do such works as these, and maybe also, having read the whole book, we shrink back from following Jesus to glory because we fear that (to use Johannine terms) our ladder to glory like his may turn out to be a cross.


Steven Cole on greater works - does this mean that we should be doing the same and even greater miracles than Jesus did? A “yes” answer to that question was why the late John Wimber founded the Vineyard Christian Fellowship churches. He was convinced that we should be seeing God work miracles today as a common experience. But the fact that Wimber’s good friend, David Watson, died of cancer in his early 50’s in spite of Wimber’s praying in faith that he would be healed; and the fact that Wimber himself died of heart disease in his early 60’s; and the additional fact that none of the Vineyard Churches that I know of are seeing consistent miracles on a par with Christ’s miracles, should give us pause. In the Bible, miracles occur mostly in clusters, mainly at times when God’s message needed to be authenticated. These include the times surrounding the exodus; the times of Elijah and Elisha; Daniel’s time; and the time of Christ and the apostles. In Acts, we see some pretty spectacular miracles, such as Peter’s shadow falling on the sick and healing them and his raising Dorcas from the dead (Acts 3:1-9; 5:12-16; 9:36-41). Acts 5:16 reports, “Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.” Note, they were all being healed.

Paul also saw some spectacular healings. Acts 19:11-12 reports, “God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.” But later in his ministry, Paul advises Timothy to drink a little wine for his frequent stomach problems, but not to claim healing by faith (1 Tim. 5:23). In his final letter, Paul reports (2 Tim. 4:20), “Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.” Why didn’t Paul heal him if he was still doing the miraculous works of Jesus? And, although it would have freed him for wider ministry, Paul never claimed deliverance from prison or from execution by faith.
The author of Hebrews, writing to the second generation of Jewish believers, reminds them how God testified to the truth of the gospel by performing signs and wonders and miracles through the first generation of believers in Christ (Heb. 2:3-4). He was trying to convince them of the truth of the gospel so that they wouldn’t go back to Judaism. If those early miracles were still commonplace, the author would have had a stronger argument by pointing to the very miracles done every day in their midst.

So I conclude that while God at times does spectacular miracles to authenticate His word, we are not living at a time where miracles are as commonplace as they were in the days of the early church. We should never doubt that if it is God’s will, He can miraculously heal or do other miracles through His people. But I do not know of anyone in our day experiencing near the same or greater miracles than Christ did. So the “greater works” that Jesus promised cannot refer to greater miracles than He did.

“There is no greater work possible than the conversion of a soul.”
-- J C Ryle

What, then, are the greater works that Jesus’ followers are to perform? D. A. Carson (The Gospel According to John) argues that the greater works are those done on the basis of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation. The greater works point to the power of the gospel to transform lives as it spread through the apostolic witness. Through Peter’s preaching on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 were born again, probably more than Jesus saw converted during His entire ministry! The Book of Acts tells how the message kept spreading, first around Jerusalem, and eventually to the Gentiles around the Roman Empire. J. C. Ryle succinctly observes (John Commentary), “There is no greater work possible than the conversion of a soul.”

Thus as the Lord uses us to spread the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection, we are doing the works that He did and even greater works in the sense that the new covenant is better than the old (Heb. 8:6). And our works collectively are greater in number and greater in geographic extent than Jesus did in three years in one small part of the world. I might add that there have been and continue to be times and places where God’s Spirit works in unusual ways to bring thousands of people to Christ in a relatively short period of time. These are called revivals and it is thrilling to read about them. We should pray that God would do a work of revival here and now. But, there are other times and places where in spite of faithful witnesses and much prayer, few have come to Christ. (Doing Greater Works Than Jesus John 14:12-14)

Related Resources:

John 14:13 “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

  • Whatever you ask: Joh 15:7,16 Jn 16:23,26 Mt 7:7 21:22 Mk 11:24 Lu 11:9 Eph 3:20 Jas 1:5 5:16 1Jn 3:22 5:14 
  • in My name: Joh 14:6 Eph 2:18 3:12,14,21 Col 3:17 Heb 4:15 7:25 13:15 1Pe 2:5 
  • that will I do: Joh 14:14 Jn 4:10,14 Jn 5:19 Jn 7:37 Jn 10:30 Jn 16:7 2Co 12:8-10 Php 4:13 
  • so that the Father may be glorified in the Son: Joh 12:44 Jn 13:31 Jn 17:4,5 Php 2:9-11 

THE PROMISE OF
PRAYER

Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son - In context, prayer in Jesus' name is one of the ways one can do greater worksWhatever is qualified by whatever is in the will of the Father (cf 1Jn 5:13, 14+). Be careful not to take this passage as an invitation to ask for anything you want (which I have witnessed on several occasions). Notice so that is a purpose clause and ultimately gives the purpose of prayer in Jesus' Name, and that purpose is that God the Father would be glorified in Jesus. Note you cannot add "in Jesus' Name" to a prayer and expect that addition guarantees God will grant your request. 

As we say “for Jesus’ sake” here, He says “for my sake” there.
-- G. H. C. MacGregor

John MacArthur explains the significance of the addition of "in Jesus' Name" to our prayers - First, it means to make requests consistent with God's will and the purposes of His kingdom. In His model prayer, Jesus taught His followers to pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). Second, it is to acknowledge one's spiritual poverty, lack of self-sufficiency, and utter unworthiness to receive anything from God based on one's own merits (Matt. 5:3). It is to approach God based on the merits of Jesus Christ (cf. John 16:26-28) and to acknowledge one's complete dependence on Him to supply every need (Matt. 6:25-32; Phil. 4:19). Finally it is to express a sincere desire that God would be glorified in His answer. It is to align one's requests with the Father's supreme goal of glorifying the Son. When believers pray in this way they pray in keeping with Jesus' name—His person, His purposes, and His preeminence. (See John Commentary)

Lowell Johnson - We are so used to hearing “in Jesus' name, Amen” that we feel uncomfortable if we don't hear it when someone prays. We even suspect that the prayer is a bit “illegal” because it doesn't end with “in Jesus' name, Amen.” Here's a bit of Bible trivia that may surprise you. Go back and read all the prayers in the N.T. Not a single one ends with the phrase “in Jesus' name, Amen.” Some think of the phrase as a kind of spiritual Abracadabra or open sesame or the Christian equivalent of rubbing Aladdin's lamp. There is nothing magical about it. Names in the bible often represent character or authority or a person's reputation. Praying in Jesus' name is like signing His name to our prayers. In a sense we are saying to God, “Jesus told me to pray this prayer.” What do you think the Father will do with a prayer truly signed by His Son? He'll grant it, because He always honors what His Son wants. Let's turn that truth around. Sometimes people forge other people's name. Many of our prayers are spiritual forgeries because we are signing Jesus' name to prayers He has not approved. When we pray in Jesus' name, we are confessing our faith that Jesus is the only way to God. It is only by virtue of what Jesus has accomplished that any of us can come into the presence of God. To approach God apart from Jesus Christ is to guarantee that we will be turned away. When we pray in Jesus' name, we submit our will to his will because He knows what is best. That's what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here are the things that matter in prayer. Prayer must be made in Jesus' name, it must be offered in the right spirit, it must be for the glory of God, and there must be no unrepented of sin in our life that would block our prayer.

Bob Utley - The more like Christ one is, the more likely the prayers are to be answered in the affirmative. The worst thing God could do spiritually to most believers is answer their selfish, materialistic prayers. See note at 1 John 3:22. This is a good example of the need to consult parallel passages before making dogmatic statements on biblical subjects. One must balance “whatever we ask” with (1) “in My name” (John 14:13–14; 15:7, 16; 16:23); (2) “keep on asking” (Matt. 7:7–8; Luke 11:5–13; 18:1–8); (3) “two agreeing” (Matt. 18:19); (4) “believing” (Matt. 21:22); (5) “without doubt” (Mark 11:22–24; James 1:6–7); (6) “not selfishly” (James 4:2–3); (7) “keep His commands” (1 John 3:22); and (8) “according to God’s will” (Matt. 6:10; 1 John 5:14–15). The name of Jesus represents His character. It is another way of referring to the mind and heart of Jesus. This phrase appears often in John (cf. Jn 14:13–14, 26; 15:16; 16:23–26). The more like Christ one is, the more likely the prayers are to be answered in the affirmative. The worst thing God could do spiritually to most believers is answer their selfish, materialistic prayers.


Steven Cole divides Jesus' statement into 3 parts - 

(1) The extent of Jesus’ promise: “Whatever you ask.”

The context is important! Jesus isn’t promising that He will do any crazy thing you ask, as long as you tack on, “in Jesus’ name, Amen” to your prayer! The context of “whatever you ask” is tied into doing Jesus’ works. So to think that you can pray, “Jesus, give me a nice mansion and while You’re at it, throw in a new Mercedes,” is to completely misapply Jesus’ promise. John Piper argues that instead of using prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie to call in supplies for the battle, we have turned it into an intercom to ask for more comforts in the den (Let the Nations be Glad ([Baker Academic], p. 49). But prayer isn’t a means of getting God to give us what we want so that our lives can be more comfy. Rather, prayer is the means by which we ask God to extend His kingdom and do His will on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). True, there is a place to ask God to meet our needs. But the center of all that we pray should be, “Lord, do Your work through Your people! Bring sinners to genuine conversion! Sanctify Your people so that we will be faithful representatives of Jesus on earth!”

So in prayer, we are to submit to God’s will and to ask Him to accomplish His will through us and through His people. But, the difficulty is, how do we determine what God’s will is so that we pray in line with it? His will is not always obvious! God denied Moses’ request to enter Canaan (Deut. 3:23-27), even though Moses could have argued that the people needed his leadership after they entered the land. Paul prayed for relief from his thorn in the flesh, which was demonically caused and hindered his ministry, but God had a higher purpose, namely, to be glorified as Paul depended on Him in his weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Paul’s prayers for the salvation of his fellow Jews largely went unanswered, not only in his lifetime, but down to the present day (Rom. 10:1; cf. 1 Thess. 2:14-16; Col. 4:7)! Even Jesus in the Garden prayed, if it was the Father’s will, to be delivered from the cross (Matt. 26:39). But He submitted to the Father’s will.

So there is a tension here: We should ask God to extend the gospel and glorify His name around the world. We should ask Him “to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). And yet, we need to keep in mind that His ways are not always our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9). He sometimes puts His greatest servants in chains or allows them to be killed for His sake (Rom. 8:36). So although we often don’t understand why God doesn’t do exactly what we ask, we should pray big prayers for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. The extent of, “Whatever you ask,” is pretty unlimited!

(2) The basis of Jesus’ promise: “In My name.”

As I said, this isn’t a formula to tack onto your prayers, although there’s nothing wrong with closing your prayers, “in Jesus’ name,” as long as you think about what that means. “Jesus’ name” refers to His person and work. It refers to all that He is and all He has done for us on the cross. While we must be obedient to Christ if we expect Him to answer our prayers (John 14:15), we don’t ask on the basis of our obedience: “I’ve been really good, so You need to answer this!”

Rather, to ask in Jesus’ name means that you come to the Father through the Son as your high priest. To ask in Jesus’ name is to recognize that His name is above every name that is named, both in this age and in the age to come (Eph. 1:21). He has the power to answer! You ask what you think Jesus would want in terms of carrying out His work. You ask God to be gracious because you are in His son and you are seeking to do His will (Mt 6:10). And, you ask submissively, acknowledging that you may not understand His perfect will (Ro 12:2b). But you trust that if your request is His will, He will do it, no matter how difficult.

(3) The objective of Jesus’ promise: The Father’s glory in the Son.

This is a further condition that must govern the “whatever” we ask: Our desire is to see God glorified through the Lord Jesus. This may include the salvation of a loved one or of an enemy of the gospel (such as Paul before his conversion). This extends to praying for the gospel to penetrate unreached peoples around the world. It includes praying that troubled marriages may be healed. The main objective is not that they would be happy (although they will), but that God would be glorified through Christ being seen in that marriage. God’s glory is the main objective of our prayers.

Sometimes people will ask me to pray for someone who is in the hospital and I ask, “What should I pray?” The person asking will often look at me dumbfounded, thinking, “Pray that he will be healed, of course!” But healing may not be God’s way of being glorified. What does God want to do in this person’s heart? Maybe the sickness is to teach the person the brevity of life so that he will live in light of eternity. God may be glorified by teaching the sick person to trust Him through bodily weakness. He may be glorified through the person’s joy in Christ as he dies. Our aim in prayer should be that the Father would be glorified in His Son.

(4) The result of Jesus’ promise: “I will do it.”

Jesus repeats this in Jn 14:13-14 so that we can’t dodge it. The result of our praying should be that Jesus does it. This implies Christ’s deity: He has the power to answer whatever we ask. But this is where it gets really difficult, because many of our prayers would seemingly further God’s kingdom and glory, but He has not done it. I have prayed for the salvation of loved ones, but they have died unbelieving. I have prayed for the healing of Christian marriages, but they have ended in divorce. Many godly parents have prayed for their prodigal children to return to Christ and to be reconciled with the parents for God’s glory, but it hasn’t happened. Many faithful missionaries have prayed and labored for the gospel to take root among peoples that are still mostly pagan after decades of labor. The list could go on and on.

So, how do we reconcile Jesus’ seeming blanket promise to answer prayers in His name for God’s glory with the fact that many such prayers go unanswered? I can’t totally resolve this problem, but I offer some concluding thoughts that may help.

(1) First, the tension we experience stems from the fact that we can know God’s will of desire, but we can’t know His will of decree. God desires that all people would repent of their sins and be saved (Ezek. 18:23; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4), but He has not decreed the salvation of all (Acts 13:48; Rom. 9:15-18, 21; 2 Tim. 1:9; 2:10). God desires that we all glorify Him by holy lives, but He also permits sin and will be glorified by His righteous judgment on sinners who do not repent. So we should pray as best we know in line with His revealed will of desire, while at the same time submitting to the fact that we don’t know His will of decree.

(2) Second, Jesus’ promise to do whatever we ask does not undermine the many Scriptures that exhort us to wait on the Lord. Jesus doesn’t say when He will do it. God may be glorified as we faithfully wait on Him for years for answers to our prayers. He may be glorified by answering at a distant time even beyond our lifetimes for reasons that we cannot fathom at the moment. So we must join David who exhorts (Ps. 27:14), “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” God’s purposes will surely be fulfilled, but not necessarily in our timing or in ways that we envision.

(3) Third, God often accomplishes His purposes in ways that seem backwards to us. We pray for the gospel to spread, so God sends persecution (cf Acts 8:1). The late Chinese Pastor Samuel Lamb spent 33 years in prison for his faith. After he was released for the final time, he called the authorities and asked them to re-arrest him. When they asked why, he said, “Every time you arrest me, my church doubles in size. I want to see my church grow.” We pray for strength, and God makes us weak so that we will rely on His strength (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Jesus told Peter that Satan had demanded permission to sift him like wheat, but that Jesus had prayed for Peter (Luke 22:31-32). I would have prayed that Peter be spared from denying Jesus, but Jesus didn’t pray that. Rather, He prayed that after Peter was restored, he would strengthen his brothers. Countless Christians who have failed have been strengthened through Peter’s failure and restoration.

(4) Finally, we do not understand all that God is doing, so we may go to our graves not knowing why He seemingly didn’t answer our prayers. I wonder whether John ever understood why God delivered Peter from prison, but allowed John’s brother James to be executed (Acts 12:1-17). Couldn’t James have been used greatly to extend the kingdom if he had been delivered? Yes, but that wasn’t God’s will. John the Baptist’s disciples probably never understood why God allowed a drunken king to execute a godly prophet like John. 

ILLUSTRATION OF ANSWERED PRAYER IN A MOST UNUSUAL WAY - I read once about a businessman who picked up a hitchhiker and drove with him for several hours. The hitchhiker was a Christian and he shared the gospel with the businessman. Before he dropped him off, he put his trust in Christ as His Savior and Lord. He left his business card with the hitchhiker and said, “If you ever come to Chicago, drop by and see me.” Several years went by before the hitchhiker was in Chicago. He stopped by the man’s office and handed the card to a woman and asked if the man was in. The woman’s face froze and she asked, “Where did you get this card?” The man used the question to tell the woman the story of how the man had become a Christian that day. She broke down in tears and said, “He was my husband. I had prayed for years that he would come to Christ. But he never made it home from that trip. He was killed in an accident after he dropped you off. I’ve been bitter at God all these years because I thought that He didn’t answer my prayer.” Not all stories end that way, but the point is, we don’t have all knowledge about how God may be working in response to our prayers. So be active in doing Jesus’ works. Pray that He would do far more through you than you can ask or think. But if things don’t go exactly as you had prayed, trust Him that if not in this life, at least in eternity you will understand how He answered and used you to do even greater works than He did. (Doing Greater Works Than Jesus John 14:12-14)


C H Spurgeon  - IT is not every believer who has yet learned to pray in Christ’s name. To ask not only for his sake, but in his name, as authorized by him, is a high order of prayer. We would not dare to ask for some things in that blessed name, for it would be a wretched profanation of it; but when the petition is so clearly right that we dare set the name of Jesus to it, then it must be granted.

Prayer is all the more sure to succeed because it is for the Father’s glory through the Son. It glorifies his truth, his faithfulness, his power, his grace. The granting of prayer, when offered in the name of Jesus, reveals the Father’s love to him, and the honour which he has put upon him. The glory of Jesus and of the Father are so wrapped up together, that the grace which magnifies the one magnifies the other. The channel is made famous through the fulness of the fountain, and the fountain is honoured through the channel by which it flows. If the answering of our prayers would dishonour our Lord, we would not pray; but since in this thing he is glorified, we will pray without ceasing in that dear name in which God and his people have a fellowship of delight.


THOUGHT - How would I classify my prayers? Are they big prayers? Are they prayers in God's will? I have several times felt silly praying for the salvation of all my high school classmates and all my medical school classmates, but as I study this section, I am encouraged to keep it up. I am reminded of a great hymn written by John Newton with music by Matt Foreman (who sings the hymn). Take a moment and listen to this beautiful hymn and pay close attention to powerful words! If this does not stir your soul, I don't know what will! Indeed, may God's Spirit stir all of our hearts to pray "big prayers" to our our great God that He might receive great glory. In the Name of Jesus. Amen. 

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.

Thou art coming to a king,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much.

With my burden I begin,
Lord, remove this load of sin!
Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.

Lord! I come to Thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;
There Thy blood bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.

While I am a pilgrim here,
Let Thy love my spirit cheer;
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey’s end.

Show me what I have to do,
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die Thy people’s death.


The “name it and claim it” preachers have grossly misused this verse as a blanket promise to get anything one wants. In light of this abuse see Gotquestion's response below...

QUESTION Is “name it claim it” teaching biblical?

ANSWER - The “name it and claim it” or “prosperity gospel” is not biblical and is in many ways antithetical to the true gospel message and the clear teaching of Scripture. While there are many different versions of the name it and claim it philosophy preached today, they all have similar characteristics. At its best, this teaching comes from the misinterpretation and misunderstanding of some Scriptures, and, at its worst, it is a completely heretical teaching that has the characteristics of cultic doctrine.

The roots of the Word of Faith movement and the name it and claim it message have more in common with new age metaphysics than with biblical Christianity. However, instead of us creating our reality with our thoughts, as new age proponents advise, name it and claim it teachers tell us that we can use the “power of faith” to create our own reality or get what we want. In essence, faith is redefined from “a trust in a holy and sovereign God despite our circumstances” to “a way of controlling God to give us what we want.” Faith becomes a force whereby we can get what we want rather than an abiding trust in God even during times of trials and suffering.

There are many areas where name it and claim it departs from biblical Christianity. The teaching really exalts man and his “faith” above God. In fact, many of the more extreme Word of Faith teachers teach that man was created on terms of equality with God and that man is the same class of being that He is Himself. This dangerous and heretical teaching denies the very basic tenets of biblical Christianity, which is why the extreme proponents of the name it and claim it teaching must be considered to be cultic and not truly Christian.

Both the metaphysical cults and the name it and claim it teaching distort the truth and embrace the false teaching that our thoughts control reality. Whether it is the power of positive thinking or the prosperity gospel, the premise is the same—what you think or believe will happen is ultimately what controls what will happen. If you think negative thoughts or are lacking in faith, you will suffer or not get what you want. But on the other hand if you think positive thoughts or just have “enough faith,” then you can have health, wealth, and happiness now. This false teaching appeals to one of man’s most basic instincts, which is one reason why it is hugely popular.

While the prosperity gospel and the idea of controlling one’s future with his thoughts or faith is appealing to sinful man, it is insulting to a sovereign God who has revealed Himself in Scripture. Instead of recognizing the absolute sovereign power of God as revealed in the Bible, the name it and claim it adherents embrace a false god who cannot operate apart from their faith. They present a false view of God by teaching that He wants to bless you with health, wealth, and happiness but cannot do so unless YOU have enough faith. Thereby God is no longer in control but man is. Of course, this is completely antithetical to what Scripture teaches. God does not depend upon man’s “faith” to act. Throughout Scripture we see God blessing whom He chooses to bless and healing whom He chooses to heal.

Another problem with the name it and claim it teaching is that it fails to recognize that Jesus Himself is the ultimate treasure worth sacrificing everything for (Matthew 13:44) and instead sees Jesus as little more than a way of getting what we want right now. Jesus’ message is that a Christian is called to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24–26). Contrast that to the message of the prosperity gospel. Rather than being a message of self-denial, the prosperity gospel is one of self-satisfaction. Its goal is not becoming more Christlike through sacrifice but having what we want here and now, clearly contradicting the words of our Savior.

The Bible teaches that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12), but the name and claim it message is that any suffering we undergo is simply the result of a lack of faith. The prosperity gospel is completely focused on us getting the things the world has to offer, but 1 John 2:15 tells us we should not “love the world or the things in the world” and, in fact, those with a fondness for the things of the world become enemies of God (James 4:4). The message of the prosperity gospel simply cannot be any more opposite of what the Bible really teaches.

In his book Your Best Life Now, prosperity teacher Joel Osteen says that the key to a more rewarding life, a better home, a stronger marriage, and a better job is found in a “simple yet profound process to change the way you think about your life and help you accomplish what is truly important.” How different that is from the biblical truth that this life now is nothing compared to the life to come. The message of the prosperity gospel is focused around the “treasures” or good things we want and can have now, while Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21).

Jesus did not come to give us health, wealth, and happiness now. He came to save us from our sins so that we can have an eternity of bliss with Him. Following Christ is not a ticket to all the material things men desire in this life but a ticket to eternal life. Our desire should not be to have our best life now but to have the attitude of the apostle Paul, who had learned to be content “in whatever state I am” (Philippians 4:11).GotQuestions.org


QUESTION - What does it mean to pray in Jesus' name? WATCH THE VIDEO

ANSWER - Prayer in Jesus’ name is taught in John 14:13-14, “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.” Some misapply this verse, thinking that saying “in Jesus’ name” at the end of a prayer results in God’s always granting what is asked for. This is essentially treating the words “in Jesus’ name” as a magic formula. This is absolutely unbiblical. 

Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come in the name of His Son, Jesus. Praying in Jesus’ name means the same thing as praying according to the will of God, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). Praying in Jesus’ name is praying for things that will honor and glorify Jesus.

Saying “in Jesus’ name” at the end of a prayer is not a magic formula. If what we ask for or say in prayer is not for God’s glory and according to His will, saying “in Jesus’ name” is meaningless. Genuinely praying in Jesus’ name and for His glory is what is important, not attaching certain words to the end of a prayer. It is not the words in the prayer that matter, but the purpose behind the prayer. Praying for things that are in agreement with God’s will is the essence of praying in Jesus’ name.GotQuestions.org

Related Resource:


Julie’s Prayer

Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. —John 14:13

Today's Scripture : John 14:12-14

In 2008, the Day of Discovery film crew traveled to China on a special assignment—to retrace the life of missionary Eric Liddell, the 1924 Olympic gold medalist whose story was told in the movie Chariots of Fire. The crew took with them Eric’s three daughters, Patricia, Heather, and Maureen—allowing them to revisit some of the places where the two older sisters had lived in China. Also along on the trip was their elderly Aunt Louise.

On one occasion, after the entourage had arrived in Beijing, they had to walk quite a distance with their luggage. As they did, Aunt Louise grew short of breath. Julie Richardson, a Day of Discovery crew member, sat down beside her, put her hand on her knee, and prayed simply, “Dear Jesus, help Aunt Louise to breathe.” Immediately, she began to catch her breath.

Later, Heather retold the story and shared that Julie’s prayer had rekindled her faith. Julie’s simple act of faith reminded Heather of the continual connection we have with Jesus—a reality she had set aside in her life.

Sometimes we need reminders that God is near. When trials come and God seems far away, remember Julie’s prayer and the truth that we are just one prayer from connecting with the God of the universe (John 14:13). By:  Dave Branon (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

God answers prayer, it is His sovereign way
To freely give His blessings day by day;
One earnest plea and lo! from heaven’s throne
The answer comes, for God has heard His own.
—Anon.

God delights in the earnest prayers of His people.

John 14:14 “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. 

JESUS DIRECTS THIS
PRAYER TO HIMSELF

If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it - IF is a third class conditional sentence which speaks of potential action. Jesus essentially repeats what He stated in John 14:13 except that in this passage Jesus actually directs the prayer to Himself. These two passages can easily be misinterpreted and/or abused. Jesus is not giving "carte blanche" to His disciples in the upper room or to His disciples in the following millennia. In other words the words "in the Name of Jesus Christ" is not like a genie  in a bottle which guarantees one will receive what they ask for. Clearly the asking must be done in the Spirit, praying according to God's will and seeking His glory. God always answers prayer, but it is according to His sovereign pleasure and the answer may be yes, no or wait. Sometimes "no" is the best answer we can receive because God is omniscient and He Alone knows what is best for us. 


BOB UTLEY'S SPECIAL TOPIC: EFFECTIVE PRAYER

A. Related to one's personal relationship with the Triune God

1. Related to the Father's will

a. Matt. 6:10

b. 1 John 3:22

c. 1 John 5:14-15

2. Abiding in Jesus

John 15:7

3. Praying in Jesus' name

 a. John 14:13,14

 b. John 15:16

 c. John 16:23-24

4. Praying in the Spirit

 a. Eph. 6:18

 b. Jude 1:20

B. Related to one's personal motives

1. Not wavering

 a. Matt. 21:22

 b. James 1:6-7

2. Asking amiss

James 4:3

3. Asking selfishly

James 4:2-3

C. Related to one's personal choices 

1. Perseverance

a.  Luke 18:1-8

b. Colossians 4:2

c.  James 5:16

2. Discord at home

1 Peter 3:7

3. Sin

a. Psalm 66:18

b. Isaiah 59:1-2

c. Isaiah 64:7

All prayer is answered, but not all prayer is effective. Prayer is a two-way relationship. The worst thing God could do is grant believers' inappropriate requests.

John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

  • Joh 14:21-24 Jn 8:42 Jn 15:10-14 Jn 21:15-17 Mt 10:37 25:34-40 1Co 16:22 2Co 5:14,15 8:8,9 Ga 5:6 Eph 3:16-18 6:24 Php 1:20-23 3:7-11 1Pe 1:8 1Jn 2:3-5 4:19,20 5:2,3 

Related Passages:

John 8:51+  (HOW IMPORTANT IS OBEDIENCE? IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH)  “Truly, truly, I say to you, IF (third class conditional = potential action) anyone keeps (tereo) My word he will never (JESUS USES A STRONG DOUBLE NEGATIVE - "ou me" ~ "NEVER, ABSOLUTELY NEVER) see (ETERNAL SPIRITUAL) death (HE IS NOT SPEAKING OF PHYSICAL DEATH WE WILL ALL EXPERIENCE).” (NOTE: OBEDIENCE PER SE DOES NOT SAVE, BUT IT DEMONSTRATES OUR FAITH IS GENUINE SAVING FAITH!)

John 15:10   “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

1 John 2:3-5+  By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

1 John 3:22; 24+ +  and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. (3:24) The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

1 John 5:3+  For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

2 John 1:6  And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. 

Luke 6:46+  “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? (COMPARE JESUS STERN WARNING IN Mt 7:21-23,22+).

LOVE LINKED 
TO OBEDIENCE

If you love (agapao) Me, you will keep (tereo)  My commandments - IF is a third class conditional sentence which speaks of potential action. You can say you love Jesus with your lips, but Jesus is saying you truly love Him when you obey Him. Jesus teaches that love is not something "touchy-feely" but is best defined by action, in this case obedience to His commandments. This is a description of a disciple, one whose love is not just with their lips but is validated by their life lived out in loving Spirit enabled obedience to Jesus.

THOUGHT - As an aside Spirit enabled obedience to Jesus is clear evidence that one's faith is genuine. And one more point - Obedience is like a "key" which opens the unseen door to the supernatural life in Christ. Do not wonder why you are not experiencing the supernatural life in Christ if you are entangled in sin. Confess and repent immediately! The corollary is disobedience blunts the Spirit's flow of supernatural power and leaves you "on your own," to navigate the waters (often stormy and rough) of life in your own natural power! And most of us know where that has gotten us! Amen? Amen! Father, may Your children continually experience the supernatural power of the Spirit for your glory. Amen

Bob Utley - Obedience is extremely important (cf. John 8:51; Jn 15:10; 1Jn 2:3-5; 1Jn 3:22,24; 1Jn 5:3; 2John 6; Luke 6:46). John 14:21, 23, 24 emphasize this same truth. Obedience is evidence of true conversion (cf. James 2:14-26 and 1 John).


Love (25agapao - see noun agape) means to love unconditionally and sacrificially as God Himself loves sinful men (John 3:16), the way He loves the Son (John 3:35, 15:9, 17:23, 24). Note that agapao is a verb and by its verbal nature calls for action. This quality of love is not an emotion but is an action initiated by a volitional choice. Wuest writes that "Agapao speaks of a love which is awakened by a sense of value in an object which causes one to prize it. It springs from an apprehension of the preciousness of an object. It is a love of esteem and approbation. The quality of this love is determined by the character of the one who loves, and that of the object loved. See lists of what "Agapao is..."

Agapao in John's Gospel - Jn. 3:16; Jn. 3:19; Jn. 3:35; Jn. 8:42; Jn. 10:17; Jn. 11:5; Jn. 12:43; Jn. 13:1; Jn. 13:23; Jn. 13:34; Jn. 14:15; Jn. 14:21; Jn. 14:23; Jn. 14:24; Jn. 14:28; Jn. 14:31; Jn. 15:9; Jn. 15:12; Jn. 15:17; Jn. 17:23; Jn. 17:24; Jn. 17:26; Jn. 19:26; Jn. 21:7; Jn. 21:15; Jn. 21:16; Jn. 21:20

Keep (reserve, guard, heed, observe, preserve) (5083) tereo from teros - a guard or warden)  means to keep an eye on, to keep something in view, to hold firmly, to attend carefully, or to watch over it (watchful care - Jesus' prayer to His Father for His disciples - Jn 17:11). Tereo speaks of watching over, of taking care of, of guarding something which is in one’s possession keeping it from loss or injury. It means to watch as one would some precious thing. The idea is to observe attentively, to heed, to keep watch over and to retain in custody.

Tereo with the idea of obey - Mt 19:17, Mt 23:3 (tereo = observe), Mt 28:20, Jn 8:51, 52 (one who keeps Jesus' Word = a believer = one who will never see the second death in hell), Jn 9:16 (keep = observe the Sabbath), Jn 14:15, Jn 14:21, 23, 24 (no love = no obedience = not a believer - Note Jesus is not talking about legalistic obedience but Spirit enabled obedience which is the only obedience that pleases the Father!), Jn 15:10 (used twice), Jn 15:20 (used twice), Jn 17:6 (the 11 disciples), Acts 15:5, 1Ti 6:14, James 2:10, 1Jn 2:3, 4, 5, 3:22, 1Jn 3:24, 1Jn 5:2, 3, Rev 1:3 (heed), Rev 2:26, 3:3, 3:8, 3:10, 12:17, 14:12, Rev 22:7 (heeds), Rev 22:9.

Tereo with idea of keep watch or guard - Mt 27:36, 27:54, Mt 28:4 (guards = tereo), Jn 17:11, 12, Jn 17:15 (with nuance of protection from Satan), Acts 12:5, Acts 12:6 (watching), Acts 16:23, Acts 24:23, 25:4, 25:21 (held in custody), 1Jn 5:18, Jude 1:1, 6,

Tereo in the sense of to preserve or maintain -Jn 2:10, 1Cor 7:37, 2Cor 11:9, Eph 4:3, 1Th 5:23, 1Ti 5:22, 2Ti 4:7, James 1:27, 1Pe 1:4, 2Pe 2:4, 2Pe 2:9, 2Pe 2:17, 2Pe 3:7, Jude 1:13, 21, Rev 16:15

Tereo in John's Gospel and his letters - Jn. 2:10; Jn. 8:51; Jn. 8:52; Jn. 8:55; Jn. 9:16; Jn. 12:7; Jn. 14:15; Jn. 14:21; Jn. 14:23; Jn. 14:24; Jn. 15:10; Jn. 15:20; Jn. 17:6; Jn. 17:11; Jn. 17:12; Jn. 17:15; 1 Jn. 2:3; 1 Jn. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:5; 1 Jn. 3:22; 1 Jn. 3:24; 1 Jn. 5:3; 1 Jn. 5:18


C H Spurgeon in his sermon Love's law and Life

If you love Christ, set to work to find out what his commandments are. Study the Scriptures upon every point upon which you have the slightest question. This sacred oracle must guide you. Next, be always true to your convictions about what Christ’s commandments are. Carry them out at all hazards and carry them out at once. It will be wicked to say, ‘Hitherto I have obeyed, but I shall stop here.’ We are committed to implicit obedience to the whole of the Master’s will, involve what it may. Will you not agree to this at the outset? If you love him, you will not demur. Take note of every commandment as it concerns you. Let me mention one or two and beg you to obey them as you hear them. ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Is not this a call to you, my brother, to be a missionary? Do you hear it? Will you not say, ‘Here am I; send me’? Another person has come into this house tonight full of enmity: somebody has treated him very badly and he cannot forget it; I pray him to hear the Lord’s command: ‘Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.’ And again: ‘Beloved, let us love one another’. If any of you are in debt, obey this commandment: ‘Owe no man any thing, but to love one another’. If you neglect the poor and live in a niggardly way, hear this commandment: ‘Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.’ At the back of all comes this, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.’


Oswald Chambers - Authority and independence John 14:15

Our Lord never insists upon obedience; He tells us very emphatically what we ought to do, but He never takes means to make us do it. We have to obey Him out of oneness of spirit. That is why when Our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an IF—you do not need to unless you like. “If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself”; let him give up his right to himself to Me. Our Lord is not talking of eternal positions, but of being of value to Himself in this order of things, that is why He sounds so stern (cf. Luke 14:26). Never interpret these words apart from the One who uttered them.

The Lord does not give me rules, He makes His standard very clear, and if my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without any hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone else in competition with Him, viz., myself. Jesus Christ will not help me to obey Him, I must obey Him; and when I do obey Him, I fulfil my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small petty incidents, altogether unnoticeable and mean, but if I obey Jesus Christ in the haphazard circumstances, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God, and when I stand face to face with God I shall discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When once God’s Redemption comes to the point of obedience in a human soul, it always creates. If I obey Jesus Christ, the Redemption of God will rush through me to other lives, because behind the deed of obedience is the Reality of Almighty God


GOTQUESTIONS'What did Jesus mean when He said, “If you love me keep my commandments?

ANSWER - On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ gave a lengthy private teaching to His disciples. This discourse in the upper room takes place right after the Lord’s announcement that one of the disciples will betray him and Judas leaves the room. As part of the instruction, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15ESV). The unmistakable meaning of the passage is that obedience to Christ’s commandments is both a sign and a test of our love for Him.

The connection between love for Christ and obedience to Him is a recurring theme in the apostle John’s writings: “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands” (1 John 5:2–3). In the same upper room discourse, John quotes Jesus saying yet again, “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” (John 14:21; see also Jn15:14).

What does Jesus mean when He says, “Keep my commands?” Is Jesus referring to keeping a list of rules and laws like the Ten Commandments, or does He have something else in mind? The words John uses in the original language are not merely to be understood as obeying a series of moral instructions. These “commands” encompass all of Jesus’ words and teachings, which, in truth, are God the Father’s words: “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. 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’” (John 14:23–24).

These commands involve the full scope of Christ’s revelation: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’ Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word’” (John 8:31–37; see also John 12:44–50). Only those who believe and receive the truth of who Jesus is (John 14:6) are set free and thus “hold to His teachings” or keep His commands. Praying to God His Father, Jesus says, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word” (John 17:6).

Immediately after Jesus makes the statement “If you love me, you will keep my commands,” He says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16, CSB). Jesus knows that keeping His commands in this fallen world will require a divine source of power in the form of the Holy Spirit’s presence living within us.

Thankfully, we have a model for loving Jesus and keeping His commandments: the love of Jesus Christ and His life of obedience to the Father (John 14:31). Obeying Christ’s commands means copying the example of Jesus (John 13:15–16). Loving Jesus is not merely a feeling; it is an active, abiding, ongoing relationship of following and obeying our loving Master: “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands” (1 John 2:3).


Related Resource:


The Delight Of Duty

If you love Me, keep My commandments. —John 14:15

Today's Scripture : John 14:15-24

Augustus H. Strong (1836-1921) was a highly respected pastor and seminary president. Many years after his death, I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with his son. He told me about the time he was baptized by his father in a church in Rochester, New York. Walking home with his father after that mountaintop experience, he had exclaimed, “Father, I’m so glad I was baptized. It made me feel so good.” His dignified father, looking down at his son, sternly replied, “Feeling or no feeling, it was your duty.”

While that might be regarded as a deflating rebuke, it might also be interpreted as a wise piece of counsel. What is the motive for any spiritual activity—whether praying, worshiping, Bible reading, giving, or witnessing? Is it to have an emotional experience? Is it to make us feel good? Or is it done in keeping with Jesus’ words in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments”? There’s no doubt that obedience brings blessing to us, but our purpose ought to be to please God by carrying out His will.

Today there is a great need to re-emphasize obedience, whether such actions make us feel good or not. Our goal should be to bring joy to the Lord. Love-inspired duty ought to control everything we do.  —Vernon Grounds (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

O help me, Lord, to be afraid
Of disobeying You;
And may I bring You highest praise
In everything I do. 
—Sper

If we love God, we'll obey God.


Love Makes Obedience Easy

If you love me, you will keep my commandments, not the other way around. Love makes obedience easy. It is the delight of love to do what the loved one desires when the heart grows dull and obedience is difficult, the proper response of the Christian is not to grit his teeth and tough it out, but to remember who it is that asks this of him and the for his sake, to do it.

Ray Stedman, Authentic Christianity, p. 157


Signs Of Love

If you love Me, keep My commandments. — John 14:15

Today's Scripture : John 14:15-24

School was over for the day, and 14-year-old Sandy couldn’t wait to get home. Bursting into the kitchen, she exclaimed, “Mother, I’m in love! I tingle whenever I’m near him, and I have butterflies in my stomach when he talks to me.”

Sandy’s mother listened as her daughter bubbled over about the wonders of being in love, but she wasn’t unduly alarmed. She expected that before long the romance would end—and in a few days it did. There’s much more to true love than a tingling sensation and butterflies in the stomach.

Likewise, the signs of a genuine love for Jesus must be much more than the good feelings gained from enthusiastic singing and glowing testimonies in public.

I heard of a woman who exuberantly described how much she enjoyed her church and loved Jesus. Yet she refused to speak to her mother-in-law, fought with her sisters, and tried to dominate her husband. If she couldn’t show her devotion to Jesus by obeying His command to love others, the happiness she felt at church meant nothing.

When Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (Jn. 14:15), He was giving us the supreme test of our devotion to Him. Do we pass the test? By:  Herbert Vander Lugt Sign in to track your progress! (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

For many, love is just a word,
A passing phase, a brief emotion;
But love that honors Christ our Lord
Responds to Him with deep devotion.
—Hess

One proof of your love for God is your love for your neighbor.

John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

  • I will ask the Father Joh 14:14 Jn 16:26,27 Jn 17:9-11,15,20 Ro 8:34 Heb 7:25 1Jn 2:1 
  • another Helper: Joh 14:18,26 Jn 15:26 Jn 16:7-15 Ac 9:31 13:52 Ro 5:5 8:15,16,26,27 14:17 Ro 15:13 Ga 5:22 Php 2:1 
  • He may be with you forever: Joh 4:14 Jn 16:22 Mt 28:20 Eph 1:13,14 Col 3:3,4 2Th 2:16 

Related Passages: 

John 14:26 “But the Helper (parakletos), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

John 15:26  “When the Helper (parakletos) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (parakletos) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

ANOTHER HELPER
"THE OTHER JESUS"

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another (allos) Helper (parakletos) - The Helper is clearly the Holy Spirit that Jesus asks the Father to give to the disciples. And He is also given to every believer since Pentecost. The word another (allos) is important because it shows that the Spirit is another Helper of the same kind as Jesus had been while He was with the disciples. G. Campbell Morgan called the Spirit "the other Jesus." In fact John uses this same noun parakletos to describe the work ("Help") of Jesus in 1 John 2:1 -- "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate (parakletos) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The idea of the parakletos is one called alongside (pare = side + kaleo = call) to help and was used in secular writings in a legal sense. 

THOUGHT - I would suggest that the Spirit might also be called our Enabler, that is, the One Who supernaturally energizes (enables) us for Christ-like life and ministry. The point is that we don't just need a little "help" (cf Name "Helper") or a little push, but we need Him to give us both "the desire and the power" (paraphrase of Php 2:13NLT+) to work out our salvation (Phil 2:12+), whether in everyday Christian living or in specific ministries to which He has assigned each and every believer (1Pe 4:10, 1Co 12:7 = "each one"). I personally believe there are no "bench players" on God's team, but that every believer is called to be on the field so to speak, actively involved in the great game of redeeming men's soul's from hell to heaven! Beloved, are you in the grandstands or are you on the playing field? 

That He may be with you forever - That (hina) expresses purpose, in this case the promise that the disciples would have the Spirit forever. 

Bob Utley - Three different PREPOSITIONS are used in reference to the Holy Spirit - "meta" (John 14:16), "with"; "para" (John 14:17), "by the side"; "en" (John 14:17), "in". Notice the Holy Spirit is with us, by us, and within us. It is His job to manifest the life of Jesus in believers. He will stay with them until the end of the age (cf. John 14:18; Matt. 28:20). Notice the Spirit is called "He." This implies the Spirit is personal. Often in KJV the Spirit is addressed by "it," but this is because the term "spirit" in Greek is NEUTER (cf. John 14:17,26; 15:26). He is the third person of the Trinity. The term Trinity is not a biblical term (first used by Tertullian), but if Jesus is divine and the Spirit is a person, then some kind of tri-unity is involved. God is one divine essence but three permanent, personal manifestations, cf. Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; Acts 2:33-34; Rom. 8:9-10; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 13:14; Eph. 1:3-14; 2:18; 4:4-6; Titus 3:4-6; 1 Pet. 1:2).


Another (243allos expresses a numerical difference and denotes "another of the same sort. Allos usually means “another of the same kind” while heteros denotes “another of a different kind or nature.” To say it another way allos is another numerically but of the same kind in contrast to heteros which means another but qualitatively, other, different one. Usually allos refers to “another” of the same kind, but on occasion it can refer to “another kind, different” (Liddell-Scott).  Paul says "I see a different law," heteros, a law different from that of the spirit of life (not allos, "a law of the same sort"), Ro 7:23. After Joseph's death "another king arose," heteros, one of quite a different character, Acts 7:18. Paul speaks of "a different gospel (heteros), which is not another" (allos, another like the one he preached), Gal. 1:6-7.

It is interesting that the Greek word allos is the root of our word parallel, describing two lines extending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never converging or diverging. Is not this a picture of the Spirit as another Helper of the same kind as Jesus who was the Helper of the 11 disciples? It also follows that we ought to treat the Holy Spirit the way we would treat Jesus, never grieving or quenching Him.

Helper (Advocate, Comforter) (3875parakletos from para = side of, alongside, beside + kaleo = to call) is the noun cognate of the verb parakaleo (see study) (cf also paraklesis) and literally means one called alongside. Parakletos describes one who stands by to help or render aid (especially in a court of law) or one who is summoned to the side of another to help, comfort, encourage, counsel, or intercede for, depending on the need. Interesting article from Wikipedia on Paraclete International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Paraclete 

The KJV, YLT translate parakletos as Comforter; the RV retains the word Comforter, but the margin gives Advocate and Helper and notes that the Greek is paraclete. The HCSB and RSV translate it Counselor. J. B. Phillips translates it "someone to stand by you." Knox translates it he who is to befriend you. NAS, ESV, Moffatt, Torrey and 20th Century NT all translate it Helper. NET, NLT and NAB translate it as Advocate (even Jn 14:16). As the NET Note below amplifies, none of these Names are perfect.

NET Note says Advocate "or "Helper" or "Counselor"; Grk "Paraclete," from the Greek word parakletos. Finding an appropriate English translation for parakletos is a very difficult task. No single English word has exactly the same range of meaning as the Greek word. "Comforter," used by some of the older English versions, appears to be as old as Wycliffe. But today it suggests a quilt or a sympathetic mourner at a funeral. "Counselor" is adequate, but too broad, in contexts like "marriage counselor" or "camp counselor." "Helper" or "Assistant" could also be used, but could suggest a subordinate rank. "Advocate," the word chosen for the NET translation, has more forensic overtones than the Greek word does, although in John 16:5-11 a forensic context is certainly present. Because an "advocate" is someone who "advocates" or supports a position or viewpoint and since this is what the Paraclete will do for the preaching of the disciples, it was selected in spite of the drawbacks. 

Oswald Chambers - Call the Comforter by the term you think best—AdvocateHelperParaclete, the word conveys the indefinable blessedness of His sympathy; an inward invisible kingdom that causes the saint to sing through every night of sorrow.

In ancient Greece parakletos was often used of a defense attorney called in to defend someone under accusation. Today we are accused of a crime (in fact our crime spiritually speaking was against the holy God! Ro 3:23+), we need an attorney (an Advocate) to come to our aid and plead our case before the judge's bench (God the Father). And so John reminds us that Jesus pleads our case with His Father. The sinless Son stands in for sinning sons! Glory! Thank You Jesus!

Jesus our Advocate approaches the Father for us defending us from Satan our Accuser (kategoreo). In the Revelation, John describes that great day when the Accuser is cast out of the divine court room, so to speak "And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. (Rev 12:10+)

Parakletos - 5x - Jn. 14:16; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 15:26; Jn. 16:7; 1 Jn. 2:1 - four times of the Holy Spirit and once of Jesus (1Jn 2:1). 


Utley's Topic - THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT

  1. Old Testament
     In the OT "the Spirit of God" (i.e., ruach) was a force which accomplished YHWH's purpose (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE), I., but there is little hint that it was personal (cf. Isa. 48:16; Isa 61:1). (ED: BUT CLEARLY HE IS PERSONAL EVEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT!)
     
  2. New Testament
     However, in the NT (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE), II., III., IV. the full personality and personhood of the Spirit is revealed:
    1. He can be blasphemed (cf. Matt. 12:31; Mark 3:29)
    2. He teaches (cf. Luke 12:12; John 14:26)
    3. He bears witness (cf. John 15:26)
    4. He convicts, guides (cf. John 16:7-15)
    5. He is called "who" (i.e., hos, cf. Eph. 1:14)
    6. He can be grieved (cf. Eph. 4:30)
    7. He can be quenched (cf. 1 Thess. 5:19)
    8. He can be resisted (cf. Acts 7:51)
    9. He advocates for believers (cf. John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7)
    10. He glorifies the Son (cf. John 16:14)

    Trinitarian texts (here are three of many, see full list see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY) also speak of three persons.

    1. Matt. 28:19
    2. 2 Cor. 13:14 = "the fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit" Phil 2:1 there is....fellowship (koinonia) of the Spirit, (THOUGHT - Do you understand that He desires sweet communion with you as a believer? HE DOES! So don't grieve Him [Eph 4:30] as you would grieve a good friend with "rotten talk" [Eph 4:29])! 
    3. 1 Pet. 1:2

     The Greek word "spirit" (pneuma) is NEUTER when referring to the Spirit, but the NT often uses MASCULINE DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE to denote it is referring to a person (i.e., John 16:8,13-14)
     The Spirit is linked to human activity.

    1. Acts 15:28
    2. Rom. 8:26
    3. 1 Cor. 12:11
    4. Eph. 4:30
  3. Acts specifically
     At the very beginning of Acts, the Spirit's role is emphasized (as in the Gospel of John).  Pentecost was not the beginning of the work of the Spirit, but a new chapter. Jesus always had the Spirit.  His baptism was not the beginning of the work of the Spirit, but a new chapter.  The Spirit is the effective means of the Father's purpose for the restoration of all humans made in His image (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN)! This is the age of the Spirit, the third Person of The Trinity.
     
  4. Theological Development
     The Trinity is a historically developed formulation informed by the biblical material.
    1. the full Deity of Jesus, equal to the Father, was affirmed in A.D. 325 by the Council of Nicea (cf. John 1:1; Phil. 2:6; Titus 2:13)
    2. the full personality and Deity of the Spirit equal to the Father and Son was affirmed in A.D. 381 by the Council of Constantinople
    3. the doctrine of the Trinity is fully expressed in Augustine's work De Trinitate There is truly mystery here. But the NT affirms one divine essence (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM) with three eternal personal manifestations (Father, Son, and Spirit; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY).

Norman Geisler -  JOHN 14:16—Are Muslims right in referring this promise of the coming “helper” to Mohammed?

PROBLEM: Muslim scholars see in this reference of the promised “Helper” (Gk., paraklētos) a prediction of Mohammed, because the Quran (Surah 61:6) refers to Mohammed as “Ahmad” (periclytos) which they take to be the correct rendering of “paraklētos.”

SOLUTION: There are absolutely no grounds for concluding the “Helper” (paraklētos) Jesus mentioned here is Mohammed.

First of all, of the 5,366 Greek manuscripts of the NT, not a single manuscript contains the word periclytos (“praised one”), as the Muslims claim it should read.

Second, Jesus clearly identifies the “Helper” as the Holy Spirit, not Mohammed. Jesus referred to “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send” (John 14:26).

Third, the “Helper” was given to His disciples (“you,” v. 16), but Mohammed was not.

Fourth, the “Helper” was to abide with them “forever” (v. 16), but Mohammed has been dead for 13 centuries!

Fifth, Jesus said to the disciples, “You know Him [the Helper]” (v. 17), but they did not know Mohammed. He wasn’t even born for 6 more centuries.

Sixth, Jesus told His apostles, the Helper will be “in you” (v.17). In no sense was Mohammed “in” Jesus’ apostles.

Seventh, our Lord affirmed the Helper would be sent “In My [Jesus’] name” (John 14:26). But no Muslim believes Mohammed was sent by Jesus in His name.

Eighth, the Helper Jesus would send would not “speak on His own authority” (John 16:13), whereas Mohammed constantly testifies to himself in the Quran (cf. Surah 33:40).

Ninth, the Helper would “glorify” Jesus (John 16:14), but Mohammed claims to supersede Jesus, being a later prophet.

Finally, Jesus asserted that the Helper would come in “not many days” (Acts 1:5), whereas Mohammed did not come for 600 years. (When Critics Ask)


Norman Geisler - JOHN 14:16—Does this text support the claim of Christian Scientists that it refers to “Divine Science”?

MISINTERPRETATION: Mary Baker Eddy once boasted, “This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science [Christian Science]” which she founded. She also claimed that “when the Science of Christianity appears, it will lead you into all truth” (Eddy, 55, 271).

CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: It is clear from both the words of Jesus here and the context that he was not referring to Mary Baker Eddy or her “Divine Science.” First of all, Jesus refers to the Comforter (or Helper) as “he”—not “she” (as Mary Baker Eddy was) or “it” as Divine Science is. Jesus identified the Helper as the “Spirit of truth” in the very next verse. A little later the Helper is called “the Holy Spirit” (v. 26) who is identified with the Father and the Son in the Holy Trinity (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14). There is absolutely no evidence that the Helper is anyone but God the Holy Spirit. (When Cultists Ask)


Grieve Not The Spirit

I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. — John 14:16

Today's Scripture : Ephesians 4:25-32

If money were missing mysteriously from your wallet, you would be angry. But if you discovered that your child was the one who stole it, your anger would quickly turn into grief. One use of the word grief is to describe the sorrow we feel when those we love disappoint us.

“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph. 4:30) essentially means not to hurt the One who loves us and is here to help us. For we read Jesus’ words in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit is sent to us by the Father to be our Helper.

When the Holy Spirit in us is grieved by our actions or attitudes, the result can be tremendous tension. The Spirit pulls us in one direction, but the lusts of the flesh pulls us in another. Paul describes this in Galatians 5:17, “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” If this continues, we may begin to feel guilty and dissatisfied with life. Soon, joy and vigor may diminish within us, only to be replaced by listlessness and lethargy (Ps. 32:3-4).

So do not grieve the Holy Spirit who was given in love to help you. “Put away” the bad choices of the flesh (Eph. 4:31), and live faithfully for God. By:  Albert Lee (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Holy Spirit, all divine,
Dwell within this heart of mine;
Cast down every idol throne,
Reign supreme and reign alone.
—Reed

The Christian’s heart is the Spirit’s home.


Called Alongside

I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper. — John 14:16

Today's Scripture : John 14:15-18

A few years ago, a 42-foot sailboat got caught in stormy seas off the east coast of the United States. Waves rose higher and higher until a giant wave flipped the boat upside down. The heavy keel righted the craft, but damage was significant.

A Coast Guard cutter quickly responded to the sailboat’s SOS. But when the ship located the desperate boat, no one could be rescued because of the violent seas. So the cutter drew as close as possible to the smaller craft, taking the brunt of the waves. The ship remained alongside the imperiled boat and led her into port.

The action of this Coast Guard cutter is an illustration of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples in John 14:16, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper.” The word Helper may also be translated “Comforter” or “Counselor,” and literally means “one called alongside to help.” The Holy Spirit guides and protects us through life’s storms, much like that rescue ship escorted the sailboat.

The Spirit buffers us from the raging storms of life, whether those gales are emotional, physical, or spiritual. He is there beside us to protect, comfort, encourage, and counsel. He will guide us until we are safely Home. By:  David C. Egner (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

The long, long night is past, the morning breaks at last,
And hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast,
As o'er the golden hills the day advances fast!
The Comforter has come!
—Bottome

God's Spirit lives inside us, and also walks beside us.


John 14:16 Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was the first black to play major league baseball. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he committed an error. The fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career. --Leadership


We Need Help

I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. — John 14:16

Today's Scripture : John 16:7-15

I like to do jobs around the house by myself. One day I disassembled our heavy ping-pong table and strained as I carried it to the basement piece by piece. I was sore for a while after hauling the sections down the steps.

Sometimes, though, I need to ask for help. There’s no way I’m climbing on the roof to retrieve a stranded toy without someone holding the ladder. And some jobs I simply cannot do without the know-how of my handy brother-in-law.

To succeed in our walk of faith as Christians, we all need help. We can’t do it by ourselves. We need the help of all three Persons of the Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—to give us guidance, strength, and instruction.

Look at what Jesus said before He went to the cross. He told His disciples that He was going away but He would send them a Helper—the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). He knew that His followers could not fulfill their purpose in this world without the Spirit’s indwelling presence.

There are no do-it-yourself jobs in the Christian life. We need the assistance of the Father who knows us, the Savior who intercedes for us, and the Holy Spirit who empowers us. We always need God’s help. By:  Dave Branon  (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Father, thank You for Your Spirit,
Fill us with His love and power;
Change us into Christ's own image
Day by day and hour by hour.
—Anon.

God the Father gave us His Spirit to enable us to be like His Son.


Unopened Gifts

I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. —John 14:16

Today's Scripture : John 14:12-31

Can you imagine a child on Christmas morning leaving his presents unopened? Yet, millions of people are doing something like that by ignoring or rejecting Jesus Christ as their Savior. Everyone has a gift with a tag that reads: TO: (your name) FROM: God. But it can be opened only by repentance and faith.

God hasn’t given us just one gift, however. He singled out a second gift-giving occasion. At Christmastime, we celebrate God’s gift of His Son to the world. But on the Day of Pentecost, He and His Son together gave to believers another gift-the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; 16:7).

Again, imagine a child at Christmas who opens just one package but leaves all the others tightly wrapped. Today the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, yet we often fail to make full use of all that He has given to us. If we ask Him, the Holy Spirit will lead us into a better understanding of God’s Word, give us the assurance of God’s care and keeping power, and transform us into Christ’s likeness.

This Christmas, let’s consider the significance of the Holy Spirit’s coming and ask the Lord to help us experience all of His benefits more fully.

Don’t leave any of God’s gifts unopened. By:  Dennis J. DeHaan (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Let the fullness of Your Spirit
Fall upon us here this hour;
How we need a new anointing
Of the Holy Ghost and power. 
-Jarvis

The Father gave us the Spirit to make us like His Son.

John 14:17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.  

  • the Spirit: Joh 15:26 Jn 16:13 1Jn 2:27 4:6 
  • Whom: Pr 14:10 1Co 2:14 Rev 2:17 
  • but: Joh 14:16,23 Isa 57:15 59:21 Eze 36:27 Ro 8:9,11,13,14 1Co 3:16 6:19 2Co 6:16 Eph 2:22 3:17 2Ti 1:14 1Jn 2:27 3:24 4:12,13 
  • Will be in you: Mt 10:20 Ro 8:10 1Co 14:15 2Co 13:5 Ga 4:6 Col 1:27 1Jn 4:4 

JESUS' PROMISE THAT THE
SPIRIT WILL ABIDE IN THE DISCIPLES

that is the Spirit of truth (aletheia), Whom the world (kosmos) (ou = absolutely) cannot receive, because it (absolutely) does not see Him or know (ginoskoHim - The fact that they cannot receive the Spirit indicates Jesus is describing the unbelieving world. He emphasizes that because of their unbelief they do not see or know the Spirit. The word Jesus uses for know (ginosko) emphasizes the idea of knowing by experience, something the unbelieving world would not experience. 

but you know (ginosko) Him because He abides with you and will be in you - In sharp contrast (but) Jesus explains that the 11 will know (ginosko) the Spirit experientially and that He is even now with them but also gives a prophetic promise that He will be in them, a promise that will be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. 


Truth (225aletheia  from a = indicates following word has the opposite meaning ~ without + lanthano = to be hidden or concealed, to escape notice, cp our English "latent" from Latin = to lie hidden) has the literal sense of that which contains nothing hidden. Aletheia is that which is not concealed. Aletheia is that which that is seen or expressed as it really is (this idea is discussed more below). 

The basic understanding of aletheia is that it is the manifestation of a hidden reality (eg, click discussion of Jesus as "the Truth"). For example, when you are a witness in a trial, the court attendant says "Raise your right hand. Do you swear that you will tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?" And you say, "I do" and you sit down. The question the court attendant is asking is "Are you willing to come into this courtroom and manifest something that is hidden to us that only you know so that you will bear evidence to that?" Therefore when you speak the truth, you are manifesting a "hidden reality". Does that make sense? An parallel example in Scripture is the case of the woman in the crowd who had touched Jesus (Read context = Mk 5:24-25, 26-27, 28-29, 30, 31-32), but when she became "aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth " (Mk 5:33) and nothing but the truth. She did not lie. She spoke no falsehoods. 

Truth then is the correspondence between a reality and a declaration which professes to set forth or describe the reality. To say it another way, words spoken or written are true when they correspond with objective reality. Persons and things are true when they correspond with their profession (which we describe with words like integrity, sincerity, non-hypocritical, etc). In other words, "what you see is what you get". Hence a truth is a declaration which has corresponding reality, or a reality which is correctly set forth. Since God is Himself the great reality, that which correctly sets forth His nature is pre-eminently the Truth of Creation (Natural Revelation) and the Truth of Scripture (Special Revelation). Thus it is not surprising that rebellious, sinful men actively hold down or suppress the Truth of Creation (and the glorious Creator) (Ro 1:18+) and even exchange the truth, the clearly manifested (and objective) reality (Creation) for the lie (Ro 1:25+).

Aletheia in John's writings - Jn. 1:14; Jn. 1:17; Jn. 3:21; Jn. 4:23; Jn. 4:24; Jn. 5:33; Jn. 8:32; Jn. 8:40; Jn. 8:44; Jn. 8:45; Jn. 8:46; Jn. 14:6; Jn. 14:17; Jn. 15:26; Jn. 16:7; Jn. 16:13; Jn. 17:17; Jn. 17:19; Jn. 18:37; Jn. 18:38; 1 Jn. 1:6; 1 Jn. 1:8; 1 Jn. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:21; 1 Jn. 3:18; 1 Jn. 3:19; 1 Jn. 4:6; 1 Jn. 5:6; 2 Jn. 1:1; 2 Jn. 1:2; 2 Jn. 1:3; 2 Jn. 1:4; 3 Jn. 1:1; 3 Jn. 1:3; 3 Jn. 1:4; 3 Jn. 1:8; 3 Jn. 1:12


Related Resources:

  • The Promise: Experiencing God's Greatest Gift, the Holy Spirit - by Tony Evans 
    EXCERPT -"When God saved us, He gave us all the component parts necessary for spiritual life and victory. But we are dependent creatures. We have not been designed to work on our own. Only as we are empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit will we produce what our lives are supposed to produce. If you don’t rely on that power, don’t be surprised if the milk of your life turns sour and the ice cream begins to melt. God never intended us to live the Christian life on our own. The Holy Spirit is His supernatural gift to make the new being we have become alive and real. In the pages that follow I will seek to demonstrate from Scripture and illustrate from real life the importance of the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.Our study will seek to avoid the extreme of many in the fundamentalist community who allow the doctrine of the Holy Spirit to be a smokescreen which keeps them from experiencing His reality, resulting in a dead orthodoxy and truth without experience. On the other hand, we want to avoid the extreme of many in the charismatic community who seek an experience at the expense of doctrine, which results in an empty, emotional fanaticism.It is my contention that this wonderful yet mysterious member of the Trinity is not some esoteric Being or irrelevant theological truth unrelated to time, space, and our day-to-day realities. On the contrary, the Holy Spirit is the heart and soul of the Christian faith and the victorious Christian life, and if we don’t get plugged into Him we will continue to experience defeat after defeat. The Holy Spirit is necessary to make sure that our knowledge about God is transformed into an experience with God. He is a Person Who performs, and He represents a doctrine that delivers.(ED: I LOVE THIS METAPHOR) Once plugged in we will experience the supernatural wonder of a life in which the “Freon” of God’s grace flows through the conduits of our new nature, keeping our spiritual lives at a temperature that, like an expensive refrigerator, protects us from spoil and ruin and keeps us fresh for God and nourishing to others. (Page 10 in The Promise: Experiencing God's Greatest Gift, the Holy Spirit)

    MY PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY AS YOU READ THIS NOTE... LORD LET THE "FREON" FLOW THROUGH US, QUICKLY CONFESSING SINS LEST WE IMPEDE THE FLOW AND FUNCTION, SO THAT WE MIGHT EXPERIENCE THE SPIRIT EMPOWERED SUPERNATURAL LIFE OF CHRIST FOR YOUR GLORY AND HONOR AND GROWTH OF YOUR KINGDOM ON EARTH. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF MESSIAH. AMEN.

  • The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked!
  • Filled with His Spirit/Richly Indwelt with His Word - Chart Comparing 
  • A Spirit Filled Church 
  • The Holy Spirit-James Smith

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

  • I will not leave you: Joh 14:16,27 Jn 16:33 Ps 23:4 Isa 43:1 Isa 51:12 Isa 66:11-13 2Co 1:2-6 2Th 2:16 Heb 2:18 
  • orphans, La 5:3 Ho 14:3 
  • will come: Joh 14:3,28 Ps 101:2 Ho 6:3 Mt 18:20 Mt 28:20 

Related Passages:

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (ORPHANS DON'T HAVE A FATHER TO COMFORT THEM IN THEIR AFFLICTION!) 

2 Thessalonians 2:16  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, (ORPHANS DON'T HAVE A FATHER WHO LOVES THEM, COMFORTS THEM AND GIVES THEM HOPE!) 

JESUS PROMISES TO
RETURN TO THE DISCIPLES

I will (absolutely) not leave you as orphans - Jesus comforts the 11 with this truth. He knows they will be confused and uncertain of what their future held when He departed. They would soon find that what they feared was the end, was really just the beginning of an amazing ministry for each of them! Yes, He would leave to go to the Cross, but He would not leave them forever. And orphans do not have parents but God is their (our) Father forever!

Adam Clarke - “The disciples of a particular teacher among the Hebrews called him father; his scholars were called his children, and, on his death, were considered as orphans.”

Guzik notes that Spurgeon on several ways that the followers of Jesus are not like orphans.- (1) An orphan has parents who are dead; the Spirit shows us Jesus is alive. (2) An orphan is left alone; the Spirit draws us close to God’s presence. (3) An orphan has lost their provider; the Spirit provides all things. (4) An orphan is left without instruction; the Spirit teaches us all things. (5) An orphan has no defender; the Spirit is protector. (See Spurgeon's sermon THE BELIEVER NOT AN ORPHAN)

I will come to you - Yes they would see Jesus die on the Cross, but this promise assures them that the Cross was not the end of the story. After His resurrection, Jesus did come to them in John 20:19-31 on the Sunday that He had been raised from the dead. Even in sending the Spirit, the Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, so in a sense, the Spirit's coming at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) would be associated with Jesus' coming.  But even better as He promised in Jn 14:3 "I will come again and receive you to Myself." At His Second Coming, Jesus will come bodily for those who are His. 


C H Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook - HE left us, and yet we are not left orphans. He is our comfort, and he is gone; but we are not comfortless. Our comfort is that he will come to us, and this is consolation enough to sustain us through his prolonged absence. Jesus is already on his way: he says, “I come quickly”: he rides post-haste towards us. He says, “I will come”: and none can prevent his coming, or put it back for a quarter of an hour. He specially says, “I will come to you”; and so he will. His coming is specially to and for his own people. This is meant to be their present comfort while they mourn that the Bridegroom doth not yet appear.

When we lose the joyful sense of his presence we mourn; but we may not sorrow as if there were no hope. Our Lord in a little wrath has hid himself from us for a moment; but he will return in full favour. He leaves us in a sense, but only in a sense. When he withdraws, he leaves a pledge behind that he will return. O Lord, come quickly! There is no life in this earthly existence if thou be gone. We sigh for the return of thy sweet smile. When wilt thou come unto us? We are sure thou wilt appear; but be thou like a roe, or a young hart. Make no tarrying, O our God!


Kenneth Osbeck - May 23 HOLY SPIRIT, FAITHFUL GUIDE Words and Music by Marcus M. Wells, 1815–1895

I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. (John 14:18KJV)

One of the Holy Spirit’s ministries is to lead us each day wherever our heavenly Father desires us to best represent Him. When vital decisions must be made, the Holy Spirit can open the Scriptures to us and illuminate our minds. By this faithful guidance of the Holy Spirit, we come to love and follow the will of God for our daily living.

Many of our troubles occur because we fail to take counsel from the Holy Spirit and the Bible. Instead of first praying and seeking guidance, we act and then ask God to bless our actions. We must learn the lesson continually that effective Christian living is totally dependent upon an awareness and appreciation of the Holy Spirit’s intimate presence in our lives; we must have a willingness to be directed and controlled by Him.

Holy Spirit, Faithful Guide” was written and composed by an American farmer, Marcus M. Wells. He gave the following account for its writing:

On a Saturday afternoon in October, 1858, while at work in my cornfield near Hardwick, New York, the sentiment of this hymn came to me. The next day, I finished the hymn and wrote a tune for it and sent it to Professor I. G. Woodbury.

The hymn appeared in the next month’s issue of Woodbury’s periodical, The New York Musical Pioneer. These tender words still minister to us today:

Holy Spirit, faithful Guide, ever near the Christian’s side, gently lead us by the hand, pilgrims in a desert land; weary souls fore’er rejoice, while they hear that sweetest voice whisp’ring softly, “Wand’rer come! Follow Me, I’ll guide thee home.”

Ever-present, truest Friend, ever near Thine aid to lend, leave us not to doubt and fear, groping on in darkness drear; when the storms are raging sore, hearts grow faint, and hopes give o’er, whisper softly “Wand’rer come! Follow Me, I’ll guide thee home.”

When our days of toil shall cease, waiting still for sweet release, nothing left but heav’n and prayer, knowing that our names are there, wading deep the dismal flood, pleading naught but Jesus’ blood, whisper softly, “Wand’rer come! Follow Me, I’ll guide thee home.”

For Today: John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:13; Romans 8:4, 26, 27; 1 John 3:24

Determine to be especially aware of and sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, even in the minute decisions and actions of the day. Thank Him for His promised presence, even into eternity. Use this portion of the hymn to aid you in this exciting walk of faith. (BORROW Amazing Grace page 158)


Norman Geisler - JOHN 14:18—Does this verse prove that Jesus is God the Father, as Oneness Pentecostals believe?

MISINTERPRETATION: In John 14:18 Jesus affirmed to his disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (NIV). Oneness Pentecostals argue that since Jesus himself said he would not leave his disciples as “orphans,” Jesus must be their Father (see Haywood, n.d., 17). Does this verse prove that Jesus is the Father?

CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: The Oneness Pentecostal interpretation of this verse confuses action with identity. Christ in action functions as a divine parent-figure who guides, nurtures, protects, and leads his disciples. But this doesn’t mean that Christ in identity is the Father. The apostle John speaks of the recipients of his first epistle as “my little children” (1Jn 2:1), “little children” (1Jn 2:12), and “children” (1Jn 2:18) but this does not mean that John was claiming to be God the Father. Neither is Christ “the Father” simply because he watches after his disciples and doesn’t leave them without his Spirit.

The uniform testimony of Scripture is that the Father and Son are distinct persons within the unity of the one God. See the discussion of Matthew 28:19. (When Cultists Ask)

John 14:19 “After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.

  • After a little while: Joh 7:33 Jn 8:21 Jn 12:35 Jn 13:33 Jn 16:16,22 
  • because: Joh 14:6 Jn 6:56-58 Jn 11:25 Ro 5:10 8:34 1Co 15:20,45 2Co 4:10-12 Col 3:3,4 Heb 7:25 1Jn 1:1-3 

Related Passages:

Romans 8:10 If (SINCE) Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. 

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:20, 45  But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.....45 So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

BELIEVING BRINGS SEEING
AND LIVING IN CHRIST

After a little while the world (kosmos) will no longer see Me - World in this context refers to humanity in general, the people who inhabit the earth, and in context would be those unbelieving Jews in Israel who had been given the incomparable privilege of witnessing first hand His miraculous ministry for 3+ years. They would not see Him after His resurrection, for then He appeared only to those who had believed in Him (1Cor 15:5-8).  

but you will see Me - As noted above after His resurrection the 11 disciples did see Him. 

Guzik - The Apostle Paul later wrote, Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer (2 Corinthians 5:16). There was something more compelling about knowing Jesus by the Spirit than even knowing Him in the flesh.

Because I live, you will live also - Jesus' resurrection would be the guarantee that they (and we) too would life. I live is present tense and in view of His coming death surely is an indirectly allusion to His resurrection. And it would be on the basis of their belief in His death, burial and resurrection that the 11 would also live spiritually in the future.

Spurgeon - “A man is saved because Christ died for him, he continues saved because Christ lives for him. The sole reason why the spiritual life abides is because Jesus lives.” 

This promise recalls Jesus' earlier promise "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies." 

This promise also recalls Paul's words in Colossians 3:3-4 - "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." 

Bob Utley - This is the statement which Judas (not Iscariot) picks up on in John 14:22 to ask Jesus another question. The disciples were still expecting Him to set up an earthly Messianic Kingdom (i.e., Matt. 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45) and were greatly confused when He said, "the world will not see Me." Jesus' answer to Judas' (not Iscariot) question in John 14:23, 24 was that He will manifest Himself in the life of individual Christians and thereby the world will see Him through them!

Related Resources:

  • Spurgeon - Life in Christ
    Excerpt -  This world saw our Lord Jesus for a very little time, but now it seeth him no more. It only saw him with the outward eye and after a carnal sort, so that when the clouds received him and concealed him from bodily vision, this spiritually blind world lost sight of him altogether. Here and there, however, among the crowds of the sightless there were a few chosen men who had received spiritual sight; Christ had been light to them, he had opened their blind eyes, and they had seen him as the world had not seen him. In a high and full sense they could say, "We have seen the Lord," for they had in some degree perceived his Godhead, discerned his mission, and learned his spiritual presence of its object, those persons who had seen Jesus spiritually, saw him after he had gone out of the world unto the Father. We who have the same sight still see him. Read carefully the words of the verse before us: "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me." It is a distinguishing mark of a true follower of Jesus that he sees his Lord and Master when he is not to be seen by the bodily eye; he sees him intelligently and spiritually; he knows his Lord, discerns his character, apprehends him by faith, gazes upon him with admiration as our first sight of Christ brought us into spiritual life, for we looked unto him and were saved, so it is by the continuance of this spiritual sight of Christ that our spiritual life is consciously maintained. We lived by looking, we live still by looking. Faith is still the medium by which life comes to us from the life-giving Lord. It is not only upon the first day of the Christian's life that he must needs look to Jesus only, but every day of that life, even until the last, his motto must be, "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." The world sees him no more, for it never saw him aright; but ye have seen him and lived, and now, through continuing still to see him, you remain in life. Let us ever remember the intimate connection between faith and spiritual life. Faith is the life-look. We must never think that we live by works, by feelings, or by ceremonies. "The just shall live by faith." We dare not preach to the ungodly sinner a way of obtaining life by the works of the law, neither dare we hold up to the most advanced believer a way of sustaining life by legal means. We should in such a case expect to hear the apostle's expostulation, "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Our glorifying is that our life is not dependent on ourselves, but is safe in our Lord, as saith the apostle, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Because he lives, we live, and shall live for ever. God grant that our eye may ever be clear towards Jesus, our life. May we have no confidence but in our Redeemer; may our eyes be fixed upon him, that no other object may in any measure or degree shut out our view of him as our all in all.....
    This truth instructs us in many ways: let us hint at three. It instructs us to admire the condescension of Christ. Look at the two pronouns, ‘ye’ and ‘I’; shall they ever come into contact? Yes, here they stand in close connection with each other. ‘I’—the I AM, the Infinite; ‘ye’—the creatures of an hour; yet I, the Infinite, come into union with you, the finite; I, the Eternal, take up you, the fleeting, and I make you live because I live. What? Is there such a bond between me and Christ? Is there such a link between his life and mine? Blessed be his name! Adored be his infinite condescension! It next demands of us abundance of gratitude. Apart from Christ we are dead in trespasses and sins; look at the depth of our degradation! But in Christ we live, live with his own life. Look at the height of our exaltation, and let our thankfulness be proportioned to this infinite of mercy. Measure if you can from the lowest hell to the highest heaven, and so great let your thankfulness be to him who has lifted you from death to life. Let the last lesson be, see the all-importance of close communion with Jesus. Union with Christ makes you live; keep up your enjoyment of that union, that you may clearly perceive and enjoy your life. Begin this year with the prayer, ‘Nearer to thee, my Lord, nearer to thee.’ Think much of the spiritual life and less of this poor carnal life, which will so soon be over. Go to the source of life for an increase of spiritual life. Go to Jesus. Think of him more than you have done, pray to him more; use his name more believingly in your supplications. Serve him better, and seek to grow up into his likeness in all things. Make an advance this year. Life is a growing thing. Your life only grows by getting nearer to Christ.
  • Spurgeon - Seeing Jesus
    Excerpt - WHATEVER religious privileges men of the world may have, they will lose them. It was a great favor to see Christ in the flesh. Kings and prophets had desired to see His day and had died disappointed because He had not come, but that sight of Him which the generation enjoyed in which Christ lived was taken from them. They were none the better, but in some respects they were all the worse for having seen Him, whose blood was on them and on their children. So, as a general truth, all the outward religious privileges which any of you may enjoy, if you do not become spiritual men and are not, indeed, Christ’s disciples, will be taken from you, speedily taken from you, leaving no blessing behind, but rather a curse. You are hearers of the Gospel today, some of you, though unconverted—but you shall not always hear it. There is a land where Sabbath bells never ring, where the joyful feet of the messengers of mercy are never seen, and where no loving expostulations and no affectionate entreaties will be addressed to you. Now you join in song with God’s people but you will not do so soon—another sound, more strange and full of trembling, will be in your ear. Some of you, it may be, unconverted as you are, even venture to touch the ordinances and have been baptized and have come to the Lord’s Table. There will be another baptism for you and you will eat bread at a far different table from that of the Lord by and by, for except you be converted, these, instead of being means of grace, shall be swift messengers against you to your condemnation
  • Spurgeon - Sharing Christ's Life
    Excerpt - THIS WAS, and is, the mark of the true believer, that he see Jesus. When Jesus was here among men, the world saw him in a certain sense, but yet in truth it did not see him at all. The world's eye saw the outside of Christ-the flesh of the man Christ, but the true Christ the ungodly eye could not discern. They could not perceive those wonderful attributes of character, those delightful graces and charms, which made up the true spiritual Christ. They saw but the husk, and not the kernel; they saw the quartz of the golden nugget, but not the pure gold which that quartz contained. They saw but the external man; the real, spiritual Christ they could not see. But unto as many as God had chosen, Christ manifested himself as he did not unto the world. There were some to whom he said, "The world seeth me not, but ye see me." Some there were whose eyes were anointed with the heavenly eye-salve, so that they saw in the "the man Christ Jesus," the God, the glorious Saviour, the King of kings, the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. The blind world said of him that he was a root out of a dry ground, and when they saw him there was no beauty in him that they should desire him; he was despised and rejected of men. But these men saw him as God over all blessed for ever, descending to tabernacle among men, and to take upon himself man's imperfect nature, that so he might redeem him from all iniquity and save him. Now, to this hour, this is the mark of the true Christian: this is to be of the elect: this is the very badge and symbol of the faithful-they see Jesus. They look beyond the clouds. Other men see the cloud and the darkness, and they wist not what it is; but these men with more than eagle eye pierce through the clouds of mere sensual impressions, and they see the glory that was always his, even the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Beloved, have you ever seen Jesus with the eye of faith? Have you ever perceived the glory of his person, and the beauty of his character? Have you so perceived Jesus as to trust in him? Have you been so enamoured of him as to have yielded yourselves to be his servants for ever? Do you take up his cross? Do you avow yourselves to be his followers, come what may? If so, then are ye saved; but if ye see not Christ with your spirit, neither do ye know him, nor shall ye enjoy a portion with him.
  • Spurgeon - Spiritual Sight and Eternal Life
    Excerpt - IT is very noticeable, in this verse, and in many other parts of the New Testament, what a sharp line of demarcation the Lord draws between his people and the world: “The world seeth me no more; but ye see me.” We have the same truth taught in John’s first Epistle: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the wicked one.” It is quite evident that our Lord kept prominent in his teaching the distinction, between the regenerate and the unregenerate, — the converted and the unconverted, — those who have been quickened by the Holy Spirit and those who have remained dead in trespasses and sins. This distinction, which our Lord kept up so strikingly, should always be made clear in every ministry. I do feel that much evil comes of a mode of address, which is adopted by some of my ministerial brethren, in which they speak to the entire congregation as though all who were present were Christians. That is a false theory to go upon, because it is not at all likely that any congregation ever gathered together will consist wholly of Christians....If you look carefully at our text, you will notice in it, first, a fact which should solemnize the mind of every unconverted person here, namely, that the religious, privileges, enjoyed by the world, will sooner or later be taken away: “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more.” Secondly, the text very clearly tells us that the Holy Spirit has given to believers a sight of Christ: “but ye see me.” And, thirdly, this sight is accompanied by a life which is linked with the life of Christ: “because I live, ye shall live also.”

Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook - JESUS has made the life of believers in him as certain as his own. As sure as the head lives the members live also. If Jesus has not risen from the dead, then are we dead in our sins; but since he has risen, all believers are risen in him. His death has put away our transgressions, and loosed the bonds which held us under the death sentence. His resurrection proves our justification: we are absolved, and mercy saith, “The Lord hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die.”

Jesus has made the life of his people as eternal as his own. How can they die as long as he lives, seeing they are one with him? Because he dieth no more, and death hath no more dominion over him, so they shall no more return to the graves of their old sins, but shall live unto the Lord in newness of life. O believer, when, under great temptation, thou fearest that thou shalt one day fall by the hand of the enemy, let this reassure thee. Thou shalt never lose thy spiritual life, for it is hid with Christ in God. Thou dost not doubt the immortality of thy Lord; therefore, do not think that he will let thee die, since thou art one with him. The argument for thy life is his life, and of that thou canst have no fear; wherefore rest in thy living Lord.

Kenneth Osbeck - BECAUSE HE LIVES Gloria Gaither, 1942– William J. Gaither, 1936–

Because I live, you also will live. (John 14:19)

Christ’s resurrection is our guarantee of at least two basic truths: First, He has the power to give His life to us and to bring us ultimately to glory to reign with Him forever. And second, His resurrection makes it possible for Him to live in our hearts and to be an integral part of our daily living.

For the past two decades the music of Gloria and Bill Gaither has greatly enriched evangelical hymnody. But the song that has especially highlighted the Gaither’s ministry is one that reflects their own philosophy—the resurrection principle in the daily routines of life—“Because He Lives.” Bill Gaither recalls the circumstances that prompted the writing of this favorite:

We wrote “BECAUSE HE LIVES” after a period of time when we had had a kind of dry spell and hadn’t written any songs for a while … Also at the end of the 1960’s, our country was going through some great turmoil with the height of the drug culture, and the whole “God is Dead” theory was running wild in our country. Also it was the peak of the Vietnam war. During that time our little son was born—at least Gloria was expecting him. I can remember at the time we thought, “Brother, this is really a poor time to bring a child into the world.” At times we were even quite discouraged by the whole thing. And then Benjy did come. We had two little girls whom we love very much, but this was our first son, and so that lyric came to us, “How sweet to hold our new-born baby and feel the pride and joy he gives, but better still the calm assurance that this child can face uncertain days because Christ lives.” And it gave us the courage to say, “Because Christ lives we can face tomorrow” and keep our heads high.

God sent His son—they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon; an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

How sweet to hold a new-born baby and feel the pride and joy he gives; but greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives.

And then one day I’ll cross the river; I’ll fight life’s final war with pain; and then, as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory—and I’ll know He lives.

Chorus: Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone; because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living—just because He lives.

For Today: John 6:40; Colossians 3:3, 4; 2 Timothy 1:10; 1 John 5:11

Live in the joyous confidence that the living, victorious Christ is guiding your life. Carry this musical truth with you as you go— (BORROW Amazing Grace - page 128

John 14:20 “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

  • you will know that I am in My Father: Joh 14:10 Jn 10:38 Jn 17:7,11,21-23,26 2Co 5:19 Col 1:19 2:9 
  • ye in: Joh 6:56 Jn 15:5-7 Ro 8:1 16:7 1Co 1:30 2Co 5:17 12:2 13:5 Ga 2:20 Eph 2:10 Col 1:27 1Jn 4:12 

DIVINE
INTERRELATIONSHIP

In that day - What day? This could refer to the day of Pentecost when they would receive the Spirit and their eyes would opened to the mysterious truths that Christ was living in them and through Him they shared life and union with the Father (and ultimately the Trinity). 

You will know (ginosko) that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you - Jesus and spoken of the unity He had with the Father (John 10:38; Jn 14:10-11, cf Jn 17:21-23). The interrelationship of the Father and Son and the disciples and Jesus would become clear in that day

Utley points out that Jesus "adds the truth that as the Father and Jesus are intimately linked, so too, Jesus and His followers (cf. John 17)!"

F B Meyer - In the translucent depths of the southern seas, the voyager is aware of the infinite variety of sponge growth, waving to and fro with the gentle movement of the tide; and the ocean is in the sponge, whilst the sponge is in the ocean, illustrating the reciprocal indwelling of the believer in Christ, and Christ in the believer.

John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

  • He who has My commandments and keeps them : Joh 14:15,23,24 Jn 15:14 Ge 26:3-5 De 10:12,13 11:13 30:6-8 Ps 119:4-6 Jer 31:31,33,34 Eze 36:25-27 Lu 11:28 2Co 5:14,15 Jas 2:23,24 1Jn 2:5 3:18-24 5:3 2Jn 1:6 Rev 22:14 
  • he who loves Me: Joh 14:23 Jn 15:9,10 Jn 16:27 Jn 17:23 Ps 35:27 Isa 62:2-5 Zep 3:17 2Th 2:16 1Jn 3:1 
  • and I will love him: Joh 14:18,22,23 Jn 16:14 Ac 18:9-11 22:18 2Co 3:18 4:6 12:8 2Ti 4:17,18,22 1Jn 1:1-3 Rev 2:17 3:20 

Related Passages: 

John 5:23  so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 

John 15:23 “He who hates Me hates My Father also.

Matthew 11:27  “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 

JESUS PROMISES
"FULL DISCLOSURE"

Disclosure is defined by one English dictionary as the act of giving people new or secret information. I like that in the context of this verse.

It is worth noting that in some of His last words to His disciples He repeatedly placed emphasis on obedience (and its interrelationship with love) - John 14:15, 21, 23, 24, Jn 15:7, 10, 12, 14, 17. 

As Steven Cole explains - Jesus is giving these words about obedience to His disciples to comfort and encourage them on the night before He died on the cross. He knew the trials that they would face after His departure. He knew that they would be sustained through those trials by entering into a closer relationship with Him. Here He tells them (and us) how to do that. (Knowing Christ More Intimately John 14:21-24)

He who has (present tense) My commandments and (continually) keeps (tereo in present tense) them is the one who loves (agapaoMe; and he who loves (agapaoMe will be loved (agapaoby My Father, and I will love (agapaohim and will disclose (emphanizo) Myself to him - This verse echoes Jesus' words in Jn 14:15. Notice the present tense verbs which speak of one's lifestyle. Jesus is not speaking of perfection but of the direction of one's life (See Pink's note below). Don't misunderstand what Jesus is saying -- He is not saying by keeping His commandments, one can enter into an intimate relationship with the Father and the Son. Jesus' words apply only to those who are already believers, because we know that no one can keep the commandments perfectly which is what would be necessary to be saved. Stated another way, obedience to His commandments is the fruit, not the root of salvation. One other caveat is that obedience does not equate with legalism, "do this, do that, don't do this, don't do that,etc). True obedience is motivated by love (and enabled by the Spirit) and not by legalism, not by trying to keep the commandments. Love for Jesus motivates obedience to Jesus. Of course, for believers today that quality of "God-like" (sacrificial, seeking highest good) love is the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Ro 5:5+, Gal 5:22+). Also as John explains  "We love, because He first loved us." (1Jn 4:19) We are able to love, because we have been supernaturally enabled to love by God's love for us. The Spirit of Jesus enables us to continue to manifest that love. 

THOUGHT - Now that the Spirit has come to all believers, it is only by depending on His supernatural power that we are enabled to obey the commandments. One of the best verses to explain this critical spiritual dynamic is Php 2:13NLT+ where Paul explains that God in us (aka the Spirit) is continually "energizing" us, giving us the DESIRE (to obey) and the POWER (to obey). Natural strength cannot enable us to live a supernatural life, which is why it is so critical that we as believers understand our continual (desperate) need to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit (Eph 5:18+) Who Alone can enable us to obey the command to continually walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16+)! See related discussion of The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked!

Obedience is the touchstone of love for Jesus and for God. Oh, the blessings of Spirit enabled obedience. No blessing is greater than the Father's love and the Son's love and disclosure of Himself! Surely this verse is "holy ground!" While every believer has experienced God's love (cf Ro 5:5+), what Jesus is promising is a greater degree or depth of intimacy and fellowship linked with our obedience.

THOUGHT - If you are a believer who feels far from God, guess who moved? Such a one would do well to examine their heart for any unconfessed sins which will grieve and quench the Holy Spirit. A good prayer is David's prayer in Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;  And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way." We see another great prayer in Ephesians where we can beseech God that "He would grant (us), according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in (our) hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.  20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:16-21+) This is a great prayer for progressively deeper levels of intimacy with God. Have you ever prayed this for yourself beloved? Try it (after practicing 1Jn 1:9 if necessary), praying in confidence based on the promise in 1Jn 5:14-15+

Has My commandments is an interesting phrase and is surely more than having the commandment written down on a piece of papyrus or paper, but far better having them written down on one's heart (cf Memorization as in Ps 119:9,11+). Psalm 37:31 says "The law of his God is in his heart; His steps do not slip." Or as Spurgeon quipped, the best thing, in the best place for the best result! One must be careful not to fall into the trap of having His commandments (e.g., memorizing them) and failing to obey what they had memorized. Jesus called those who behaved this way "hypocrites." 

Steven Cole on has My commandments as it applies to use today - To have Christ’s commandments you need to be in God’s Word consistently. Read it over and over until it shapes your worldview.....when you begin to read God’s Word, you discover that much that you thought was right is wrong and many things that you thought were wrong are right (Isa. 5:20-21). (Knowing Christ More Intimately John 14:21-24)

The phrase disclose (emphanizo) Myself to him is not a promise for some mystical experience, but of greater levels of personal intimacy. Practically, as you read His Word, the Spirit may give you deeper insights and/or understanding of Jesus. This was Paul's great desire, writing to the Philippians "that I may know (ginosko by experience) Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." (Phil 3:10+).

A W Pink - Two things are true of every Christian: deep down in his heart there is an intense, steady longing and yearning to please God, to do His will, to walk in full accord with His Word. This yearning may be stronger in some than in others, and in each of us it is stronger at some times than at others; nevertheless, it is there! But in the second place, no real Christian fully realizes this desire. Every genuine Christian has to say with the apostle Paul, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may lay hold of that for which I am laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12). (John Commentary)

Dods - “The love to which Christ promises a manifestation of Himself is not an idle sentiment or shallow fancy, but a principle prompting obedience.” (John 14 - Expositor's Greek Testament)

Joseph Parker - That is the great law of manifestation. Have I a clear vision of God? Then am I looking steadily at Him with a heart that longs to be pure. Can I not see Him? Then some secret sins may be holding a veil before my eyes. I have changed, not God. When I seek Him He will be found of me; but if I desire Him not, He will be a God afar off.

David Guzik - This union is marked by knowledge of God’s will (has My commandments).

· This union is marked by obedience to God’s will (and keeps them).

· This union is marked by love (is he who loves me).

· This union is marked by relationship and reception of love with God the Father (will be loved by My Father).

· This union is marked by a revelation of Jesus Himself (and manifest Myself to him).

· All this flows from the union with God in the disciple through the Holy Spirit.


Disclose (Make clear, bring charges, appear) (1718emphanizo from en = in, into + phaino = show, make visible, make conspicuous) means to make visible, to lay something open to view (clear or plain) so all can see (Jn 14:22, cp Ex 33:13 = idea is "reveal Yourself to me", Mt 27:53, He 9:24). To provide information so as to make clear, to explain or to inform (Acts 23:22, He 11:14, Jn 14:21 Isa 3:9). To present evidence or bring charges as in a formal judicial report (Acts 24:1, 25:2, Esther 2:22) In secular Greek the word also connotes the ideas of making plain (Plato, Sophocles), declaring or explaining (Aristotle). Emphanizō means “to demonstrate, to show” in a secular sense and “to make manifest” in a religious sense. Passively it means “to become visible.”

Emphanizo - 10x/10v -  appear(1), appeared(1), brought charges(3), disclose(2), make...clear(1), notified(1), notify(1). Matt. 27:53; Jn. 14:21; Jn. 14:22; Acts 23:15; Acts 23:22; Acts 24:1; Acts 25:2; Acts 25:15; Heb. 9:24; Heb. 11:14


ILLUSTRATION - If you’ve never read the life of Hudson Taylor, the courageous pioneer missionary to China, you’re missing a life-changing experience! His close relationship with Christ enabled him to endure overwhelming trials, including the loss of his first wife and of several children. He wrote to a fellow worker who was going through a difficult trial (See Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission: The Growth of a Work of God, by Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor, p. 236, italics his), “The one thing we need is to know God better. Not in ourselves, not in our prospects, not in heaven itself are we to rejoice, but in the Lord.” His favorite hymn was, “Jesus, I am resting, resting, in the joy of what Thou art. I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart.”


Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - The Lord Jesus gives special revelations of himself to his people. Even if Scripture did not declare this, there are many of the children of God who could testify the truth of it from their own experience. They have had manifestations of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a peculiar manner, such as no mere reading or hearing could afford. In the biographies of eminent saints, you will find many instances recorded in which Jesus has been pleased, in a very special manner to speak to their souls, and to unfold the wonders of his person; yea, so have their souls been steeped in happiness that they have thought themselves to be in heaven, whereas they were not there, though they were well nigh on the threshold of it—for when Jesus manifests himself to his people, it is heaven on earth; it is paradise in embryo; it is bliss begun. Especial manifestations of Christ exercise a holy influence on the believer’s heart. One effect will be humility. If a man says, “I have had such-and-such spiritual communications, I am a great man,” he has never had any communion with Jesus at all; for “God hath respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.” He does not need to come near them to know them, and will never give them any visits of love. Another effect will be happiness; for in God’s presence there are pleasures for evermore. Holiness will be sure to follow. A man who has no holiness has never had this manifestation. Some men profess a great deal; but we must not believe any one unless we see that his deeds answer to what he says. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked.” He will not bestow his favours upon the wicked: for while he will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he respect an evil doer. Thus there will be three effects of nearness to Jesus—humility, happiness, and holiness. May God give them to thee, Christian!


Yes, Lord!

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. — John 14:21

Today's Scripture : John 14:15-21

The owner of a business near my home in Texas often places a Bible verse or a thought-provoking saying on a sign outside his building. I appreciate that public word of witness for Christ and have thanked the owner for it. The other day as I drove past, the sign contained just two words: “Yes, Lord.”

While I was running errands that morning, the words stayed in my mind. Was there any situation to which they did not hold the key? I couldn’t think of one. What great joy it would bring to Jesus if I began every day with those two words!

“Yes, Lord. I’ll be content where I am instead of wishing I were somewhere else.” “Yes, Lord. I’ll trust You for the outcome of the uncertainty gnawing at my mind.” “Yes, Lord. I’ll open my heart and hand with the joyous generosity You love.”

Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (Jn. 14:21). There is no burden of obligation in that; just the eager response of love.

The resolution of every trouble we face today begins with this trusting response to our Savior: “Yes, Lord!” By:  David C. McCasland (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Master, speak, and make me ready,
When Your voice is truly heard,
With obedience glad and steady,
Still to follow every word.
—Havergal

You can never go wrong when you choose to obey Christ.


An Inseparable Trio

He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. — John 14:21

Today's Scripture : John 14:15-27

For several years he had been a bitter recluse, never attending the church he once loved dearly. Now he was terminally ill and cried most of the time. The few people who had maintained some contact with him were deeply concerned. They remembered him as a warm Christian man until a very unfortunate incident occurred.

An affluent fellow church member had cheated this man in a business deal and then had slandered him. At first he reacted properly and tried to settle the matter in private. When these efforts failed, he attempted to find two elders from his church to accompany him and confront the man, but none of them wanted to become involved. Frustrated, he then left the church and became an unhappy loner.

Without excusing the guilty businessman or the cowardly elders, I am convinced that this man’s lack of peace was the result of his own disobedience. Even though he was wronged, he should have obeyed the commands to “love your enemies” and “pray for those who spitefully use you” (Matthew 5:44).

Love, obedience, and peace are an inseparable trio. If we love Jesus as we should, we will obey Him, no matter what. And when we do, we can enjoy the peace that only God’s Spirit can give (John 14:27; Galatians 5:22). By:  Herbert Vander Lugt (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

To obey our Lord's commandments
Proves to Him our faith and love;
When we're living by His Spirit
We'll have peace from God above.
—Fitzhugh

To walk in peace, keep in step with Jesus.

John 14:22 Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”

  • Judas (AKA Thaddaeus, AKA Lebbaeus, AKA Judas son of James): Mt 10:3, Mk 3:18, Lu 6:16 Ac 1:13 Jude 1:1 
  • what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself: Joh 3:4,9 Jn 4:11 Jn 6:52,60 Jn 16:17,18 

THE MAN OF THREE NAMES
ASKS JESUS A QUESTION

Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose (emphanizoYourself to us and not to the world - Judas (not Iscariot) is confused about how in His departure Jesus could reveal Himself to His disciple and not the world.

One consideration is that Judas was thinking that Jesus was going to return and establish His kingdom (this was the popular Messianic expectation of the Jews in general and of the 11 disciples), similar to the question the 11 disciples ask Him after His resurrection in Acts 1:6+ (which He did not correct supporting the truth that He will one day establish His Millennial Kingdom!) Judas reasoned, if Jesus was returning to establish His Millennial Kingdom (disclose Himself to them), how is it that the rest of the world would not see Him?

Steven Cole - The Jews thought that the Messiah would reveal Himself openly and rule over a political kingdom. Jesus’ triumphal entry had given the disciples hope that He would soon be on the throne. But they didn’t understand that in His first coming, Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). (Knowing Christ More Intimately John 14:21-24)

Gotquestions.org (see full note below) on Judas (not Iscariot)Jerome, a fourth-century Bible scholar, dubbed Thaddeus “Trinomious,” which means “the man with three names.” In both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, the apostle is listed as Thaddeus (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18). In the King James Version of Matthew 10:3, he is called “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.” Luke, however, replaces the name Thaddeus with “Judas son of James” in both Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13. And when the apostle John mentions Thaddeus, he calls him “Judas (not Iscariot)” (John 14:22).


QUESTION -Who was Thaddeus in the Bible?

ANSWER -Thaddeus was one of the original twelve disciples chosen by Jesus Christ. Thaddeus, whose name is also spelled Thaddaeus, is somewhat of a mystery apostle. For one, Thaddeus is hardly mentioned in the Bible. To complicate matters, Scripture refers to Thaddeus by a few different names.

Jerome, a fourth-century Bible scholar, dubbed Thaddeus “Trinomious,” which means “the man with three names.” In both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, the apostle is listed as Thaddeus (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18). In the King James Version of Matthew 10:3, he is called “Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.” Luke, however, replaces the name Thaddeus with “Judas son of James” in both Luke 6:16 and Acts 1:13. And when the apostle John mentions Thaddeus, he calls him “Judas (not Iscariot)” (John 14:22).

Judas was a popular name in New Testament times. It means, “Jehovah leads.” Bible scholars suggest that Judas was likely the name given to Thaddeus at birth, while Lebbaeus and Thaddeus were nicknames. Lebbaeus translates as “heart-child,” and Thaddeus means “breast-child,” so it’s possible these were terms of endearment given him by family members. John MacArthur proposes in his book Twelve Ordinary Men that these nicknames suggest Thaddeus was a gentle soul with a tender, childlike heart.

The only recorded words of Thaddeus are in John 14. Jesus and the twelve disciples were gathered together in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. The Lord was speaking to them about the troubling matter of His impending death. The apostles had questions and concerns. Jesus promised to give them the Holy Spirit to help them and to dwell within them. Then He said, “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 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” (John 14:19–21).

Confused, Thaddeus asked Jesus, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” (John 14:22NLT). Thaddeus’s question reveals a few things about the man. First, he felt comfortable enough in his relationship with Jesus to interrupt Him with a question. Second, Thaddeus wanted to know why Jesus would treat the disciples differently from the world. And third, like most first-century Jews, Thaddeus was expecting a Messiah who would reveal Himself in power to the world.

The answer Jesus gave Thaddeus was simple: “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. 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” (John 14:23–24). Our love for God is expressed through obedience to His teaching. Love and obedience are inseparable for Christians. Those who love and obey God are His children. These children receive the Holy Spirit, who reveals Christ to them, but Christ remains hidden to the world.

Nothing more is revealed about Thaddeus in the Bible. We know Thaddeus, like the other disciples, left his former life to follow and serve Jesus Christ faithfully, enduring hardship and persecution. Some scholars believe Thaddeus wrote the book of Jude, although the more widely accepted view is that Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, penned the book. Extrabiblical literature says that, after Pentecost, Thaddeus took the gospel message north, where he performed miracles, preached, and founded a church in Edessa, an area in modern Turkey. One tradition says that he was either clubbed or axed to death for his faith, and another that he was crucified. GotQuestions.org


SPECIAL TOPIC: CHART OF APOSTLES' NAMES

  Matthew 10:2-4 Mark 3:16-19 Luke 6:14-16 Acts 1:12-18

1st Group

Simon (Peter)

Andrew (Peter's brother)

James (son of Zebedee)

John (James' brother)

Simon (Peter)

James (son of Zebedee)

John (James' brother)

Andrew

Simon (Peter)

Andrew (Peter's brother)

James

John

Peter

John

James

Andrew

2nd Group

Philip

Bartholomew

Thomas

Matthew (tax gatherer)

Philip

Bartholomew

Matthew

Thomas

Philip

Bartholomew

Matthew

Thomas

Philip

Thomas

Bartholomew

Matthew

3rd Group

James (son of Alphaeus)

Thaddaeus

Simon (the Cananean)

Judas (Iscariot)

James (son of Alphaeus)

Thaddaeus

Simon (the Cananean)

Judas (Iscariot)

James (son of Alphaeus)

Simon (the zealot)

Judas (son of James)

Judas (Iscariot)

James (son of Alphaeus)

Simon (the zealot)

Judas (son of James)

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

  • If anyone loves Me: Joh 14:15,21 
  • make Our abode with him: Joh 14:17 Jn 5:17-19 Jn 6:56 Jn 10:30 Ge 1:26 11:7 Ps 90:1 91:1 Isa 57:15 Ro 8:9-11 1Jn 2:24 4:4,15,16 Rev 3:20,21 7:15-17 21:22 22:3 

BELIEVERS INDWELT 
BY GOD THE FATHER!

This is the only verse in the Bible which states that believers are indwelt by God the Father. 

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves (agapaoMe, he will keep (tereo)  My word (logos); and My Father will love (agapaohim, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him - This IF is another  third class conditional sentence which speaks of potential action. Jesus is addressing Judas' question about why He would not be revealed to the world. Jesus' answer at first might seem a bit obscure, because He says that love of Himself is shown to be authentic by obedience to His words. The only one who will obey His word is one who is a genuine follower, a true believer. It is such a person that (after Pentecost) that He will give the Holy Spirit and it is the Holy Spirit Who will disclose Jesus to His followers. The rest of of the world will not know Jesus or His Father who make their abode with genuine believers. So this would be one way to understand Jesus' revealing Himself to His disciples (the 11 at first, then all true disciples that follow) and not to the Christ-rejecting world. Stated another way Jesus and the Father would not take up their abode in those who reject Him (as indicated by their refusal to keep His word). In other words, if one rejects Jesus, they are in effect rejecting God the Father. You cannot have One without the Other! 

Steven Cole on the Father and the Son making their abode in believers - If we would only remember that wonderful truth, it would keep us from sin! How can you sin when you realize that God Himself is living in your heart as His home? If you’ve never read the wonderful little booklet, “My Heart, Christ’s Home,” by Robert Boyd Munger, I encourage you to do so (you can read it online). He shows how Christ moved into his heart as His home and began cleaning and remodeling each of the rooms.

THOUGHT- So if you want to grow to know Christ more intimately in the coming year, figure out where you’re not obeying Him and begin to obey Him at those points. You may have some dirty closets that you need to let Him clean out. You may need to prioritize your list and begin with one or two changes before you tackle others. It sounds simplistic, but Jesus promises that we will grow to know Him more intimately by obeying Him.  (Knowing Christ More Intimately John 14:21-24)

Maclaren on My word - “That is more than a ‘commandment,’ is it not? Christ’s ‘word’ is more than precept. It includes all His sayings, and it includes them all as in one vital unity and organic whole. We are not to go picking and choosing among them; they are one.” 

Andrew Murray - The abiding presence of God is the heritage of every child of God. The Father never hides His face from His child. Sin hides it, and unbelief hides it; but the Father lets His love shine all the day on the face of His children. The sun is shining day and night. Your sun shall never go down. Come and live in the presence Of God.


Never Alone

If anyone loves Me, . . . We will come to him and make Our home with him. — John 14:23

Today's Scripture : Psalm 139:1-12

Have you ever been alone—really alone?

Many people can answer yes because they feel that way every day. I’m not referring to people who live in a remote cabin on a mountaintop far from civilization. I’m talking about those who feel alone in a crowded mall, or in a church full of people.

I’m referring to people who simply cannot find anyone to connect with. Perhaps they are new to a community. Maybe they have lost a spouse. It could be that they simply feel alone because they think of themselves as different, unusual, and left out of normal communication with others.

Have you ever been alone, really alone? If so, there’s good news. If you have invited Christ into your life as Savior and Lord, you’re never alone. You have His constant presence. Here is His promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). And from God the Father: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Recognize with the psalmist that there’s no place you can go where God is not with you (Psalm 139:7).

Sure, we all need flesh-and-blood companions, but let’s not overlook the reality of the Lord’s presence. We can depend on it. With Him by our side, we’re never alone.  By:  Dave Branon (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)


God At Work

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. —John 14:23

Today's Scripture : John 14:15-23

As I stood on the Golan Heights, with the Sea of Galilee sparkling in the distance, I listened to our Jewish guide tell about his participation in the 1967 Six-Day War. His vivid accounts of Israel’s victories over bigger, more powerful enemies reminded me of Bible stories I learned as a child.

Even though I believe that God has been moving individuals and nations down through history to accomplish His purposes, sometimes I get the idea that God stopped working in people’s lives when He finished writing the Bible. Now that He’s less visible, I conclude that He’s also less involved. But that’s not true. Even though God has finished His book, He hasn’t finished telling the story; He’s simply using a different form of media to tell it.

In Bible times, God often communicated in tangible, visible, and audible ways—tablets of stone, a pillar of fire, a still small voice, to name a few. But when Jesus came, that changed. He told His followers that God’s Spirit would live not only among them but also within them (John 14:17).

When I long for God to communicate in ways I can see and hear and feel, I need to remember that He is doing something even better. He is living in me, so that through my life the world will be able to see and hear and feel Him.  By:  Julie Ackerman Link (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

By this shall every person know
That we serve God above:
His Spirit dwells within our hearts
And fills us with His love. 
—D. De Haan

God's Spirit lives in us in order to work through us.


My Heart, God's Home

We will come to him and make Our home with him. — John 14:23

Today's Scripture : John 14:19-31

I knew a woman who straightened up her house every night before going to bed. She did this because she didn’t want the Lord to catch her being a messy housekeeper if He should return before morning. I often tried to emulate her high standard of neatness, but as a young homemaker, wife, and mother, I usually ended the day knowing that my house wouldn’t pass the test.

Maintaining a well-kept house for the Lord’s glory is a worthy aspiration. But eventually I understood that the house on the street where I live isn’t His primary concern. He cares much more about the state of the house where He lives—my heart.

In John 14:21, we find two ways to maintain that home: Love God, and obey His commands. Disobedience to God makes our heart-home dirty. But obedience that is expressed out of love for Him will make our hearts a suitable home for God now, and we will be ready when Christ returns.

The following prayer can help us differentiate between external standards and eternal ones: “Help me, Father, to clean my heart as I would my home. Take away all the dust and cobwebs of pride, ill feelings, and prejudice. I want to keep a clean heart-home for You.”   By:  Joanie Yoder (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

My heart should be a royal throne,
For Christ has come to live in me;
I'll keep it clean and free from sin—
That's what His dwelling place must be. 
—Hess

Your heart is meant to be God's home.

John 14:24 “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.  

  • He who does not love Me: Joh 14:15,21-23 Mt 19:21 25:41-46 2Co 8:8,9 1Jn 3:16-20 
  • and the word which you hear is not Mine: Joh 14:10 Jn 3:34 Jn 5:19,38 Jn 7:16,28 Jn 8:26,28,38,42 Jn 12:44-50 

JESUS SAYS NO LOVE
EQUATES WITH NO OBEDIENCE

He who does not love (agapaoMe does not keep (tereo)  My words (logos) - Jesus "inverts" the previous verse, to emphasize that love (agapao) is not a feeling but an action, specifically an action that originates from the choice of one's will (love is in active voice signifying a conscious or volitional choice). Note that does not keep is modified by the absolute negative (ou) which signifies that this person absolutely does not keep or observe Jesus' words and commands. And in the present tense this speaks of this person's continual practice or lifestyle. In short, their continued disobedience indicates they are not believers in Jesus. Addressing the Jewish audience who had ostensibly believed in Him, Jesus saw their hearts and declared "to them, “If God were your Father, you would love (present tense) Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me." (Jn 8:42+) Jesus' conclusion was that those Jews who claimed to believe in Him did not love Him and clearly were not genuine believers! 

And the word (logos) which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s Who sent Me - Once again Jesus identifies Himself with the Father. The words He speaks which are not obeyed indicate that the one disobeying is also disobeying God the Father. It was the Father's will that Jesus come to earth. 

John 14:25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.

  • These things I have spoken: Joh 14:29 Jn 13:19 Jn 15:11 Jn 16:1-4,12 Jn 17:6-8 

Related Passages: 

John 14:29   “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.

John 13:19  “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.

John 15:11  “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

These things - What are these things in context? He had just stated that the word He spoke was not His but the Father's. It follows that these things refer to the word from the Father. 

I have spoken to you while abiding with you - The thought is that He was telling these things while He was still physically present with them. However as discussed above and from the type of questions they were asking Him, many of the things He said the disciples did not understand. The following passage will explain how they will come to understand the things He had spoken to them. 

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

  • The Helper (KJV = Comforter): Joh 14:16 
  • Holy Spirit  Joh 7:39 Jn 20:22 Ps 51:11 Isa 63:10 Mt 1:18,20 3:11 28:19 Mk 12:36 Mk 13:11 Lu 1:15,35,41,67 2:25 3:22 11:13 Ac 1:2,8 2:4 5:3 Ac 7:51,55 13:2,4 15:8,28 16:6 20:28 28:25 Ro 5:5 14:17 Ro 15:13,16 1Co 2:13 6:19 12:3 2Co 6:6 13:14 Eph 1:13 4:30 1Th 1:5,6 4:8 2Ti 1:14 Titus 3:5 Heb 2:4 3:7 9:8 10:15 1Pe 1:12 2Pe 1:21 1Jn 5:7 Jude 1:20 
  • Whom the Father will send in My name: Joh 14:16 Jn 15:26 Jn 16:7 Lu 24:49 Ac 1:4 
  • He will teach you all things: Joh 6:45 16:13,14 Ps 25:8,9,12-14 Isa 54:13 Jer 31:33,34 1Co 2:10-13 Eph 1:17 1Jn 2:20,27 Rev 2:11 
  • bring to your remembrance all that I said to you: Joh 2:22 Jn 12:16 Ac 11:16 Acts 20:35 

Related Passages:

John 2:22+ So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 
John 12:16+  These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

John 16:4 “But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Luke 24:8-9+ (THE WOMEN WHO CAME TO JESUS' TOMB) And they remembered His words, (CONTEXT - Lk 24:1-5, 6,7+) and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Acts 11:16  “(PETER SPEAKING) And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

THE FATHER SENDS THE SPIRIT
THE HELPER, TEACHER & REMINDER

But - Term of contrast. What is Jesus contrasting. He has just stated He spoke to them while He was with them, but now the Spirit would "speak" (sometimes audibly Acts 11:12) to them in His absence. Much of what Jesus had spoken was not fully grasped by the 11 disciples, but the Holy Spirit would change that. Earlier Jesus had promised the disciples "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever." (Jn 14:16+). 

The Helper (parakletos KJV = Comforter), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name - In My Name signifies all that Jesus is and would include in His authority and in a sense in His place. In other words, the Spirit was the officially designated representative of Jesus. As quoted earlier G. Campbell Morgan referred to the Spirit as "the other Jesus." The disciples would soon experience Jesus' absence and a period of fear and uncertainty. This promise of "another Helper" just like Jesus had been (Jn 14:16+) would (should) have been very encouraging.

Note that here it is the Father Who will send the Spirit but in Jn 15:26 Jesus says "I will send (THE SPIRIT) to you from the Father." We clearly see the intimate interaction of the Trinity in these passages. 

Merrill Tenney writes "Just as Jesus himself demonstrated the personality and character of God to men, so after his departure the Holy Spirit would make the living Christ real to his followers." (The Expositor's Bible Commentary)

David Guzik on in My NameWill send in My name: The Holy Spirit is sent to the disciples on the merits of Jesus and in the nature, the character of Jesus. “The Spirit would be Jesus’ officially designated representative to act in his behalf.” (Tenney).... There is something general in this promise for every believer. The Holy Spirit teaches us and brings God’s word to our remembrance (if we are careful to receive it). Yet the fullness of this promise was reserved for those first-generation disciples and apostles, upon whom Jesus established the church (Ephesians 2:20).

He will teach you all things - The Spirit would teach the disciples, all things they needed to know, not all things ever known. He would teach them the full meaning of many of the things they had heretofore not understood. 

and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you - This promise was primarily given the 11 disciples/apostles. John himself is an example of the fulfillment of this promise, for he was writing this Gospel many years after the events had occurred and yet the Spirit was bringing these truths to his remembrance, quickening his memory, and inspiring the words he recorded. 

Peter spoke of this writing "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." (2Pe 1:20-21+)

Leon Morris - “The Spirit will not dispense with the teachings of Jesus. The teaching to be recalled is His.”  (BORROW The Gospel according to John page 582)

The Spirit is given to those who ask, for regeneration; to those who obey, for character; to those who wait, for power.


David Jeremiah - THE SPIRIT OF ENCOURAGEMENT JOHN 14:26

The Holy Spirit’s other name is Comforter. That is my favorite name for the Holy Spirit. The word “comforter” is a Greek word, paraclete, and it is the same word that is translated “encourager.”

The Holy Spirit is my Encourager. He comes and puts His arm around me when I am discouraged, and He encourages me.

Yes, there are times when this pastor loses his perspective a little and becomes discouraged. I may have actually slipped into depression once or twice (not recently, thank the Lord). It’s the same with anyone in leadership; sometimes you feel as though there is hardly anywhere to run. You just have to get alone with your Bible, get down on your knees in prayer … and then the Spirit of God comes to bring encouragement to your heart. I’ve had that experience time and again. It is almost (almost!) worth experiencing the dark and heavy times, because the encouragement of God’s Spirit is so sweet. I praise God that the Holy Spirit is my Comforter and Encourager and Helper. (Sanctuary)

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

  • Peace I leave with you: Joh 16:33 Jn 20:19,21,26 Nu 6:26 Ps 29:11 72:2,7 85:10 Isa 9:6 Isa 32:15-17 54:7-10,13 55:12 57:19 Zec 6:13 Lu 1:79 2:14 10:5 Ac 10:36 Ro 1:7 5:1,10 8:6 15:13 1Co 1:3 2Co 5:18-21 Ga 1:3 Ga 5:22 6:16 Eph 2:14-17 Php 4:7 Col 1:2,20 3:15 2Th 1:2 3:16 Heb 7:2 13:20 Rev 1:4 
  • not as the world gives : Job 34:29 Ps 28:3 La 3:17 Da 4:1 6:25 
  • Do not let your heart be troubled Joh 14:1 
  • nor let it be fearful.: Ps 11:1 27:1 56:3,11 91:5 112:7 Pr 3:25 Isa 12:2 41:10,14 Jer 1:8 Eze 2:6 Mt 10:26 Lu 12:4 Ac 18:9 2Ti 1:7 Rev 2:10 21:8

Related Passages: 

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 20:19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.”

John 20:21   So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

John 20:26   After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 

JESUS PARTING
SHALOM

Peace (eirene) I leave with you (plural); My peace (eirene) I give to you (plural); not as the world gives do I give to you - Jesus would soon be departing and it was common in that day to say "Peace" (or Shalom) when greeting and when departing. Clearly this peace is deeper for it is peace Jesus gives, not the kind of peace the world gives, that is without any special meaning. Obviously this peace Jesus gives them would not exempt the 11 disciples from intense trials and conflicts which they experienced throughout the book of Acts (e.g., Acts 4:1-12, 13-19, 20-30, 31+). The peace Jesus gave was a supernatural peace, a peace that would be independent of troubling circumstances, a supernatural peace that His Spirit would enable (Gal 5:22, Ro 8:6, Ro 14:17, Ro 15:13  Acts 9:31). It is supernatural peace because it is the experience of an untroubled heart in the face of troubling circumstances.

G Campbell Morgan on My peace (eirene) - “He carefully described the peace as ‘My peace.’ His peace was a heart untroubled and unfearful in spite of all the suffering and conflict ahead of Him.”

R C H Lenski commenting on "Peace...My peace" in John 14:27 says "What friends at parting wish each other in their poor human way, that Jesus actually gives and leaves at his parting from the disciples like a sweet, rich treasure for their comfort. "Peace" is at once defined by "my own peace," one which in a peculiar way belongs to Jesus, which he also can "leave" (like a legacy) and "give" (like a treasure). The very words indicate that this "peace" is objective: the condition and the situation of peace when nothing disturbs our relation to God (ED: cf Ro 5:1). This must be distinguished from the subjective feeling of peace  (ED: cf Php 4:7). The latter is to flow from the former, yet the feeling may be slight, even altogether absent at times, while the condition itself still obtains. On the other hand, one may feel quite undisturbed, unconscious of any danger while his actual condition should fill him with dismay. "My peace" must mean, "the peace I establish for you." This objective blessed condition Jesus leaves to his disciples, leaves it to them as a precious gift from His own hand. Whether they at once enter into the full consciousness and enjoyment of this peace is a minor matter (ED: OF COURSE PETER DID NOT, DENYING JESUS OUT OF FEAR FOR HIS LIFE). The subjective feeling will come in due time where the objective condition prevails." (See Interpretation of St. John's Gospel)

Steven Cole on peace - This peace is three-dimensional. (1) First, we enjoy peace with God because Christ bore the penalty for our sins on the cross. As Romans 5:1....(2) Second, we can enjoy the peace of God in the midst of life’s difficult times. This peace only comes to those who first have peace with God through faith in Christ.....(3) The third form of God’s peace is peace with others (Ephesians 2:14) (For more discussion see Joy and Peace for Troubled Times John 14:25-31)

THOUGHT- Anxiety has been described as “a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.” (Arthur Roche, Reader’s Digest, [6/88], p. 159.) Does that describe you? It doesn’t have to! The Lord Jesus who ascended to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit wants you to believe in Him and experience the joy and peace that He gives for all your troubled times. (Joy and Peace for Troubled Times )

John MacArthur on the peace the world gives - In the truest sense, no real peace is to be found in the world. Godless people in a godless world are by nature enemies of God and in a state of resultant turmoil. The world only offers an experience of a momentary, fleeting tranquility through self-indulgence, materialism, love, romance, substance abuse, false religion, psychotherapy, or a host of other placebos. But the world's pseudopeace is in reality the bliss of ignorance. If unbelievers understood the wrath of God, and the agonizing, unrelieved, eternal torment awaiting them in hell, they would never enjoy a moment's peace in this life. (See John Commentary)

Merrill Tenney - Jesus himself was "troubled" (Jn 12:27) by the impending Crucifixion. The peace he spoke of is the calmness of confidence in God. Jesus had this peace because he was sure of the Father's love and approval. The world can give only false peace, which mostly comes from the ignorance of peril or self-reliance. Jesus, fully aware of the distressing suffering confronting him, had such confidence in the purpose and power of the Father that he moved forward unhesitatingly to meet the crisis without fear. His peace would be the source of courage for the disciples. With his promise of peace, he repeated the words of comfort he had spoken in reply to Peter's question: "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (cf. Jn 14:1). The disciples must have continued to show their dismay as they contemplated Jesus' departure.  (Ibid) 

John MacArthur - As with every blessing in the Christian life, peace comes from all three persons of the Trinity. The oft-repeated salutation in the New Testament Epistles, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:3; Eph. 1:2; Phil. 1:2; Col. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:2; cf. Eph. 6:23; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philem. 3; 2 John 3) indicates that God the Father and Jesus Christ are the source of peace. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to impart that peace to believers (Gal. 5:22). Like the rest of the legacy Jesus left the disciples, the peace He promised to give them would come in fullness on the day of Pentecost. (See John Commentary)

Do not let your heart be troubled (tarasso)(present imperative with a negative see need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) - This is the identical command Jesus gave the disciples in John 14:1. Clearly, in His omniscience, He knows that they needed to hear this a second time and trouble was just around the corner for Judas would soon bring Jesus' enemies to seize Him. 

Nor let it be fearful (present imperative with a negative see need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey- This is the only time in these last words to the 11 that Jesus commands them to stop fearing (or don't let it begin). 

I rest beneath the Almighty's shade,
My griefs expire, my troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,
Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.
-- Charles Wesley


Peace (1515eirene from verb eiro = to join or bind together that which has been separated) literally pictures the binding or joining together again of that which had been separated or divided and thus setting at one again, a meaning convey by the common expression of one “having it all together”. It follows that peace is the opposite of division or dissension. Peace as a state of concord and harmony is the opposite of war. Peace was used as a greeting or farewell corresponding to the Hebrew word shalom - "peace to you". Eirene can convey the sense of an inner rest, well being and harmony. The ultimate peace is the state of reconciliation with God, effected by placing one's faith in the gospel. In eschatology, peace is prophesied to be an essential characteristic of the Messianic kingdom (Acts 10:36). Peace is a condition of freedom from disturbance, whether outwardly, as of a nation from war or enemies or inwardly, as in the current context, within the soul. Peace implies health, well-being, and prosperity. 

Eirene in John -  Jn. 14:27; Jn. 16:33; Jn. 20:19; Jn. 20:21; Jn. 20:26; 

See 6 page discussion of eirene in The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, p776

ILLUSTRATION - One of the best illustrations of BIBLICAL PEACE I have ever encountered is from missionary Jim Walton who was translating the New Testament for the Muinane people of La Sabana in the jungles of Colombia. However, Jim was having trouble translating the word PEACE. About this same time (don’t you love the PROVIDENCE of God!), Fernando, the village chief, was promised a 20-minute plane ride to a location that would have taken him 3 days to travel by walking. The plane was delayed in arriving at La Sabana, so Fernando departed on foot. When the plane finally came, a runner took off to bring Fernando back. But by the time he had returned, the plane had left. Fernando was furious (loss of peace) because of the mix-up. He went to Jim and launched into an angry tirade. Fortunately, Walton taped the chief’s diatribe and later when he translated it, he discovered that the chief kept repeating the phrase, “I don’t have ONE HEART.” Jim asked other villagers what having “ONE HEART” meant, and he found that it was like saying, “There is nothing between you and the other person.” Walton realized that God had just given him the picture he needed to translate the word PEACE into their language! To have peace with God means that there is nothing–no sin, no guilt, no condemnation–that separates us from God, PEACE possible only through Christ, Paul writing “having been justified (declared eternally in right standing before God) by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ro 5:1+).

Do you have “ONE HEART” with God today?
Outside of Christ there is no peace.
Only those in Christ know peace!


Peace - Borrow - The Experience - Henry Blackaby

“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.” John 14:27

Most of us aren’t looking for fame, fortune, or power. We just want to be happy. But somehow, circumstances keep getting in the way! Just when we think we’ve got it together, another problem hits us.

Lots of things can send your life into turmoil. You’re caught in the middle of your parents’ divorce. Someone you love dies. You’re overloaded: too much to do in too little time. A friend rejects you. You’re the victim of a crime. Your health fails. How can you have peace when people and situations keep conspiring against you? The world offers lots of ways to cope. Bookstores overflow with advice on how to find happiness. Drugs and liquor promise to numb the pain. Money promises to buy your way out of troubles. Movies tell you what you need is a good romance. Some religions direct you to seek tranquillity within yourself.

You can try every solution the world offers, and you still won’t have peace. Peace doesn’t come from the world, nor does it come from within yourself. Peace comes from God. God wants to give you the same peace he gave Jesus—a peace that carried him through the worst torment the world could dish out. Even while Jesus was being tortured and ridiculed on an excruciating cross, he had peace. God’s peace goes deep down into your soul where nothing and no one can touch it. If you’re looking for real peace, go to Jesus. He wants to give you peace that can never be taken away.


Streams in the Desert -  “My own peace I give to you.” (John 14:27.) (Weymouth.)

TWO painters each painted a picture to illustrate his conception of rest. The first chose for his scene a still, lone lake among the far-off mountains.

The second threw on his canvas a thundering waterfall, with a fragile birch tree bending over the foam; and at the fork of the branch, almost wet with the cataract’s spray, sat a robin on its nest.

The first was only stagnation; the last was rest.

Christ’s life outwardly was one of the most troubled lives that ever lived: tempest and tumult, tumult and tempest, the waves breaking over it all the time until the worn body was laid in the grave. But the inner life was a sea of glass. The great calm was always there.

At any moment you might have gone to Him and found rest. And even when the human bloodhounds were dogging Him in the streets of Jerusalem, He turned to His disciples and offered them, as a last legacy, “My peace.”

Rest is not a hallowed feeling that comes over us in church; it is the repose of a heart set deep in God.—Drummond.

    My peace I give in times of deepest grief,
    Imparting calm and trust and My relief.

    My peace I give when prayer seems lost, unheard;
    Know that My promises are ever in My Word.

    My peace I give when thou art left alone—
    The nightingale at night has sweetest tone.

    My peace I give in time of utter loss,
    The way of glory leads right to the cross.

    My peace I give when enemies will blame,
    Thy fellowship is sweet through cruel shame.

    My peace I give in agony and sweat,
    For mine own brow with bloody drops was wet.

    My peace I give when nearest friend betrays—
    Peace that is merged in love, and for them prays.

    My peace I give when there’s but death for thee—
    The gateway is the cross to get to Me.—L. S. P.


Oswald Chambers - Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you.… Let not your heart be troubled. John 14:27.

Whenever a thing becomes difficult in personal experience, we are in danger of blaming God, but it is we who are in the wrong, not God, there is some perversity somewhere that we will not let go. Immediately we do, everything becomes as clear as daylight. As long as we try to serve two ends, ourselves and God, there is perplexity. The attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. When once we get there, there is nothing easier than living the saintly life; difficulty comes in when we want to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own ends.

Whenever you obey God, His seal is always that of peace, the witness of an unfathomable peace, which is not natural, but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, tarry till it does or find out the reason why it does not. If you are acting on an impulse, or from a sense of the heroic, the peace of Jesus will not witness; there is no simplicity or confidence in God, because the spirit of simplicity is born of the Holy Ghost, not of your decisions. Every decision brings a reaction of simplicity.

My questions come whenever I cease to obey. When I have obeyed God, the problems never come between me and God, they come as probes to keep the mind awake and amazed at the revelation of God. Any problem that comes between God and myself springs out of disobedience; any problem, and there are many, that is alongside me while I obey God, increases my ecstatic delight, because I know that my Father knows, and I am going to watch and see how He unravels this thing.


F B Meyer - Dark hours come to us all; and if we have no clue to a peace that can pass unbroken through their murky gloom, we shall be in a state of continual dread. Any stone flung by a chance passer-by may break the crystal clearness of the Lake of Peace and send disturbing ripples across it, unless we have learned to trust in the perpetual presence of Him who can make and keep a “great calm” within the soul. Only let nothing come to you which you shall not instantly hand over to Him—all petty worries, all crushing difficulties, all inability to believe.


D L Moody - John 14:27.

DID you ever think that when Christ was dying on the cross, He made a will? Perhaps you have thought that no one ever remembered you in a will. If you are in the kingdom, Christ remembered you in His. He willed His body to Joseph of Arimathea, He willed His mother to John, the son of Zebedee, and He willed His spirit back to His Father. But to His disciples He said,
“My peace, I leave that with you; that is My legacy. My joy, I give that to you.”
“My joy,” think of it! “My peace”—not our peace, but His peace!
They say a man can’t make a will now that lawyers can’t break, and drive a four-in-hand right straight through it. I will challenge them to break Christ’s will; let them try it. No judge or jury can set that aside. Christ rose to execute His own will. If He had left us a lot of gold, thieves would have stolen it in the first century; but He left His peace and His joy for every true believer, and no power on earth can take it from him who trusts.


Oswald Chambers - Are you ever disturbed?

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you. John 14:27.

There are times when our peace is based upon ignorance, but when we awaken to the facts of life, inner peace is impossible unless it is received from Jesus. When Our Lord speaks peace, He makes peace, His words are ever “spirit and life.” Have I ever received what Jesus speaks? “My peace I give unto you”—it is a peace which comes from looking into His face and realizing His undisturbedness.

Are you painfully disturbed just now, distracted by the waves and billows of God’s providential permission, and having, as it were, turned over the boulders of your belief, are you still finding no well of peace or joy or comfort; is all barren? Then look up and receive the undisturbedness of the Lord Jesus. Reflected peace is the proof that you are right with God because you are at liberty to turn your mind to Him. If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself. If you allow anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you, you are either disturbed or you have a false security.

Are you looking unto Jesus now, in the immediate matter that is pressing, and receiving from Him peace? If so, He will be a gracious benediction of peace in and through you: But if you try to worry it out, you obliterate Him and deserve all you get. We get disturbed because we have not been considering Him. When one confers with Jesus Christ the perplexity goes, because He has no perplexity, and our only concern is to abide in Him. Lay it all out before Him and in the face of difficulty, bereavement and sorrow, hear Him say—“Let not your heart be troubled.”


David Jeremiah - PEACE IN TURMOIL JOHN 14:27

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” He spoke these words to His disciples on a night when He knew that, in a matter of hours, the lives of His disciples would be permanently impacted through His own terrible ordeal and death.

He told them the Holy Spirit would come as a comforter. He told them a place was being prepared for them. He told them He would come again and receive them unto Himself. He told His disciples that they could have peace in the midst of turmoil if they would receive the peace He gives.

All too often we lose our peace in the midst of tragedy and the circumstances of life. When we do that, we have nothing to offer a watching world. If a neighbor comes to us distraught over tragedy and finds us just as undone, what testimony have we given about the peace of Christ which He promised? It is the Christians in a community who should be able to offer a word of encouragement and comfort during difficult times. But we can only do that if we possess the peace of Christ—that peace which He purchased for us at the price of His own blood. (Sanctuary)


Where’s The Peace?

My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. — John 14:27

Today's Scripture : John 14:25-31

More than 45 years ago, my father was wounded while fighting in World War II, a conflict that claimed at least 35 million lives. Millions of other people around the world carry with them the lifelong, tragic consequences of international conflict.

Each family that remembers a lost son or daughter, the casualty of war, and each veteran who must live with the physical and emotional scars of battle is a testament to mankind’s failure to achieve a lasting peace on earth (Lk. 2:14). What went wrong? Why are we still seeing bombings and shootings and destruction of nations?

The men and women who fought for their country are to be honored with gratitude. We must also remember that any peace secured by guns can never be permanent. That can only come when the Prince of Peace rules the nations. But He must be enthroned in our heart now. He brings us an inner peace that comes from trust in God through Christ. It is a peace with God—something that even those who have faced the terrors of war can experience.

One day when Christ returns, there will be worldwide peace. But for now, peace on earth comes to one person at a time. Do you have that peace? By:  Dave Branon (Reprinted by permission from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Please do not repost the full devotional without their permission.)

Oh, the peace I find in Jesus,
Peace no power on earth can shake,
Peace that makes the Lord so precious,
Peace that none from me can take.
—Beck

True peace is not the absence of war but the presence of God.

John 14:28 “You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

  • You heard that I said to you: Joh 14:3,18 Jn 16:16-22 
  • If you loved Me: Joh 16:7 Ps 47:5-7 68:18,9 Lu 24:51-53 1Pe 1:8 
  • I go to the Father: Joh 14:12 Jn 16:16 Jn 20:17 
  • for the Father is greater than I: Joh 5:18 Jn 10:30,38 Jn 13:16 Jn 20:21 Isa 42:1 49:5-7 53:11 Mt 12:18 1Co 11:3 15:24-28 Php 2:6-11 Heb 1:2,3 2:9-15 3:1-4 Rev 1:11,17 

REASONS FOR
REJOICING

You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ - Jesus had forewarned the 11 so they should have been forearmed, their faith fortified by His words. And His going away coupled with His promise to return to them, should have undergirded their hope (hope sure, not hope so).

If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I - The disciples would (should) have rejoiced if they had fully comprehend the great redemptive transaction that Jesus' death, burial and resurrection would soon make a reality. They also should have rejoiced for unless Jesus was glorified, they would not receive the Holy Spirit and they would not be able to accomplish the greater works He had promised (Jn 14:12). They also should have rejoiced that He was returning to enjoy fellowship at His Father's right side, His work of redemption having been completed. 

D.A. Carson on Jesus going to the Father - "If Jesus' disciples truly loved him, they would be glad that he is returning to his Father, for he is returning to the sphere where he belongs, to the glory he had with the Father before the world began (Jn 17:5), to the place where the Father is undiminished in glory, unquestionably greater than the Son in his incarnate state. To this point the disciples have responded emotionally entirely according to their perception of their own gain or loss. If they had loved Jesus, they would have perceived that his departure to his own "home" was his gain and rejoiced with him at the prospect. As it is, their grief is an index of their self-centredness. (BORROW The Gospel According to John page 508. Italics in original.)

The Father is greater than I speaks of Jesus' emptying and incarnation, but does not detract from the essence of Jesus and the Father. (See more discussion of this statement below)

Merrill Tenney - The statement "the Father is greater than I" refers to position rather than essence. Jesus was speaking from the standpoint of his humanity, the incarnate state he assumed in order to fulfill the purposes of redemption. (Ibid)


Walter Kaiser - Hard Sayings page 469 - John 14:28  The Father Is Greater?
In the context of John we realize that Jesus’ “going away” has to do with his death, resurrection and ascension, for they are a single entity in John, and his “coming back” refers first to his resurrection and then more importantly to his coming to his disciples in the Spirit, for that is the context of this chapter. Yet it is puzzling to read that “the Father is greater than I.” How can God be greater than God? Or does this mean that Jesus is not in fact God? In what sense is the Father greater than Jesus?

Any response to this question must take into account all of what John says about Jesus. For example, there are a number of passages in which the writer or Jesus claims Jesus’ equality with the Father (Jn 1:1, 18; 5:16–18; 10:30; 20:28). Thus we can assume that the author is not denying these statements. Along with this there are passages we have already noted in which Jesus claims dependence on the Father (Jn 4:34; 5:19–30; 8:29; 12:48–49). Thus we have two major themes in the Gospel: equality and yet dependence.

To understand what John means in this passage, we should notice that the meaning is something which Jesus believes should make the disciples glad, if they love him. Also, the meaning should take the wider context into account.

One possible meaning would be that Jesus is a lesser being than the Father, a demigod or a lesser god (given that Jn 1:1 indicates his divine character). Not only has this solution been rejected by the church throughout the ages (it was known as the Arian heresy), but it does not make sense within John. First, it does not make sense in the context of Jewish monotheism within which John and all of the Gospels are set. If you have multiple gods, whether of the same rank or of higher and lower rank, you have polytheism, against which Judaism cried out, “God is one.” There is no indication that John is trying to enter such a dispute with Judaism. Second, it does not make sense in terms of John, for the author has gone through some trouble to establish the unity and essential equality of the Father and Jesus. Furthermore, one can hardly see how this would make the disciples glad.

Another possible explanation is that the Father exists in heaven in complete power and glory, while Jesus was then living on earth in relative humility and obscurity. People who really loved Jesus would want him to return to the greater state of the Father. Not only would his return to glory be pleasant for him, but it would also be good for them since their leader would have his full power and glory. This is certainly an interpretation that does justice to the context and to Johannine theology and its context in Judaism. The only problem with such an interpretation is that this verse seems a rather awkward way to express this sentiment.

Finally, Jesus may be expressing the idea that there is organization in the Godhead and thus the disciples’ having their personal master directly in front of the Father would be advantageous for them. If this is what is intended, then we are taking the language of Father and Son quite seriously. In an ancient family with a father and an adult son, the two men would be the same in being. Both are adult human males, fully educated in the particular culture in which they exist. Yet the one designated “father” has greater authority in the household, including authority over the one designated “son.” (This is different from Western culture in which adult sons are viewed as independent of or emancipated from their fathers and thus as totally equal adults.) If this is what Jesus means, then we understand that his going to the Father not only puts him back with his own Father (about which those who love him should be glad), but also puts him with the one in whom the family (divine, in this case) authority is vested. He represents his disciples directly to the highest authority. That should also make his disciples glad. This interpretation fits with the context in which Jesus’ going to the Father brings the release of the Spirit and greater authority and access to God in prayer to the disciples.

In my view, this latter perspective makes the most sense of the passage and the culture and context in which the passage was written. However, the second position is also acceptable, although it does not seem to make as much sense out of the context. If we accept the second position, it reminds us to be glad of the good things which happened to Jesus in his ascension, rather than mourning over our personal loss that he is not present (although we saw before that this is only an apparent loss, for he is in fact present through the Spirit). If we accept the second position, we will not only enter into the joy of the divine family being together, but will also rejoice that the one who represents us stands directly before the throne of the universe (see 1 Jn 2:1).

See also comment on page 342 MATTHEW 11:27.


David Jeremiah - EXPERIENCE PEACE JOHN 14:28

In order for Jesus to give us what He promised, it was necessary for Him to go back to heaven. He says in verse 28, “You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father.’ ” Jesus is reminding His disciples (and us) that before His peace could flood their hearts, it was necessary for Him to ascend back to heaven and be with the Father. 

You may wonder why that was true. I believe it was because the peace of the Lord Jesus is resident in the Person of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit could not be poured out upon mankind as He was at Pentecost until Jesus Christ ascended back to the Father. Jesus had just told the disciples (vv. 25–26) that the Holy Spirit would be sent by the Father after Jesus was no longer present with them. Because the Holy Spirit is resident in the life of every believer, it becomes possible for every believer to experience peace (Galatians 5:22). (Sanctuary)


Norman Geisler -  (When Cultists Ask)  JOHN 14:28—Did Jesus think of himself as less than God?

MISINTERPRETATION: Jesus said in John 14:28, “The Father is greater than I.” The Jehovah’s Witnesses say this verse proves that Jesus is a lesser god than the Father. Because Jehovah is “greater” than Jesus, Jesus cannot be God Almighty (Let God Be True, 1946, 110).
  According to Christian Science, this verse proves that “Christ is not God, but an impartation of Him,” just as “one ray of light is light, and it is one with light, but it is not the full-orbed sun” (Eddy, 1901, 8).

CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: The Father is greater than the Son by office, but not by nature, since both are God (see John 1:1; 8:58; 10:30; 20:28). Just as an earthly father is equally human with but holds a higher office than his son, even so the Father and the Son in the Trinity are equal in essence, but different in function. There is no contradiction in affirming ontological equality and functional hierarchy. In like manner, we speak of the President of our country as being greater, not by virtue of his character or nature, but by virtue of his position. Jesus cannot ever be said to say that he considered himself anything less than God by nature


Norman Geisler -  (When Critics Ask) JOHN 14:28 —Did Jesus think of Himself as less than God?

PROBLEM: Orthodox Christianity confesses Jesus is both fully man and fully God. Yet Jesus said in John 14:28 , “My Father is greater than I.” How can the Father be greater if Jesus is equal to God?

SOLUTION: The Father is greater than the Son by office, but not by nature, since both are God (see John 1:1 ; 8:58 ; 10:30 ). Just as an earthly father is equally human with, but holds a higher office than, his son, even so the Father and the Son in the Trinity are equal in essence, but different in function. In like manner, we speak of the president of our country as being a greater man, not by virtue of his character, but by virtue of his position. Therefore, Jesus cannot ever be said to say that He considered Himself anything less than God by nature. The following summary helps to crystalize the differences:

JESUS IS EQUAL TO THE FATHER

THE FATHER IS GREATER THAN JESUS

In essence

In function

In nature

In office

In character

In position


GOTQUESTIONS' QUESTION - If Jesus was God, why did He say, “The Father is greater than I”

ANSWER - The phrase “the Father is greater than I” (John 14:28) was spoken by Jesus during the upper room discourse, and the greater context is the promising of the Holy Spirit to the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus says repeatedly that He is doing the Father’s will, thereby implying that He is somehow subservient to the Father.

The question then becomes how can Jesus be equal to God when by His own admission He is subservient to the will of God? The answer to this question lies within the nature of the incarnation.

During the incarnation, Jesus was temporarily “made lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:9), which refers to Jesus’ status. The doctrine of the incarnation says that the second Person of the Trinity took on human flesh. Therefore, for all intents and purposes, Jesus was fully human and “made lower than the angels.” However, Jesus is fully divine, too. By taking on human nature, Jesus did not relinquish His divine natureGod cannot stop being God. How do we reconcile the fact that the second Person of the Trinity is fully divine yet fully human and by definition “lower than the angels”? The answer to that question can be found in Philippians 2:5-11 (What is the kenosis? What does it mean that Jesus emptied Himself?). When the second Person of the Trinity took on human form, something amazing occurred. Christ “made himself nothing.” This phrase has generated more ink than almost any other phrase in the Bible. In essence, what it means is that Jesus voluntarily relinquished the prerogative of freely exercising His divine attributes and subjected Himself to the will of the Father while on earth.

Another thing to consider is the fact that subservience in role does not equate to subservience in essence. For example, consider an employer/employee relationship. The employer has the right to make demands of the employee, and the employee has the obligation to serve the employer. The roles clearly define a subservient relationship. However, both people are still human beings and share in the same human nature. There is no difference between the two as to their essence; they stand as equals. The fact that one is an employer and the other is an employee does nothing to alter the essential equality of these two individuals as human beings. The same can be said of the members of the Trinity. All three members (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) are essentially equal; i.e., they are all divine in nature. However, in the grand plan of redemption, they play certain roles, and these roles define authority and subservience. The Father commands the Son, and the Father and the Son command the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, the fact that the Son took on a human nature and made Himself subservient to the Father in no way denies the deity of the Son, nor does it diminish His essential equality with the Father. The “greatness” spoken of in this verse, then, relates to role, not to essence.


C H Spurgeon - Love’s transformations: a Communion meditation

The chiefest love that we have should go to Jesus Christ himself: not so much to his salvation, as to himself, should our hearts fly. ‘If ye loved me, ye would rejoice’. We do well to love Christ’s house, his day, his book, his church, his service, his blood and his throne, but we must, above all these things, love his person. That is the tender point; ‘We love him,’ and other things in him. We love his church for his sake, his truth because it is his truth, his cross because he bore it for us, and his salvation because it was purchased by his blood. I counsel you to pull up the sluices of your love, and let the full tide flow towards Jesus. LOVE HIM. For, first, he is the source of all benefits; therefore, in loving him you value the benefits, but you trace them to their fountain-head. Should we love the gift better than the giver? Should the wife love her jewels better than the beloved one who gave them? It must not be so. Love the very person of Jesus, the God, the man, Emmanuel, God with us. Realize him as a distinct existence. Let him stand before you now ‘with scars of honour in his flesh, and triumph in his eyes’ as we sang just now. Love him as the source of your hope, your pardon, your life, your future glory. Loving him we learn to prize all his gifts the more, for he that loves the giver values the smallest gift for the giver’s sake. Your love to the person of Jesus will not make you think less of the benefits which he bestows, but infinitely more. Shoot at the centre of the target. Love him, and, loving him, you will value all that he gives. Loving Jesus we have him for our own, and that is a great blessing.


David Reed -   John 14:28 - Borrow Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse

  “ … If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.” (KJV)

This is a favorite verse for Jehovah’s Witnesses arguing against the deity of Christ. They begin by quoting from the Athanasian Creed: “And in this Trinity none is afore, or after an other; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three persons are co-eternal, and co-equal.” Then they will read Jesus’ words about the Father being greater than the Son, rather than “equal,” as that creed says.

Don’t let JWs lure you into this trap. Remind them that Jesus was speaking at a time when he had done as stated at Philippians 2:6–7: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (KJV). Naturally, then, Christ could speak of the Father as being “greater than I.” The Son had even become “lower than the angels,” in order to act as the Savior of mankind (Heb. 2:9).

See also the discussions of Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; John 20:28; and Revelation 1:7–8.

John 14:29 “Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.

  • Joh 13:19 Jn 16:4-30,31 Mt 24:24,25 

Related Passages: 

John 2:19-22+ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken

John 13:19+ “From now on I am telling you before it comes to pass, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am He.

FULFILLED PROPHECY
SHOULD FORTIFY FAITH

Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe (pisteuo) - This is clearly another clear claim to His deity for only God could accurately predict the future (Isa 42:9, Isa 46:9-10, Isa 48:3,5). Jesus has repeatedly predicted His death and resurrection and when the 11 disciples see these events come to pass, they might believe

John 14:30 “I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me;

  • I will not speak much more with you: Joh 16:12 Lu 24:44-49 Ac 1:3 
  • for the ruler of the world is coming: Joh 12:31 Jn 16:11 Lu 22:53 2Co 4:4 Eph 2:2 6:12 Col 1:13 1Jn 4:4 1Jn 5:19 *Gr: Rev 12:9 20:2,3,7,8 
  • and: Lu 1:35 2Co 5:21 Heb 4:15 7:26 1Pe 1:19 2:22 1Jn 3:5-8 

Related Passages: 

John 12:31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

John 16:11  and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged

Luke 4:5-6 And he (SATAN) led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

Luke 22:53 “While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours.”

2 Corinthians 4:4  in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

SATAN HAS NO
CLAIM ON JESUS

I will not speak much more with you - He does not mean absolutely no more words for He spoke in John 15-16, but then it would be His last words to the 11 before the Cross.  

For (gar - term of explanation) Explains why these would be His last words before the Cross.

The ruler (archon) of the world (kosmos) is coming - This clearly refers to Satan who Jesus acknowledges had been given temporary authority over the world. He would soon be coming in the form of the betrayer Judas Iscariot.

And he has nothing in Me - Nothing means absolutely nothing. Satan might be the ruler of the world (1Jn 5:19), but He had no claim on Jesus. There was nothing in Jesus' life that Satan could use as a ground of accusation against him. The thought is that Satan had no power over Jesus. While it may at first glance look like Satan did have power and it might seem like he had defeated Jesus, the exact opposite would prove to be the case - the Cross would mark Satan's downfall! (1Jn 3:8, Heb 2:14, Rev 20:10)

D.A. Carson on nothing in Me -  "How could he?" Jesus is not of this world (Jn 8:23), and he has never sinned (Jn 8:46). The devil could have a hold on Jesus only if there were a justifiable charge against Jesus. Jesus' death would then be his due, and the devil's triumph" (BORROW The Gospel According to John, 509).

John 14:31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.

  • but so that the world may know : Joh 4:34 Jn 10:18 Jn 12:27 Jn 15:9 Jn 18:11 Ps 40:8 Mt 26:39 Php 2:8 Heb 5:7,8 10:5-9 12:2,3 
  • Get up, let us go from here: Joh 18:1-4 Mt 26:46 Lu 12:50 

JESUS PROPOSES
LEAVING THE UPPER ROOM

but so that the world may know that I love (agapaothe Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me - Jesus reiterates that His accomplishment of the will of His Father by dying on the Cross, would demonstrate to the world that He loved the Father. Note how Jesus had previously said our love will be shown by our obedience. Now His obedience would demonstrate His love. 

 Get up, let us go from here - Jesus calls on the 11 to go with Him from the comfort and safety of the Upper Room. 

John MacArthur - At this point Jesus and the disciples evidently left the upper room and began walking through Jerusalem, headed for Gethsemane. While they walked, Jesus continued His teaching. (John 18:1 does not describe the Lord and the disciples leaving the upper room, as some think. It refers to their leaving the city of Jerusalem and crossing the Kidron valley, east of the city Gethsemane lay across the valley on the slopes of the Mount of Olives.) (See John Commentary)


Oswald Chambers - The initiative against dreaming

Arise, let us go hence. John 14:31.

Dreaming about a thing in order to do it properly is right; but dreaming about it when we should be doing it is wrong. After Our Lord had said those wonderful things to His disciples, we might have expected that He would tell them to go away and meditate over them all; but Our Lord never allowed ‘mooning.’ When we are getting into contact with God in order to find out what He wants, dreaming is right; but when we are inclined to spend our time in dreaming over what we have been told to do, it is a bad thing and God’s blessing is never on it. God’s initiative is always in the nature of a stab against this kind of dreaming, the stab that bids us “neither sit nor stand but go.”
If we are quietly waiting before God and He has said—“Come ye yourselves apart,” then that is meditation before God in order to get at the line He wants; but always beware of giving over to mere dreaming when once God has spoken. Leave Him to be the source of all your dreams and joys and delights, and go out and obey what He has said. If you are in love, you do not sit down and dream about the one you love all the time, you go and do something for him; and that is what Jesus Christ expects us to do. Dreaming after God has spoken is an indication that we do not trust Him.
 

 

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