The Way - Day 195 (John 14)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
JOHN 14:1-31
The disciples were devastated when Jesus told them He was going away (13:33, 36), so Jesus provided some hope and comfort during this time of confusion. He would soon die to pay for sin and Jesus would not leave them without hope for the future. How did Jesus offer comfort to the disciples? He promised them that they would soon join Him where He was going (14:1-7), but until then He would send a Comforter to equip them for the task ahead (14:8-31).

In an act of understanding and compassion, Jesus speak to His worrisome disciples saying, "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me" (14:1). Jesus was asking His disciples to trust Him, even though they were uncertain about the future. John continues to write, "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (14:2). Jesus' departure would allow Him to prepare a place in heaven for them, which should have brought hope to their hearts. Along with preparing a place for them in heaven, Jesus promises that He would "…come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know" (14:3-4). His return and receiving them to Himself referred to a future time known as the rapture of the saints. Paul writes about this taking of believers from earth to heaven in 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Thomas, one of the disciples, admits his confusion and asks, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" (14:5). Jesus' answer to his question reveals the sixth I AM statement of Jesus in the gospel of John (see also 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 9; 10:11, 14; 11:25).

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him" (14:6-7).

All of Jesus' I AM statements depict Him as the promised Messiah and Son of God. This particular declaration reveals that the only way to have a relationship with God the Father is through Jesus Christ, His Son. There are not many ways to God, but only one. To accept another approach to God is to have faith in a lie, which will lead to eternal destruction in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). When Jesus references the Father, Philip speaks up and asks Jesus to show them God, but He quickly adjusts their thinking and says, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father..." (14:9). Seeing and knowing Jesus is to see and know God the Father.

After confirming His deity to the disciples (14:5-11), Jesus empowers them to carry on following His departure.

"Most assuredly, 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 My Father" (14:12).

Jesus was not necessarily promising greater power than His own, but that they would be able to carry His message of salvation and hope further than He had been able to in His lifetime. How could this be possible? They would soon be filled with God's Spirit and He would enable them to carry out anything in the name of Jesus and for the glory of God. For this reason John records these incredible words of Jesus to His disciples.

"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (14:13-14).

In another of John's writings he will later add…

"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14-15).

When a praying believer sets out to accomplish a task, according to God's plans and purposes, He will always bring it to completion. This promise is worthy to be claimed and believed! Jesus ensures them of His presence dwelling within them in the person of the Holy Spirit (14:16-21). He refers to the Holy Spirit as the Helper (14:16), who will "teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (14:26). God's Spirit would guide them in keeping His commandments and obeying the words of Jesus (14:15, 21).

Jesus speaks more words of comfort by promising peace to His followers (14:27) and the guaranteeing of His return for them (14:28). In the middle of all the apparent chaos which was about to take place, Jesus forewarned his disciples about the enemy.

"I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do" (14:30-31).

Although Satan will seem to have received the victory in Jesus' upcoming death, He wanted them to know that it was a part of God's plan to redeem mankind from their sin. His disciples should not fear what the future holds and neither should those who believe in Jesus as Savior.

Dear God, help me take comfort in knowing that You are preparing a place for those who believe in Jesus. While I await His return, empower me through the Holy Spirit to do Your work and bring glory to the Father.