John 14
|
John 14:1:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. |
"Troubled" is the best English equivalent we can give for the Greek; but, as generally employed, its force is fainter. The original verb--used often of all the agitation of waters, the heaving and surging of the seas--aptly represents the deeper agitations of the soul, painful to strong natures, dangerous to the weak. Three times it is used of our Lord Himself in some access of vehement emotion. So He shared the experiences which in us He would comfort and control. Such a condition needs control, tending as it does to confusion of judgement and suspension of faith. "Let not your heart be troubled" was then not only a word of sympathetic kindness, but a needful counsel; and it is so still, falling with composing power on many an agitated mind.
How does he comfort them? Not by commonplace ethics of moralizing, but by drawing aside the veil that conceals the spiritual world, and revealing to them entirely new conceptions concerning the father Himself, the future life, and their own relations to it. We are not to believe in God as an abstract object, and in Christ as a collateral object. Manifestly, every body must believe in God before he can believe in Jesus Christ in any deep sense. Modern day Christians invert that order and believe in Christ, and therefore they believe in God. But the order of reason is the order of apologetic. First Theism, than Christianity. The word used here and translated “be troubled,” does not signify any kind of sadness or sorrow; nor are we to understand that it is either desirable or possible to banish all sadness and sorrow from the mind of any son of man under the conditions that prevail upon this earth. The word used by Jesus signifies to be agitated,… perplexed, and not thrown into confusion. The vision of science is not without honor and merit, but there is one thing they cannot say in all their wisdom: “Let not your heart be troubled.” They can teach us to talk wisely, but can’t help us to live quietly. They don’t give help in the day of a troubled heart. In that day I may not want to be reasoned with, I want to be comforted, or, rather, I need to be comforted. Christ does not offer exemption from sorrow. It has been a mistake of most remedies proposed for a troubled heart that they have aimed at eliminating sorrow from the earth. In this they have aimed, not only at what is impossible, but what is, as a primary, undesirable also. Ancient Epicureanism, for example, sought to banish sorrow as far as possible by avoiding excess of pleasurable excitement, by making the tenor of life so even that extravagant excesses in pleasure should not occur to plunge men into consequent excesses of pain. Modern Epicureanism, a more wretched fallacy still, adopts its watchword: "A short life and a merry one; let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die." Stoicism sought to remove sorrow by the destruction of feeling, to create men who should not be flesh and blood but iron and brass. |
|
John 14:2:
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. |
The word for "mansion" is "μονή, monay." It means a dwelling, an abode. (14:2; “mansions” comes from the Latin translation–it is not in the original Greek text).
|
|
John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” |
Plato is not Platonism. Platonism might have been taught though its author had never lived. Mohammed is not Islam; the Koran itself would warn us against any such confusion between the teacher of its doctrine and the substance of the doctrine itself. But Christ Himself is Christianity; His teaching is inextricably bound up with His person; and it is not merely because He taught what He did, but because He is what He is, that through Him we can come to the Father. Some people say that Jesus was just a great prophet, but none of even the greatest prophets, Moses, Elijah, or John the Baptist, had ever dared to say “I am” as Jesus said so often. “I am the light.. I am the bread….I am the door….etc”
|
Walter R Martin
It should be carefully noted that Jesus did not say, "I am one of the equally good ways" or "I am a better way than the others, I am an aspect of truth; I am a fragment of the life." Instead, His claim was absolute, and allegiance to Him as the Savior of the world, was to take precedence over all the claims of men and religions. --Walter Martin
James Hastings
"The phrase "I am Life." points to all Christ's work upon us as a life-giving Spirit, a Quickener and an Inspirer. Dead men cannot walk a road. It is no use making a path if it starts from a cemetery. Christ taught that men apart from Him are dead, and that the only life that they can have by which they can be knit to God is the Divine life which was in Himself, and of which He is the source and the principle for the whole world."
-James Hastings; The Greatest Texts of the Bible John I-XII; 1912
-James Hastings; The Greatest Texts of the Bible John I-XII; 1912
Scripture reveals that "truth" is a Person, a message and a lifestyle. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) You will never know truth until you know Jesus.
Karl Barth
“Jesus does not give recipes that show the way to God as other teachers of religion do. He is Himself the way”
― Karl Barth
Christ is the way from man to the Father. The great difficulty is how is sin to be put away? Many attempts have been made to remove it, but there is no way of escaping it from the guilt of sin except by Jesus Christ. Some have hoped for pardon from future good conduct, but the payment of a future debt can by no means discharge a past debt, so that even the perfect future obedience of man could not touch his past sins. Self-righteousness, therefore, even it is could reach perfection would not be "the way." Some hope must from the mercy of God, but the law knows nothing of clearing the sinner of guilt by a sovereign act of mercy. That cannot be done, for when Gods justice would be impugned, His law would be virtually annulled. He will by no means clear the guilty. Every transgression must have its just recompense of reward, so that the absolute mercy of God as such is not the way out of guilt of sin, for that mercy of God as such is not the way out of the guilt of sin, for that mercy is blocked by avenging justice, and over the face of that mercy there passes am eclipsing shadow, because God is righteous as well as gracious. There is no way by which a sinner can escape from the guilt of sin but that which is revealed ion Jesus Christ.
Truth is God’s method of leading us into paths instigated by His wisdom and understanding. Truth is not subject to personal interpretation as much of our culture suggests. It is concretely founded on the character of God, revealed in the Word of God. Truth acts like a flashlight to illuminate the direction and purposes God has in each situation. Thus, when we walk outside of truth, we are walking in darkness. We cannot see which steps to take, and thus can be overcome by all sorts of dangerous realities. It should be obvious that truth is a powerful and potent force!
If you think you're pursuing truth without first pursuing God you are not really pursuing truth. You will more than likely settle with a facsimile of what you accept as truth and may even create your own dogma with or without religious trimmings.....tweaked to suit your own desires.. ...but nothing absolute, and hence, a candidate for being proven wrong at some point. You may accidentally hit some truth but, as Jonathan Edwards referred to it, it would be "speculative knowledge."
This is why the great philosophers offered such different perspectives on what is truth and even offered differing perspectives on who God is Himself.
God is truth. Jesus referred to Himself as "the way, the truth, and the life." What that means is that there is no way, truth, or life, outside of Him. Seeking truth without seeking God is making a statement about yourself and reveals an effort to build upon the prideful independence which motivates you.
God equals truth, and truth equals God. Pursuit of God reveals truth but not necessarily vice versa. With God the truth is usually mind and life altering ("the truth will set you free"). Without pursuing God we leave the answers we find to our own understanding. In other words we define what is truth by what we settle on. And, at best, that is whatever is the result of out own imagination.
Don't settle for less. Pursue God and allow the truth to set you free.
This is why the great philosophers offered such different perspectives on what is truth and even offered differing perspectives on who God is Himself.
God is truth. Jesus referred to Himself as "the way, the truth, and the life." What that means is that there is no way, truth, or life, outside of Him. Seeking truth without seeking God is making a statement about yourself and reveals an effort to build upon the prideful independence which motivates you.
God equals truth, and truth equals God. Pursuit of God reveals truth but not necessarily vice versa. With God the truth is usually mind and life altering ("the truth will set you free"). Without pursuing God we leave the answers we find to our own understanding. In other words we define what is truth by what we settle on. And, at best, that is whatever is the result of out own imagination.
Don't settle for less. Pursue God and allow the truth to set you free.
|
John 14:9:
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? |
Friendship means identity in thought and heart and spirit. In Jesus we see the love, the compassion, the mercy, the seeking heart, the purity of God as nowhere else in all the world.
We must be clear in our minds as to "knowing" what Jesus Christ means. |
|
John 14:13-14:
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. |
 Walter R Martin
God does say He will graciously entertain our prayers. He says that if we exercise faith, and if our request is in accordance with His will, He will hear us. --Walter Martin |
Martin Luther
What does Christ mean when He says, “I will do whatever you ask in my name”? I would think He should say, “What you ask the Father in my name, he will do.” But Christ is pointing to Himself in this passage.
These are peculiar words coming from a human being. How can a mere man make such lofty claims? With these simple words, Christ clearly states that He is the true and almighty God, equal with the Father. For whoever says, “Whatever you ask, I will do,” is saying, “I am God, Who can and will give you everything.” Why else should Christians pray in Jesus’ Name? Who do people call on saints as helpers in times of need?
Some call for Saint George for protection in War, Saint Sebastian for protection from pestilence, and others for other circumstances; obviously, they believe that these saints will somehow answer their prayers.
But Christ claims this role for Himself. In other words, He is saying, “I won’t command others to do whatever you ask for, I will do it Myself.” So He is the One Who can help in every situation with what we need. He is mightier than the devil, sin, death, the world, and all creation. No being—whether human or angelic—has ever had, or ever will have, such power. Christ possesses all of God’s power and strength.
Here Christ sums up what we can ask Him for in prayer, He doesn’t limit His promise by adding, “That is, only if you ask for gold and silver or for something that other people can give you.” Rather, He says that He will do “whatever you ask.” --Martin Luther
These are peculiar words coming from a human being. How can a mere man make such lofty claims? With these simple words, Christ clearly states that He is the true and almighty God, equal with the Father. For whoever says, “Whatever you ask, I will do,” is saying, “I am God, Who can and will give you everything.” Why else should Christians pray in Jesus’ Name? Who do people call on saints as helpers in times of need?
Some call for Saint George for protection in War, Saint Sebastian for protection from pestilence, and others for other circumstances; obviously, they believe that these saints will somehow answer their prayers.
But Christ claims this role for Himself. In other words, He is saying, “I won’t command others to do whatever you ask for, I will do it Myself.” So He is the One Who can help in every situation with what we need. He is mightier than the devil, sin, death, the world, and all creation. No being—whether human or angelic—has ever had, or ever will have, such power. Christ possesses all of God’s power and strength.
Here Christ sums up what we can ask Him for in prayer, He doesn’t limit His promise by adding, “That is, only if you ask for gold and silver or for something that other people can give you.” Rather, He says that He will do “whatever you ask.” --Martin Luther
EM Bounds
Jesus Christ commits Himself to the force of prayer. “Whatsoever ye ask in My Name,” He says, “that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” And again: “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what he will and it shall be done unto you.” To no other energy is the promise of God committed as to that of prayer. Upon no other force are the purposes of God so dependent as this one of prayer. The Word of God dilates on the results and necessity of prayer. The work of God stays or advances as prayer puts forth its strength. Prophets and apostles have urged the utility, force and necessity of prayer. “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night. Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Prayer, with its antecedents and attendants, is the one and only condition of the final triumph of the Gospel. It is the one and only condition which honours the Father and glorifies the Son. Little and poor praying has weakened Christ’s power on earth, postponed the glorious results of His reign, and retired God from His sovereignty. Prayer puts God’s work in His hands, and keeps it there. It looks to Him --EM Bounds; The Weapon of Prayer; 1931
|
John 14:15:
If ye love me, keep my commandments |
Our Lord is not asking us to keep His commandments; He is declaring that "if we love Him," we will of necessity keep His commandments. The word for love here is agapate, from agape, normally used to describe the sovereign, gracious love of God. "We love Him because He first loved us" (I John 4:19). We are only capable of this love because His grace is at work within us. If this grace is operative in us, we will of necessity love God and keep His commandments. If we have faith, we in Christ do "greater works" (John 14:12), i.e, our works have wider spiritual effects in that they bring the whole world under dominion of Christ. As Westcott notes, :The thought of love follows that if faith (vs 12). Faith issues in wor4ks of power: love in works of devotion.....Obedience is the necessary consequence of love."
|
Chip Ingram
On the night before Jesus’ death, he told his disciples:
“If you love me, keep my commands. 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 14:15, 21)
Jesus makes it clear that if we truly love Him then we will show it by obeying His commands — to love Him and others, and to show the world what God is like.
This kind of obedience to God isn’t just some external act where we strive to “do the right thing” or somehow earn His favor. It should flow out of love, never guilt or outward performance.
But, why does God require our obedience if we love Him?
Obedience is the organ through which intimacy with God is obtained.
Even Jesus connects His love for the Father through His submission and obedience to the Father’s will. He… for the joy set before him… endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus obeyed the Father and willingly chose to go to the cross. Why? — Because He loves us and wants the world to know the Father’s love.
Today, Christ is inviting each of us to love Him through our obedience to Him. This doesn’t mean that we won’t struggle with our temptation to sin, but we are able make different choices through the power of the Holy Spirit.
---Chip Ingram; Living on the Edge; Does Love Equal Obedience?
“If you love me, keep my commands. 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 14:15, 21)
Jesus makes it clear that if we truly love Him then we will show it by obeying His commands — to love Him and others, and to show the world what God is like.
This kind of obedience to God isn’t just some external act where we strive to “do the right thing” or somehow earn His favor. It should flow out of love, never guilt or outward performance.
But, why does God require our obedience if we love Him?
Obedience is the organ through which intimacy with God is obtained.
Even Jesus connects His love for the Father through His submission and obedience to the Father’s will. He… for the joy set before him… endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus obeyed the Father and willingly chose to go to the cross. Why? — Because He loves us and wants the world to know the Father’s love.
Today, Christ is inviting each of us to love Him through our obedience to Him. This doesn’t mean that we won’t struggle with our temptation to sin, but we are able make different choices through the power of the Holy Spirit.
---Chip Ingram; Living on the Edge; Does Love Equal Obedience?
Thomas Watson
“What is the duty which God requireth of man? Obedience to his revealed will. It is not enough to hear God’s voice, but we must obey. Obedience is a part of the honour we owe to God.”
― Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments
|
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 home. |
"Words" in the original is singular "word." The whole of the Scriptures is one word although composed of many words.
|
|
John 14:27:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” |
Peace is the translation from the Hebrew word “Shalom”. This is usually a common greeting by the Jews. The word 'Shalom does not mean the absence of troubles or worries. It refers to a deep sense of wholeness which can also be translated as wellness.
Shalom may therefore be used to describe a personal inward and lasting peace but it is now adopted by everyone including unbelievers. The peace Jesus is talking about here is the inner peace or calmness in your heart despite troubles. It does not depend on your circumstances, nor does it eradicate worries or anxieties but gives you the ability to endure with strong confidence that God will see you through. -Christian Walls |