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John 14

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John 14 Overview

Jesus comforts troubled disciples with the promise of the Father’s house and His return. He declares, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ He explains His unity with the Father, promises answered prayer in His name, promises another Comforter—the Holy Ghost—and gives a peace unlike the world’s.

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Before you read John 14

Coming from

John 13 ended with betrayal underway, Jesus announcing His departure, and Peter facing a predicted denial. John 14 addresses the fear created by that news.

In this chapter

The chapter grounds comfort in Christ’s person, His destination, His exclusive access to the Father, the indwelling Spirit, and the promise that separation will not mean abandonment.

Leads into

John 15 develops the disciples’ continuing relationship to Christ through the vine-and-branches image, love, obedience, fruitfulness, and the world’s hatred.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Jesus’ ‘I am the way’ statement is exclusive: access to the Father is through Him. John does not present Jesus as one spiritual path among many.

The ‘other Comforter’ is the Holy Ghost, distinct from Jesus yet sent in relation to both Father and Son. The passage is strongly Trinitarian in its personal distinctions and unified divine action.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Christ Himself is the way to the Father

The promise is personal, not merely a method or moral system.

Seeing the Son reveals the Father

Jesus’ words and works display the Father without collapsing Father and Son into one person.

The Spirit ensures the disciples are not abandoned

He will abide with them and be in them.

Christ gives a peace the world cannot manufacture

His peace rests on His promises amid coming trouble.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Exodus 33:18–23

Moses’ desire to see God provides background to Philip’s request to see the Father.

John 1:18

John already said the Son uniquely declares/reveals the unseen God.

Acts 2

The promised Comforter’s coming is publicly manifested after Jesus’ glorification.

Romans 8:9–16

Paul later describes believers indwelt by the Spirit and related to Father, Son, and Spirit in salvation and assurance.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not use ‘keep my commandments’ to make obedience the condition for receiving eternal life

The audience is Jesus’ disciples; obedience expresses love and discipleship after relationship with Him.

Do not deny the personality of the Holy Ghost

He teaches, brings to remembrance, abides, and is sent; the language is personal, not merely an impersonal force.

Do not use ‘greater works’ to promise that every believer will perform more spectacular miracles than Jesus

The apostles’ post-resurrection mission expands the reach of Christ’s work through the Spirit.

Do not confuse Trinitarian unity with Oneness

Father, Son, and Comforter are personally distinguished throughout the chapter.

Read John 14 watching for…

The commands not to let the heart be troubled or afraid.

Jesus’ exclusive claim to be the way to the Father.

The Father-Son relationship in words and works.

Everything said about the Comforter.

The connection between love and obedience.

The contrast between Christ’s peace and the world’s peace.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-7Jesus comforts the disciples and says he is the way, the truth, and the life 8-14Jesus explains that seeing him is seeing the Father and promises answers to prayer in his name 15-24Jesus promises another Comforter and connects love with keeping his words 25-31Jesus promises the Holy Ghost will teach them and leaves his peace with them

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

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.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

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.

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

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John 14:26

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