Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (4.5)

The Gospel Of John

John 14:1-31 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

Foreword

Chapters 14 to 16 contain Jesus' discourses - each with a central theme, namely comfort, admonition, and prediction respectively.  In these three chapters, Christ also gave us the most extensive personal instruction on the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit contained in the Gospels.

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

v.1 Troubled hearts are the commonest ailment in the world. No one is exempt from being troubled in the heart. All the money in the world, all the intellect and education, and all the reasonings and assurances, cannot keep it away. The only method that the world has to offer against a troubled heart is the use of drugs and alcohol to numb the symptoms of it. However, these methods are effective only for very short periods, and usually result in more problems. Though we cannot escape trouble in this world, we must not allow it to trouble our hearts. Jesus' disciples were having their last supper with Him. Jesus told them that He would be betrayed by one of them, and that He would leave them shortly, and be crucified. They imagined that they would soon be leaderless; betrayed, persecuted, killed, dispersed, ashamed, penniless, alone, etc. These thoughts troubled their hearts. Though Jesus was soon going to suffer unimaginable sufferings. He was concerned about their troubled hearts. [1]

v.2 They felt like abandoned children, but Jesus reassures them that He was not abandoning them but was leaving to prepare a place for them. [2]

v.3 When parents leave the children, they comfort them by reassuring them that they will soon return. Jesus reassures His disciples that He will come again, namely, at His second coming. The greatest comfort of all is that one day He will be with His children forever (i.e "where I am, there ye maybe also"). The chief attraction of heaven is not: the mansions, but Jesus Himself – whom we will enjoy forever.

v.4 When parents leave their children to go to a friend's house, they comfort them by reassuring them that if they really need to find them they know where they are.  Jesus had told them many times that He was returning to the Father in heaven. Jesus had also told them the way to eternal life.

v.5 Thomas was the doubting, slow-minded believer. He probably still had Jewish concepts of the Messiah, and thought that Jesus, facing heavy opposition at this time, was going to hide somewhere (which Thomas would not know).

v.6 Thomas' foolish remark about not knowing the way, leads Jesus to give this wonderful truth regarding the way. This is the sixth of the seven "I am's" in John's Gospel. Though there appear to be three “I am's" here, the predominant claim is that Jesus is the way. [3] Faith in Jesus is the way to heaven. Jesus is the way, the door, and the ladder to heaven. Many people believe that all religions lead to heaven, so long as they are sincere.

Oneness with the Father

v.7 During their three years of living with Jesus, they had known Jesus' holiness, love, patience, power, wisdom, etc. By knowing Jesus, they should have known the Father also, and have seen Him (by seeing Christ) because Jesus is the "express image of the Father" (HEB 1:2). [4]

v.8  Philip, like all natural men, had a curious desire to see God. [5]

v.10 [6] Jesus repeatedly tells His disciples of His unity with the Father. When Jesus said that "the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself',” He meant that they were not His words only, but that they were also the Father's words. Even His miracles (i.e., works) were not done by His own power alone, but also through God's power.

v.11 Jesus again exhorts them to keep on believing, because He knew that after His crucifixion their faith would falter. [7]

v.l2 Jesus the miracle-worker would leave them soon, and the disciples felt that they would be helpless and powerless. Jesus tells them that those that believeth on Him will do the works that He did. Jesus healed the sick, so did the apostle (see the Acts of the Apostles), so do we when we pray for the sick (JAM 5:14,15). But His disciples did greater works that what Jesus did, when thousands were saved through their preaching. On no occasion did Jesus convert three thousand men at one time, as the disciples did on the day of Pentecost (ACT 2:41). Many ordinary Christians have been instrumental in the conversion of more men than Jesus.

Furthermore, Jesus' ministry was limited to Israel, but His followers' ministries are to the uttermost part of the earth (ACT 1:8). Much of Jesus' earthly ministry was in healing the physically sick. Most of our ministry is to heal the spiritually sick, through the preaching of the Gospel. Since spiritual matters are more important, our work is greater than His. It is obvious that Jesus' disciples did not heal more physically sick people than Jesus did. Neither did they walk on water, nor calm the storm, nor raise four-day old corpses like Lazarus.

Therefore, the greater works that they will do must refer to spiritual works, namely, salvation of souls. We marvel at Jesus' great condescension in giving us, who are so much weaker than Him, the greater work to do! Many Christian leaders will never share the “glamorous” part of their ministry with others, and selfishly reserve the best for themselves. The majority of those who are "serving God" are really serving themselves.

Our ability to do this great spiritual work is dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit took place after Jesus' departure (EPH 4:8). Therefore, Jesus' disciples would do great works, because Jesus went unto His Father.

v.13 "And" connects with the previous verse. In other words, because Jesus went to His Father as our Mediator, whatsoever we shall ask in His name, will be answered. Jesus says that whatsoever request is made. He will supply it (i.e. "that will I do"'). Jesus must be God because only God can claim to be able to answer whatsoever we ask.

To ask "in the name" means to ask "on the behalf of, in the place of", i.e., in the will of, and for the purpose of. In other words, prayers that are asked in the name of Jesus are those that are in His will, and therefore will be answered. For example, when a policeman arrests us "in the name of the law,'" he is not simply using the name of the law to do what he pleases, but he is arresting the person in the will of the law, and for the purpose of the law. In other words, he is acting on behalf of the law.

Therefore, when we pray in Jesus ' name, we are praying what Jesus Himself would pray if he was in our place. How few of our selfish prayer requests would fall into this category! Many Christians mistake "in the name" for "with the name." They think that whatsoever they desire will be answered so long as their prayer ends with the phrase "in Jesus' name." They regard Jesus' name as a lucky charm and claim this verse as a "'blank cheque" to fulfil their lusts. So-called Christian exorcists and faith-healers also use Jesus' name as a lucky charm.

v.14 This verse is a re-emphasis of what was promised in the previous verse.

v.15 Some of the disciples were probably weeping because Jesus would soon leave them. Therefore, Jesus tells them that the real proof of their love was not weeping, but obedience. Weeping is often the result of an emotional reaction, but a continuous desire to obey is a good proof of genuine love. True love is not merely a feeling, but is practical. For example, a mother who loves her child does her best for her child. Many Christians think that they love Jesus because they feel really emotional when they sing the words of a song about Him, but they are not obedient to Him. [8]

Role of the Spirit

v.16  Jesus had been their comforter when He was with them. Now that He was about to depart from them, He promises them that they will receive another Comforter, i.e., the Holy Spirit (see v.17). This does not mean that the Holy Spirit was not given to the O.T. saints. However, in the N.T. era, the Holy Spirit shall come with more fullness, influence, manifestation, and He shall be in us. [9]

v.17 The main work of the Holy Spirit is to bring God's truth into our hearts, especially the truth of the Gospel (i.e., the truth that we are sinners, that only Jesus can bear our sins. etc.) Therefore. He is called the Spirit of truth.

The world cannot receive the reality of the Holy Spirit, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him. Christians know the reality of Holy Spirit because they see His work in their lives. We know of the reality of the Holy Spirit because he dwelleth with us. We know He lives, because we have experientially felt His presence in our lives.

Christians see how the Holy Spirit has changed them from God-hating to God-seeking people. The world of unsaved people who have never experienced Him.  They only know of a religion of outward professions and rituals. Nobody can believe the reality of the Holy Spirit until he experiences Him in his life.

v.18 The word "comfortless" is better translated "orphans." Christians must never feel like abandoned orphans, because God lovingly takes care of us. Jesus promised them "I will come to you.” He will come into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, and He will come again the second time. [10]

v.19 The next day, Jesus would be crucified and buried, and the world seeth him no more. Though the disciples would see Jesus after His resurrection for forty days, this phrase refers to the spiritual "seeing" of Jesus through the Word, assisted by the Spirit. Daily our "eyes of faith" see the Lord guiding us, protecting us, comforting us, interceding for us, etc. [11]

v.20 “That day" probably refers to Jesus' second coming. When Jesus comes again in all His glory every doubt that He is in the Father (i.e, He and God the Father are one) will be removed. And every doubt that we are a part of the spiritual Body of Jesus (i.e. "ye in me, and I in you") will also be removed. Till that day comes, we will never fully understand these great truths.

v.21 The teaching in verse 15 is repeated here, after the teaching of the Holy Spirit's indwelling because now, not only would they have the commandments to obey, but they would also have the strength to obey them. Jesus encourages them to keep His commandments by promising them of God's special love for those that do so. Most Christians have never experienced this special love, which is a little taste of heaven on earth. This kind of joy is described by many of those who wrote the Bible (eg. David, Paul). Since most Christians have never tasted this kind of joy that comes from obedience, they settle for an imitation joy that comes from worldly music, clapping, swaying, and dancing. God's love precedes and follows our love, i.e., God first gives us the desire to love Him, and them rewards our love to Him by loving us more.

Jesus also encourages them to keep His commandments by promising them that He will specially manifest himself to those that prove their love to Him by their obedience. Jesus manifests Himself in His Word. He also manifests Himself by helping us, comforting us, guiding us, etc. Many Christians do not understand God's Word, because they have no desire to obey it. Why should God give understanding of His Word to those who have no desire to obey it?

v.22This Judas is the one who wrote the book of Jude. [12]

v.26 [13] The Father sends the Holy Spirit, through Jesus (i.e., "in His name") unto us. The main work of the Holy Spirit is to teach us all things that are needful for our spiritual growth. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom to understand the Bible. [14]

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Footnotes

[1] Jesus says "Let not your heart be troubled" Jesus said "heart" not "hearts" because all their hearts were in the same troubled condition. The heart refers to the seat of emotion, not to the physical heart. In other words, they were all emotionally troubled.

Our emotions are easily affected by problems, just as the surface of water is easily troubled by every disturbance or wind. Even after the trouble has passed, our troubled emotions do not settle down immediately, whatever we try to do to it. Christians with troubled heart's cannot experience the joy of the Lord, are poor testimonies, and poor workers for Him.

Jesus tells His troubled disciples since they believe in God, they were also to believe in Him. Jesus' Jewish disciples obviously believed in God and His promise that He would send a Messiah. They had proven their faith by leaving everything to follow God's Messiah, Jesus. As godly Jews, the disciples believed that God was omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Though the Jews had this faith in God, their faith was at best weak, because though they knew the greatness and goodness of God, they also were unsure of their standing before God. However, when we are confident that the penalty of our sins are fully paid, our hearts are fully cleansed by Jesus' blood, and that He is at the right hand of God interceding for us, we have confidence that God is our God, and we are His children. Therefore, He will help us to take care of our problems. Only this faith in God, and in Jesus, can give peace to our troubled hearts. When we have faith in God, we can fulfil our full potential because we will be able to concentrate on our duties, and leave the rest to God. Those who do not have faith in God spend much time worrying about the things that are beyond their control, instead of focussing on their duties.

[2] "Mansions" means "abiding places." To abide is to stay for a prolonged period. This contrasts with our temporary homes on this earth. There are many mansions because there are many who are saved. These “mansions" must be unimaginably beautiful because Jesus has taken almost two thousand years to prepare them. He took only six days to create the universe! Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

To reassure the disciples, Jesus speaks like a parent to a child saying "If it were not so. I would have told you. Don't be sad. The reason why I'm leaving you is to prepare a place for you."

[3] This exclusive claim of Jesus makes Him either God, or an arrogant liar. To know Jesus is to know The most important truth regarding getting to heaven. All other religions had taught "truths" about how to get to heaven, but they were not truths but lies. Jesus is the truth because without Him no one knew how to get to heaven. The Jews knew the truth of getting to heaven, namely, to trust in God's provision of a Saviour. However, until Jesus' death and resurrection the way to heaven was not clearly known. Other prophets only claimed to show the way to God, to eternal life, and to the truth.

Jesus is also the life because those who receive Him as their Saviour receive His eternal life.

[4] Furthermore, since Jesus was the way to the Father, they could come to know more and more of the Father through Him, as they read the Bible and experienced Him dealings in their lives.

[5] Though Philip knew that God is a spirit (JOH 4:24), he desired to see a theophany (i.e., a physical manifestation of God's glory) as Moses did (EXO 24:9-11). Philip failed to realise that he was far more privileged than Moses, because he saw far more of God's attributes in Jesus' life, than Moses did when he saw the glory of God.

Like Philip, Charismatics desire to see visions of God, failing to realise that it is a greater privilege to have the Bible than to have visions. Seeing a vision of God will give only a fleeing glimpse of God, but reading the Bible gives us a fuller knowledge of God. More importantly, we know that the Bible is God's Word, but we cannot be sure whether our visions are from God.

Study what Peter, who has seen the glorious vision of Christ at the transfiguration, said of this vision he has seen, in comparison to the Bible in 2PE 1:16-21.

[6] v.9 Jesus gently rebukes Philip for failing to believe that He was the Son of God, the "carbon-copy" of God. We must not be too harsh when we judge Philip for failing to see Jesus' divinity because Jesus appeared like a poor man during His live on earth.

[7] The highest form of faith is to take someone at his word, the next best is to believe him because he has proven himself by some work. Jesus had done enough miraculous works to prove that He was God.

[8] Jesus tells them to prove their love to Him by keeping His commandments. We can measure our love to Jesus by assessing our obedience to His commandments. Jesus tells them to obey His commandments, not God's.  No prophet asked the people to obey his commandments.

[9] The Greek word for Comforter" is "paraclete" which means one who is called to the side in order to help. The word "paraclete" is translated as “advocate" in 1JO2:1. Jesus is leaving, so He requests the Holy Spirit to come alongside the disciples to help them (eg: to comfort, guide, admonish, teach).

Jesus comforts the disciples by telling them that the Holy Spirit would abide with them for ever, unlike Him who would soon leave them. All the three Persons of the Holy Trinity are mentioned in this verse.

[10] The two greatest events in history are Jesus' two comings. Many Christians rejoice that Jesus came, the first time, to save us from the penalty of sin, but fail to rejoice that He will come again to deliver us from the presence of sin. Too few Christians look forward to Jesus' second coming.

[11] We are so blessed to see Jesus every day in His Word, yet some foolish Christians feel cheated when they do not see a vision of Jesus. Previously, Romanists desired to see visions, but now Charismatics have joined them.

Because Jesus rose from the dead and lived, we are comforted to know that, like Him, we shall also rise from the dead. However, when Jesus said "because I live, ye shall live also," He meant that since He is the source of life, we also will have life. If our Head has life, then we. His body, will also have life. This life that we have refers to both eternal life, and spiritual life. When we receive the Holy Spirit, our sin-dulled spiritual faculties are revived, and we become spiritually alive to the things of God.

[12] This Judas was probably called Lebbeus or Thaddeus in the other Gospels. Judas thought Jesus' manifestation would be physical rather than spiritual. Therefore, he was confused how Jesus would only be manifested to those who loved Him. Furthermore, if He was the king of the Jews, then He should manifest Himself to all the Jews and convince them to believe in Him.

[13]  v.23 Jesus repeats these two truths (ie, that love is proven by obedience, and that we are indwelt by God) because these truths are hard to believe.

v.24 The same truth in verses 15 and 23 are repeated in a negative way. Jesus reminds them that what He teaches, though they are His commandments, are also the Father's.

[14] Obviously, "all things" does not mean each and every thing. If we know each and every thing, we will be like God. “All thing" means all kinds of truths in the Bible, eg. prophecy, practical commandments. Neither does the promise of being taught all things mean that we will understand everything that we read in the Bible.  It does mean that the Holy Spirit our Teacher is well-able to instruct us in all that we need to know.

The Holy Spirit only teaches us what we need to know and what we desire to obey. He does not teach us truths that we are not yet ready to obey, or truths that we do not intend to obey. For example, a mother will not teach her little child how to cook, neither would she teach her older son who does not desire to learn.  The Holy Spirit not only teaches us, but also brings all things to our remembrance. Our sin-dulled minds are not only slow to understand spiritual truths, but also easily forget what we have learnt. Jesus had said many things to the disciples at the Last Supper, and they were probably afraid that they would not remember all that He had told them. Therefore, He reassures them that the Holy Spirit would bring all these things to remembrance.