Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will knowmy Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
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’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 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. 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 14:1-14
INTRODUCTION
The phrase “MY FATHER’S HOUSE” clearly refers to heaven, the place to which Jesus was returning to prepare a place for his followers. God’s eternal home has many “rooms” (implying permanent “dwelling places”). Members of “God’s household” now on earth will one day transfer to their eternal home with God. “For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come” – Hebrews 13:14.
I WILL COME BACK – JOHN 14:3
As surely as Christ went to heaven, He will return to take His followers to the place prepared for them. This was the hope of New Testament Christians, and it is the hope of all Christians today.
1. The ultimate purpose of the Lord’s return is that His faithful people may be with Him forever.
2. The words “take you to be with me” refer to the rapture, when all followers of Christ (those who are still alive at that time as well as those who have already died) “will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This will take place suddenly and at an unexpected time.
3. Christ’s coming for His faithful followers will enable them to escape the future “hour of trial” and judgement that will come on the world in the end times.
4. The expectation of this glorious and eternal reunion should be a comfort to all who desire to “be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17b-18
I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE – JOHN 14:6
Jesus is “the Way” – He is not simply one among many ways; He is the One and Only Way to God the Father. No one other than God’s perfect Son could have paid the full price for our offenses against God and opened the way for a renewed relationship with Him. In the early days of the church, Christianity was sometimes referred to as “the Way”. This is because they recognized that Jesus provided the only way out of a life of spiritual darkness, lostness and slavery to sin and condemnation. In doing so, He provided the only way for us to find our highest purpose and fulfillment in the life and to receive eternal reward in heaven. It has never been popular – certainly not today – to claim that there is only one way to God, but that is the reality according to Jesus’ own words. There is no other way to have a relationship with the true God except through faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is “the truth” – not just part of the truth, but the whole truth. As the living Word, everything about Christ and His message is true. And His truth is absolute (total definite, unconditional, unchanging, conclusive) and universal (true for all people in all situations for all time). The fact that supreme truth is revealed through Christ is a key theme in John’s Gospel.
Jesus is “the life” – true and lasting spiritual life is available only through His life, death and resurrection. His perfect life provided the only permanent and enduring sacrifice for our sin against God. Those who accept His life and sacrifice for themselves – willingly yielding their lives to His leadership – receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Christ.
GREATER THINGS – JOHN 14:12
The “greater things” include spreading His message, leading people to faith in Christ and performing miracles as Jesus did. Through Jesus’ followers, an even greater number of people would come to Christ and receive ne life, healing and supernatural help. “The greater things” would not happen because of the disciples’ own efforts or spirituality. Their work would still be Jesus’ work, done only in the power of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus would send once He returned to His Father. Jesus’ followers could then pray in His name, and God would respond in powerful ways through His Spirit. As a result, the disciples’ works will be “greater” in number and scope, as Christ’s message and power continue to reach people throughout the world.
ASK IN MY NAME – JOHN 14:13
Asking for something in Jesus’ name means being completely aware of who He is, what He is capable of doing and what His purposes are. It means acting as His representative, with His power and authority. For this reason, our prayer in Jesus’ name must:
A. Reflect Jesus’ character and be consistent with His desires and purposes.
B. Demonstrate faith in Him and His authority.
C. Reveal a sincere desire to honour both the Father and the Son.
There is no limit to the power of prayer when it is addressed to Jesus or the Father with sincere faith and according to His desire.
Stay blessed!
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