Text: John 14
Event(s): Jesus final speech to His disciples: The Way, the Truth and the Life; The Father is revealed in the person of Jesus;
John chapter 14-17 stands alone in that it’s the only Gospel that captures Jesus’s last speech to the disciples.
John 14:1 “be not troubled….believe” The antidote to a troubled heart is belief. The Greek word used for believe is “pisteuo” which translated also means to trust. When we’re troubled, the winds and waves in our hearts and minds go crazy. But when we trust in Him, they are calmed and quieted. I love what Psalm 94:19 says, “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.”
John 14:3 “that where I am, there you may be also.” This has always been and always will be God’s heart towards us. To be with us and for us to be with Him.
John 14:6 “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” I like the way one commentator put it: Jesus is “the way” to God, because He is “the truth” from God and “the life” from God. He is the truth because He embodies God’s supreme revelation, and He is the life because He contains and imparts divine life.
John 14:12 “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.” What did Jesus mean by “greater”? I can’t think of anything greater than raising someone from the dead. Most commentators say this means not that the disciples of Jesus will perform works that are greater in value or significance than what Jesus did. But instead, that our works would be greater in scope and in number. This makes sense because Jesus’ time on the earth was limited. And He Himself said that unless a seed is put in the ground and dies, there could be no multiplication. Jesus’ work on earth was also confined to Palestine. However, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, His people would be able to extend that reach to the uttermost ends of the earth.
John 14:17 “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him” The world cannot “see” that which is spirit. He cannot be visually identified, He must be believed in to be spiritually discerned. He cannot be known without first going through “The Way”, which is Jesus. Again, as Jesus said in John 3, “You must be born again.”
John 14:26 “He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” The Holy Spirit is the true Teacher of every believer. As we open His Word, as we turn to Him in prayer, as we give Him the questions in our hearts, He leads us into all truth in a way that is strengthening and comforting. When He brings to remembrance certain verses, or things Jesus said or did, that’s Him, actively working in us to teach us and guide us. Every human teacher, while they are a blessing from God meant to add to that strength, should serve a secondary role to that of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
John 14:27 “peace…not as the world gives” Only God can be the source of true peace, both in our personal lives as well as in our culture and society. The world can attempt to champion peace, but cannot because it fails to correct the fundamental source for strife, which is rooted in the fallen nature of mankind. We cannot simply trust on man’s “kindness” or “good intention” to establish peace. There has to be a pure peacemaker, which is Jesus. Without that issue being addressed and solved, there can be no peace. Only Jesus could make peace possible. Isaiah 53:5 says, “the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.” In other words, “the chastisement which brought us peace,” which put a stop to the enmity between fallen man and God was paid for by Jesus.
John 14:30 “he has nothing in Me.” Satan would have had a justifiable charge against Jesus if Jesus had sinned. Jesus’ death was not an indication that Satan had a claim on Jesus, but that Jesus loved His Father, and was completely submissive to His will.
Todays’ Takeaway: I’m moved by seeing how selfless Jesus was. Knowing the pressures and trouble He was about to face, He still takes time to comfort His disciples. My tendency, when I feel like I’m running on empty or feeling the pressures life brings, is to withdraw. But I recognize that Jesus was able to give so much because He made intimacy with the Father His priority. Remember what we just read in Luke 21:37, during the day He taught in the temple. He poured out all day, but then at night He would go out to the Mount of Olives to pray. And how many times do we see Him rising up early, while it’s still dark, to pray. The more “spiritual food” He ate, the more “spiritual calories” He was able to burn. I’m also drawn to focus on how important the ministry of the Holy Spirit is in my life, which makes me want to know Him even more. To become more aware of Him. To recognize His promptings more.
Additional (optional) reading: Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (either MSG or AMP); 1 John 2:27
Linda G Riddle 