A
STUDY OF JOHN CHAPTER FOURTEEN
John 14:1-6
As we would readily expect, Jesus’
farewell words to His Apostles are of exceptional significance. The fourteenth
chapter of John is the beginning of that pivotal, three chapter discourse
delivered on the betrayal night. There is much in this chapter to orient us to
some of the most important understandings of all Christianity. Let us look
carefully into some unusually important words from the Christ.
A PLACE IN THE
FATHER’S HOUSE (1-6, 10-14)
1. Jesus’
equality with the Father is clearly stated in His advice given for calming the
Apostles troubled hearts (Phil. 2:5-8; Col. 2:9).
a. It
would be necessary to accept that Jesus was one with the Father (Jn. 10:38;
17:21-23).
b. Additionally,
this belief would result in God answering prayers (Jn. 15:16; 16:23-24; I Jn.
5:13-15).
1. Heaven
has been prepared by Christ for Christians.
2. Jesus
will come back to take Christians home (I Thess. 4:13-18).
3. Jesus
is the only way to the Father (Rom. 5:1-2; Acts 4:12).
KNOWING GOD (7-9)
1. When
we see Jesus, we see the Father.
2. Knowing
God through Jesus His Son is essential to our salvation (Jn. 17:3; 8:54-55;
16:1-3).
3. The
explanation of the Father’s nature by Jesus was an essential aspect of His work
(Jn. 1:1, 14, 18).
JESUS’ SPIRITUAL
RETURN (15-24)
1. In
the sending of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ spiritual return to the hearts of His
followers would be assured—Jesus does not leave His followers as orphans.
a. The
love of Jesus and the faithful doing of His will are the keys to this
relationship (I Cor. 13:1-3; I Jn. 1:6-7).
b. The
ministry of the Spirit through His revelation of the word allows Jesus to dwell
in our hearts (Jn. 16:13-14; Eph. 3:16-17; Gal. 2:20; I Cor. 2:10-16).
c. Through
receiving the word implanted, Jesus discloses Himself to believers (Jas. 1:21;
II Cor. 3:18; I Cor. 2:10; Rom. 8:29).
d. Additionally,
Jesus would be present providentially with Christians during His Messianic
reign (Matt. 28:20; Acts 18:9-10; Heb. 13:5-6).
2. Because
of the oneness of Father and Son, to have a relationship with one is to have a
relationship with the other.
3.
Christians individually and collectively are
like a temple, a place for God’s presence (I Cor. 6:19; 3:16; Eph. 2:19-22; cf.
I Kg. 8:27-30).
a. God
is with us on earth, but not with the same quality He will be with us after
death (Phil. 1:23-24).
b. The
greatest quality of God’s presence will be after the resurrection, in heaven
(Rev. 21:1-4).
4. We
cannot be in fellowship with Jesus unless we are faithful to His word (I Jn.
1:5-6; 3:3-10).
ADDITIONAL ASSURANCES
(25-31)
1. The
Apostles would receive a special revelation from the Holy Spirit that would
serve the church for its entire existence (Jn. 15:26; 16:13; I Cor. 2:10-16;
Eph. 2:19-20; Jude 3).
2. Jesus
would leave a special peace that was unlike that of the world (Jn. 16:33; Col.
3:15; Phil. 4:7).
3. Jesus,
in emptying Himself, had chosen to forego the full prerogatives of God (Phil.
2:5-7).
4. The
Apostles could rejoice in His departure not only because of the provisions He
had made for them, but because He was going back to the Father’s greatness (Jn.
17:5).
a. Jesus
was fully God (Jn. 5:18; Col. 2:9).
b. He
did, however, choose to accept limitations
to come in the flesh as a man and die the death on the cross (Phil. 2:7-8; Heb.
12:2).
5. Jesus’
death and resurrection would prove His identity and thus convict men and women
to believe (Jn. 12:32; Acts 2:29-37).
Jesus assured His Apostles that His death
would not be loss for either them or Him. Jesus’ departure would not be the end
of His presence in the lives of His followers. The word of God for the church
would be fully administered through the Apostolic office. Through it Jesus
would come to live in the heart’s of believers. And in the victory of Christ He
is present with His church until the time comes to call them home to the
Father’s house.
Edwin
11/12/00
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