Gospel of St. John
Comforting Disciples – 14:1-11
The next four chapters of this Gospel contain Christ’s commands and comfort for his disciples. The last chapter covered the Last Supper and we know that Jesus will be crucified within 24 hours. Again John has not arranged these chapters in chronological order. Instead, he had concentrated all the private teaching of the disciples into these chapters.
“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 know my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” The disciples were troubled at the thought of being left behind by Jesus. Peter had been warned that he would deny Jesus three times. They were probably totally depressed. Again Jesus claims his Deity. “Ye believe in God, believe also in me.” The Father’s house is a common term for heaven. It is where everything is in accord with God’s will and where he is totally at home. Today it often means a place to sleep and eat. In this case it means a place where we are loved for our own sakes, the place where we are always welcome, a place of rest and peace. There will be permanent places (not tents) for everyone. The preparation Jesus was making for the disciples and us is the redemptive sacrifice about to happen.
Thomas asked how they were to know the way if they don’t understand where he is going. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” No man cometh unto the Father except by following the commands, words and ways of Jesus.
“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 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 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.” Philip was still confused but thought that if they were shown the Father, they would understand. He was asking for more proof. That drew a reprimand from Jesus. They were repeatedly told that Jesus was in the Father and the Father in him. They were repeatedly told that Jesus did not speak his own words but those of his father. He finally gives them an alternative. They can either believe his words or they can believe the works they have seen him perform throughout his ministry. Both his words and his works were a perfect revelation of his Deity. Jesus had to tell his disciples the same thing he told the unbelieving scribes and Pharisees back in the 10th chapter. If you cannot believe my words, at least accept the proof of it in my works.
Comforting Disciples – 14:12-20
“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.” When Christ spoke of “He that believeth on me”, he was speaking of the apostles specifically. Obviously no one since has performed the miracles that he performed. But what greater works than Jesus’ can anyone do? He is talking about the preaching of a risen and exalted Saviour and the proclaiming of the Gospel to “every creature.” He is talking about turning souls from darkness to light and into the service of the living God. He is talking about the building of the Church of which Christ is the head. Jesus is saying these works are more important than interfering with the course of nature’s laws. The spiritual works far exceed the physical ones. The spiritual bonds are more powerful than those of this world.
The disciples were invited to count upon a power that could not fail, if sought aright. It would be a great comfort to the disciples but it is not an open-ended caveat. They must ask in Jesus’ name. Asking in someone’s name implies that the thing being asked in totally in keeping with what that person might desire themselves. The power only worked if they were fulfilling Jesus’ desire which was to follow totally the Will of God.
“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.” Keeping Jesus commandments ties directly to “asking in his name.” His commandments and his desires lead to the same result. Here we get the real comfort Christ will leave with his disciples – another comforter that can abide with them for ever. It is a comforter the world will not destroy because it doesn’t recognize it. It is only recognized from within by those who seek its truth. When the Holy Spirit is received, they will know that Christ is in the Father and they will be in him and he in them.
Comforting Disciples – 14:21-31
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loved 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.” Jesus is clear. You cannot love him and ignore his commandments. You can love him and fail to keep his commandments, but you must desire to follow them. If you love someone, you do all you can to fulfill their desires. That is all Jesus is asking. The world knows that your love will be displayed by your actions. Jude Thaddeus asked how he can be manifested to them without manifesting himself to the world. This was already explained, but it should make us feel better when we ask the same questions over and over because the answer is so far from what we expect in this world.
“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.” There are two approaches to the peace Jesus left with them and both apply directly. There is the objective sense signifying reconciliation contrasted with alienation. There is the subjective sense of tranquility in the face of tumult. We are reconciled with God and we can face the challenges of this life with the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ life was not peaceful as viewed by the world. How many times did people attempt to stone him throughout his three-year ministry? Yet, his manner was always peaceful. It was the result of his unbroken communion with the Father. Our restless nature will make it very difficult to maintain an unbroken communion with each other, let alone with God. The reward is worth the extraordinary effort required. The last words are direct and a summary of Christ’s teaching. So that the world will know that I love the Father, I follow the commandment given me by the Father. If you love me, rejoice that I am returning to the Father.
Gospel of St. John
Assignment for March 20 2011
Read Chapter 15 verses 1-6
Consider the following questions:
Read Chapter 15 verses 7-16
Consider the following questions: