John 14
Summary for John 14:1-31: 14:1-31 a Jesus provided answers to his disciples’ many spoken and unspoken concerns. 14:1 b Jesus had himself been troubled (Greek tarassō) on three occasions (11:33 c; 12:27 d; 13:21 e). His confidence in God’s power made it possible for him to face these crises. Faced with the upsetting words of 13:33 f, the disciples confronted similar feelings.• Trust (or believe, or have faith) in God: Only trusting God would help them through his hour of death.
14:2 g There is more than enough room in my Father’s home: God’s house is the dwelling place where he resides (Rev 21:9–22:5 h). The word translated “room” is related to the Greek verb meaning “remain, abide, dwell.” Jesus promises that his followers will have a place to “dwell” alongside him, wherever he is. Later, this “dwelling” becomes a place of “indwelling” as Jesus makes his home in his followers’ hearts through the Spirit (John 14:23 i).
14:3 j Some scholars believe that Jesus meant he would come and get his followers after the resurrection (14:18 k). Others think these words refer to Jesus’ second coming. For the disciples, the more important coming was Jesus’ return from the grave (ch 16 l).
14:6 m I am: See study note on 6:35. Access to the Father’s presence is only through Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
• The way to the Father is only through Jesus. Other religions and philosophies propose different avenues to God, but Jesus asserted that he is the one exclusive path to God.
• Jesus is the truth because God is truth.
• God is the source of eternal life. At Lazarus’s tomb, Jesus showed his divine power over life and death (11:25 n).
14:8 o Philip did not yet understand that in Jesus he was seeing the full embodiment of God (14:9 p).
14:9 q Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! Cp. 1:1-2 r. Jesus Christ is God-in-the-flesh (1:14 s), which explains his capacity to accomplish divine works. Jesus did not simply teach about God; in him God can be found. Jesus’ remarkable statement echoed what he had said at Hanukkah: “The Father and I are one” (10:30 t). This claim is at the root of the world’s opposition to Christ (5:18 u).
14:10 v Jesus’ claims were astonishing (10:30 w, 37-38 x). Yet true faith recognizes Jesus’ union with God the Father.
14:12 y Jesus promised that anyone who believes in him would perform great miracles and experience answers to their prayers (see 1 Jn 5:14 z). These things would become possible when Jesus went to the Father, because he would send the Holy Spirit to empower the works (John 14:16 aa).
• The greater works will not outdo Jesus’ work, but regular people empowered by the Spirit will be doing them. God promised that in the era of the Spirit, he would bring his Kingdom and power into the world in a way not seen before.
14:15 ab If you love me: Because Jesus loves the Father, he is obedient to what God directs him to say and do (12:49 ac). If we love him, we will obey him too (14:21 ad, 23 ae; 15:10 af, 14 ag; see 1 Jn 2:3-4 ah; 5:2 ai).
14:16 aj another Advocate: The Spirit continues Jesus’ work by advising, defending, and protecting believers.
14:17 ak The Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth (literally the Spirit of truth; see also 15:26 al; 16:13 am), communicates the truth about God. The Spirit maintains Jesus’ presence in the world, duplicating and sustaining Jesus’ work.
14:18 an Jesus had already assured his followers that they would not be spiritual orphans and that he would return to them (14:1-4 ao). While he is away, they will be filled with the Spirit, who will sustain them with his presence (14:12-17 ap).
14:20 aq Jesus’ resurrection (14:19 ar) inaugurated his spiritual union with his disciples, which is parallel to the union he enjoys with the Father (see 15:4-5 as; 1 Jn 1:3 at).
14:22 au Several men are named Judas in the New Testament. Judas, the brother of Jesus, (Mark 6:3 av) wrote the epistle of Jude. Judas, the son of James, whom John is referring to here, is listed as an apostle in Luke 6:16 aw; he is elsewhere identified as Thaddaeus (Matt 10:3 ax; Mark 3:18 ay).
• Lord, why? Judas posed an important question. If Jesus planned to return mightily from death, why not use the opportunity to reveal himself definitively to the world and validate his power and identity?
Summary for John 14:23-24: 14:23-24 az Jesus answered Judas’s question, explaining that his coming would be a profound spiritual revelation beyond the world’s grasp.
• Jesus’ coming would occur in three experiences: his resurrection, the coming of the Spirit, and his second coming. When he comes in the Spirit, he and the Father will reside within believers, making a home with each of them (see study note on 14:2).
14:26 ba Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit (see also 14:16 bb; 15:26 bc; 16:7 bd, 12-14 be).
• The Spirit will teach ... everything, recalling Jesus’ words and clarifying their meaning. John experienced this power as he wrote his Gospel (2:22 bf); Christians experience this work of the Spirit as they read the Scriptures.
14:27 bg The Jewish greeting peace (Hebrew shalom) captured the spirit of Jesus’ work on earth to restore humanity’s relationship with God (Isa 9:6-7 bh; 52:7 bi; 57:19 bj; Rom 5:1 bk). The resurrection (John 14:28 bl) and the Spirit were instrumental in achieving this work.
14:28 bm the Father, who is greater than I am: See also 5:19-20 bn. Jesus is submissive to the Father but is also one with the Father (10:30 bo).
14:30 bp The events unfolding in Jerusalem that led to the cross were not controlled by the ruler of this world, meaning Satan. The cross was not an accident, and Jesus was not a helpless victim. Rather, Jesus was obedient to God’s plan.
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