Two Comforts and Three Questions from John 14

John 14:

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. ² In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. ⁴ And you know the way where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Oneness with the Father

⁷ If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

⁸ Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works. ¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. ¹² Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

¹⁵ “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

¹⁶ I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; ¹⁷ the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.

¹⁸ “I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you. ¹⁹ After a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live. ²⁰ On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you. ²¹ The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” ²² Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” ²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him. ²⁴ The one who does not love Me does not follow My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

²⁵ “These things I have spoken to you while remaining with you. ²⁶ But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful. ²⁸ You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. ³⁰ I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in regard to Me, ³¹ but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let’s go from here. *

In this world, we have experienced unprecedented challenges: Economic downturns, global spread of viral disease, political and social unrest. In other areas we are also facing increased natural disasters such as increased intensity of cyclones, hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires and even locust and grasshopper swarms. This can be a time of anxiety, uncertainty, hostility and even loneliness.

As followers of Jesus, we have the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to comfort us in these times. It is worth spending time in the gospel of John reading through and meditating on chapter 14 where Jesus spends time comforting his disciples.

In this passage, as Jesus shares deep truths, three of Jesus’ disciples courageously ask him questions.

· In John 14:5, Thomas asked questions for clarity

· In John 14:8, Phillip asked Jesus for evidence

· In John 14:22, Judas (not Iscariot) asked questions for reasoning

There was no hesitation nor judgment in Jesus’ responses to their questions. He responded in ways that spoke comfort beyond this world and its circumstances. In fact, Jesus began and ended Chapter 14 with these words of comfort: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” (14:1 and 14:27b)

It is always worth noting when Jesus repeats a phrase. In between these two cosmic comforts, he supplies reassurance, gently reminders of who he is and what he has done and then firmly requires them to follow his teachings as proof of their devotion.

As followers of Jesus, we can claim these comforts as well.

· We can be reassured that He knows our fears and what we are going through

· We can be reminded of who he is and what he has done

· We have received his instructions for living through his commands and teachings

We have been given these eternal comforts through His Word and indwelling Holy Spirit.

How does realizing that Jesus knows your fears bring comfort to you?

How can you share this reassurance with someone else?

In this passage, Jesus made many statements about who he was and what he had done as proof. Once again, he knows that our minds can become filled with doubts, but he does not want that to stop us from being reassured. In 14:11b, he adds the phrase “or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves” (NIV). He realizes that doubts can creep into our minds along with confusion and questions.

How is this encouragement to you?

What questions and doubts can you bring to Jesus?

Jesus gave specific teachings and commands during his earthly ministry and his disciples had intimate access to these instructions. In this passage, he states three times: “If you love me, obey.” (paraphrased). Along with these emphatic requirements of obedience, he gives comforting promises. In 14:15, he promises the Holy Spirit to be with us forever, in 14:21 he promises the love of the Father and in 14:23 he promises an eternal home with the Father.

In what ways are you walking in obedience to the teaching and commands of Jesus?

Are there areas where you fall short?

Are you willing to ask the Lord to show you these areas?

Rest assured that when we truly turn away from those areas, he will completely forgive.

(1 John 1:9).

*New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.