Tag Archive | I am the Way

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (8/6) John 14:1-14

Aug6

Read and believe in Jesus

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.” John 14:1

The Gospel according to John

REVIEW – Jesus and His disciples are closed off from the world in the upper room for the Passover meal. Judas is gone, and now Jesus turns to His “little children” to begin a very intimate time of personal teaching. He gives them a new, specific commandment for believers in Christ: ‘Love one another AS I have loved you.’ Jesus loved them to the end (death), and that’s what He is asking them to do for each other. This sacrificial love is what will “wow” the world and show them that Jesus IS real.

Peter is dismayed when Jesus tells them He’s going away and they can’t come with Him. Peter vows to die with Jesus, but Jesus is speaking not only of His physical death, but His death on the cross, as their substitute, the sinless “sinner,” lifted up on a cross, upon whom the wrath of God for sin will be poured out…once for all time. (Hebrews 9:26-29, 1 Peter 3:18 – yes, Peter finally gets it!)

And… Jesus gives Peter a “wake-up call” that keeps him silent for the rest of the evening – “YOU will deny me 3X tonight!!”

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John 14:1-7.

Jesus turns to the eleven and says gently,

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I 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 will take you to myself, that … where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I’m going.”

Thomas, the loving but melancholy disciple (who had vowed to go into danger in Judea even if it meant he would die), says anxiously, “Lord! We do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? ”

Jesus reminded Thomas that it was not a “road” but a “person” that would lead them to that heavenly mansion and His Father. “I am the WAY, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Did Thomas nod thoughtfully at this?

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John 14:8-11.

Jesus continues, looking around at his men. “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you DO know Him and have SEEN Him.”

It’s Philip’s turn now, and he asks, perhaps scratching his head, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”


Did Jesus sigh and look toward the ceiling? “Have I been with you so long, and you STILL do not know me, Philip?” Jesus asks His confused disciple.

“Whoever has seen ME has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ 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 authority, but the Father who dwells in me does His works.”

Then perhaps Jesus turns to the rest of the men and says, “Believe ME that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe on account of the works themselves.”

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John 14:12-14

Jesus now challenges them. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works (miracles) that I do, and greater works than these will he do.” (How?) “Because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

“If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it.”

Wow!!

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(Were the disciples as glassy-eyed as I am now, with more to come? This was a lot to take in for the Eleven. I mean, A LOT! )

Thomas and Philip have been speaking up for us, asking those hard questions, but Peter sits with his chin cupped in his hand, staring at his plate, with a very anxious and scared look on his face. He mumbles, ‘Betray Him three times?’

John‘s mind is busy, his eyes and ears wide open, wishing he had a scroll and quill, and thinking how he will remember all this to write down later for his gospel. (He will soon hear Jesus tell of the Holy Spirit’s super help!)

Nathaniel is scouring his brain for Old Testament prophecies that agree with what Jesus is saying, and nodding when some come to his memory. “Yes… and yes…” he murmurs.

James, the other ‘son of thunder,’ is perhaps thinking of that stunning event on Mt. Tabor when Jesus was transfigured before their eyes, and the voice of the Father thundered. Yes… he could see how Jesus and the Father are one together; in glorious light and majesty! “I can’t wait to share in that heavenly glory!” he thought.

Matthew gasps quietly as Jesus talks, seeing how all the things He’s saying relate to His parables of “the kingdom,” and how, when Jesus’ followers will pray and ask Him, and instantly get help… the kingdom of Heaven will surely come quickly!

Simon’s zealot heart pounds in his chest. We will do greater works than the Master?! We can ask whatever we will for “the cause of Christ” and for “His glory,” and the Master will hear and answer? “Glory Hallelujah!” Nothing can stop us!

Andrew‘s thoughts go back to the grassy hillside when the hunger of thousands of people touched Jesus’ compassionate heart. He remembers the little boy with a cloth sack over his shoulder pulling at his sleeve and offering the meager lunch to the Master. Andrew remembers bringing the lad to Jesus, and… that miracle that followed. YES! Andrew believes Jesus is the Messiah both because of His words and also because of His works… His miracles. ‘And WE are to do greater ones?’ OH!

Alphaeus’ son, James, keeps his thoughts to himself, but watches his ‘possible brother’ (compare Mark 2:14 with Acts 1:13), Levi’s (Matthew’s) ink-stained fingers as he lifts his hands in silent praise.

The “other Judas,” the son of James, is also listening silently, but he will speak a question later in the chapter. (14:22).

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 315

Nov11

     Days 315—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

NOTE:  For THIS WEEK, the Sunday and Monday studies will be posted separately because they are lengthy.

 Day 315 – John 14-17. (Jesus teaches, warns, and encourages the eleven, His high-priestly prayer)

John includes private and precious teaching by Jesus to His disciples before the horrors of arrest, trials, and the crucifixion. Read these chapters and ponder all that Jesus said and prayed.

John 14. Teachings and Q & A by the disciples.

The disciples don’t understand what is coming soon to Jesus and to them although Jesus has stated clearly that He is going to be tortured and killed. Nevertheless He speaks peace and hope to them. “Don’t be afraid. I go to prepare a place for you and I will come again and take you to myself, when I am.”

Thomas: “Lord, we do not know where you’re going, how can we know the way?”  “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me, and you have known my Father.”

Philip: “”Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough.” “Have I been so long with you and you still don’t know? Whoever has see me and seen the Father. The Father and I are one.”  “He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will manifest myself to him.”

Judas (not Iscariot): “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us and not to the world?”  “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him and WE will come to him and make our home with him.”

Then Jesus teaches them about the “Helper,” the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send to them. “He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. I’m leaving you my peace. Don’t be afraid.”

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John 15. The vineyard example. Persecution. More about the Holy Spirit.

Jesus gives them a private parable. He compares Himself to a vine, the true vine. He tells them that His Father is the vinedresser/vineyard keeper.  He cuts off dead and unproductive branches, and prunes back the fruitful ones so they will bear more grapes.

Jesus tells them that they (and believers today) are branches. He urges them to stay connected (abide) in Him so they will bear a lot of fruit for the Master. (They can produce NO fruit unless connected to Him.) Jesus tells them that He chose them and appointed them to go and bear fruit, and that that fruit would be lasting forever.

“Abide in ME. Bear MUCH fruit. Prove to be my disciples! And so glorify my Father.”

Jesus tells them to also abide in His words and in His love. And their prayers will be answered. A way to abide in His love is by keeping his commandments (as He kept the Father’s.) He promises them abundant joy by abiding in Him, loving Him, and obeying Him.

Specifically, Jesus tells them to LOVE EACH OTHER as He has loved them — sacrificially, laying down their lives for each other.

Jesus then warns them that the world systems will HATE them as they hated Him and hated God.  They will persecute and kill the disciples, as they will do to Him….and without a cause. (Psalm 35:19m 69:4)

Again Jesus encourages them by telling them of their Helper, the Holy Spirit who will be sent by the Father. He is the Spirit of Truth and He will witness about Jesus through them, even in persecution.

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John 16. Reason for warning them, More on the Holy spirit and joy, more Q&A.

Jesus’ disciples WILL be persecuted. People will think they are doing God a service by killing them (Like Paul did. Acts 9:1-2.)

Jesus tells them He is going away, back to the Father who sent Him.  He knows they are sorrowful, but the truth is, it is to their advantage, because when He goes, the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will come to them.  The Spirit will convict the world about sin, righteousness and judgment.  He will guide them into all truth because He will speak only what He hears. He will tell them about things to come. He will glorify Jesus.

The disciples: “What is this that He says to us – a little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me; and because I am going to the father. What does He mean? We don’t know what He is talking about!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. You have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”   “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to My Father.”

Disciples: “Ah, now you speak plainly and not using figurative speech.  Now we know. Now we believe.

“Do you now believe?

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John 17. Jesus prays to His Father for them (and us).

Jesus prays that He will glorify His Father in His “hour” to come. He says he has accomplished all that the Father told Him to do so far. And He prays that He will do it to the end.

He states that “And this is Eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

He prays for the disciples, that God would keep them in His name and make them become one. He prays God will keep them from the evil one and sanctify them in the truth, which is God’s word.

“O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You, and these know that You have sent Me. I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”