John 14, Part 1

Jesus’ death would deliver troubled hearts. The disciples had reason to be troubled. Several things had just happened that would disturb any body of people.

⇒ Divisiveness had set in among them (see note—Lu. 22:24–30).

⇒ Desertion and betrayal by one of them was now known (Jn. 13:18f).

⇒ Separation from the Lord had been the topic of discussion (Jn. 13:33).

⇒ Denying Jesus had just been talked about (Jn. 13:38).

The scene needs to be clearly viewed, even felt in order to grasp the impact of what Jesus was about to say.

⇒ The disciples were greatly troubled (tarassestho): disturbed, agitated, perplexed, worried, tossed about, confused, distressed.

⇒ The disciples needed to be settled down and given some sense of peace: to receive some encouragement and some new hope.

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 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.

Deliverance from troubled hearts comes through belief in Jesus Christ as well as in God.

a. “You believe in God, believe also in Me. I Am the revelation of God, the Son of God Himself. Believing in me, that I am the Son of God, will deliver you from trouble.” (See notes—Jn. 14:6; 14:27 for discussion.)

b. “Believe in God; believe also in Me. Continuing to believe even while you are in the midst of trouble will carry you through. Believing in God and His Son will deliver your troubled hearts.”

Deliverance from troubled hearts comes through the hope for God’s house. Note several points.

a. Jesus called God “My Father.” He knew His Father just as any son knows his father. He knew the truth: His Father is, really does exist and live. (Cp. He. 11:6.) Note the claim to deity Jesus was making (see note—Jn. 1:51).

b. Jesus knew His Father’s house, the truth and reality of it. God’s house is real; it does exist. It is a real world that exists in another dimension of being, the spiritual dimension. It is named heaven, for it is His Father’s house. This world—the physical and material world—is the property of God, but it is not His house. This earth is not the eternal and permanent dwelling place of God. Heaven is the spiritual world or dimension of being, the home of God where the mansions for believers exist.

c. The word mansion (monai) means abiding place. It means places, residences, rooms, dwellings, areas, spaces for living. What a glorious hope! How much clearer could Jesus be: a place for every one of us—a place for every believer to dwell and live. Just as we have dwellings and homes here on earth, so Jesus promises us dwellings and homes (mansions) in heaven.

And note: there is no shortage. There are “many mansions.” (In the other gospels, Jesus talks a great deal about believers inheriting huge areas or places, even whole realms and kingdoms, which probably mean the heavenly bodies all throughout the universe that will be recreated in the new heavens and earth.

Note how Jesus stressed the truth and reality of “God’s house” and its “mansions”: “If it were not so, I would have told you.” Jesus did not lie. He told only the truth. Note something else: one thing is essential to inherit these mansions—belief in Christ.

Deliverance from troubled hearts comes through Jesus’ work. Picture Jesus seated in the Upper Room surrounded by His disciples. He said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” Where is He to go?

a. Jesus Christ went to the cross: to prepare redemption for us, even the forgiveness of sins.

b. Jesus Christ went to be raised from the dead: to prepare the conquest of death and a new life and power for us.

c. Jesus Christ went to ascend into heaven and be exalted: to prepare an access into the presence of God and an eternal home for us.

Such a magnificent work in our behalf is bound to deliver us from trouble. But remember that Jesus began by stating a condition: “Ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

Deliverance from troubled hearts comes through Jesus’ return. Note why He is to return: to receive us unto Himself. There are two times when Jesus comes for the believer.

a. There is death or the passing of the believer into heaven. Death is a private escort or a private presentation to the Lord (2 Co. 5:8). It is not the triumphant entrance and glorious march of victory which is promised when Jesus returns.

b. There is the return of Jesus Himself to gather all His dear followers unto Himself. It is this return of Himself to which He is referring in this passage.

Believers are to be glorified with the Father and Jesus. Such a glorious hope—meditating upon and grasping it—will carry a troubled soul through any trial, even the trial of martyrdom. But note again: believing in God and in His Son Jesus is the only way man can take part in His return.

Deliverance from troubled hearts comes through an eternal habitation with Jesus. Note the very reason Jesus will return to earth: “That where I am, there ye may be also.” Where is Jesus? Wherever He is, the very place He is, is exactly where we shall be. We shall be with Him—with our precious Lord forever—with Him who has saved us—with Him who has forgiven our sins despite their awfulness—with Him who has delivered us from the bondage of sin, death, and hell—with Him who has cared for us and guided us day by day—with Him who has shared and given us His presence. Again, we shall be with our wonderful Lord forever and ever.

John 14:4–7 ESV

4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can 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. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

This subject is a continuation of Jesus’ departure from this world. It is outlined separately because it is spurred on by another question, this one by Thomas. (See Jn. 13:36 for the first question by Peter.)

This is a critical passage—one of the most critical in all of Scripture. Jesus declared in unmistakable terms how a person gets to God, and He makes it clear: there is no other way to God.

Jesus’ destination is under discussion. He had shaken the disciples badly, discussing at length the fact that He was leaving them. This is, of course, a prediction of His death and ascension (Jn. 13:33, 36; 14:3, 4). Note two points.

a. Jesus told the disciples, “Where I go ye know, and the way ye know.” And they did, for He had told them time and time again.

1. “Where I go ye know”: He was going back to the Father from whom He had come.

2. “The way to get there you know”: through Him.

b. Thomas contradicted Jesus and spoke with skepticism.

⇒ We do not know where you are going.

⇒ How can we know the way?

Here sat the disciples, thinking that Jesus was about to lead them to set up the Kingdom of God on earth, freeing Israel and establishing it as the greatest nation on earth. Then all of a sudden He began to talk about going someplace; in addition, He insisted they could not follow Him.

They were, of course, thinking in terms of an earthly and temporal government, of worldly positions and power, of wealth and possessions, of pomp and ceremony. This was their problem. Jesus had told them where He was going in simple and clear terms. He had said frequently that He was …

• to die and rise again (see notes—Jn. 7:33–34; Mt. 16:21–28; 17:1–13; 17:22; 17:24–27)

• to go to the Father (see note—Jn. 7:33–34; see Jn. 8:14; 13:3; 14:2–3; 16:5, 10, 17)

However, they refused to accept the fact. The result was inevitable. They were misunderstanding what He was saying and doomed to fail in their allegiance to Him.

Thought 1. Note the contradiction and skepticism of the world even today. The world proclaims: “We do not know where God is, not really. Even if He exists, we can only seek Him the best we can, trying to find out just where He is. Every man must find and discover his own way and hope he has found it.”

Thought 2. The man who thinks in worldly terms and lives for the earth (position, power, wealth, honor, possessions) shall never know where Christ has gone nor how to get there. As Christ told Nicodemus, unless he was born again he would not “see the kingdom of God” nor “enter into the kingdom of God.”

The way to God is through Jesus Christ Himself. This is a critical verse, for Jesus said that no man could reach God unless he approached God through Jesus Himself. Note Jesus’ claim to deity: “I Am” (see note—Jn. 6:20). Jesus made three phenomenal claims.

a. I Am the Way (see DEEPER STUDY # 1, Jesus the Way—Jn. 14:6).

There is a difference between pointing the way to a particular place and taking someone by the hand to lead him there. The person who guides someone to his destination literally becomes the way himself. Jesus Christ not only points out how to walk through life and how to reach God, He personally shows the person the way. Therefore, He Himself is the Way. Note the repetition of the word “way” (v.4, 5, 6).

b. I Am the Truth (see DEEPER STUDY # 2, Jesus the Truth—Jn. 14:6).

There is a difference between telling someone about the truth and living the truth before them. The one who lives the truth literally becomes the truth.

1. Jesus Christ is the Embodiment of truth (Jn. 14:6). He is the picture of truth. God not only talks to man about Himself, God shows man what He is like in the person of Jesus Christ. Man can look at Jesus Christ and see a perfect picture of the truth of God.

2. Jesus Christ is the Communicator of truth. He Himself—His Person and His Life—makes things perfectly clear. He reveals the ultimate source and meaning and end of all things. He reveals the truth of man himself and of the world surrounding man. He shows man the right way to the truth, and He enables man to choose the right way to the truth.

3. Jesus Christ is the Liberator of truth (Jn. 8:32; 15:3). He sets men free from the great gulf (estrangement) which exists between man and God, between man and his world, and between man and man. He sets man free from the frustrations which he constantly experiences. He frees man from the fears and weaknesses and defects that plague him. Jesus Christ is the only lasting Liberator on earth.

c. I Am the Life (see DEEPER STUDY # 3, Jesus the Life—Jn. 14:6).

There is a difference between telling someone about life and actually living life. The one who lives is the one who possesses life, and the more perfect one lives, the more life one possesses. Jesus Christ lived perfectly; therefore, He possesses life perfectly. He is the Life: the very embodiment, energy, force, and source of life itself.

The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (see outline and notes—Jn. 10:7–10 for discussion). Note that the ultimate destination is God. Again, Jesus clearly said where He was going. He was going to “the Father.” He was not going to remain dead. He was going to arise and ascend to the Father. This was a picture of both the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

Now note: Jesus had just said He was going to His “Father’s house.” Now He said that He was going to “the Father” of the house. His destination was not so much the house, as glorious as the house is, but the Father Himself. The house without the Father would not be home; it would not be heaven.

This says something of vital importance to the believer. The believer’s primary objective is to go to the Father Himself, not to heaven, not to a place. The believer’s aim is to live in the Father’s presence forever.

a. The believer longs to know and ever learn of the Father personally …

• to know the Father face-to-face as his Father: as the One who created him, both physically and spiritually; as the One who loves the world so much that He would give His only Son to save mankind and provide so glorious a salvation

• to know the Father face-to-face as the Creator and Sustainer of all things: of all life and all worlds, of all universes and in all dimensions of being

• to know the Father face-to-face as the glorious Person who dwells in Light so brilliant and full of splendor that no man can approach Him

• to know the Father face-to-face as the Supreme Majesty of the universe: the Supreme Majesty both of this world and of the world to come; the King of kings and Lord of lords who is above all, before all, over all, and forever shall be

b. The believer longs to honor and worship the Father face-to-face: to praise the Father for Himself and for the wonderful privilege of life; to join in the praise of the universe which is to be given Him who is worthy of all praise, honor, glory, and worship forever and ever.

c. The believer longs to serve the Father face-to-face: to serve in perfection, without the blemishes and weaknesses so common in one’s life and ministry here on earth.

Thought 1. The destination of Jesus was “the Father” Himself. The believer has the same destination: the believer’s destination is “the Father,” the One who so willingly and graciously adopted him into the family of God.

The only way to God is now revealed, and it is revealed unmistakably. Jesus Christ Himself is the perfect revelation of God. If a man wishes to see exactly who God is and what God is like, he must look at Jesus Christ. The supreme revelation of Jesus Christ is that God is love (Jn. 3:16). And a God of love is bound to reveal the way, the truth, and the life in the most perfect picture possible. A God of love would never leave man in the dark, ever seeking, and never able to find and to know. (See notes—Jn. 1:18; 3:13; DEEPER STUDY # 1—3:31 for more discussion. Also see outlines and notes—Jn. 1:1–2; 1:14; 1:18.)

a. A God of love is bound (by absolute love) to show man THE WAY to Himself. As love, He would never leave man in the dark, feeling about and stumbling after the Way. Jesus Christ is THE WAY. Jesus Christ is the perfect picture of the Way.

b. A God of love is bound (by absolute love) to show man THE TRUTH about Himself. As love, He would never leave man in the dark, searching and grasping after the Truth. Jesus Christ is THE TRUTH. Jesus Christ is the perfect picture of the Truth.

c. A God of love is bound (by absolute love) to show man THE LIFE of Himself. As love, He would never leave man in the dark, wandering aimlessly about and being hopeless in seeking after the Life. Jesus Christ is THE LIFE. Jesus Christ is the perfect picture of the Life.

LEADERSHIP MINISTRIES WORLDWIDE: The Gospel according to John, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN : Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 2004