John 13:36-14:14

July 6, 2014

Were studying through the book of John, and weve made it to the upper room. Jesus is
having the last supper with his disciples, and hes washed their feet to set an example of
love. He has to do this because hes getting ready to be crucified, and he wants his
disciples to be ready for his absence.

This statement that hes leaving now becomes the main topic:

Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I
go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

They dont understand where he plans to go, and he doesnt say plainly. Earlier he had
told them they cant follow, but now he adds a little more; they cant follow now, but they
will when their time on earth is done. But first, the time has to be right:

37
Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for
thy sake.
38
Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I
say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Ive often wondered what Jesus means when he says this. Whats the point? Certainly its
not to make him feel grief; his next words are let not your heart be troubled. One
possible reason is to show that hes in control, but I think theres more than that. When
we take the conversation as a whole we find this struggle between Jesus and the
disciples: he has to leave, but they want him to stay.

The first issue he deals with is Peters claim that hes ready to go with him even now.
No, Peter. Youre not ready to go now. You will be when the time is right, but first
youre going to deny me.

I suppose they had doubts when he said this, and I can picture the stormy, troubled look
on Peters face. He usually thinks he understands his master; hes ready to follow him to
the death, but this conversation is giving him a hard time.

Jesus knows this and responds accordingly:

14:1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

They heard Gods claim that Jesus is his Son, and they believed it. They know Jesus is the
king and messiah, but his talk isnt lining up with their expectations. How can he leave
when hes supposed to set up a throne? Isnt he supposed to be ruling and making peace?

2
In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go
to prepare a place for you.

This is the reason he has to leave.

Mansions is a poor translation thats led to some people thinking were all going to get
a golden palace when we get to heaven. The truth is that the Greek word means rooms
or apartments. So, what hes really saying is, In my Fathers house are many rooms.

Not only is this more fitting to New Testament theology (which says we shouldnt strive
for silver and gold), but its so much richer because we see all the saints of God dwelling
in one house with the Father. We really are one big family.

Jesus leaves the earth to go and prepare this place. Now, thats another interesting thing
because he should be able to just speak it into existence, right? I mean, if he could make
the earth and the heavens in only six days, then surely he should have this mansion
finished in 2,000 years. But dont think of him walking around heaven with blueprints
and a hammer. Remember what Peter said: But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing,
that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9
The Lord
is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to
us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pt.
3:8-9).

When Jesus goes to prepare a place, he goes into heaven and sits down until his enemies
are made his footstool. Time marches on until all of Gods elect repent and confess, and
then he will return to rule in the way the Jews first expected.

3
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.

This is a source of comfort for them. He goes away so that he can prepare their place.
Think of the high priest going into the Most Holy Place every year. He went through the
veil where no other man could follow, but when Jesus died, he tore the veil into:
signifying that the way into the holiest of all was now made manifest (Heb. 9:8).

And so, after leaving, he will return again at the right time to get them and take them to
the Father. But theres even more comfort for them:

4
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Theyre worried because hes leaving and because he says they cant go with him, but
theres no reason to be troubled. They already know where hes going and they know
how to get there. When the time is right. theyll follow.

But they dont quite get it just yet:

5
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we
know the way?
6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.

You can just picture the look on Thomas face when Jesus says, You know where Im
going and how to get there. He says, But wait! We actually dont know where youre
going. How can you say we know how to get there if we dont even know where it is?

But look at how Jesus answers him: I am the way. Now, heres something that they do
know. They cant follow him to heaven from earth, and they have no clue where it is
within creation, but they do know him. They believe in him, and theyve left everything
to follow. This, he says, is all it takes.

He is the way because he is the truth and the life. These two things are what all of
spiritual warfare is about, and theyre the very reason he came in the first place. The
serpent deceived Eve and then death came. The way to God was shut and unknown after
that. Mankind needed a redeemer to rescue them from error and death, and thats why
God promised a redeemer.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. This is enough to get a man to the Father, and
theres nothing else in existence that can do it. Christ alone is our hope and stay!

The reason why is found in what he says next:

7
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye
know him, and have seen him.

It sort of sounds like Jesus might be suggesting that Thomas didnt know him, but dont
miss the end of the sentence: from now on you do know him, and have seen him.

Jesus told them many times that he is the logo of God. No man has ever known the Father
(Mt. 11:27) or even laid eyes on him (Jn. 6:46), but if youve seen Gods logo, then youve
seen God. This is the whole reason for his coming, and it takes us back to the first few
verses of this gospel. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (1:14).

If a man sees Jesus, then he sees God because they are one and the same.

8
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9
Jesus saith unto
him, Have I been so long time with you, and 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?
10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the 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.
11
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else
believe me for the very works sake.

Philip believes in Christ, but he hasnt put it all together yet. He doesnt understand the
union between Father and Son, but Jesus gently corrects him saying, If you cant
recognize it by just looking at me, then think about all the miracles Ive done. Put it all
together; no mere man could do this on his own.

12
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.

This might seem a little out of place, but consider the verse before it: works prove union.
This is meant to be another source of comfort for these little children. They too will
have great works, but it wont be from their own power; it will be the power of God in
them. Anyone who believes in Christ will do these works because Christ has gone to
heaven and prepared a place for us there.

Now, there are a couple couple questions here. First, how does anyone do greater works
than Christ, and second, what about todays disciples? I doubt any of us have ever done
even a minor miracle, let alone something greater than what Christ did. How do we
explain that?

Well, its certainly debatable, but I think that conversion and salvation are bigger works
than the temporary miracles. Bearing the spiritual fruit of the Holy Spirit and walking in
a manner worthy of our calling is something that all Christians everywhere have in
common. Victory over death and sin and Satan are greater miracles, and this, I think, is
what Jesus means.

Dont miss the fact that its all because he goes to his father. These great works arent
because of our own personal holiness or because of our great faith. These great works are
done simply because he is the way, truth, and life and he has prepared a place for us and
guaranteed it by his sacrifice.

13
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be
glorified in the Son.
14
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Heres another verse that gives people a hard time because they take it by itself and use
it for their own purposes. But just keep it in context to determine what it means. Hes
leaving, and theyre afraid they wont know how to find him. His promise is that hes
coming back for them, and they can trust him because of all hes already shown.

If they have any doubts, they can just watch and see what God will do through them in
working great miracles, and they can be further comforted in the way he grants them
what they ask for.

Now, keep in mind that its according to things asked for in his name. These arent the
greedy demands that some people have made them out to be. When Christ came he put
the kingdom as his first priority. He did the things the Father wanted, and he did great
works in the Fathers name. When he was in the garden he prayed for the Fathers will to
be done before his own.

When we ask for things in Jesus name were talking about things related to the kingdom
and according to Gods will. This isnt a blank check to get whatever we want; its a
source of comfort showing that God is for us and were not left alone in this earth just
because Jesus isnt with us bodily.

So, the disciples will be left behind but its only for a short time and then theyll be with
him permanently. When we come back next time well see that they wont spend the
interim alone.

Until then we join with the rest of the saints in saying, Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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