John14

Jesus comforts His disciples, promising a place in His Father's house and His return to receive them. He declares Himself "the way, the truth, and the life," through whom alone one comes to the Father, emphasizing His unity with the Father. He promises "another Comforter," the Spirit of truth, to abide with them forever. Jesus also leaves His peace with them, urging them not to let their hearts be troubled.
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Jesus Prepares a Place for His Disciples

1
Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. ​
2
In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. ​
3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. ​
4
And whither I go, ye know the way.

Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

5
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way? ​
6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. ​
7
If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8
Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

The Father Revealed in the Son

9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? ​
10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. ​
11
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

The Power of Works and Prayer

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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 the Father. ​
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 anything in my name, that will I do.
15
If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit (The Comforter)

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And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, ​
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even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you. ​
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I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you. ​
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Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also.
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In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him. ​
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Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto him, Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? ​
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Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. ​
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He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
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These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you.
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But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. ​

Peace and Obedience before Departure

27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. ​
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Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I. ​
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And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe.
30
I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me; ​
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but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. ​

Study Notes for John 14

Verse 1

The context is the distress of the disciples following Jesus’ prediction of betrayal (13:21) and Peter’s denial (13:38). The remedy for a 'troubled heart' is faith, both in God and in Jesus as the divine Son.

Verse 2

The term 'mansions' (Gk: *monai*) is better translated as 'dwelling places' or 'rooms.' This assures the disciples that there is a permanent, secure place prepared for them in the presence of the Father.

Verse 3

I will come again refers primarily to the future Second Coming of Christ, but also includes the spiritual return via the Holy Spirit and his immediate presence upon death.

Verse 5

Thomas’s literal question shows the disciples still did not fully grasp the spiritual nature of Jesus’ departure or the heavenly destination.

Verse 6

This is the climactic 'I Am' statement in the Gospel of John, asserting Jesus’ exclusive and essential mediation. He is the ultimate means (*the way*), reality (*the truth*), and source of eternal existence (*the life*).

Verse 9

Jesus asserts his full divine revelation. To have seen the Son is to have received the perfect image and representation of the Father’s nature and character.

Verse 10

This verse describes the mutual indwelling (*perichoresis*) between the Father and the Son, emphasizing that Jesus’ words and works are not separate but flow directly from the Father who dwells in him.

Verse 12

Greater works refers not necessarily to more spectacular miracles, but to the widespread, global scope of the church's ministry (evangelism, conversion, healing) enabled by the power of the ascended Christ and the Spirit.

Verse 13

To ask in my name means praying according to Jesus’ authority, character, and redemptive purpose, ensuring that the request aligns with the Father’s will and results in His glory.

Verse 16

Another Comforter (Gk: *Parakletos*) means 'one called alongside,' often translated as Advocate, Helper, or Counselor. This Spirit will replace Jesus’ physical presence and abide permanently with believers.

Verse 17

The Spirit of truth is unrecognized by the world because the world lacks the spiritual capacity (discernment) necessary to receive him. For the disciples, the Spirit shifts from being 'with you' (external) to 'in you' (indwelling).

Verse 18

I will come to you refers to the resurrection appearances, but primarily to the inward, spiritual presence of Christ mediated by the Holy Spirit (Pentecost).

Verse 21

Love for Jesus is demonstrated through obedience to his commands, which results in a reciprocal relationship: the Father’s love, Jesus’ love, and a personal manifestation of Christ to the believer.

Verse 22

Judas (not Iscariot, likely Thaddaeus) asks this question because the disciples still expected a public, political manifestation of the Messiah to the nation, not a private manifestation to a few followers.

Verse 23

We will come unto him, and make our abode with him is the answer to Judas’s question. The manifestation is spiritual and relational, confirming that the Father and Son, through the Spirit, indwell the obedient believer.

Verse 26

The Holy Ghost performs two key functions: teaching new truths and bringing to remembrance the teachings of Jesus, thereby ensuring the accuracy and authority of the apostolic witness.

Verse 27

My peace contrasts the inner, lasting tranquility Christ offers with the superficial, conditional peace offered by the world. It is a peace that remains even amid tribulation.

Verse 28

My Father is greater than I acknowledges Jesus’ functional subordination in his incarnate state, where he operates under the Father’s authority, while maintaining equality in divine nature.

Verse 30

The prince of this world is Satan. Jesus asserts that Satan has no claim or power over him, making Jesus’ upcoming death a voluntary act of obedience, not a defeat.

Verse 31

Arise, let us go hence signals the conclusion of the discourse in the upper room, beginning the movement toward Gethsemane and the events of the Passion.

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