Jesus the Way to the Father

141 " Do not let your heart be troubled ; believe in God , believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places ; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself , that where I am , there you may be also .

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 but through Me. 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 so long e with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip ? He 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 initiative , but the Father abiding 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, he who believes in Me, the works that I do , he will do also ; and greater works than these he will do ; because I go to the Father . 13 " Whatever you ask in My name , that will I do , so that the Father may be glorified in the Son . 14 "If you ask Me anything in My name , I will do it.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

15 " If you love Me, you will keep My commandments . 16 "I will ask the Father , and He will give you another Helper , that He may be with you forever ; 17 that is the Spirit of truth , whom the world cannot e receive , because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

18 "I will not leave you as orphans ; I will come to you. 19 " After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live , you will live also . 20 " In that day you will know that I am in My Father , and you in Me, and I in you. 21 " He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father , and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot ) said to Him, "Lord , what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world ?" 23 Jesus answered and said to him, " If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word ; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep 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 abiding with you. 26 "But the Helper , the Holy Spirit , whom the Father will send in My name , He will teach you all things , and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 " Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled , nor let it be fearful .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 14:1-27

Commentary on John 14:1-11

(Read John 14:1-11)

Here are three words, upon any of which stress may be laid. Upon the word troubled. Be not cast down and disquieted. The word heart. Let your heart be kept with full trust in God. The word your. However others are overwhelmed with the sorrows of this present time, be not you so. Christ's disciples, more than others, should keep their minds quiet, when everything else is unquiet. Here is the remedy against this trouble of mind, "Believe." By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God and man, we gain comfort. The happiness of heaven is spoken of as in a father's house. There are many mansions, for there are many sons to be brought to glory. Mansions are lasting dwellings. Christ will be the Finisher of that of which he is the Author or Beginner; if he have prepared the place for us, he will prepare us for it. Christ is the sinner's Way to the Father and to heaven, in his person as God manifest in the flesh, in his atoning sacrifice, and as our Advocate. He is the Truth, as fulfilling all the prophecies of a Saviour; believing which, sinners come by him the Way. He is the Life, by whose life-giving Spirit the dead in sin are quickened. Nor can any man draw nigh God as a Father, who is not quickened by Him as the Life, and taught by Him as the Truth, to come by Him as the Way. By Christ, as the Way, our prayers go to God, and his blessings come to us; this is the Way that leads to rest, the good old Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life. All that saw Christ by faith, saw the Father in Him. In the light of Christ's doctrine, they saw God as the Father of lights; and in Christ's miracles, they saw God as the God of power. The holiness of God shone in the spotless purity of Christ's life. We are to believe the revelation of God to man in Christ; for the works of the Redeemer show forth his own glory, and God in him.

Commentary on John 14:12-17

(Read John 14:12-17)

Whatever we ask in Christ's name, that shall be for our good, and suitable to our state, he shall give it to us. To ask in Christ's name, is to plead his merit and intercession, and to depend upon that plea. The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of Christ's mediation, bought by his merit, and received by his intercession. The word used here, signifies an advocate, counsellor, monitor, and comforter. He would abide with the disciples to the end of time; his gifts and graces would encourage their hearts. The expressions used here and elsewhere, plainly denote a person, and the office itself includes all the Divine perfections. The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon the disciples of Christ, and not on the world. This is the favour God bears to his chosen. As the source of holiness and happiness, the Holy Spirit will abide with every believer for ever.

Commentary on John 14:18-24

(Read John 14:18-24)

Christ promises that he would continue his care of his disciples. I will not leave you orphans, or fatherless, for though I leave you, yet I leave you this comfort, I will come to you. I will come speedily to you at my resurrection. I will come daily to you in my Spirit; in the tokens of his love, and visits of his grace. I will come certainly at the end of time. Those only that see Christ with an eye of faith, shall see him for ever: the world sees him no more till his second coming; but his disciples have communion with him in his absence. These mysteries will be fully known in heaven. It is a further act of grace, that they should know it, and have the comfort of it. Having Christ's commands, we must keep them. And having them in our heads, we must keep them in our hearts and lives. The surest evidence of our love to Christ is, obedience to the laws of Christ. There are spiritual tokens of Christ and his love given to all believers. Where sincere love to Christ is in the heart, there will be obedience. Love will be a commanding, constraining principle; and where love is, duty follows from a principle of gratitude. God will not only love obedient believers, but he will take pleasure in loving them, will rest in love to them. He will be with them as his home. These privileges are confined to those whose faith worketh by love, and whose love to Jesus leads them to keep his commandments. Such are partakers of the Holy Spirit's new-creating grace.

Commentary on John 14:25-27

(Read John 14:25-27)

Would we know these things for our good, we must pray for, and depend on the teaching of the Holy Ghost; thus the words of Jesus will be brought to our remembrance, and many difficulties be cleared up which are not plain to others. To all the saints, the Spirit of grace is given to be a remembrancer, and to him, by faith and prayer, we should commit the keeping of what we hear and know. Peace is put for all good, and Christ has left us all that is really and truly good, all the promised good; peace of mind from our justification before God. This Christ calls his peace, for he is himself our Peace. The peace of God widely differs from that of Pharisees or hypocrites, as is shown by its humbling and holy effects.