As Jesus is preparing to go to the cross, He wanted to spend some valuable time talking with His disciples.
- As Jesus left Bethany, He had a triumphal entry into Jerusalem and met with His disciples to share His last Passover meal with them.
- Luke 22:19-20 tells us that after supper, He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”
- Then He said the one who would betray Him was at the table with Him.
- Jesus said it had been determined that He would die, but woe to the man by whom He is betrayed.
- Perplexed about whom He spoke, they all began to question among themselves and looked at one another.
- As they were looking at one another, a dispute arose over who was the greatest among them. While they were disputing, Jesus arose from the meal and washed the disciples feet.
John 13:21 NET When He had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, “I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray Me.”
Peter asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus said, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” Then He gave the bread to Judas Iscariot. After Judas received the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said, “What you do, do quickly,” and Judas immediately went out into the night. The room must have been filled with strong emotions. None of them could believe what was happening.
John 13:33 NKJV Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.
Simon Peter asked, “Where are you going?” Jesus said, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” Simon Peter was feeling bold and committed and said, “Why can I not follow You now? Lord, I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake?”
Luke 22:31-34 NKJV And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Jesus informed them that before the dawn of the next day all of these events would transpire. While their emotions are in turmoil and they are filled with uncertainty and doubt, Jesus speaks to them.
John 14:1 NKJV “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”
This message is applicable to every believer. This chapter offers His comfort for troubled times. Jesus was telling those He loves, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” This is a challenge in troubled times when emotions are high and there is impending doom.
Jesus just told them that He was going where they could not come, (John 13:33).
None of them understood what Jesus was saying. They wanted things in their lives to continue as they had been. After telling them this, Jesus gives these words.
John 14:1-4 NKJV Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would 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 receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
This is a good word for anyone facing distressful and uncertain times. Jesus is telling us, ‘don’t let what happens destroy your faith in the Father or in Him.’ God’s plan will not fail.
During this lesson, Jesus gives several promises to believers.
He promised to prepare a place in heaven and to return. He promised to send the Holy Spirit, spiritual power, answered prayer, and peace. Each of these promises are necessary for us to survive in distressing times. When we are distressed, we need to know that He has not abandoned us. Satan wants to destroy our faith and cause us to think that Jesus has forsaken His own. The good news is, the promise still stands and God is faithful.
To assure us that we are not alone, Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit. The abiding presence of the Holy Spirit gives assurance that the words that have been spoken remain true. Jesus has also given us a sure word of prophecy and great promise that He is going to return for His own.
There are some key words that we should consider in this text.
First look at the words, “In My Father’s house.”
The Father’s house is the place where God abides. Heaven is God’s abode. Heaven refers to several things in the Bible. It refers to the sky and everything above the earth. The predominant meaning of the word “heaven” is the place where God dwells.
Jesus is telling us “there is a place called heaven.”
Heaven is the abode of almighty God and a myriad of angels. Heaven is the place of eternal hope for the redeemed. When Jesus was telling His disciples that He was going to a place they could not come now, He was talking about heaven. He told Peter, “You will join me later.” Here in John 14, Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you… that where I am, there you may be also.” 1 Peter 3:22 tells us that Jesus has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God. The hope of all believers is one day we will go and dwell in a place that God has prepared for us. Heaven is a unique place where God Almighty reveals His glory and majesty.
Scripture describes a beautiful city of gold that God has prepared for those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ.
It is a beautiful city of gold that has gates of pearl and walls are jasper. The twelve foundations of the wall are adorned with all kinds of precious stones. Each side of the city measures 1,400 miles and the wall of the city is 200 feet thick. The wealth and beauty of that city is beyond compare. It is a place where the tree of life yields its fruit every month. There is no need of the sun to shine for the Lamb of God is the light. Heaven is a place of glory and honor and worship. The prayers of the saints will be offered up with much incense on a golden censer to God and the Lamb.
We will worship God with a new song in heaven.
Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
Revelation 15:3 NKJV They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!
Revelation 22:3-5 NET And there will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship Him, and they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.
In Heaven, we will have perfect knowledge.
We have many unanswered questions here and now.
1 Corinthians 13:12 NET For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.
When we are in the presence of our Savior in heaven, we shall see in reality and face to face! Now we have an imperfect knowledge, but then we shall know and understand fully and clearly.
The quality of our life in heaven is beyond our ability to compare.
It will be a life without the burden and consequences of sin. It will be a life of fellowship and peace and joy with God.
Revelation 21:4 AMP God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.
This is beyond our experience in this life. These former things will pass away and will not be remembered or come to mind, (Isaiah 65:17). We shall see His face and we shall be like Him.
Jesus wants all believers to know that there is a place provided for them in the Father’s house.
- Heaven is a place of rest from our labors.
- It is a place of reward and glory.
- Our new home is a place of celebration, praise and worship.
- Our works will follow us into that place.
- Heaven is not like this world.
- Think about the glory that awaits when we will be free of the curse of sin and death.
- In heaven there is no sickness, dying or death.
- Heaven is a place of healing and life.
- Heaven is a place of worship.
- Just thinking about heaven makes us want to join with the multitudes in heaven and say: “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!”
John 14:1–2 NKJV Jesus said: 1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:5 NET Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
That is the problem with many people. We don’t know where heaven is and we don’t know how to find the Father’s House. Jesus had the answer for Thomas and anyone that wants to know.
John 14:6 NKJV Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Jesus is the way to the Father. He is also the truth and the life. No one can come to God another way. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Jesus does not tell them about the way to heaven, nor does He show them the way. He does not even guide them along the way. He says: “I am the Way!”
If you want to come to the Father, you must come through Jesus Christ the Son of God.
If you want to go to heaven, you must know the Way. There are many things we don’t fully understand or know. What Jesus said should settle our doubts, fears, and questions. If you have Jesus, you have found the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
John 14:8 NET Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content.”
John 14:9-11 NKJV Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
In the midst of all that you go through, don’t lose sight of all the things that the Lord has done. Constantly remind yourself of the things the Lord has done.
His works give evidence to Who He is.
- Has He saved and cleansed you?
- Has He turned your life around?
- Has He healed and supplied your need?
- Has He comforted and guided?
- Has He protected and kept?
John 14:12-14 NKJV 12 “Most assuredly, 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 My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus said: “greater works!”
What is Christ saying? He is saying that if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, there will be a viable, living, and dynamic testimony of the power of the resurrected Christ in you.
Jesus was saying that when He goes back to the Father, the Holy Spirit will come down.
Jesus is making a promise to believers. He is telling us that when we receive His Spirit, we will be His agents and start acting in power like His agents. When we take a stand using His Name, He is going to accomplish the work. The promise of answered prayer is based on the believer acting as the Lord’s agents. We have unlimited resources available to do God’s works. We are linked to Him to accomplish “greater works.” The unlimited resources come from the resurrected Lord through the power of the Spirit that is working in us. It is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead that is working in us.
What happened in the first generation of the Church is a demonstration of what is possible now.
The Holy Spirit came upon them and they were empowered to represent the resurrected Christ. The good news was spread throughout their known world and great signs and miracles were done in Jesus’ name. They ministered with the same authority and anointing. Even during persecution, the early church found comfort in the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. These “greater works than these” things are unlimited resources that are available through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants His church to do greater things than you are able to do without Him.
The Lord has given many promises in these verses.
- He does not want you to be overwhelmed, troubled or discouraged, but made strong.
- The Lord has promised a place called heaven and has prepared a place for you.
- He has promised the Holy Spirit and His power for all believers.
- Whatever you need, Jesus said, “If you will believe…”
