The Passage
John 14:1-14
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. 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.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever 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 authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Word Work
Put it in your own words. Read the passage or verse slowly, then rewrite each phrase or sentence using your own words.
Word Thoughts:
Having withdrawn from the crowds of Jerusalem, Jesus pours his time and efforts into his band of apostles—whose lives and witness will be an extension of his own. In comforting his disciples, Jesus gives us an extraordinary summary of who he is and what he came from heaven to do on our behalf. Though most often read at funerals, these familiar words prepare us for life long before we face death. Present relationship, comfort, and security with Jesus is being stressed more so than our future place of residence.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. By boldly affirming these three categories, we can see how Jesus fulfills the three main offices God provided for his covenant people: prophet, priest, and king. As prophet, Jesus is the truth of the Father—he is the Word made flesh, the final word God has spoken to his people (Heb. 1:2). As priest, Jesus is the way to the Father—he is both the sacrifice for our sins and the Mediator of the new covenant (Heb. 12:24). As king, Jesus is the life from the sovereign giver of life, the eternal Father—who gives life now and in the coming age for eternity (Heb. 6:5). He is the King whom the Father has already installed in Zion (Ps. 2:6) and the ruler over the kings of the earth (Rev. 1:5).
The promise of “greater works” presupposes Jesus’ ongoing work in the world, as prophet, priest, and king—by which his purposes will be amplified by his multiplying believers and expanding the church. As the head of the church and the reigning King, Jesus continues his work in the world through his people indwelt by his Spirit. Our work for Jesus is really our work with Jesus. He is the One making all things new, and he does so in us and through us. He has made us to be a “kingdom, priests to his God and Father” (Rev. 1:6) (1)
Word Reflection:
- What stood out?
- Why is Jesus telling them not to let their hearts be troubled?
- Why can no one come through the Father except through Jesus?
- When Jesus says ask anything in my name, does He really mean anything?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
End in Prayer
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