John 14
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; [You 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? [ In my Father's house are many rooms; 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 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.” [Where I am going you know, and the way you know ] 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. [If you have known me, you will know 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.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, [Advocate, or Counselor] to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered 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 home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still 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 have 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. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
3 days ago we read Ecclesiastes 7, Solomon's circular opinions on seeking wisdom, where he is paraphrasing the parable Jesus told of the dishonest manager - the children of this world are more shrewd than children of God. The main lesson of Ecclesiastes 7 tells us all people, in all situations in life, have more difficulties than we know. We are told to practice compassion and seek to avoid being wasteful or foolish. It is a unique viewpoint of a king giving his honest opinion of a lifetime of judging all situations.
Yesterday, Ecclesiastes 8 tells us life isn't fair, circumstances do not reveal if we are evil or good. Solomon after years of judging Israel, seeing the suffering of life, is not without hope God's plan is for good. He could have become very distant or bitter, but Solomon wants us to know what he has observed in life and is hopeful.
To hear today we get to read John 14.... is the Father speaking on life through His Son. I love John 14. So full of the joy of the Spirit. Let's look at this as a love letter:
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in me, I am preparing a place for you. You know. You know me and you know my Father. Because you believe in me, allow the Counselor, the Helper to dwell in you to do the works of our Father. Look for, allow and rejoice in the peace God gives us.
You are not alone, you are not orphaned, the world does not see me, but you know and believe. Keep the word of God, do His commandments, let goodness and mercy flow from you.
In John 14, Jesus isn't saying the world is a rough place, just accept it. No, the opposite. Jesus says how much He loves us and we should be prayerful. Jesus asks us to pray with expectant hearts and souls. John 14 tells us how much God can accomplish with expectant prayer. This is an amazing chapter filled with the power of God and the understanding of Scripture.
Thank you, Father God, for the works you have shown us in the Scriptures. Open our eyes to the possibilities you would give us. Help us to see and know Your word and work for each day. Let us be the goodness and mercy you would have us show. To the Glory of Your name, which You willing bestow on us, Your children. In Jesus' name. Amen.
<><
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment