João 14
Bob Utley · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 14
Utley remarks that "The Bible is surprisingly silent about the afterlife. A good brief book is William Hendriksen's, The Bible On the Life Hereafter (BORROW)." (Another book you might consider borrowing is Erwin Lutzer's One Minute After You Die or Lutzer's other book Heaven and the afterlife : the truth about tomorrow and what it means for today) Jesus is coming to earth again – What if it were today? Coming in power and love to reign – What if it were today? Coming to claim His chosen Bride, All the redeemed and purified, Over this whole earth scattered wide – What if it were today? REFRAIN Faithful and true would He find us here, If He should come today? Watching in gladness and not in fear, If He should come today? Signs of His coming multiply, Morning light breaks in eastern sky; Watch, for the time is drawing nigh – What if it were today? REFRAIN Glory, glory! Joy to my heart 'twill bring; Glory, glory! When we shall crown Him King, Glory, glory! Haste to Prepare the way; Glory, glory, Jesus will come someday. Prepare (ready) (2090) hetoimazo from heteos = fitness - see study of related word hetoimasia) means to make ready, specifically to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity. Our English word prepare (from pre/prae = before + parare = to procure, to make ready) includes ideas such as to fit, adapt or qualify for a particular purpose, end, use, service or state, by any means whatever (eg, men and women are prepared to be disciples by being properly discipled! Webster's 1828 = "holiness of heart is necessary to prepare men for the enjoyment of happiness with holy beings."), to put in a proper state of mind (eg, a heart prepared to hear from the Lord in one's "quiet time"), to work out the details, to plan or make ready in advance usually for a particular use or disposition (eg, prepare the roads for a King's arrival, prepare strategy for a fund raising campaign, to prepare a meal, to prepare the table for entertaining company, to prepare to go, etc), to put together (eg, prepare a prescription), to put in written form (eg, prepare a sermon or doctoral thesis), to make ready for use or consideration, make or get ready to do or deal with something (eg, prepared to preach or teach this coming Sunday), to be prepared to do something, to be willing (and able) to do something, to equip or outfit as for an expedition (cp 2Ti 2:21). Mark 10:40+ “But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” Matthew 20:23+ He *said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” Place (opportunity, room) (5117) topos is literally a place, position, region (Mt 14:35; 26:52; Mk 1:35; 15:22; Lk 16:28; J 5:13; 11:48; 20:25; Ac 6:13; 12:17; 16:3; 27:2; 1 Cor 1:2; Rev 2:5. A room (Lk 2:7; 14:9, 22), In the plural = regions, districts (Mt 12:43; Mk 13:8; Ac 27:2) A place, passage in a book Lk 4:17. A position, office = Acts 1:25a. A possibility, opportunity, chance = Acts 25:16; Ro 12:19; 15:23; Eph 4:27; Heb 12:17 Topos can refer to an area of any size depending on the context. Receive (3880) paralambano from para = beside + lambano = appropriate, receive) (root-idea: to take over from another) means to receive from another, to receive alongside or to take to oneself (into close association). There are two basic ideas - to take or to receive. To take with one in order to carry away (eg, Jesus' reference to the Rapture in John 14:3 below where the taking also conveys a sense close fellowship and agreement associated with the receiving to Himself) Verses like John 14:3 should inspire in each of us "vertical vision." Vertical Vision is a Word centered, Spirit enabled mindset that is continually looking heavenward (Ge 15:5+), looking expectantly toward Christ (Heb 12:2+), looking toward future grace in eternity (1Pe 1:13+), looking toward your citizenship in heaven (Php 3:20+), looking toward all that is true and honorable and right (Php 4:8+), looking for the city which has foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God (Heb 11:10+, Jn 14:3+), a city which endures forever (Lk 21:33+). And the list goes on...and you can mark it down as an axiomatic truth that... EXPECTANT Looking Is a great "Antidote" for APATHETIC Living The Holy Spirit desires believers to be heavenly minded, not earthly minded, which is one reason that inspired approximately one of every 20-25 verses to speak directly or indirectly about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is axiomatic that what you are looking for will affect what you are living for. Or stated another way, Who you are looking for (Jesus), will (should) radically impact what (Who) you are living for. In short, a heavenly uplook toward God is one of the best antidotes for a godly outlook on earth. Stated another way vertical vision will motivate horizontal living and godliness. If you are looking for Jesus, the chances are very much increased that you will be living for Jesus. The choices you make each day can and will be radically impacted by such vertical vision. Look around and be distressed. Look inside and be depressed. Look at Jesus and be at rest. -- Corrie Ten Boom Vertical Vision is a simple, but powerful Biblical principle to motivate daily growth in Christlikeness! In Titus 2:13+ Paul says we are to be "looking for the Blessed Hope (Phillips = "the glorious dénouement") and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus." In the preceding passage Paul calls for us (enabled by the Spirit) to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present (passing, temporal) age! If you are looking for Jesus to return in Titus 2:13 (Vertical Vision), you are far more likely to be living for Him, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, and instead living sensibly, righteously and godly in this present evil age (Horizontal Living)! If we are continually looking for Him, His Spirit will give us the desire and the power (Php 2:13NLT+) to be continually living for Him. This future hope (absolute assurance God will do good to us in the future) empowers present behavior. Have you allowed the world to weigh you down and cause you to take your eyes off of His return? Are you living more for your passing pleasure than for His glorious appearing? Don't be downcast. Confess it. Repent. And begin to live as if His return could be today (because it COULD BE TODAY!). At Home in Jesus If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me. John 14:3 Today's Scripture & Insight : John 14:1-7 “There’s no place like home,” says Dorothy, clicking the heels of her ruby slippers. In The Wizard of Oz, that was all it took to magically transport Dorothy and Toto from Oz back to their home in Kansas. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough ruby slippers for everyone. Although many share Dorothy’s longing for home, finding that home—a place to belong—is sometimes easier said than done. One of the consequences of living in a highly mobile, transient world is a sense of detachment—wondering if we’ll ever find a place where we truly belong. This feeling may also reflect a deeper reality, expressed by C. S. Lewis: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” The night before the cross, Jesus assured His friends of that home, saying, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2). A home where we are welcomed and loved. What makes you feel at home and why? How does knowing Jesus will take you to be with Him forever help you live here on earth? God of love and grace, help me look forward to being at home with You, in Your presence, forever. At Home with Jesus I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me. John 14:3 “There’s no place like home.” The phrase reflects a deeply rooted yearning within us to have a place to rest, be, and belong. Jesus addressed this desire for rootedness when, after He and His friends had their last supper together, He spoke about His impending death and resurrection. He promised that although He would go away, He would come back for them. And He would prepare a room for them. A dwelling-place. A home. He made this place for them—and us—through fulfilling the requirements of God’s law when He died on the cross as the sinless man. He assured His disciples that if He went to the trouble of creating this home, that of course He would come back for them and not leave them alone (john 14:2–3). They didn’t need to fear or be worried about their lives, whether on earth or in heaven. Jesus prepares a place for us to live forever. The Best Is Yet To Be He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” — Revelation 21:5 Today's Scripture : Revelation 21:1-8 Before Jesus left this earth, He promised to prepare a special place for those who love Him (John 14:2-3). Years later He spoke to His disciple John in a vision, giving him as much detail as man’s finite mind could grasp. Since then, God’s people have pondered with eager anticipation “a new heaven and a new earth,” where there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain (Rev. 21:1,4). When we are released from sin’s curse, we will serve God without weariness (22:3-4). We will see Jesus and be like Him (1 John 3:2). Thinking about these joys moved the renowned English physician Thomas Browne (1605-1682) to write, “When we begin to talk about life after death, we’re like two infants in a womb discussing the nature of their future life. The difference between our present knowledge and understanding of what it will be to share God’s glory is no less great than what exists between unborn babes and a man in the strength of his days. . . . As Christians, we know it is indescribable and thus we can rejoice, but it will be even greater than our wildest imagination.” To see His face, this is my goal, The deepest longing of my soul; Through storm and stress my path I’ll trace Till, satisfied, I see His face! —Chisholm Heaven: no pain, no night, no death, no tears. It’s For Sure! 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. — John 14:3 Today's Scripture : 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Before our second child was born, my wife and I attended a childbirth class offered by the hospital. During the course we watched a film designed to relieve the fears of expectant parents. All of us had questions like: When will the labor begin? Will there be plenty of time to get to the hospital? Will the delivery be hard? And what about our baby? Will it be a boy or a girl? Will it be large or small? Will it be healthy? The narrator then summed it up like this: “Yes, there are so many questions left unanswered. But one thing is for sure: You will deliver. You will give birth!” The class laughed. One thing was certain—the baby would come. The experience reminded me of the Lord’s second coming. We have so many questions about it. What will it be like? Will it be a startling experience? Will we be happy when we see Jesus? Where will we be when it occurs? Will we be living, or will we be among those who are raised from the dead? I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.John 14:3 The nineteenth-century lecturer Wendell Phillips was deeply devoted to his invalid wife. His speaking engagements, however, often required him to be away from her. At the close of a lecture one night in a town many miles from his home in Boston, Phillips' friends urged him not to attempt to return home until morning. "The last train has left," they said, "and you will have to hire special transportation into the city It is cold and sleeting, and you face miles of rough riding before you get home." He replied, "But at the other end of those miles I shall find my beloved Anne." We who love Christ can press on through life's trials because at journey's end we know Jesus is waiting for us. Someday we will see the face of the One who gave Himself for our salvation. We will see our Savior, and we will be like Him. I Will Come Back For You I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. —John 14:18 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 In 1914 Ernest Shackleton led an expedition to sail to Antarctica, and then walk to the South Pole. The expedition went according to plan until ice trapped the ship and eventually crushed its hull. The men made their way by lifeboat to a small island. Promising to come back for them, Shackleton and a small rescue party set out across 800 miles of perilous seas to South Georgia Island. With only a sextant to guide them, they made it to the island. Shackleton then led his party over steep mountainous terrain to the whaling port on the other side. Once there, he acquired a ship to rescue his crew. Their leader had kept his word and returned for them. Not one man was left behind. If you are His, He will come back for you! Our Forever Home I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. — Psalm 23:6 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 Night was falling and the weather deteriorating as I began the long drive home. The snow that had been falling lightly became heavier. Gale-force winds soon whipped it into a blinding curtain in front of my car. Only intense concentration and prayer kept me on the road. As the 21/2-hour drive stretched to 3, then 4, my muscles ached and my eyes burned. Never had home sounded so good! When I finally walked though the doorway and collapsed in a chair, I felt great relief. Sometimes our journey as followers of Christ is like that snowy drive. We struggle through long days of hard work and difficulty. When disappointment and sorrow come, our thoughts go to those wonderful passages of the Bible that describe our home in heaven. It heartens us to think of entering the Lord’s presence where we will abide forever. C. S. Lewis wrote a wonderful allegory called The Chronicles of Narnia in which he describes the unicorn’s first glimpse of heaven. The unicorn exclaims, “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I’ve been looking for all my life.” To run life's grueling race, to win the lasting prize— To finally succeed in this endeavor— Look to the day you'll gaze into the Savior's eyes And understand you're home with Him forever. —Gustafson Heaven's delights will far outweigh earth's difficulties. Awakened By A Close Friend Where I am, there you may be also. — John 14:3 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-7 A few years ago I had some tests to screen for cancer, and I was nervous about the outcome. My anxiety was magnified as I thought about the fact that while the medical personnel were well-trained and extremely competent, they were also strangers who had no relationship with me. After awakening from the anesthesia, however, I heard the beautiful sound of my wife’s voice: “It’s great, Honey. They didn’t find anything.” I looked up at her smiling face and was comforted. I needed the assurance of someone who loved me. A similar assurance lies ahead for all who have trusted Jesus. Believers can be comforted in knowing that when they wake up in heaven, One who loves them greatly—Jesus—will be there. The Book of Common Prayer expresses this Christian hope: “After my awakening, [my Redeemer] will raise me up; and in my body I shall see God. I myself shall see, and eyes behold Him who is my friend and not a stranger.” Do you have trouble facing mortality? Jesus promised to be there when we slip from this world into the next. He said, “Where I am [heaven], there you may be also” (John 14:3). What a comfort for believers to know that after death we will be awakened by a close Friend. By: Dennis Fisher What wonders await us in yonder fair land! The face of our Savior, the touch of His hand, No tears and no crying, no sighs or despair, For Jesus is waiting to welcome us there. —Kerr To see Jesus will be heaven’s greatest joy. No Joke! I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. — John 14:3 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 I have heard that humor is sometimes used to deal with important things we don’t really understand. If that’s true, I can see why there are so many jokes about heaven. We understand so little about what life is like for those who are “with the Lord.” When we lose a loved one, we struggle to grasp why God “needed” that person more than we did. Because justice and reward are so imperfect on earth, it seems hard to imagine a place where God perfectly administers both. So we chuckle at stories about someone “who died and knocked on the Pearly Gates.” Even the most knowledgeable theologian knows little of that marvelous place the Bible calls heaven. Jesus didn’t give a detailed description of life after death, but He promised His followers an eternal home with Him. He said, “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” (Jn. 14:3). What Do We Know About Heaven? Psalm 16:11; 115:3; John 17:24; 1 Peter 1:3-4; Revelation 7:15-17; 14:13; 21:3-4; 22:1-5 People joke about heaven and hell, but heaven and hell are no joke. Preparing a Place for Us If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:3 Today's Scripture & Insight : John 14:1–4 Our family was planning to get a puppy, so my eleven-year-old daughter researched for months. She knew what the dog should eat and how to introduce it to our new home—among myriad other details. Turns out puppies do best, she told me, if they’re introduced to one room at a time. So we carefully prepared a spare bedroom. I’m sure there will still be surprises as we raise our new puppy, but my daughter’s delight-infused preparation couldn’t have been more thorough. The way my daughter channeled her eager anticipation for a puppy into loving preparation reminded me of Christ’s longing to share life with His people and His promise to prepare a home for them. Nearing the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus urged His disciples to trust Him, saying, “You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). Then He promised to “prepare a place for [them] . . . that [they] also may be where [He is]” (v. 3). The disciples would soon face trouble. But Jesus wanted them to know that He was at work to bring them home to Him. How do you feel knowing that Jesus is preparing a place for you in His Father’s house? How might hanging on to that hope give you strength or courage in difficult seasons? Jesus, thank You for going to prepare a place for me. Help me to put my hope in You fully and not to be troubled by the struggles in this life that might tempt me to take my eyes off You. A Better Place I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. —John 14:3 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 When death invades our lives, we need a sanctuary—a place of safety that gives us a glimmer of hope against an oppressive backdrop of sorrow. This was never more clear to pastor John Claypool than in the days following the death of his young daughter. The Sunday after the funeral, Claypool told his congregation that he loved the promise in Isaiah 40:31 of renewed strength to those who trust the Lord. But on that morning his spirit was not soaring as an eagle, nor was he running. In fact, he said, he was barely walking. Claypool did find strength and courage, though, to survive his loss in another passage—John 14. As he read about Jesus’ promise to believers that they will be with Him in heaven, Claypool began to find comfort. He was confident that Jesus had prepared a better place for his daughter—and that she was with the Lord. “The only thing that keeps me going,” he told his listeners, “is the promise that my daughter is in the arms of Jesus.” The death of people whom we love Brings sorrow and deep pain; But if our loved ones know the Lord, Our loss becomes their gain. —Sper Our greatest comfort in sorrow is to know that Jesus lives. The Catcher 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. — John 14:3 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 Life is a risky enterprise. Sometimes we fly high, enjoying great success. But then suddenly we fall into deep disappointments and the haunting reality of failure, leaving our hearts wondering if there is anything worth looking forward to. At a funeral recently, the pastor told the story about a trapeze artist. The performer admitted that although he is seen as the star of the show, the real star is the catcher—the teammate who hangs from another trapeze bar to grab him and guarantee a safe landing. The key, he explained, is trust. With outstretched arms, the flyer must trust that the catcher is ready and able to grab him. Dying is like trusting in God as the catcher. After we have flown through life, we can look forward to God reaching out to catch His followers and to pull us safely to Himself forever. I like that thought. This reminds me of Jesus’ comforting words to His disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled . . . . I go to prepare a place for you. And . . . I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). Home from the earthly journey, Safe for eternity; All that the Savior promised— That is what heaven will be. —Anon. Our heavenly Father’s arms will one day catch His children. Are You Looking Up? - Are you so eager for Christ's return that you hope it will take place today? I wouldn't be honest if I answered an unqualified "Yes" to this question. You see, I'm enjoying life right now. I love what I'm doing. My wife and I are having fun watching our grandsons grow toward manhood. There are still people and places we would like to visit during our retirement years. Does this mean that I'm not "looking (prosdechomai in present tense = anticipating with idea of welcoming) for the blessed hope and glorious appearing" of Jesus Christ? (Titus 2:13+). No, it doesn't. I believe that His return is indeed "the blessed hope." Earthly pleasures are only temporary and cannot compare with the joys of heaven. Besides, I am troubled by the sin, sorrow, and suffering all around me. All Christians are thankful for Jesus' promise, "I will come again and receive you to Myself" (Jn. 14:3). But our own circumstances affect how eagerly we anticipate His return. Whether life for us today is a joy or a struggle, we are to deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts" and to "live soberly, righteously, and godly" (Titus 2:12+). Take the world but give me Jesus-- In His cross my trust shall be; Till, with clearer, brighter vision, Face to face my Lord I see. -Fanny Crosby Enjoy life, but anticipate heaven! John 14:4 “And you know the way where I am going.” And you know: Joh 14:2,28 13:3 16:28 Lu 24:26 the way where I am going: Joh 3:16-17, Jn 3:36 Jn 6:40,68,69 Jn 10:9 Jn 12:26 THE WAY BACK TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER And you know (eido) the way where I am going - Note that know (eido) means to know beyond a shadow of a doubt (but as Thomas will say they were still confused). John's point is that they do know the way because they know Him. So while they knew this truth on one level, they did not grasp the full spiritual import of this truth. For example, Jesus was going back to His Father in heaven and they had been told numerous times the way to Heaven was by believing in Him (cf Jn 8:24+, Jn 10:9+, Jn 12:44+). In the context of John 14:6, the way is the means by which the disciples would be brought to the Father, where Jesus Himself was returning. Only a short time earlier Jesus had told them "Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come." (John 13:33+) Of course where He was going refers to His death, resurrection and ultimately to His ascension (Acts 1:9-11+) to the right hand of His Father in Heaven. At this time they could not follow Him because the way back to His Father, would be through His death on the Cross and His resurrection, events which they would only be able to witness but could not themselves experience. Jesus' statement would elicit a question which in turn would lead to an explanation which would clear up all confusion, not only for His disciples, but for every soul who has lost his or her way to God (that's all of us - Ro 5:12+, Eph 2:1+, Ro 3:10+, Ro 3:23+). Jesus had alluded to the way of the Cross in John 12:32-33+ declaring "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth (THE CROSS), will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die." As Jesus would explain in Jn 14:6 the way for the disciples to come to Heaven was not through the Cross but through Him, through belief in His substitutionary, fully atoning sacrifice on the Cross and His subsequent resurrection. John
João 14
Utley - Three different PREPOSITIONS are used in reference to the Holy Spirit - "meta" (John 14:16), "with"; "para" (John 14:17), "by the side"; "en" (John 14:17), "in". Notice the Holy Spirit is with us, by us, and within us. It is His job to manifest the life of Jesus in believers. He will stay with them until the end of the age (cf. John 14:18; Matt. 28:20). Notice the Spirit is called "He." This implies the Spirit is personal. Often in KJV the Spirit is addressed by "it," but this is because the term "spirit" in Greek is NEUTER (cf. John 14:17,26; 15:26). He is the third person of the Trinity. The term Trinity is not a biblical term (first used by Tertullian), but if Jesus is divine and the Spirit is a person, then some kind of tri-unity is involved. God is one divine essence but three permanent, personal manifestations, cf. Matt. 3:16-17; 28:19; Acts 2:33-34; Rom. 8:9-10; 1 Cor. 12:4-6; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 13:14; Eph. 1:3-14; 2:18; 4:4-6; Titus 3:4-6; 1 Pet. 1:2). Another (243) allos expresses a numerical difference and denotes "another of the same sort. Allos usually means “another of the same kind” while heteros denotes “another of a different kind or nature.” To say it another way allos is another numerically but of the same kind in contrast to heteros which means another but qualitatively, other, different one. Usually allos refers to “another” of the same kind, but on occasion it can refer to “another kind, different” (Liddell-Scott). Paul says "I see a different law," heteros, a law different from that of the spirit of life (not allos, "a law of the same sort"), Ro 7:23. After Joseph's death "another king arose," heteros, one of quite a different character, Acts 7:18. Paul speaks of "a different gospel (heteros), which is not another" (allos, another like the one he preached), Gal. 1:6-7. It is interesting that the Greek word allos is the root of our word parallel, describing two lines extending in the same direction, equidistant at all points, and never converging or diverging. Is not this a picture of the Spirit as another Helper of the same kind as Jesus who was the Helper of the 11 disciples? It also follows that we ought to treat the Holy Spirit the way we would treat Jesus, never grieving or quenching Him. Helper (Advocate, Comforter) (3875) parakletos from para = side of, alongside, beside + kaleo = to call) is the noun cognate of the verb parakaleo (see study) (cf also paraklesis) and literally means one called alongside. Parakletos describes one who stands by to help or render aid (especially in a court of law) or one who is summoned to the side of another to help, comfort, encourage, counsel, or intercede for, depending on the need. Interesting article from Wikipedia on Paraclete International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Paraclete Rod Mattoon - The word “para” means “along side” and “kaleo” means “to call.” John was the only one who used this term in the New Testament. The “parakletos” was the one called alongside to assist, help, defend, or intercede on the behalf of another or to give counsel. The advocate counseled, coached, and championed the cause of another in court. He was a helper, supporter, and a witness giving favorable testimony. In Rome, boys of good families replaced their toga with a purple stripe at the age of seventeen and put on a white toga of a man. They were then presented as speakers or advocates in the courts. The KJV, YLT translate parakletos as Comforter; the RV retains the word Comforter, but the margin gives Advocate and Helper and notes that the Greek is paraclete. The HCSB and RSV translate it Counselor. J. B. Phillips translates it "someone to stand by you." Knox translates it he who is to befriend you. NAS, ESV, Moffatt, Torrey and 20th Century NT all translate it Helper. NET, NLT and NAB translate it as Advocate (even Jn 14:16). As the NET Note below amplifies, none of these Names are perfect. NET Note says Advocate "or "Helper" or "Counselor"; Grk "Paraclete," from the Greek word parakletos. Finding an appropriate English translation for parakletos is a very difficult task. No single English word has exactly the same range of meaning as the Greek word. "Comforter," used by some of the older English versions, appears to be as old as Wycliffe. But today it suggests a quilt or a sympathetic mourner at a funeral. "Counselor" is adequate, but too broad, in contexts like "marriage counselor" or "camp counselor." "Helper" or "Assistant" could also be used, but could suggest a subordinate rank. "Advocate," the word chosen for the NET translation, has more forensic overtones than the Greek word does, although in John 16:5-11 a forensic context is certainly present. Because an "advocate" is someone who "advocates" or supports a position or viewpoint and since this is what the Paraclete will do for the preaching of the disciples, it was selected in spite of the drawbacks. Oswald Chambers - Call the Comforter by the term you think best—Advocate, Helper, Paraclete, the word conveys the indefinable blessedness of His sympathy; an inward invisible kingdom that causes the saint to sing through every night of sorrow. In ancient Greece parakletos was often used of a defense attorney called in to defend someone under accusation. Today we are accused of a crime (in fact our crime spiritually speaking was against the holy God! Ro 3:23+), we need an attorney (an Advocate) to come to our aid and plead our case before the judge's bench (God the Father). And so John reminds us that Jesus pleads our case with His Father. The sinless Son stands in for sinning sons! Glory! Thank You Jesus! Jesus our Advocate approaches the Father for us defending us from Satan our Accuser (kategoreo). In the Revelation, John describes that great day when the Accuser is cast out of the divine court room, so to speak "And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. (Rev 12:10+) Parakletos - 5x - Jn. 14:16; Jn. 14:26; Jn. 15:26; Jn. 16:7; 1 Jn. 2:1 - four times of the Holy Spirit and once of Jesus (1Jn 2:1). PLUG INTO THE POWER CORD NO matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get the video-cassette player to work. I fiddled and fiddled until someone noticed my plight and came to my rescue. I stood there appreciatively as he sized up the situation. Then, having diagnosed the problem, he plugged the power cord into the wall outlet. Why hadn't I thought of that? I was so preoccupied with patch cords and monitors that I overlooked the obvious. I forgot about the power. If I looked foolish there, it's nothing compared to what the angels see as they observe me. They must be astounded by my efforts to make life work without God's power. I join them in sad wonder. How can I forget that the infinite, personal Spirit of Christ lives within me to guide my life and give me power? I confess, Lord, that I am easily deceived. Sometimes I catch myself thinking that my life is peaceful and comfortable because of my own clear thinking, good choices, and hard work. But that is nonsense. And that kind of thinking leaves me unprepared to deal with trouble when it comes—which it will. May I depend on You in good times so I'll know how to do it in bad times. HELP FOR THE BATTLES I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper. JOHN 14:16 Allen Blair tells of a man who was struggling to get to Grand Central Station in New York City. The wind blew fiercely, and the rain beat down on him as he lugged his two heavy suitcases toward the terminal. Occasionally he would pause to rest and regain his strength before trudging on against the elements. At one point he was almost ready to collapse, when a man suddenly appeared by his side, took the suitcases, and said in a strangely familiar voice, "We're going the same way. You look as if you could use some help." When they had reached the shelter of the station, the weary traveler, the renowned educator Booker T. Washington, asked the man, "Please, sir, what is your name?" The man replied, "The name, my friend, is Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt." WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE INSIDE, YOU CAN WIN ANY BATTLE ON THE OUTSIDE. POWER FAILURE You shall receive power when the Holy spirit has come upon you - Acts 1:8 I felt mechanically illiterate. I was struggling with a videocassette and couldn't make it work. Fortunately, someone saw my plight. I stood there appreciatively as he sized up the situation -- and then plugged the power cord into the wall outlet. Why hadn't I thought of that? I was so preoccupied with patch cords and monitors that I overlooked the obvious. I forgot about the power. If I looked foolish there, it's nothing compared to what the angels see as they observe me. They must be astounded by my efforts to make life work without God's power. I join them in sad wonder. How can I forget Christ lives within me to guide my life and give me power? The answer is regretfully clear. There's a loose cord somewhere. When I am preoccupied with pleasing myself, I miss the power that comes from a healthy relationship with Christ. His Spirit enables me to do the will of God, to show His attitudes, and to fulfill His purpose. But I have to stay plugged in through prayer, reflection on God's Word, and complete reliance on His power -- not my own. I'm weak and helpless in life's fray; Lord, may Your power be my stay, And may I always seek to be Renewed in strength for victory. - DJD A Christian who neglects the Holy Spirit is like a lamp that's not plugged in. Utley's Topic - THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT Old Testament In the OT "the Spirit of God" (i.e., ruach) was a force which accomplished YHWH's purpose (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE), I., but there is little hint that it was personal (cf. Isa. 48:16; Isa 61:1). (ED: BUT CLEARLY HE IS PERSONAL EVEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT!) New Testament However, in the NT (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE), II., III., IV. the full personality and personhood of the Spirit is revealed: Trinitarian texts (here are three of many, see full list see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY) also speak of three persons. The Greek word "spirit" (pneuma) is NEUTER when referring to the Spirit, but the NT often uses MASCULINE DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE to denote it is referring to a person (i.e., John 16:8,13-14) The Spirit is linked to human activity. He can be blasphemed (cf. Matt. 12:31; Mark 3:29) He teaches (cf. Luke 12:12; John 14:26) He bears witness (cf. John 15:26) He convicts, guides (cf. John 16:7-15) He is called "who" (i.e., hos, cf. Eph. 1:14) He can be grieved (cf. Eph. 4:30) He can be quenched (cf. 1 Thess. 5:19) He can be resisted (cf. Acts 7:51) He advocates for believers (cf. John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7) He glorifies the Son (cf. John 16:14) Matt. 28:19 2 Cor. 13:14 = "the fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit" Phil 2:1 there is....fellowship (koinonia) of the Spirit, (THOUGHT - Do you understand that He desires sweet communion with you as a believer? HE DOES! So don't grieve Him [Eph 4:30] as you would grieve a good friend with "rotten talk" [Eph 4:29])! 1 Pet. 1:2 Rom. 8:26 1 Cor. 12:11 Eph. 4:30 Acts specifically At the very beginning of Acts, the Spirit's role is emphasized (as in the Gospel of John). Pentecost was not the beginning of the work of the Spirit, but a new chapter. Jesus always had the Spirit. His baptism was not the beginning of the work of the Spirit, but a new chapter. The Spirit is the effective means of the Father's purpose for the restoration of all humans made in His image (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN)! This is the age of the Spirit, the third Person of The Trinity. Theological Development The Trinity is a historically developed formulation informed by the biblical material. the full Deity of Jesus, equal to the Father, was affirmed in A.D. 325 by the Council of Nicea (cf. John 1:1; Phil. 2:6; Titus 2:13) the full personality and Deity of the Spirit equal to the Father and Son was affirmed in A.D. 381 by the Council of Constantinople the doctrine of the Trinity is fully expressed in Augustine's work De Trinitate There is truly mystery here. But the NT affirms one divine essence (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM) with three eternal personal manifestations (Father, Son, and Spirit; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY). THE COMFORTER HAS COME Frank Bottome, 1823–1894 And I will ask the Father. and He will give you another counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. (John 14:16) One of the important days worthy of every Christian’s recognition is Pentecost Sunday—an observance of the advent of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost Sunday occurs 50 days after Easter. The church color for this season is red, and the symbol is generally that of the dove. Other symbols for the Holy Spirit include: Oil—It is the Holy Spirit that anoints and sets a believer apart for service. Water—It is the Holy Spirit that cleanses us from the power of sin. Light—It is the Holy Spirit that guides us in steps of truth and righteousness. Fire—It is the Holy Spirit that purges and sets our devotion for God ablaze. Wind—It is the Holy Spirit that refreshes our often parched hearts. Jesus also referred to the Holy Spirit as the counselor—the Comforter—the “paraclete”—the one who would reside in each believer and always be ready to help and guide in times of need. Following Christ’s resurrection, the disciples’ awareness of the Holy Spirit in their lives changed them from fearful, discouraged disciples into powerful proclaimers of the good news. This same awareness and appropriation of the Holy Spirit’s enabling power is still a most necessary ingredient for effective representation of our Lord. The text for this hymn, written by Frank Bottome, an American Methodist pastor, first appeared in the hymnal Precious Times of Refreshing and Revival in 1890. O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found, wherever human hearts and human woes abound; let ev’ry Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound: The Comforter has come! The long, long night is past; the morning breaks at last, and hushed the dreadful wail and fury of the blast, as o’er the golden hills the day advances fast! The Comforter has come! O boundless love divine! How shall this tongue of mine to wond’ring mortals tell the matchless grace divine—that I, a child of hell, should in His image shine! The Comforter has come! Chorus: The Comforter has come, the Comforter has come! The Holy Ghost from heav’n—the Father’s promise giv’n; O spread the tidings round, wherever man is found—The Comforter has come! For Today: John 7:39; John 15:26; Acts 2:1, 4, 38; 1 Thessalonians 4:8 Live in the conscious awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. Ask Him to lead you as you witness to someone about Christ. Remember this truth as you go— (BORROW Amazing Grace PAGE 152) "I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper" (John 14:16). A theology student writing a term paper about confession meant to type, "When we confess our sins, He takes away our guilt." But the young man couldn't type too well, and when he came to the word guilt, he typed quilt by mistake. When the professor returned his paper, the student grinned as he read the marginal note: "Never fear, little one, you'll never freeze, because God gave us a Comforter." Using his sense of humor, the professor had conveyed a marvelous truth. Jesus said that the Father would send the Comforter to abide with us forever. Pentecost fulfilled that promise (Acts 2:1-4). And ever since that historic day, the Holy Spirit has been faithfully carrying on His ministry in the lives of believers. His comforting activities include: guiding us into truth (John 16:13), assuring us we are God's children (Rom. 8:16), helping us pray (Rom. 8:26), transforming us into Christ's image (2 Cor. 3:18), and strengthening us (Eph. 3:16). Our response should be to learn all we can about Christ and by the Spirit put into action what we know. The Holy Spirit's purpose is always to glorify Christ, never to call attention to Himself. The Christian's heart is the Holy Spirit's home. LOOK INTO THE MASTER'S FACE - LESLIE Dunkin had a pet dog when he was a boy. Periodically his father would test the dog's obedience by placing a piece of meat on the floor and giving the command, "No!" This put the dog in a most difficult situation—would he do what was natural to him and eat the meat or obey his master's command and resist? "The dog never looked at the meat," Dunkin recalls. "He looked steadily at my father's face." Dunkin's dog did exactly what every believer needs to do when faced with temptation: Look into the face of our Master. If we gaze longingly at the temptation, we'll eventually give in. But if we refuse to look at it, looking instead at the One who offers us something far superior, we'll be able to resist. Lord, I am incapable of resisting temptation without Your help. May I focus my eyes on what is true and right and good so that I might go in that direction. For where I am looking is where I will go. OUR HELPER The Father...will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever."-- John 14:16 When I taught in a Christian college, I directed travel-study tours of Europe. Before I left for the first tour, I was somewhat apprehensive, but I knew that a Christian brother, Sotos Boukis, would be assisting us during the 7 days our group would be in Greece. I was relieved to discover when we arrived at our hotel that he was there waiting for us. His knowledge, guidance, and personal assistance were invaluable. It gave me great peace of mind to have him with me. Jesus instructed, encouraged, and knew His disciples intimately. When He told them He was leaving, He promised to send "another Helper" (Jn. 14:16). He was telling them they would have a person like Himself to assist them. So on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to indwell all believers and gave them the same individual attention, though unseen, that Jesus had given his disciples. The Holy Spirit is not some mystical force but a personal Being who lives within every follower of Jesus Christ. He is our teacher (Jn. 14:26; 16:13) and our power for witness (Acts 1:8). Holy Spirit, all divine, Dwell within this heart of mine; Cast down every idol-throne, Reign supreme and reign alone. - Reed We're never without a helper because we have the Spirit within. “I will pray,” says the Son—that is intercession. “I will send,” says the Father—that is donation. “I will comfort,” says the Holy Spirit—that is supernatural influence. C H
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Utley - These disciples wanted some type of confirmation just like the Pharisees. However, believers must walk by faith and not depend on sight (cf. 2 Cor. 4:18; 5:7) in spiritual matters. Trust is the issue! Miracles/signs can be counterfeit (cf. Matt. 24:24; 2 Thess. 2:9; also note Exod. 7:11,22; 8:7; 2 Tim. 3:8). Show (1166) deiknuo/deiknumi means to show and has the sense of (1) to draw attention to, to point out, to show, to make known, to exhibit something (by visual, auditory, gestural, or linguistic means) so that it can be apprehended by the senses, to cause to see (Mt 4:8, Lk 4:5, Mt 8:4) or (2) to show so as to prove something is true or to make clear by evidence or reasoning. Show in the sense of demonstrate or prove as in Jas 3:13). To exhibit or present to the view of others. To explain the meaning or significance of something by demonstration. John 14:9 Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long 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’? Have I been so long with you: Mk 9:19 He who has seen Me has seen the Father;: Joh 14:7,20 Jn 12:45 Col 1:15 Php 2:6 Heb 1:3 how can you say: Ge 26:9 Ps 11:1 Jer 2:23 Lu 12:56 1Co 15:12 JESUS REITERATES ONENESS WITH HIS FATHER Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you (plural), and yet you have not come to know (ginosko - know by experience) Me, Philip? - This is sad. It is one thing for the unbelieving Jews not to know Who He was in relation to the Father, but even sadder (and almost inexcusable) for the closest disciples who He had taught for 3.5 years to express such blatant ignorance. It is as if Jesus responds with something like “What do you mean ‘Show us God?’" Jesus seems to give at least a gentle rebuke not just Philip but all 11 (you = plural), because Jesus knows that Philip is just the spokesman for what all 11 desired, a vision of the Father (a theophany). THOUGHT - Being a follower of Christ for a long time, for years or even decades, is no guarantee that one truly knows Jesus in a deeper way! This is not to say such a person will not go to Heaven, but just that he is missing the intimacy of fellowship with the greatest Person in all eternity! I personally am very convicted by this because I will confess that there are some days that go by and I have hardly given Jesus moment of thought! How sad! The loss is mine! One way to remedy superficial intimacy and shallow knowledge of Him is by beginning to have a daily morning quiet time. Too many times my quiet time is far too quiet! See Thoughts on the Quiet Time. He who has seen Me has seen the Father (pater); how can you say, ‘Show (deiknuo/deiknumi) us the Father’ - Jesus again stresses the truth that they have seen the Father because they have seen Him. Jesus had just declared to the 11 disciples "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." And before the Upper Room discourse Jesus had taught "He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me (CLEARLY ALLUDING TO HIS FATHER)." (Jn 12:45+). Who else could heal the sick, feed the hungry, and raise the dead? Hello! Is anyone home? Kenneth Gangel - "We must remember Jesus' response. There is no difference between the Father and the Son; they are both God—equally powerful. Here again we find the theme "believing is seeing" that surfaced so clearly in Jn 11:40+. (SEE Holman New Testament Commentary - John - Page 266) Adrian Rogers on John 14:9 This is going to sound simplistic when I say it, but take all the principles for discerning the will of God, and you can sum them all up in one word: Jesus. This is not just pious talk. The will of God for you is Jesus! Take all these things—the providence of God, the people of God, the Spirit of God—then put one big, overarching name over it, and it's just Jesus. He may use a lot of different ways to show you His will for your life, but if you concentrate on falling in love with Jesus, the rest will take care of itself. He is Lord, the head of the church. Just surrender to Him. MEETING JESUS He who has seen Me has seen the Father.--John 14:9 Do you believe in God? When George Gallup and his associates put that questions to a cross section of Americans, the vast majority responded yes. When asked what they thought about God, 84% saw Him as a heavenly Father who can be reached by prayer, 5% viewed Him as an idea but not as a being, 5% said they didn't believe in Him, 2% said He is an impersonal creator, and 4% said they didn't know. Most people, then, at least in the United States, believe in a Supreme Being. They also believe that the God who created the universe cares enough for insignificant human beings to listen as they tell Him about their needs and desires. But beyond those rather vague notions, there is little understanding of who God is. Philip's plea, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us" (John 14:8), is still the silent cry of countless hearts. He was asking Jesus to reveal what God is really like. Jesus replied, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (v.9). The invisible God has been made visible in Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:3). As we observe His life in the pages of Scripture, we see the very heart and holiness of God the Father. Man gropes his way through life's dark maze, To gods unknown he often prays, Until one day he meets God's Son -- At last he's found the Living One. --DJD Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. Knowing The Unknowable My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. — Isaiah 55:8 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-11 In an attempt to express the in expressible, a Christian businessman kept this motto on his desk: “How great must be the God we need! How much greater is our God than our greatest need!” John Wesley captured that same truth in a different way. “Give me a worm that can understand a man,” he wrote, “and I will give you a man who can understand God.” And in Psalm 145:3, David said of God, “His greatness is unsearchable.” In trying to grasp the mind-baffling nature of our Creator, the best we can do is use comparisons. He is like a faithful shepherd, a wise and just king, a loving parent, a trustworthy friend. All these analogies give us a glimpse of God’s greatness, but they are wholly inadequate to comprehend Him fully. Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious—Thy great name we praise. —Smith If you're looking for God, you'll find Him in Jesus. Now We Know He who has seen Me has seen the Father. — John 14:9 Today's Scripture : John 14:5-11 When he was only 13 years old, violinist Yehudi Menuhin was invited to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. With distinguished musicians in the audience listening to him, the youthful genius played some of the most difficult compositions by Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms. The response was so enthusiastic that the management called in the police in case the crowd got out of control. Albert Einstein, who had listened with utter delight to the prodigy, avoided the authorities by running across the stage into Yehudi’s dressing room. He embraced the surprised violinist and exclaimed, “Now I know there is a God in heaven!” While the beauty of music does indeed bear witness to God’s reality, it takes more than a concert to convince us there’s a God in heaven. It takes God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:9). Only through the supernatural life and ministry of Christ recorded in the Gospels are we able to know God with unshadowed certainty. We read the Gospels and we exclaim with awe and adoration, “Now we know there is a God in heaven!” If you are troubled by an attack of doubt, read the Bible and have your faith renewed and strengthened. By: Vernon Grounds We need not prove there is a God, Nor would we even try, For Christ has shown us who He is— On Him we can rely. —DJD Christ bridged the gap between the infinite God and finite man. One Way To Reality He who has seen me has seen the Father. — John 14:9 Today's Scripture : John 14:7-18 In the 1960s, many restless young people were duped into believing that getting high on drugs was the way to find the “reality” they craved. Those highs, however, were only illusions, not the real thing. The Lord knows that we often look in the wrong places for what our longing hearts crave. He knows that we can be satisfied only by knowing Him, and He wants us to discover that He is the truth. Jesus said to His disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6). But Philip didn’t yet understand that Jesus was all he needed. He wanted to see the Father as well, and said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us” (v.8). Jesus replied, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (v.9). He was declaring that He is equal with God the Father, and because of that He is all we need. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Without the Way there is no going; Without the Truth there is no knowing; Without the Life there is no living. —Anon. Our search for reality ends when we find Christ. Seeing God He who has seen Me has seen the Father. — John 14:9 Today's Scripture : Exodus 24:1-8 Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Yet the apostle Paul spoke of God as One “whom no man has seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:15-16). I have often thought about this seeming contradiction. How can we reconcile our Lord’s statement with the words of Paul? I believe we must first recognize that God in His essential being is pure Spirit (John 4:24), and therefore is invisibly present everywhere in His vast creation (Psalm 139:7-12). But we read in the Bible that on various occasions God appeared to people in a visible way (Genesis 18:1-3). He created a burning bush from which to challenge Moses (Exodus 3:2). And in today’s Scripture reading, the glory of His presence was revealed, and “there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone” (Exodus 24:9-10). God can appear in any form He desires, even while He Himself remains invisibly present throughout the universe. No mortal can see God and live, His brilliance would destroy all sight, But Jesus' glory we shall see For He as God is truth and light. —D. De Haan To see God, look to Jesus. Seeing Jesus Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. John 14:9 Today's Scripture & Insight : John 14:1–11 At four months old, Leo had never seen his parents. He’d been born with a rare condition that left his vision blurred. For him, it was like living in dense fog. But then eye doctors fit him with a special set of glasses. Leo’s father posted the video of Mom placing the new glasses over his eyes for the first time. We watch as Leo’s eyes slowly focus. A smile spreads wide across his face as he truly sees his mom for the first time. Priceless. In that moment, little Leo could see clearly. John reports a conversation Jesus had with His disciples. Philip asked Him, “Show us the Father” (John 14:8). Even after all this time together, Jesus’ disciples couldn’t recognize who was right in front of them. He replied, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” (v. 10). Earlier Jesus had said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (v. 6). This is the sixth of Jesus’ seven “I am” statements. He’s telling us to look through these “I am” lenses and see who He truly is—God Himself. What are some ways in which your vision of Jesus may have become cloudy? How can you look to Him again with clear vision? Jesus, please help me turn my eyes on You. Show me clearly Your path for me. Meeting Jesus He who has seen Me has seen the Father. — John 14:9 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-12 Do you believe in God? When George Gallup and his associates put that question to a cross section of Americans, the vast majority responded yes. When asked what they thought about God, 84% saw Him as a heavenly Father who can be reached by prayer, 5% viewed Him as an idea but not as a being, 5% said they didn’t believe in Him, 2% said He is an impersonal creator, and 4% said they didn’t know. Most people, then, at least in the United States, believe in a Supreme Being. They also believe that the God who created the universe cares enough for insignificant human beings to listen as they tell Him about their needs and desires. But beyond those rather vague notions, there is little understanding of who God is. Philip’s plea, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us” (John 14:8), is still the silent cry of countless hearts. He was asking Jesus to reveal what God is really like. Jesus replied, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (v.9). The invisible God has been made visible in Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:3). As we observe His life in the pages of Scripture, we see the very heart and holiness of God the Father. Man gropes his way through life’s dark maze, To gods unknown he often prays, Until one day he meets God’s Son— At last he’s found the Living One. —DJD Knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. John 14:10 “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. Do you not believe that I am in the Father,: Joh 14:20 Jn 1:1-3 10:30,38 Jn 11:26 Jn 17:21-23 1Jn 5:7 The words that I say to you: Joh 3:32-34 Jn 5:19 Jn 6:38-40 Jn 7:16,28,29 Jn 8:28,38,40 Jn 12:49 Jn 17:8 but the Father abiding in Me: Ps 68:16-18 2Co 5:19 Col 1:19 2:9 does His works.: Joh 5:17 Ac 10:38 Related Passages: John 3:34+ “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. John 5:17+ But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” John 5:19+ Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. John 5:30+ “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 7:16-18+ So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. 18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. John 8:28+ So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. John 12:49+ “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself Who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. John 14:24 “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. JESUS' WORDS TESTIFY THE FATHER & THE FATHER IS IN HIM Do you (singular - addressing Philip) not believe (pisteuo) that I am in the Father (pater), and the Father (pater) is in Me? - Jesus' question expects a "Yes" answer from Philip. Indeed that certainly ought to have been the response of all eleven! Note that the first "you" is singular thus referring to Philip, while the second "you" in the following clause is plural referring to the Eleven. Jesus of course is emphasizing His perfect unity with His Father as in Jn 10:30+, declaring “I and the Father are one.” The Father and Son are one in essence, in all of their divine attributes. The words (rhema) that I say to you (plural - refers to all eleven) I do not speak on My own initiative, but (term of contrast) the Father (pater) abiding (present tense - continually) in Me does His works (ergon)(NET = "His miraculous deeds") - Jesus said "I speak these things as the Father taught Me." (Jn 8:28+) The words that I say to you (plural) refers to His teaching He had spoken to all Eleven. His point is that what He had said (taught) did not originate from Himself but (term of contrast) from His Father Who continually abided (permanently) in Him (and will soon abide in them and us - Jn 14:23). Given this intimate permanent relationship between Son and Father, Jesus is explaining that the words He speaks are the words the Father speak through Him. What is God like?.... God is like Jesus Christ Kenneth Gangel - Jesus' words reflected his deity much more than his work did. The disciples had been fascinated by his work, but they had not listened carefully enough to his words. Almost in frustration, the Lord said, at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. What is God like? I once heard a sermon on this topic. The pastor talked on and on about God being like flowers, sunsets, the cry of a newborn baby, the beauty of a clear blue sky. Certainly, all those are part of God's natural revelation and therefore reflect him. But he never got to the bottom line: God is like Jesus Christ. In actuality, Philip's confusion is typical of the disciples throughout the first four books of the New Testament. The depth of theology in these discussions overwhelmed the disciples, probably until the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Even Christians today who hold the entire Bible and enjoy the illuminating power of the Holy Spirit struggle with the doctrine of the Trinity and oneness of the Father and the Son. (SEE Holman New Testament Commentary - John - Page 266) The truth of God filled Jesus' words; the power of God produced His works. Merrill Tenney adds "Furthermore, if a personality must be employed to represent God, that personality cannot be less than God and do Him justice, nor can it be so far above humanity that it cannot communicate God perfectly to men. For this reason John says that 'the only Son, Who is at the Father's side, has made Him known' (John 1:18NIV+). The way Jesus made known the character and reality of the Father was by His words and works. The truth of God filled Jesus' words; the power of God produced His works" (SEE The Expositor's Bible Commentary - Abridged Edition or BORROW The Expositor's Bible Commentary PAGE 346) William Hendriksen has in interesting comment on the relationship of WORDS and WORKS - Whenever Jesus speaks, the Father works by means of this speaking. Every word of Jesus is a work of the Father! This, however, does not mean that the Father is acting like a ventriloquist who speaks through his dummy. On the contrary, the Son speaks the mind of the Father because this is also his own mind. (BORROW Exposition of the Gospel according to John PAGE 270) A T Robertson on Do you not believe - Jesus had a right to expect greater faith from these men than from the blind man (John 9:35) or Martha (John 11:27). His words in John 14:1 are clearly needed. This oneness with the Father Jesus had already stated (John 10:38) as shown by his "words" (rhema) and his "works" (ergon). Cf. Jn 3:34; Jn 5:19; Jn 6:62. Marvin
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Utley - The more like Christ one is, the more likely the prayers are to be answered in the affirmative. The worst thing God could do spiritually to most believers is answer their selfish, materialistic prayers. See note at 1 John 3:22. This is a good example of the need to consult parallel passages before making dogmatic statements on biblical subjects. One must balance “whatever we ask” with (1) “in My name” (John 14:13–14; 15:7, 16; 16:23); (2) “keep on asking” (Matt. 7:7–8; Luke 11:5–13; 18:1–8); (3) “two agreeing” (Matt. 18:19); (4) “believing” (Matt. 21:22); (5) “without doubt” (Mark 11:22–24; James 1:6–7); (6) “not selfishly” (James 4:2–3); (7) “keep His commands” (1 John 3:22); and (8) “according to God’s will” (Matt. 6:10; 1 John 5:14–15). The name of Jesus represents His character. It is another way of referring to the mind and heart of Jesus. This phrase appears often in John (cf. Jn 14:13–14, 26; 15:16; 16:23–26). The more like Christ one is, the more likely the prayers are to be answered in the affirmative. The worst thing God could do spiritually to most believers is answer their selfish, materialistic prayers. Oswald Chambers - Don’t slack off Whatever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do. John 14:13. Am I fulfilling this ministry of the interior? There is no snare, or any danger of infatuation or pride in intercession, it is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit whereby the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to be frittered away, or am I bringing it all to one centre—the Atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest in my life? If the one central point, the great exerting influence in my life, is the Atonement of the Lord, then every phase of My life will bear fruit for Him. I must take time to realize what is the central point of power. Do I give one minute out of sixty to concentrate upon it? “If ye abide in Me”—continue to act and think and work from that centre—“ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Am I abiding? Am I taking time to abide? What is the greatest factor of power in my life? Is it work, service, sacrifice for others, or trying to work for God? The thing that ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the Atonement of the Lord. It is not the thing we spend the most time on that moulds us most; the greatest element is the thing that exerts most power. We must determine to be limited and concentrate our affinities. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do.” The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and his apparently free choices are God’s fore-ordained decrees. Mysterious? Logically contradictory and absurd? Yes, but a glorious truth to a saint. Adrian Rogers on John 14:13 While we know from His Word that certain things are the will of God, in other matters we must seek His will in prayer. Should you move to another city to take that new job? Should you sell your home? Which college should you go to? Who should you marry? But if we seek the will of God in all matters, we will come to know the will of God. How? Jesus said, "If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you" (John 15:7). When we lean upon Jesus moment by moment, He will show us what to pray and how to pray. Steven Cole divides Jesus' statement into 3 parts - (1) The extent of Jesus’ promise: “Whatever you ask.” The context is important! Jesus isn’t promising that He will do any crazy thing you ask, as long as you tack on, “in Jesus’ name, Amen” to your prayer! The context of “whatever you ask” is tied into doing Jesus’ works. So to think that you can pray, “Jesus, give me a nice mansion and while You’re at it, throw in a new Mercedes,” is to completely misapply Jesus’ promise. John Piper argues that instead of using prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie to call in supplies for the battle, we have turned it into an intercom to ask for more comforts in the den (Let the Nations be Glad ([Baker Academic], p. 49). But prayer isn’t a means of getting God to give us what we want so that our lives can be more comfy. Rather, prayer is the means by which we ask God to extend His kingdom and do His will on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). True, there is a place to ask God to meet our needs. But the center of all that we pray should be, “Lord, do Your work through Your people! Bring sinners to genuine conversion! Sanctify Your people so that we will be faithful representatives of Jesus on earth!” So in prayer, we are to submit to God’s will and to ask Him to accomplish His will through us and through His people. But, the difficulty is, how do we determine what God’s will is so that we pray in line with it? His will is not always obvious! God denied Moses’ request to enter Canaan (Deut. 3:23-27), even though Moses could have argued that the people needed his leadership after they entered the land. Paul prayed for relief from his thorn in the flesh, which was demonically caused and hindered his ministry, but God had a higher purpose, namely, to be glorified as Paul depended on Him in his weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Paul’s prayers for the salvation of his fellow Jews largely went unanswered, not only in his lifetime, but down to the present day (Rom. 10:1; cf. 1 Thess. 2:14-16; Col. 4:7)! Even Jesus in the Garden prayed, if it was the Father’s will, to be delivered from the cross (Matt. 26:39). But He submitted to the Father’s will. So there is a tension here: We should ask God to extend the gospel and glorify His name around the world. We should ask Him “to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). And yet, we need to keep in mind that His ways are not always our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9). He sometimes puts His greatest servants in chains or allows them to be killed for His sake (Rom. 8:36). So although we often don’t understand why God doesn’t do exactly what we ask, we should pray big prayers for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. The extent of, “Whatever you ask,” is pretty unlimited! (2) The basis of Jesus’ promise: “In My name.” As I said, this isn’t a formula to tack onto your prayers, although there’s nothing wrong with closing your prayers, “in Jesus’ name,” as long as you think about what that means. “Jesus’ name” refers to His person and work. It refers to all that He is and all He has done for us on the cross. While we must be obedient to Christ if we expect Him to answer our prayers (John 14:15), we don’t ask on the basis of our obedience: “I’ve been really good, so You need to answer this!” Rather, to ask in Jesus’ name means that you come to the Father through the Son as your high priest. To ask in Jesus’ name is to recognize that His name is above every name that is named, both in this age and in the age to come (Eph. 1:21). He has the power to answer! You ask what you think Jesus would want in terms of carrying out His work. You ask God to be gracious because you are in His son and you are seeking to do His will (Mt 6:10). And, you ask submissively, acknowledging that you may not understand His perfect will (Ro 12:2b). But you trust that if your request is His will, He will do it, no matter how difficult. (3) The objective of Jesus’ promise: The Father’s glory in the Son. This is a further condition that must govern the “whatever” we ask: Our desire is to see God glorified through the Lord Jesus. This may include the salvation of a loved one or of an enemy of the gospel (such as Paul before his conversion). This extends to praying for the gospel to penetrate unreached peoples around the world. It includes praying that troubled marriages may be healed. The main objective is not that they would be happy (although they will), but that God would be glorified through Christ being seen in that marriage. God’s glory is the main objective of our prayers. Sometimes people will ask me to pray for someone who is in the hospital and I ask, “What should I pray?” The person asking will often look at me dumbfounded, thinking, “Pray that he will be healed, of course!” But healing may not be God’s way of being glorified. What does God want to do in this person’s heart? Maybe the sickness is to teach the person the brevity of life so that he will live in light of eternity. God may be glorified by teaching the sick person to trust Him through bodily weakness. He may be glorified through the person’s joy in Christ as he dies. Our aim in prayer should be that the Father would be glorified in His Son. (4) The result of Jesus’ promise: “I will do it.” Jesus repeats this in Jn 14:13-14 so that we can’t dodge it. The result of our praying should be that Jesus does it. This implies Christ’s deity: He has the power to answer whatever we ask. But this is where it gets really difficult, because many of our prayers would seemingly further God’s kingdom and glory, but He has not done it. I have prayed for the salvation of loved ones, but they have died unbelieving. I have prayed for the healing of Christian marriages, but they have ended in divorce. Many godly parents have prayed for their prodigal children to return to Christ and to be reconciled with the parents for God’s glory, but it hasn’t happened. Many faithful missionaries have prayed and labored for the gospel to take root among peoples that are still mostly pagan after decades of labor. The list could go on and on. So, how do we reconcile Jesus’ seeming blanket promise to answer prayers in His name for God’s glory with the fact that many such prayers go unanswered? I can’t totally resolve this problem, but I offer some concluding thoughts that may help. (1) First, the tension we experience stems from the fact that we can know God’s will of desire, but we can’t know His will of decree. God desires that all people would repent of their sins and be saved (Ezek. 18:23; 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4), but He has not decreed the salvation of all (Acts 13:48; Rom. 9:15-18, 21; 2 Tim. 1:9; 2:10). God desires that we all glorify Him by holy lives, but He also permits sin and will be glorified by His righteous judgment on sinners who do not repent. So we should pray as best we know in line with His revealed will of desire, while at the same time submitting to the fact that we don’t know His will of decree. (2) Second, Jesus’ promise to do whatever we ask does not undermine the many Scriptures that exhort us to wait on the Lord. Jesus doesn’t say when He will do it. God may be glorified as we faithfully wait on Him for years for answers to our prayers. He may be glorified by answering at a distant time even beyond our lifetimes for reasons that we cannot fathom at the moment. So we must join David who exhorts (Ps. 27:14), “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.” God’s purposes will surely be fulfilled, but not necessarily in our timing or in ways that we envision. (3) Third, God often accomplishes His purposes in ways that seem backwards to us. We pray for the gospel to spread, so God sends persecution (cf Acts 8:1). The late Chinese Pastor Samuel Lamb spent 33 years in prison for his faith. After he was released for the final time, he called the authorities and asked them to re-arrest him. When they asked why, he said, “Every time you arrest me, my church doubles in size. I want to see my church grow.” We pray for strength, and God makes us weak so that we will rely on His strength (2 Cor. 12:9-10). Jesus told Peter that Satan had demanded permission to sift him like wheat, but that Jesus had prayed for Peter (Luke 22:31-32). I would have prayed that Peter be spared from denying Jesus, but Jesus didn’t pray that. Rather, He prayed that after Peter was restored, he would strengthen his brothers. Countless Christians who have failed have been strengthened through Peter’s failure and restoration. (4) Finally, we do not understand all that God is doing, so we may go to our graves not knowing why He seemingly didn’t answer our prayers. I wonder whether John ever understood why God delivered Peter from prison, but allowed John’s brother James to be executed (Acts 12:1-17). Couldn’t James have been used greatly to extend the kingdom if he had been delivered? Yes, but that wasn’t God’s will. John the Baptist’s disciples probably never understood why God allowed a drunken king to execute a godly prophet like John. ILLUSTRATION OF ANSWERED PRAYER IN A MOST UNUSUAL WAY - I read once about a businessman who picked up a hitchhiker and drove with him for several hours. The hitchhiker was a Christian and he shared the gospel with the businessman. Before he dropped him off, he put his trust in Christ as His Savior and Lord. He left his business card with the hitchhiker and said, “If you ever come to Chicago, drop by and see me.” Several years went by before the hitchhiker was in Chicago. He stopped by the man’s office and handed the card to a woman and asked if the man was in. The woman’s face froze and she asked, “Where did you get this card?” The man used the question to tell the woman the story of how the man had become a Christian that day. She broke down in tears and said, “He was my husband. I had prayed for years that he would come to Christ. But he never made it home from that trip. He was killed in an accident after he dropped you off. I’ve been bitter at God all these years because I thought that He didn’t answer my prayer.” Not all stories end that way, but the point is, we don’t have all knowledge about how God may be working in response to our prayers. So be active in doing Jesus’ works. Pray that He would do far more through you than you can ask or think. But if things don’t go exactly as you had prayed, trust Him that if not in this life, at least in eternity you will understand how He answered and used you to do even greater works than He did. (Doing Greater Works Than Jesus John 14:12-14) C H
João 14
Utley - Obedience is extremely important (cf. John 8:51; Jn 15:10; 1Jn 2:3-5; 1Jn 3:22,24; 1Jn 5:3; 2John 6; Luke 6:46). John 14:21, 23, 24 emphasize this same truth. Obedience is evidence of true conversion (cf. James 2:14-26 and 1 John).
João 14
Utley - This is the statement which Judas (not Iscariot) picks up on in John 14:22 to ask Jesus another question. The disciples were still expecting Him to set up an earthly Messianic Kingdom (i.e., Matt. 20:20-28; Mark 10:35-45) and were greatly confused when He said, "the world will not see Me." Jesus' answer to Judas' (not Iscariot) question in John 14:23, 24 was that He will manifest Himself in the life of individual Christians and thereby the world will see Him through them! Related Resources:
João 14
Utley points out that Jesus "adds the truth that as the Father and Jesus are intimately linked, so too, Jesus and His followers (cf. John 17)!" F B