João 14
Samuel Johnson · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 14
Johnson - Jesus had just dropped a major bombshell on His disciples. He has just told them that one of them was a traitor and that he would be betrayed by one of their number (John 13:21). Jesus tells them that he is going to leave them and that they cannot go with Him (John 13:33, cf Jn 7:34; 8:21; 12:8, 35; 13:33). Then He tells them that their leader, Peter, will deny Him three times (John 13:37-38). After these three bombshells, Jesus sees that their hearts are troubled and he begins to offer them, what we might call, arguments against a troubled heart or a cure for their troubled hearts. The bottom line was this: They did not need to be troubled, because He was there for them and after He left, He would leave One just like Himself to minister to them and empower them and comfort them. What a blessing to know that in my difficulty there is a Divine Person there for me! There have been occasions where just knowing that He is there for me makes all the difference. John MacArthur sets the context - The last few days had been an emotional roller coaster for the disciples. Their fervent messianic hopes had reached an apex during the dizzying excitement of the triumphal entry—only to be dashed when Jesus publicly announced His impending death: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit" (John 12:24), and then repeated that prediction privately to 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'" (Jn 13:33). Like their fellow Jews, the disciples saw the Messiah as a conquering king. He would, they passionately believed, free Israel from bondage to Rome, restore her sovereignty and glory, and extend it over the world. The concept of a dying Messiah had no place in their theology (cf. Luke 24:21). On a more personal note, the disciples had forsaken everything to follow Jesus (Matt. 19:27); now He apparently was forsaking them. Other events of that evening in the upper room had added to the emotional turmoil that the disciples felt. They had been shamed by their prideful refusal to wash each other's feet, which prompted Jesus to humbly do what they refused to do (Jn 13:3-5). They were dumbfounded to hear Jesus predict that one of them would betray Him (Jn 13:21-22) and appalled at the news that their stalwart leader Peter, seemingly the strongest and boldest of them all, would cravenly deny Christ (Jn 13:38). They were also no doubt unsettled because they sensed that the Lord Himself was troubled (Jn 13:21). (See John Commentary) Do not let your (plural = all 11) heart (kardia) be troubled (tarasso - distressed, agitated) - “Don't be worried!" "Set your mind at ease" (Tenney). Jesus had supernatural knowledge and so He knew each disciple's heart was disturbed (And praise God He knows when our hearts are troubled beloved and His exhortation is the same stop being troubled!) Most writers favor both verbs (troubled, believe) as present imperatives but there is disagreement (see note). Note that Jesus Himself is troubled (Jn 12:27+, Jn 13:21+) and yet in His great compassion (cf Heb 4:15+), He seeks to comfort His troubled disciples! Jesus had just addressed Peter ("you" singular in Jn 13:37,38+) but now changes the you to plural as He addresses all 11 disciples for He knows every heart is troubled. His command Do not let your heart be troubled is in the present imperative with a negative which in this context is not telling them not to start being troubled but is calling for them to stop being troubled which was their current emotional state. Troubled (tarasso) is the same verb John used to describe "when the water is stirred up" (tarasso) (Jn 5:7+). The disciples’ hearts were like that pool that was stirred up. The call to not be troubled or fearful is a frequent theme in Scripture - Gen. 15:1; 26:24; 46:3; Ex. 14:13; Num. 21:34; Deut. 1:21, 29; 20:1; 31:6; Josh. 1:9; 11:6; 1 Chron. 22:13; 28:20; Prov. 3:25; Isa. 37:6; 41:10, 13, 14; 43:1, 5; 44:2, 8; 51:7; Jer. 1:8; 42:11; 46:27–28; Lam. 3:57; Joel 2:21; Hag. 2:5; Zech. 8:13, 15; Matt. 10:31; Acts 18:9; 27:24; 1 Peter 3:14; Rev. 2:10 NET NOTE on troubled (tarasso) - The same verb is used to describe Jesus' own state in John 11:33, 12:27, 13:21 (ED: Jn 13:21 -- INDEED THEY SURELY SENSED THIS "TROUBLED" SPIRIT IN THEIR LORD AND IT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR INNER DISTRESS!). Jesus is looking ahead to the events of the evening and the next day, his arrest, trials, crucifixion, and death, which will cause his disciples extreme emotional distress. Jesus is encouraging His little band of stalwarts to stop being anxious and distressed, emotions which they were already manifesting. This command was necessary because they had just heard about the coming departure of Jesus and the fact that Peter would deny Him. Jesus knows how troubled they will soon be and so He repeats this same command at the end of this chapter (John 14:27 "Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."). But Jesus doesn't just leave them with a command. He will also speak of the provision of divine enablement to carry out His command. What "secret to success" does Jesus teach His disciples so that they might not be continually stirred up inside with fear and dread? Fear of men will bring a snare. Trusting in God and taking refuge in His promises brings security even in the face of shaky circumstances (Jn 16:33+). Jesus tells them to keep on believing in God and in Him. But what were they to believe specifically? When you believe in (preposition "eis" = "extension involving a goal...into, in" BDAG) "Jesus" what does that convey? Belief in His Name equates with belief in all that His name conveys, e.g., His righteousness in place of our "righteousness" (1Co 1:30+), His abiding presence (Heb 13:5+), etc. And also believe in God the Father. Believe that His name is a strong tower and the righteous run into it and are safe eternally (Pr 18:10+). He is EL Shaddai - God Almighty, Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts (of armies) (He is able to protect and defend us, Ps 91:1+), El Elyon: Most High God - Sovereign Over All (the Most High God of Daniel), etc. J Vernon McGee With the word believe we find the preposition eis which means "into." When John talks about saving faith, there is always a preposition with it. The faith is not inactive, not passive; it is to believe into or to believe upon or to believe in. It is an active faith, which is trust. If you believe that your car will take you home, how do you get home? By just believing it? No, you believe in it so much that you commit yourself to the car. You get into it and trust that it will get you home. In just such a way you get saved. You believe in Christ; you trust yourself to Him. (BORROW Thru the Bible John) THOUGHT - Faith in God is equated essentially with faith in Jesus and is an ''antidote'' for a troubled heart. Take up the shield of faith that you may be able to extinguish all the flaming anxiety producing missiles of the evil one (Eph 6:16+). It is much easier to "take up the shield of faith" in the moment of a spiritual attack if you have been eating His Word daily (Mt 4:4+, Jer 15:16+, Col 3:16+, 1Pe 2:2+) and walking in manner worthy of the Lord (Col 1:10+, Eph 4:1+). Every fresh test as well as every new revelation is a summons to faith. -- Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Believe (pisteuo) in God, believe (pisteuo) also in Me - First note that Jesus is claiming equality with God. So this is another verse to refute the frequent skeptical accusation that Jesus never claimed to be God! Next notice that believing in this context is in a sense an "antidote" for a troubled heart. Both verbs are in the present imperative (but see note below). While the disciples undoubtedly believed in Jesus, these circumstances (especially Jesus' predictions) shook their faith so that it began to waver (Does that ever happen to us? That's rhetorical of course!) Jesus commands them to keep on believing in God and in Him even after He leaves them (as implied by the present tense = continually). He is calling His disciples (then and now) to rely upon or trust in God and Himself, trusting they have the willingness and ability to care for all the children of God (Jn 1:12+). One recalls the words of Isaiah 28:16 " Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed." Merrill Tenney - “Jesus’ solution to perplexity is not a recipe; it is a relationship with him.” (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary - scroll up and down for more text) Charles Swindoll is correct noting that "when something terrible occurs in life, humanity immediately looks heavenward and asks one of two questions: “Why did God allow this to happen?” or “Where was God?” Both suggest the Lord was either unable or unwilling to prevent tragedy. When pressed by worldly affliction, we naturally begin to wonder if He has abandoned us; we doubt His goodness or power. Jesus asked for His followers’ to trust in the midst of their confusion." (BORROW Insights on John) A sense of God’s presence in love is sufficient to rebuke all anxiety and fears; and not only so, but to give, in the midst of them, solid consolation and joy -- John Owen John
João 14
Johnson - Once more he presses on them the old lesson, the lesson with which they first began: “Believe! Believe More! Believe distinctly on Me! Believe personally in Me!” Never let us forget that there are degrees in faith and that there is a great difference between weak faith and strong faith. The weakest faith is enough to give a man a saving interest in Christ, and ought not to be scorned; but it will not give a man the same inward comfort that it gives a man with strong faith. A man with weak faith has a dimness of perception and does not see clearly what they believe and why they believe it. Strong, deep faith in Christ is the surest remedy for the troubled heart. Jesus gave them as an antidote for troubled hearts (in following passages): (1) He told them heaven is sure, (2) Christ is the certain and only way to heaven, (3) When Christ departs, His work for them will never cease, (4) in the absence of Christ, His disciples will have the presence and help of the Holy Spirit, (5) Christ will not leave his people forever, but will come back again to receive them unto Himself, (6) He will give the His peace to cheer and encourage them. Keep on believing equates with keep on obeying (cf Jn 14:15, Jn 14:23). Obedience doesn't save us but it does show that we are saved (James 2:14-26+) and it does bring greater insights into God us (Jn 7:17+) and greater intimacy with Jesus (Jn 14:21). THOUGHT - Where are we troubled and so ultimately where do we need to believe? Is this truth just to be in our minds? Obviously not. But we must take it into our hearts, the center of our thinking (mind), our feeling (emotion) and our choosing (will). So knowledge alone is not enough. We have to receive His life-giving Word into our innermost being and then our heart will not be troubled regardless of our circumstances. Head knowledge is not enough. This truth is easy to read but not so easy to put into practice, as the temptation is always before us telling us to walk by sight rather than by faith in God and in Jesus (the Living Word). Ryrie - In view of His departure from them, Christ gave the disciples (in this chapter) specific encouragements. These include the provision in the Father's house (v. 2), the promise to return (v. 3), the prospect of doing greater works (v. 12), the promise of answered prayer (v. 14), the coming of the Holy Spirit (v. 16), and the legacy of peace (v. 27). (BORROW Ryrie Study Bible) C H
João 14
Johnson - “Newsweek” did a poll in America recently (ED: OVER 20 YEARS AGO) and they said that the poll found that 77% of the people in America believed that Heaven really does exist. Of those 77% that believe in heaven, 75% believed that they were going there. What does this tell us? It tells us that most Americans believe that the way to Heaven is broad and almost anyone who is drawing breath and has a heartbeat will eventually get there. Yet, Jesus said the gate is small and the way narrow. Few will enter it. Matt. 7:13-14+ (ED COMMENT - I came across another poll this past week that showed that 92% of Americans believed in heaven and nearly all of those were somewhat confident that they would be there. Woe!) ILLUSTRATION - PLACE - London newspaper held a contest to determine the best definition of “home.” The winning entry was, “Home is the place where you are treated the best and complain the most.” The poet Robert Frost said that home is the place that, when you arrive there, they have to take you in. NET NOTE on My Father's house - Most interpreters have understood the reference to my Father’s house as a reference to heaven, and the dwelling places (μονή, monē) as the permanent residences of believers there. This seems consistent with the vocabulary and the context, where in Jn 14:3 Jesus speaks of coming again to take the disciples to himself. However, the phrase in my Father’s house was used previously in the Fourth Gospel in Jn 2:16 to refer to the temple in Jerusalem. The author in Jn 2:19-22 then reinterpreted the temple as Jesus’ body, which was to be destroyed in death and then rebuilt in resurrection after three days. Even more suggestive is the statement by Jesus in Jn 8:35, “Now the slave does not remain (μένω, menō) in the household forever, but the son remains (μένω) forever.” If in the imagery of the Fourth Gospel the phrase in my Father’s house is ultimately a reference to Jesus’ body, the relationship of μονή to μένω suggests the permanent relationship of the believer to Jesus and the Father as an adopted son who remains in the household forever. In this case the “dwelling place” is “in” Jesus himself, where he is, whether in heaven or on earth. The statement in v. 3, “I will come again and receive you to myself,” then refers not just to the parousia, but also to Jesus’ post-resurrection return to the disciples in his glorified state, when by virtue of his death on their behalf they may enter into union with him and with the Father as adopted sons. Needless to say, this bears numerous similarities to Pauline theology, especially the concepts of adoption as sons and being “in Christ” which are prominent in passages like Eph 1. It is also important to note, however, the emphasis in the Fourth Gospel itself on the present reality of eternal life (John 5:24; 7:38-39, etc.) and the possibility of worshiping the Father “in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24) in the present age. There is a sense in which it is possible to say that the future reality is present now. See further J. McCaffrey, The House With Many Rooms (AnBib 114). NET NOTE on dwelling places - Many interpreters have associated μοναί (monai) with an Aramaic word that can refer to a stopping place or resting place for a traveler on a journey. This is similar to one of the meanings the word can have in secular Greek (Pausanius 10.31.7). Origen understood the use here to refer to stations on the road to God. This may well have been the understanding of the Latin translators who translated μονή (monē) by mansio, a stopping place. The English translation “mansions” can be traced back to Tyndale, but in Middle English the word simply meant “a dwelling place” (not necessarily large or imposing) with no connotation of being temporary. The interpretation put forward by Origen would have been well suited to Gnosticism, where the soul in its ascent passes through stages during which it is gradually purified of all that is material and therefore evil. It is much more likely that the word μονή should be related to its cognate verb μένω (menō), which is frequently used in the Fourth Gospel to refer to the permanence of relationship between Jesus and the Father and/or Jesus and the believer. Thus the idea of a permanent dwelling place, rather than a temporary stopping place, would be in view. Luther’s translation of μοναί by Wohnungen is very accurate here, as it has the connotation of a permanent residence. Joseph Stowell - THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME “IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS. . . . I AM GOING THERE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.”—John 14:2 Christ never considered Himself at home here. He knew that He had come from heaven and that He was going back and that heaven was truly home. This left Him free from bondage to this present world and empowered Him to fulfill His mission here unhindered by earthside distractions. In order to follow Jesus the disciples had to literally become homeless as well. They had given up their homes, careers, familiar places, and families to journey with Christ toward their eternal home. In a very real sense, Jesus Christ had become the disciples’ home away from home. As long as they were with Him, they felt safe and secure. That is why they were so traumatized when He told them that He was leaving them. As Christ instructed them on how to live after He left (John 13–14), they were so traumatized by His impending departure, that they were unable to hear His instructions. So He interrupted His strategic session on survival without Him to patiently answer the testy questions of Peter and Thomas regarding His departure. He took pains to assure them that He was going to His home in heaven to make a home for them (John 14:1–6). As long as they believed this and counted heaven to be their home, they would be able to function here courageously, without distraction or intimidation. The mission of Christ was never intended to culminate at the cross. The cross and the empty grave were merely means of opening the doors of heaven for us. Home is where you feel comfortable, secure, safe, and at peace. Christ made clear that He came here to take us there. When heaven is home, earth becomes a far different place. It can threaten but not thwart. Trouble but not traumatize. Tempt but not conquer. Belief in heaven as home has led thousands of martyrs to brave the cruel reproaches of a hostile world and ordinary folk to live victoriously against everyday odds. In what way does heaven make a difference for you? (See A Glimpse of Heaven: Through the Eyes of - Page 74) DEATH—THE KEY TO A PALACE “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 A mother tells how one evening, when she was tucking her small daughter in bed, the child exclaimed, "Mother, stay with me while I go to sleep." Remembering all the tasks that still awaited her, she hesitated, but seeing the troubled look on the little face and knowing her dread of the creeping darkness, she sat down by the bedside and caressed her daughter's soft hand in her own. Soon the child drifted away to dreamland. As the mother sat there, the Lord brought home to her heart a blessed and comforting thought. Bowing her head she prayed, "Oh, Lord, when life's evening shall .come, bring before me all Thy good promises, so that by grace I too may be able to say with a child-like trust, 'Father, take my hand — stay with me while I go to sleep, guide me safely in the valley, and receive me when I awaken in Glory!'" In the light of John 14:2, this is a prayer every Christian can utter with holy confidence. God conceals from us the full happiness that follows death, that we may be able to endure life!" Someone has said, "God conceals from us the full happiness that follows death, that we may be able to endure life!" Today you may be sorrowing for a loved one whom God has called home to Heaven, but actually it is for yourself that you weep. Your dear one is so rapturously happy in the place which Jesus especially prepared for him in the Mansions of Light, that it is almost sacrilegious that you should selfishly wish him back in this dismal land of the dying. Apart from the inspired writers of the Scripture, John Milton perhaps said it best when he exclaimed, "Death for the believer is the golden key that opens for him the palace of eternity!" O mourner, meditate on John 14:2. Think of the joy your Christian loved one is now experiencing in Glory, and it will put a rainbow in the cloud of your sorrow. Weep not because I walk no longer with you, Remember I am walking streets of gold; Weep for yourselves that you awhile must tarry, Before the blessed Lord you may behold. —Barbara C. Ryberg We think of death as ending, but for the Christian it is a glorious beginning; we think of it as going away, but it is really a wondrous arriving! —N. Macleod In America at the turn of the twentieth century, people who were poor and homeless were moved into "poorhouses." These tutions were considered to be just about the worst places a person live. A doctor was visiting an elderly woman who was dying in such a . Because of her surroundings, he was greatly surprised to hear her answer, "Praise the Lord." So the doctor leaned over and said to her, "How .0 possibly praise God here in a poorhouse?" She responded, "That's I just keep thinking about the move into my heavenly mansion." The assurance that a wonderful home, the "Father's house," awaited n contrast to the depressing poorhouse—gave her cause for praise of her poverty. A wonderful home in heaven awaits every child of God—and the earth's pathway, the brighter heaven's prospect.—R. W D. TILE RICHES OF HEAVEN WILL MORE THAN COMPENSATE FOR THE POVERTY OF EARTH. QUESTION - What did Jesus mean when He said, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2)? ANSWER - Jesus’ disciples were greatly distressed about His impending departure (John 14:1; cf. John 16:6, 22). For this reason, Jesus set aside His own agony (John 12:27 and John 13:21) and took an extended moment to lend emotional support to His disciples (John 14—16). Is there a greater example of putting others before ourselves? John 14 is linked with John 13 in two important ways. First, there is an implicit connection to Peter, who Jesus said would deny Him three times (John 13:36–38). If Peter would deny the Lord, would the other disciples remain steadfast in their faith? Second, because Jesus sensed the inner turmoil of His disciples, He thought it necessary to address the implications of His departure (John 13:33, 36). To calm their troubled hearts (John 14:1), Jesus issues an imperative: “Believe in God; believe also in me” (ESV). The word for “believe” can also be translated as “trust” (as the NLT renders John 14:1). Here, we discover the real problem—a lack of trust. The disciples did not fully trust God, nor did they fully trust Jesus. If they trusted God, they would also trust Jesus, who “proceeded forth and came from God” (John 8:42, KJV). The implication is that there is an indissoluble union between the Father and Son (cf. John 10:30 and John 17:21), a union that would be more fully explained in John 14:7–12. D. A. Carson, a professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, has this to say about the union between the Father and Son: For thoughtful readers of the Gospel, however, the link is almost inevitable. If Jesus invariably speaks the words of God and performs the acts of God (5:19 ff.), should he not be trusted like God? If he tells his followers not to let their hearts be troubled, must it not be because he has ample and justifiable reason? The Gospel According to John, Eerdmans, 1991, p. 488. It is not simply the fact that Jesus should be trusted like God. Jesus is God (John 1:1, 14; 5:18). Therefore, He can be trusted to provide the solution to every problem that we face (see Matthew 11:28–30). The disciples did not understand that Jesus’ departure was for their benefit. Not only would Jesus leave to prepare a place for them, but He would also come back for them (John 14:2–3). Should this not have been sufficient reason for the disciples to rejoice? In John 14:2, my Father’s house refers to heaven, where there are many rooms or dwelling-places. Jesus’ point is not that every believer will receive a “mansion” (as the KJV renders John 14:2). Rather, it is an assurance that ample provision has been made to secure space for all believers in heaven. This is yet another reason why the disciples should not let their hearts be troubled about Jesus’ departure. By going to the cross, Jesus prepared a place in heaven for His disciples (cf. John 12:32). Thus, He is our forerunner or precursor: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 6:19–20 emphasis added). Our hope for an eternal resting place in heaven is sure and steadfast because it is grounded in the finished work of Christ (John 19:30). Thou hast made us for Thyself, and the heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee. THE HOMELESS "In My Father's house are many mansions." - John 14:2 I have seen them curled up on park benches in Chicago. I've observed them asleep in doorways within the shadow of the White House. They slump against the walls of a New York subway. They huddle in the alleys of Los Angeles. They are the homeless -- restless, furtive, often sick. To me, homelessness illustrates the human condition without God. The Bible says, "All we like sheep have gone astray" (Isa. 53:6). To deny God, as so many people do today, is to be homeless in a world He designed for His own glory. To abandon His moral law is to drift aimlessly. To deny Him is to make life meaningless. To refuse His love is to sink into the coldness of despair. The answer to the human dilemma is to believe in Jesus Christ. The early church leader Augustine (354-430) said, "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and the heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee." To trust in Christ is to come into the warm and loving family of God (Jn. 1:12). To hope in Him is to look forward to a heavenly home that will last forever (Jn 14: 1-3). To receive Him is to become part of His world of truth, morality, and peace. Adrift in a world that lacked meaning, I felt a compulsion to roam, And then one bright day I met Jesus, At last I had found my heart's home. -- K. De Haan We are homeless until Christ is at home in our hearts. John 14:2 Happy Memories The Lord Jesus is now in heaven, the “Father’s house.” He has gone there to “prepare a place” for all who have put their trust in Him. There is a sense, however, in which believers may have a part in preparing that place. That thought was brought to my attention as I read these observations by an unknown writer: “I once had friends who were traveling abroad. Intending to build a new house upon their return, in all their journeying the dream of that new home was constantly in their minds. When they therefore could secure a beautiful picture, statue, or vase, they purchased in and sent it on ahead to await their arrival. The same thing was done with rare and curious treasures, which afterward, when placed in their new home, could be linked with happy memories and in this way contribute to their future enjoyment.” J C Philpot - "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." –John 14:2 O that we could lift our eyes to those blest abodes, those mansions of heavenly bliss, where no sorrow intrudes, where sin is unknown, where tears are wiped from off all faces, where there is no languishing body, no wasting sickness, no pining soul, no doubt, fear, darkness or distress; but one unmingled scene of happiness and pleasure, and the whole soul and body are engaged in singing the praises of God and the Lamb! And what crowns the whole, there is the eternal enjoyment of those pleasures which are at the right hand of God for evermore. But how lost are we in the contemplation of these things; and though our imagination may seem to stretch itself beyond the utmost conception of the mind, into the countless ages of a never-ending eternity, yet are we baffled with the thought, though faith embraces the blessed truth. But in that happy land, the immortal soul and the immortal body will combine their powers and faculties to enjoy to the uttermost all that God has prepared for those that love him. J C Philpot - One unmingled scene of happiness & pleasure "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." John 14:2 O that we could lift our eyes to those blessed abodes—those mansions of heavenly bliss where no sorrow intrudes, where sin is unknown, where tears are wiped from off all faces, where there is no languishing body, no wasting sickness, no pining soul, no doubt, no fear, no darkness, no distress—but one unmingled scene of happiness and pleasure—and the whole soul and body are engaged in singing the praises of the Lamb! And what crowns the whole—there is the eternal enjoyment of those pleasures which are at the right hand of God forevermore! But how lost are we in the contemplation of these things—and though our imagination may seem to stretch itself beyond the utmost conception of the mind, into the countless ages of a never-ending eternity, yet are we baffled with the thought—though faith embraces the blessed truth. But in that happy land, the immortal soul and the immortal body will combine their powers and faculties to enjoy to the uttermost all that God has prepared for those who love Him. A Place for Us TODAY’S READING: John 14:1–4 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. -John 14:2 Sharonne McGee satisfies her passion for serving others primarily by helping people buy their own home. She says, “The effects of housing discrimination along with lack of credit, little savings, and miseducation have hindered Black people and others. I’m working to change that.” This Kansas City real estate professional educates potential buyers about overcoming these obstacles and discrimination. Unfair lending practices and “restrictive covenants” historically kept Black people from US communities with higher property values, better schools, and other advantages. In 1968, the Fair Housing Act began to change that for continuing generations’ benefit. The Bible record reveals that God has been more than a faithful provider of shelter; He has been a “place” of refuge. God delivered the Israelites from the disadvantages of Egyptian slavery, and He took them into the promised land, giving them places to dwell within “large, flourishing cities” (Deuteronomy 6:10). Responding in worship, Moses said, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Psalm 90:1–2). God has prepared an eternal place with Him for all who receive faith in His Son. And Jesus has promised, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home” (John 14:2NLT). How can you respond today to Jesus’ words in John 14? Who can you encourage to believe in God and believe also in Jesus? God, thank You for being my supreme shelter now and in eternity. All The Comforts Of Home In My Father’s house are many mansions; . . . I go to prepare a place for you. — John 14:2 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 Once, during my tenure as a human resource officer for a construction company, we took some jobs in a neighboring state. This meant our workers were faced with a 2-hour commute each way, plus a full workday. To ease the burden, we booked motel rooms for the week, but we also arranged vans and drivers to transport those who decided to commute. Almost every worker took the vans! One of our grumpiest workers discarded his usual demeanor as he described the thrill and surprise of his wife and four boys on the first night. He hadn’t told them he had an option to come home, so he showed up unexpectedly to surprise them. Later his wife called to thank the company owner, telling him their family was “loyal for life” to anyone who understood how important home was to workers. Anyone who has been deprived of home, even for a short time, will understand the comfort Jesus’ disciples drew from His words when He promised that an eternal home awaited them (John 14:2). Then, to make their joy complete, Jesus told them He would prepare and guide them to that home, and, joy of joys, He would be there too (v.3). Heavenly Father, we praise You for these words from Jesus that touch the deepest longing in our soul—the hope and comfort of home. We want to be with You. In Jesus’ name, amen. There is no place like home— especially when home is heaven. A Place To Be 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. —John 14:2 Today's Scripture & Insight : Nehemiah 1:4-11 A thousand strands of time, events, and people weave into a tapestry we call place. More than just a house, place is where meaning, belonging, and safety come together under the covering of our best efforts at unconditional love. Place beckons us with memories buried deep in our souls. Even when our place isn’t perfect, its hold on us is dramatic, magnetic. The Bible speaks frequently of place. We see an example in Nehemiah’s longing for a restored Jerusalem (Neh. 1:3-4; 2:2). It’s no surprise, then, that Jesus would speak of place when He wants to comfort us. “Let not your heart be troubled,” He began. Then He added: “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2). For those who have fond memories of earthly places, this promise links us to something we can easily understand and look forward to. And for those whose places have been anything but comforting and safe, Jesus promises that one day they will hear the sweet song place sings, for they will inhabit it with Him. Jesus, I can’t wait to live in the home You have prepared for me. Thank You that no matter what my earthly place holds, comfort or pain, my home with You will be so much better. May the memory of our earthly place point us with hope to our heavenly place. Home Sweet Home I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 Today's Scripture : John 14:1–14 “Why do we have to leave our home and move?” my son asked. It’s difficult to explain what a home is, especially to a five-year-old. We were leaving a house, but not our home, in the sense that home is where our loved ones are. It’s the place where we long to return after a long trip or after a full day’s work. When Jesus was in the upper room just hours before He died, He told His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:1). The disciples were uncertain of their future because Jesus had predicted His death. But Jesus reassured them of His presence and reminded them they would see Him again. He told them, “My Father’s house has many rooms . . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you” (v. 2). He could have used other words to describe heaven. However, He chose words that describe not an uncomfortable or unfamiliar place but a place where Jesus, our loved One, would be. Dear Lord, I thank You for heaven, my eternal home. Read more about the life to come at discoveryseries.org/q1205. We look forward to being with the Lord forever. Home 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. John 14:2nkjv Today's Scripture & Insight: John 14:1-6 Recently a friend who sold homes for a living died of cancer. As my wife and I reminisced about Patsy, Sue recalled that many years ago Patsy had led a man to faith in Jesus and he became a good friend of ours. How encouraging to recall that Patsy not only helped families find homes to live in here in our community, but she also helped others make sure they had an eternal home. As Jesus prepared to go to the cross for us, He showed a keen interest in our eternal accommodations. He told His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you” and reminded them that there would be plenty of room in His Father’s house for all who trusted Him (John 14:2 nkjv). We love to have a nice home in this life—a special place for our family to eat, sleep, and enjoy each other’s company. But think of how amazing it will be when we step into the next life and discover that God has taken care of our eternal accommodations. Praise God for giving us life “to the full” (John 10:10), including His presence with us now and our presence with Him later in the place He is preparing for us (14:3). Lord, while we anticipate the home You’re preparing for us, may we tell others they too can enjoy forever the home You’re preparing for all who believe in Jesus. Who can you talk to today about their need for an eternal home and the assurance that would bring them? The Advance Team My Father’s house has many rooms; . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 Today's Scripture : John 14:1–14 A friend recently prepared to relocate to a city more than 1,000 miles from her current hometown. She and her husband divided the labor of moving to accommodate a short timeline. He secured new living arrangements, while she packed their belongings. I was astounded by her ability to move without previewing the area or participating in the house hunt, and asked how she could do so. She acknowledged the challenge but said she knew she could trust her husband because of his attention to her preferences and needs over their years together. In the upper room, Jesus spoke with His disciples of His coming betrayal and death. The darkest hours of Jesus’s earthly life, and that of the disciples as well, lay ahead. He comforted them with the assurance that He would prepare a place for them in heaven, just as my friend’s husband prepared a new home for their family. When the disciples questioned Jesus, He pointed them to their mutual history and the miracles they’d witnessed Him perform. Though they would grieve Jesus’s death and absence, He reminded them He could be counted on to do as He’d said. Help me, Lord, to lean on You when my life feels uncertain and hard. You are trustworthy and good. We can trust God to lead us through difficult times. Room And Board I go to prepare a place for you. — John 14:2 Today's Scripture & Insight : John 14:1-11 On a recent trip to England, my wife and I visited Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon. The house is more than 400 years old, and it was the childhood and family home of William Shakespeare’s wife. The tour guide drew our attention to a table made with wide boards. One side was used for eating meals and the other for chopping food. In English life, different expressions grew from this usage as the word board became associated with food, housing, honesty, and authority. An inn would offer “room and board”—that is, sleeping and eating accommodations. In taverns where customers played cards, they were told to keep their hands “above board” to make sure they weren’t cheating. And in the home, the father was given a special chair at the head of the table where he was called “chairman of the board.” A Nesting Place I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 Today's Scripture & Insight : John 14:1–4 Sand martins—small birds related to swallows—dig their nests into riverbanks. Land development in South East England reduced their habitat, and the birds had fewer and fewer places to nest when they returned from their winter migration each year. Local conservationists sprang into action and built an enormous artificial sandbank to house them. With the help of a sand-sculpting firm, they molded sand to create a space for the birds to take up residence for years to come. This gracious act of compassion vividly depicts the words Jesus used to console His disciples. After telling them He’d be leaving and that they wouldn’t be able to go with Him until later (John 13:36), He offered them the assurance that He’d “prepare a place for [them]” in heaven (14:2). Though they were rightly saddened that Jesus said He would leave them soon and that they could not follow Him, He encouraged them to look on this holy errand as part of His preparation to receive them—and us. Without Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross, the “many rooms” of the Father’s house wouldn’t be able to receive us (v. 2). Having gone before us in preparation, Christ assures us He’ll return and take those who trust in His sacrifice to be with Him. There we’ll take up residence with Him in a joyous eternity. By: Kirsten Holmberg When have you felt you weren’t “at home” in this life? What do you most look forward to about heaven? Thank You, Jesus, for preparing a place for me in heaven with You. STAYING ALIVE 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. —John 14:2 If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. But if it does work, I’ll be happy. If it’s possible—and I think it will be—why not have a second crack? . . . I have a feeling that if I don’t do it, I could regret it in 300 years.” That was a quote from one of the world’s leading music producers. Do you know what he’s on about? He wants to be frozen . . . After he’s dead! If you have a spare £12,000, you can be frozen when you die too! Then, in the future, when technology is advanced enough, scientists will be able to bring you back to life. That way, you can stay alive forever. Sound good? GIVING OUR LIVES TO JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THEM FOREVER. The Homeless In My Father's house are many mansions. —John 14:2 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-7 I have seen them curled up on park benches in Chicago. I’ve observed them asleep in doorways within the shadow of the White House. They slump against the walls of a New York subway. They huddle in the alleys of Los Angeles. They are the homeless—restless, furtive, often sick. To me, homelessness illustrates the human condition without God. The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isa. 53:6). To deny God, as so many people do today, is to be homeless in a world He designed for His own glory. To abandon His moral law is to drift aimlessly. To deny Him is to make life meaningless. To refuse His love is to sink into the coldness of despair. The answer to the human dilemma is to believe in Jesus Christ. The early church leader Augustine (354-430) said, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, and the heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee.” To trust in Christ is to come into the warm and loving family of God (Jn. 1:12). To hope in Him is to look forward to a heavenly home that will last forever (14:1-3). To receive Him is to become part of His world of truth, morality, and peace. Adrift in a world that lacked meaning, I felt a compulsion to roam, And then one bright day I met Jesus, At last I had found my heart's home! —K. De Haan We are homeless until Christ is at home in our hearts. John 14:3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. I will come again and receive you to Myself,: John 14:18-23,28 John 12:26 John 17:24 Mt 25:32-34 Ac 1:11 Acts 7:59,60 Ro 8:17 2Co 5:6-8 Php 1:23 1Th 4:16,17 2Th 1:12 2Th 2:1 2Ti 2:12 Heb 9:28 1Jn 3:2,3 Rev 3:21 Rev 21:22,23 Rev 22:3-5 Related Passages: 1 Thessalonians 4:13+ But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up (harpazo; Latin - rapturo ~ "raptured") together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. John 17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. Buster Keaton looking expectantly JESUS' PROMISED FUTURE RETURN & RECEPTION If I go and prepare (hetoimazo) a place (topos) for you - NLT says "When everything is ready." NJB = "after I have gone." International Children's Bible has "After I go and prepare a place for you." While Jesus had discussed His future return on several previous occasions, this was the first time He had applied it personally to His disciples. The first leg of the journey in "I go" was of course His going to the Cross. And don't miss Jesus' repetition of "I" ("Myself") in verse 3-4 which emphasizes His personal involvement. Bob Utley on if I go - "If" This is a THIRD CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, which means potential action. Jesus has told them He is returning to the Father soon (i.e., John 7:33; Jn 16:5,10,17,28) and He will prepare a place for them. The Help for Translators from United Bible Societies on John by Newman and Wider says that this clause should be understood in a temporal sense of "after I go" or "when I go" or "since I go" (p. 456). G Campbell
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Johnson - seven things related to our Lord's miracles: 1.Their number – Jesus performed MANY miracles. There are no less than 35 listed in the Gospels, but the Gospel writers declare that He performed many more. John said that there were so many things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, the world could not contain the books that would be written (Jn 20:30, 21:25) 2.Their greatness – They were not small miracles, but great and mighty ones. 3.They were Public – They were not done in a corner, but before all. 4.Their character – They were acts of love, mercy, and compassion. 5.They were irrefutable – They were visible and would bear any examination. 6.The miracles reveal God. God's very nature, power, and character are seen in the miracles. 7.The greatest testimony (MIRACLE) for Christ is the power to transform the lives of men. Some liberals try to explain away our Lord's miracles; and, in doing so, they try to take away His deity. But there is one miracle the liberals have never been able to explain away – the last and greatest miracle of His own resurrection from the dead. If He could perform this last, great miracle, why would any hesitate to believe His other miracles? John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. the: Mt 21:21 Mk 11:13 16:17 Lu 10:17-19 Ac 3:6-8 4:9-12,16,33 8:7 Ac 9:34,40 16:18 1Co 12:10,11 greater works than these he will do: Ac 2:4-11,41 4:4 5:15 6:7 10:46 19:12 Ro 15:19 because I go to the Father: Joh 14:28 Jn 7:39 Jn 16:7 Ac 2:33 Related Passages: John 7:39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. Acts 2:33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. JESUS PROMISES DISCIPLES GREATER WORKS Truly, truly (amen, amen) I say to you - Only Jesus begins a sentence with amen and even doubles it 25 times, all in the Gospel of John. The idea is truth, trustworthy, certain. This declaration places great emphasis on the truth of what follows, which calls for careful attention. Truly, truly - 25x/25v - Jn. 1:51; Jn. 3:3; Jn. 3:5; Jn. 3:11; Jn. 5:19; Jn. 5:24; Jn. 5:25; Jn. 6:26; Jn. 6:32; Jn. 6:47; Jn. 6:53; Jn. 8:34; Jn. 8:51; Jn. 8:58; Jn. 10:1; Jn. 10:7; Jn. 12:24; Jn. 13:16; Jn. 13:20; Jn. 13:21; Jn. 13:38; Jn. 14:12; Jn. 16:20; Jn. 16:23; Jn. 21:18 He who believes (pisteuo) in Me, the works that I do (poieo), he will do (poieo) also - Note that in this passage Jesus clearly links believing with doing. Intellectual assent to the facts about Jesus will not save anyone. There must be heart belief to assure salvation (Ro 10:9-10). As James says believing without doing is dead, non-saving faith (Jas 2:17+). In the book of Acts the apostles did indeed do many of the works Jesus did, even raising the dead (cf Peter in Acts 9:37,40+) The greater works... One sinner who repents. and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father - What will transpire when Jesus goes to the Father? He will send the Holy Spirit to indwell believers and they will have supernatural power to carry out works. How would they be greater? Believers can share the Gospel in places Jesus did not and they can go to the Gentiles, while Jesus went primarily to the Jews. And there was only one Jesus, while there are manifold believers who together can do greater works. Jesus works were limited by time and space, but that is not the case with the works of His disciples. And what is the greatest work? It is not the conversion of one soul which makes all heaven rejoice! (Lk 15:7, 10+). Indeed one might even subtitle the Book of Acts "Greater Works"! Did you see the "KEY" that served like a hinge to open the door to greater works? Notice the term of explanation "because" which opens the door, for before the Spirit could be sent Jesus had to go to the Father (cf Jn 7:37, 38, 39+). Indeed, with this little "hinge word" because, the door was flung wide open for world missions, world evangelism! In Acts 1:8+ Jesus declared "you will receive power (dunamis) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” The greater works are the spiritual works. The miracles in the physical realm are subservient to those in the spiritual sphere: the former serve to prove the genuine character of the latter -- William Hendriksen John MacArthur on greater works - When the Lord spoke of His followers performing greater works, He was referring to the extent of the spiritual miracle of salvation. Jesus never preached outside of Palestine, yet His followers would spread the gospel throughout the world. Jesus had only a limited outreach to Gentiles (cf. Mark 7:26ff.), but the disciples (particularly Peter and later Paul) would reach the Gentile world with the gospel. The number of believers in Christ would also grow far beyond the hundreds (Acts 1:15; 1 Cor. 15:6) that were numbered during His lifetime. (See John Commentary) THOUGHT - We find a leadership principle here as well. All parents should be able to say to their children; all pastors should be able to say to their staffs; all leaders should be able to say to their followers: “You have the potential to do greater things than I have done.” To empower and develop followers whose ministry exceeds the impact of their mentors is to follow the model of Jesus. (Kenneth Gangel ) In another answer on greater works
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Johnson - We are so used to hearing “in Jesus' name, Amen” that we feel uncomfortable if we don't hear it when someone prays. We even suspect that the prayer is a bit “illegal” because it doesn't end with “in Jesus' name, Amen.” Here's a bit of Bible trivia that may surprise you. Go back and read all the prayers in the N.T. Not a single one ends with the phrase “in Jesus' name, Amen.” Some think of the phrase as a kind of spiritual Abracadabra or open sesame or the Christian equivalent of rubbing Aladdin's lamp. There is nothing magical about it. Names in the bible often represent character or authority or a person's reputation. Praying in Jesus' name is like signing His name to our prayers. In a sense we are saying to God, “Jesus told me to pray this prayer.” What do you think the Father will do with a prayer truly signed by His Son? He'll grant it, because He always honors what His Son wants. Let's turn that truth around. Sometimes people forge other people's name. Many of our prayers are spiritual forgeries because we are signing Jesus' name to prayers He has not approved. When we pray in Jesus' name, we are confessing our faith that Jesus is the only way to God. It is only by virtue of what Jesus has accomplished that any of us can come into the presence of God. To approach God apart from Jesus Christ is to guarantee that we will be turned away. When we pray in Jesus' name, we submit our will to his will because He knows what is best. That's what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here are the things that matter in prayer. Prayer must be made in Jesus' name, it must be offered in the right spirit, it must be for the glory of God, and there must be no unrepented of sin in our life that would block our prayer. Bob