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Thoughts on John's Gospel
No.14.
Chapter 14:
pp. 32 - 35
Our Lord Jesus Christ is about to leave His beloved disciples and to face death, and
for us a terrible ordeal of death on a cross. This was made even worse by the intense
heartaches of seeing His own people doing this to Him, and the sorrow that they "knew
not the time of their visitation" (Luke 19: 44). "He beheld the city, and wept over it"
(Luke 19: 41). Our Lord's urgent desire was to comfort and assure them and to show
them that He Himself was the true and living way:
"Jesus saith . . . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by Me" (14: 5, 6).
Do note that that way leads us via resurrection to the Father. Do we realize what a
wonderful thought this is? Consider how Peter grasped this exclusive way of access at
the beginning of his ministry:
"Be it known unto you all . . . . . that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth . . . . .
does this man stand here before you whole . . . . . Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"
(Acts 4: 10-12).
With what gracious assuring words our Lord announces His plans to receive His
followers after their journey through death's portals:
"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, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself" (14: 2, 3).
These words are so lovingly chosen, "If it were not so, I would have told you".
The unity of the Godhead is a great mystery but one which has to be accepted by us in
the terms used by the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. We have in this chapter, besides
God the Father, the Spirit of Truth; another Comforter; the Holy Ghost; and the Son of
God Himself. Consider the overlapping texts that describe the blessed union that can be
possible between these and the believer, and this in terms of "dwelling with"; "abiding
with"; and "being in":
". . . He (God) shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever:
even the Spirit of Truth . . . for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (14: 16, 17).
". . . . . I will come to you . . . . . at that day ye shall know that I am in My Father, and
ye in Me, and I in you" (14: 18, 20).
"If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will
come unto him, and make our abode with him" (14: 23).