Bible study on John 13-17.
Continuing Bible study on John 13 - 17
14:1
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.2
"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.3
"And 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."4
"And where I go you know, and the way you know."Yeshua’s words of comfort, immediately after telling Peter that he would deny Him, Yeshua encouraged him to believe in Him.
Verses 2 – 4 are words of a wedding ceremony. In Hebrew betrothals (after the bride has accepted the cup), the groom went back to his father’s house to prepare a place for the bride. Only when the father gave his approval to the groom, could the groom return for his bride.
5
Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.7
"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."8
Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."9
Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?10
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.11
"Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves."It was hard for the disciples then, and hard for the disciples now to make no distinction between Father and Son. Yet a small difference exists. The ONLY way to the Father is through His Son. Why is that? The ONLY way we can stand before the Father is on the sacrificed blood of Yeshua. His sacrifice is what paid the penalty for our sin.
Yeshua spoke the Words of the Father; His words are the Fathers words. There is no difference! [Deut 6:4]
12
"Most assuredly, 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 My Father.13
"And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14
"If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."15
"If you love Me, keep My commandments.16
"And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever17
"the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."This section (v. 12-17) are very important yet many times misunderstood. The result of this misunderstanding is that many today are not seeing nor doing the works of Yeshua. Why is that? It sounds simple, but it must not be, as evidenced by lack of works. Our concept of believing in Yeshua is not right; in order to believe in Him you must do as He says, and keep His commandments (v. 15). Again in verse 14 we are given a promise, but it is the "in My name" part which is so misunderstood. Doing something in Yeshua’s name is to do as Yeshua did, and to keep His commandments. (v.15 & 21). What are Yeshua’s commandments? [Link to the God of the Old Testament article] Yeshua came with the authority of the Father, when we are doing as Messiah we are acting with His authority (in His name).
18
"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.19
"A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.20
"At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.21
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."22
Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"23
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.24
"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."Again we are encouraged, followed by instruction. Again Yeshua drives home the idea, that in order to believe in Him, and to love Him you must keep His word and commandments. If you do not, then you do not love Him. The concept is simple; it is the doing that is difficult. Oh that we had some help.
25
"These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.26
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.27
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."Ah! the needed help is immediately presented in the form of the Holy Spirit, Messiah (Christ) in us. This help will also bring peace, not as the world knows peace, you know the peace that comes in a quite place when all is well. That is the world’s peace, but the peace Yeshua leaves is peace that is present in the midst of turmoil and confusion, this peace, is the peace of knowing that the God you trust in is the God that can bring salvation.
28
"You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.29
"And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.30
"I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.31
"But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.Yeshua, in order for His disciples to believe in Him, is foretelling what will happen to Him in the coming hours. This task is quite difficult; yet Yeshua still follow through with His Fathers command, because He loves Him.