seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 And 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
Footnotes:a. John 14:1 Or Believe in God
b. John 14:7 Some manuscripts If you really knew me, you would know
c. John 14:17 Some early manuscripts and is
This is from the easy English site.
The disciples had lived with Jesus for three years. They had heard him teach in public many times. Also he had taught them many things in private. They had seen him do many miracles. They had seen his power over death, when Lazarus became alive again. But still Philip asked to see God the Father.
God the Father is invisible. (‘Invisible’ means someone or something that people cannot see with their eyes.) But Jesus showed us exactly what God the Father is really like. This does not mean in a physical way, because God is Spirit. But Jesus showed us what God’s character is like. Everything about Jesus was like his Father. Jesus’ words and his acts were God the Father’s own words and acts. If the disciples could not believe Jesus’ words, they had the evidence of the miracles. Only God’s power could do such miracles.
Jesus promised to do anything that Christians ask. But he would do it only if it was in his name. We need to understand what ‘in his name’ really means. It means to know what Jesus wants us to do in a situation. So then we can ask for what Jesus would want to happen in that situation. Then we are asking with Jesus’ authority, as if we were Jesus himself. God will not grant our selfish requests. Jesus never made selfish requests. He asked only for what his Father wanted.
We need to know Jesus better. Then we will know what he wants us to pray for. Then, if we ask, God will grant our requests. He will grant our requests even if they seem to be difficult or impossible! But he wants us to ask him. And as we see answers to our prayers, our faith will increase.
The Holy Spirit always helps everybody who believes in Jesus. All the promises that Jesus made about the Holy Spirit were for all Christians, past and present.
The peace that Jesus gives to all Christians is the only real peace. To have this peace does not mean that we will not have trouble. But we have this peace even when bad things happen. We have this peace when we are ill or in pain. We have this peace when people reject us. This peace comforts us. It makes us remain calm when we have problems. We know that God is looking after us. So this peace will stop our fears. God controls our lives, in the present and in the future. Nothing and nobody else in the world can give this peace to us. Only Jesus can give it to us. He offers it to everybody who believes in him. But we have to want it. And we have to receive it from him. We must not put our trust just in ourselves when we are in difficulties.
Just so you know..... Jesus has offered me a gift. I will get to go to His house. If nothing else... that gives me something to live [and die] for. I have an appointment to stay with Jesus at His Father's house.When I was a kid.... I was the oldest of five. I did more chores than they did.... because I was the oldest. I was expected to behave better.... because I was the oldest. I'm still the oldest.... but now I'm only the oldest of four.... because my baby sister has already gone. Every now and then.... though.... I would get to do something special because I was the oldest. I would get to go on day trips with the scouts.... or I would get to go to the movies with my Sunday School class. We went to see King of Kings..... and the 10 Commandments..... both were awesome... and I didn't have to listen to my sister's and brother the whole time.
Now I have been told.... that Jesus will be back and when He returns.... I will get to go to His Father's place with Him. Now I have something to do... something to look forward to. I don't have to be living for this to happen.... Lazarus wasn't alive. I don't have to be wearing the finest clothes or singing in perfect harmony..... or smell pretty.... Lazarus was stinky.... and Jesus came for him.
Just so you know.... Jesus is not a puppet. Jesus says.... ask me anything [in my name]. Jesus said "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." So He's not going to give me the winning lottery ticket numbers.... that would only tempt me. He will make sure I have what I need. Now... if He wants me to feed and house the homeless.... well then He would finance it..... but it's going to be in a manner that is unmistakable and natural.... because that's how God works... naturally. God isn't tied to human limitations..... but He knows I am only human.
Just so you know.... my life isn't perfect just because I became a Christian. I've had a lot of rotten stuff happen. Most people would think my life was a bad novel like the Perils of Pauline or something equally stupid..... I've had six miscarriages, a horrible divorce, Lyme disease, colon cancer, more colon cancer, and now I've lost my eyesight [hopefully only temporarily] in my right eye.
Just so you know.... my life is a whole lot better because I have Jesus to talk to. Imagine going down the road, going 75 MPH.... with no steering wheel and no brake..... and everyone on the road is tailgating [double vision makes it look that way] and dodging in and out.... imagine.... that totally fearful event happens to me every time I go out in a car now.... because I can't see out of one eye and I'm blind in the other.... it can be terrifying..... but then I pray.
Just so you know.... my prayer goes something like this.... "Lord... please place your hand over this car.... and hold it to the ground... safe from everyone and everything else here on the road.... and keep us safe Lord..... In Jesus Name I Pray"
And ..... Just so you know.... when I pray this.... I can close my eyes.... and listen to the radio... and hubby..... and not be afraid.... 'cause "God's Got This".
Jesus said He's coming back for me..... while I'm waiting for Him to come back for me.... I know He's looking out for me and..... heck.... if I die a human death.... well then I get to go to His house anyway.... I just have to be on hold..... like Lazarus. Knowing that it's all going to work out.... that's what gives us hope....
Just so you know..... Jesus explained the Holy Spirit.... and promised that the Spirit would watch out for me while Jesus was finishing up getting my place ready for me..... Jesus was a carpenter here on earth... I can barely wait to see it!
