John 14:1–14

Review…

• John 13:1-17 – Servant of all…
  • The Last Supper is recorded in all four Gospels – Matthew 26 / Mark 14 / Luke 22…
    • John takes 5 chapters detailing the final teaching of Jesus to His disciples…
    • It is the longest recorded teaching of Jesus in the whole Bible…
  • Jesus plan had always been for the disciples to establish His church…
    • They would be the ones to share the Good News with the whole world…
    • But there were a many things Jesus still needed to teach them / to prepare them…
  • After supper Jesus began to wash the feet of His disciples…
    • Jesus was giving them an example to follow – to serve one anther…
    • So that people would be open to hearing the Good News of salvation…
    • John 13:18-38 – Love one another…
  • This final teaching of Jesus was not for everyone…
    • Jesus told the disciples one of them would betray Him – John asked Jesus who…
    • The one I give the bread to – Judas took the bread and ran out into the night…
  • When he left – Jesus gave a ‘new’ commandment to His disciples…
    • They were to LOVE one another as Jesus had loved them…
    • Their love for each other was to be the mark / proof they were Jesus’ disciples!
  • Jesus was going away – and the disciples could not follow him…
    • Peter wanted to know why he could not follow – He was willing to die for Jesus…
    • Jesus corrected Peter – before the night was out he would deny Jesus three times

What a disciple needs to know… (3 things)

• 1^st – Know the way home… vs. 1-5 (4 things)
  • 1^st – Do not let your heart be troubled… vs. 1
    • This was meant to comfort Peter – who had just been told he would betray Jesus…
    • But is was also meant to comfort the disciples – because Jesus was going away…
    • Jesus had always been right there beside them – leading them…
    • It was a very disturbing thought to realize Jesus would no longer be with them!
    • None of us have ever seen Jesus face to face – had a conversation with Him…
    • So when things get hard in life – it is easy for us to doubt – our heart troubled…
    • You believe in God – believe also in Me (Imperative)…
    • They disciples had never seen God – but God was still there to help them…
    • Jesus was going away – but He would be there for them even if they did not see Him!
    • I Peter 1:8 – “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
    • Just because we cannot see Jesus – does not mean He is not right beside us!
    • He is always working in our lives – protecting us from unseen dangers…
    • Jesus will never leave us – through the good times and the bad He says…
    • Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
  • 2^nd – In My Father’s house there are many rooms… vs. 2
    • Jesus was going back to heaven to prepare a mansion for them to live in forever!
    • Revelation 21:2 – “I saw the new Jerusalem coming down… out of heaven.”
    • The ‘City of God’ is a cube that is 2,220km on each side – Revelation 21:16…
    • It is hard to imagine just how enormous a city that really is…
    • To put it into perspective / the Philippines could fit inside 50,000 times!
    • The highest mountain – Everest – is 9km high / the ‘City of God’ is 2,220km high!
    • In fact the New Jerusalem is almost as large as the Moon!
    • This is the place God has gone to prepare for us – an eternal home!
    • And He has been busy working on it for almost 2000 years now…
    • God created the universe in 6 days – imagine what He has done in two millennia!
    • It is easy for us to forget this is no longer our home – we are waiting to go home…
    • Hebrews 11:16 – “…looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, he has prepared a heavenly city for them.”
    • While we are still here waiting for the Lord – it is easy for us to get distracted…
    • It is important we take the time to strengthen our relationship with God…
    • Spending time with Jesus through His Word – and through prayer…
    • Preparing ourselves for the day when we will get to see our NEW HOME!
  • 3^rd – Since Jesus was going to prepare a place – He would come back for them… vs. 3
    • Jesus was making a reference to a Jewish wedding tradition…
    • After an engagement a groom would leave and return to his father’s house…
    • There he would remain separate from his bride for an undefined amount of time…
    • This period of separation afforded the bride time to prepare for married life…
    • The groom prepared the living accommodations in his father’s house for His bride…
    • The groom would come to take his bride home to live with him….
    • He would come at night – a torch light procession to the home of His bride…
    • Although the bride was expecting Him – she did not know the exact time…
    • She had to be constantly ready – prepared to go at a moment’s notice…
    • As a result the groom’s arrival would be preceded by a shout – the groom is coming!
    • When we least expect it Jesus will come back – the rapture – to take us back to heaven…
    • Matthew 24:44 – “Be ready, the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
    • We tend to think Jesus will not come back in our lifetime – it has not happened yet…
    • But we are in the last days – Jesus could come next week – today – right now!
    • Are we ready – if Jesus came back today – what would He find in our lives…
    • This is a hugely important message – both as an encouragement and warning…
    • Jesus is coming – VERY soon – we need to be constantly prepared / ready…
    • He will come with a shout…
    • I Thessalonians 4:16 – “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout.”
    • Are we wise – are we living our lives for Jesus – excited to see Him…
    • Or foolish – are we living for the moment / this world – caught of guard…
    • It is not enough to know Jesus is coming – we need to be ready…
    • As a bride waiting for her groom – live every day prepared for His soon return!
  • 4^th – You know where I am going – and how to get there…
    • Jesus was trying to tell the disciples His destination was heaven…
    • And Jesus told them they also knew the way to get there – but they disagreed…
    • Thomas argued – ‘we do not know where you are going!’
    • ‘And if we do not know where you are going – how can we know how to get there!’
    • There are a lot of people who do not know where they are going – heaven or hell…
    • They just hope somehow it will all work out – and they will end up in paradise…
    • But if you do not know where you are going – you are guaranteed not to get there…
    • Jesus told them – I am – the Way the Truth and the Life…
    • This is the 6^th of 7 I am statements made by Jesus in the book of John…
    • We live in a world that says there are many ways to heaven – many truths…
    • Like Pilate before Jesus – John 18:37 – the world asks – “What is truth?”
    • Truth is not open to interpretation (subjective) – it is not an opinion…
    • Jesus is not a truth – the Bible is not a truth – Jesus and the Word are Truth defined!
    • There is only One Way – One Truth – One Bible – One God – Jesus Christ!
    • And the ONE WAY / ONLY WAY to get to heaven is by faith in Him!
• 2^nd – Know the Father… vs. 7-11
  • Jesus said – ‘If you had known Me – you would have known the Father’… vs. 7-9
  • Up to this point the disciples still did not understand – the triune nature of God…
    • Philip said – ‘show us the Father and we will be satisfied…’
    • Jesus answered – ‘Have I been with you so long and still you do not know Me…’
    • To see Jesus is to see the Father – because Jesus and the Father are one!
  • It is no wonder the disciples did not understand – it is hard to comprehend…
    • One of the great mysteries of our Faith – there is only One God – Deuteronomy 6:4…
    • Who exists in three distinct persons – God the Father / God the Son / God the Spirit…
    • I have heard the Trinity explained like ‘water’ – solid / liquid / gas – all still water…
    • Or perhaps a better explanation is like ‘man’ – body / soul / spirit – all still man…
    • But the Bible makes no effort to explain how this is true – only that it is a fact!
  • Everything Jesus said / did – came from the Father in heaven… vs. 10-11
  • Jesus did nothing in His own authority / by His own power…
    • He did this to set an example for the disciples to follow after…
    • Jesus could have depended on His power / ability – He was God almighty…
    • But then we could not have followed his example – because we are not God…
    • By depending on the Father in all Jesus said and did – he gave us an example…
    • In everything we should seek to pattern our lives after Jesus – I Corinthians 11:1
    • The perfect role model – the perfect example – following in the footsteps of Jesus!
  • If the disciples had a hard time believing – all they had to do was look…
    • The miracles Jesus performed – proved that He and the Father were one…
    • When we follow Jesus’ example – we prove to the world we belong to God…
    • I could tell you that I am a good friend of the President – you might doubt…
    • But If I then called him up on my phone – and started to talk to him – proof!
    • It is one thing to tell people we know God – have a relationship with Jesus…
    • But the proof is in our actions – through our life we show we know God!
• 3^rd – Know the power of God… vs. 12-14
  • 1^st – I tell you the truth – I am going to the Father… vs. 12
    • Because Jesus was going to the Father – the disciples would do GREATER works…
    • Jesus raised healed the sick / cast out demons / raised 3 people from the dead…
    • Jairus daughter – Mark 5:42 / Widows’ son – Luke 7:15 / Lazarus – John 11:43…
    • When He sent out the disciples – told them to raise the dead – Matthew 10:8
    • Peter raised Tabitha – Acts 9:40 / Paul raised the young man – Acts 20:10
    • God does not change – Hebrew 13:8 – “…the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
    • Does that mean we can raise the dead too – the better question is do we believe…
    • If we have the faith of a mustard seed – nothing is impossible – Matthew 17:20
    • That does not mean to head down to the graveyard and start clearing it out…
    • It does mean if God asks us to do anything – then by His grace it can be done!
    • That might mean praying for someone who is sick / believing God can provide…
    • It might mean sharing Jesus with a friend / or teaching a Bible Study…
    • But we will not just do the works Jesus did – GREATER works…
    • What could be greater than healing / casting out demons / raising the dead…
    • If you heal – they will get sick again / if you raise the dead – they die again one day…
    • The greater work – is giving the Gospel – bringing eternal life that never fades away!
  • 2^nd – You can ask anything in My name – and I will do it… vs. 13-14
    • If we ask in the name of Jesus – we will receive it!
    • But often in life we ask God for selfish things – showing we are not abiding…
    • James 4:3 – “When you ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
    • We ask God for 1 million pesos – because we want to be rich and have lots of stuff…
    • We justify ourselves motives – we would give a portion back to God…
    • If we won – the money would become our god – so God does not answer that prayer…
    • But when we ask for those things that God has given us a desire for – Psalm 37:4
    • Asking God to save a lost friend / family member – is a prayer God WILL answer!
    • We ask to bring GLORY to God!
    • If God let you raise the dead – move mountains – heal the sick…
    • You would get a whole lot of attention – people would begin to follow you…
    • Rather than giving the glory to God – the temptation is to receive the praise of men
    • One reason why we do not see miracles much anymore – people take the credit…
    • We either serve God legitimately of a pure heart – giving all honor and glory to Him…
    • Or we are serving ourselves – looking to take the credit for God’s work…
    • Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
    • A disciple does not point other people to himself – he points them back to Jesus!