Notes on the Gospel of John: Chapter 14

It could be said that this is the beginning of the end. From here to the end of Chapter 17, it’s pretty much all Jesus all the time. If you have a red-letter edition of the Bible, you will notice these chapters vividly. Except for a few questions from disciples here and there and the occasional narrative from John, this is Jesus taking some of His final days on earth to teach His disciples. There’s a lot to say. He hasn’t had a ton of time with these guys so He looks to reiterate some of the finer points.

We see words of comfort. Look at verse 1: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. . .” Look at verse 21: “He who loves me will be loved by the Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” Look at verse 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.”

The Holy Spirit is introduced here in John in a big way. It introduces the idea that Jesus will be with us in spirit even though He won’t be with us in body. Look at verse 20: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” We are all a part of one body – through the Spirit.

Of course, the key verse in this whole chapter is verse 6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. . .” This has come to define the Christian faith. And it has sparked some of the most heated theological discussions I’ve ever been involved with – Is Christ the only way to God? The flip side of this is that those who do not believe are condemned. Does this contradict all of the teachings of Christ to this point? Or, for that matter, past this point? If one reads this verse literally, then that means you read verse 14 literally as well: “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

From The People’s New Testament Commentary: “The text does not claim that adherents of all other religions are doomed if they do not make a personal confession of faith in Jesus before they die. The text affirms that all who come to God come to the God who has revealed himself in Christ.”

In verses 12, 15, 21, and 23, Jesus reiterates that those who obey His commands will be loved by Him and His Father. This becomes especially important in Chapter 15.

Amen.