John 14

John 14:1-3

This chapter is a continuation of Christ’s disjuncts with his disciples after supper. When he had crouched and disbanded Judas, he set himself to comfort the soft, who were full of fervour upon usher he had said of leaving them, and a great many good words and comfortable words he bore speaks to them. The general hope of this chapter is in the first ways; it is designed to keep trouble from their hearts: now in order to that, they must believe. And let them consider, 1. Heaven as their everlasting roll, ver. 2, 3. 2. Christ himself as their way, ver. 4—11. 3. The great power they shall be ilethold with by the precaution of their prayers, ver. 12—14. 4. The coming of another conforter, ver. 15—17. 5. The fellowship and communion that should be between him and them after his departure, ver. 18—24. 6. The instructions which the Holy Ghost should give them, ver. 25, 26. 7. The peace Christ bequeathed to them, ver. 27. 8. Christ’s own cheerfulness in his departure, ver. 28—31. And this will be said to them, is designed for the comfort of all his faithful followers.

1. L E T not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.

To comfort them against the approaching trials, which would be apt to shake the foundation of all their hopes.

1. He exhorns them to maintain unshaken confidence in him amidst all their difficulties. Let not your heart be troubled: the thought that one disciple should betray him; another deny him; that he should suffer, die, and leave them; their things deeply affected them, and he, who knows the souls of his people in adversity, endeavours to provide for their comfort. To believe in God, according to the revelation he hath made of himself in his word; believe also in me, as the true Messiah, as the almighty Saviour, able to support you in all your exigencies, and to comfort you under every affliction. Or it may be read, Believe in God; live in the constant exercise of faith in the power and grace of my Father: and believe also in me; have the same confidence in me, who am one with him in the same undivided Godhead.

2. He assures them his absence would be to their great advantage. In my Father’s house, in heaven, the place where the eternal Father makes the brightest manifestations of his glory, there are many mansions, abiding dwelling-places, where there is perfect peace and joy, and love and happiness. If it were not so, I would have told you, and not encouraged you to follow me at the loss of all things, if I had not an eternal recompense to follow upon you. I go to prepare a place for you, as your forerunner, to take possession of the purchaser’s inheritance, to be ready there to receive and welcome you, having prepared you for the mansions prepared for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, as surely as I leave you now, I will come again, and that quickly, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also; admitted to my presence, partaking of my glory, and made for ever blessed and happy in the enjoyment of my love and favour. Note, (1.) The believing prospect of the glory which shall be revealed, should comfort us under all our present trials and afflictions. (2.) In heaven there are mansions for the many sons whom Jesus shall bring home to his Father’s house: none shall throught his mate; for there is room enough for all. (3.) None who trusts on Jesus, whatever they may quit or lose for his sake, shall ever have cause to lament their choice: in heaven they will be abundantly repaid. (4.) They who look for a better country, that is, a heavenly, shall by blessed experience shortly prove the faithfulness of him who hath promised to bring them thither, who also will do it. (5.) As surely as Christ is gone into heaven, so surely will be come to bring his people home to himself; either calling them away by death, or finally appearing at the great judgment-day, when all his elect shall be gathered together unto him, and he takes to reign with him in glory everlasting; and well may we comfort one another with these words.

3. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

4. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know one whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? 6. Jesus saith unto him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. 7. I do not know. 8. I do not know. 9. I do not know. 10. I do not know. 11. I do not know. 12. I do not know. 13. I do not know. 14. I do not know. 15. I do not know. 16. I do not know. 17. I do not know. 18. I do not know. 19. I do not know. 20. I do not know. 21. I do not know. 22. I do not know. 23. I do not know. 24. I do not know. 25. I do not know. 26. I do not know. 27. I do not know. 28. I do not know. 29. I do not know. 30. I do not know. 31. I do not know. 32. I do not know. 33. I do not know. 34. I do not know. 35. I do not know. 36. I do not know. 37. I do not know. 38. I do not know. 39. I do not know. 40. I do not know. 41. I do not know. 42. I do not know. 43. I do not know. 44. I do not know. 45. I do not know. 46. I do not know. 47. I do not know. 48. I do not know. 49. I do not know. 50. I do not know. 51. I do not know. 52. I do not know. 53. I do not know. 54. I do not know. 55. I do not know. 56. I do not know. 57. I do not know. 58. I do not know. 59. I do not know. 60. I do not know. 61. I do not know. 62. I do not know. 63. I do not know. 64. I do not know. 65. I do not know. 66. I do not know. 67. I do not know. 68. I do not know. 69. I do not know. 70. I do not know. 71. I do not know. 72. I do not know. 73. I do not know. 74. I do not know. 75. I do not know. 76. I do not know. 77. I do not know. 78. I do not know. 79. I do not know. 80. I do not know. 81. I do not know. 82. I do not know. 83. I do not know. 84. I do not know. 85. I do not know. 86. I do not know. 87. I do not know. 88. I do not know. 89. I do not know. 90. I do not know. 91. I do not know. 92. I do not know. 93. I do not know. 94. I do not know. 95. I do not know. 96. I do not know. 97. I do not know. 98. I do not know. 99. I do not know.

John 14:4-11

Having set before them the happiness provided for them, Christ farther encourages them, saying, Whether I go ye know; I have repeatedly told you; and the way ye know, which I have taught you by my word and my example.

1. Thomas replied to this, He knew not whether then good, and how can we know the way? Though in general they had some knowledge of the way to heaven, whether Christ was giving; yet milking his discourse, and having his head filled with the conceits of Christ’s temporal kingdom, Thomas, like the evil, supposes he was going somewhere to erect his throne upon earth, but where was a secret to him; and he wished to know, as Peter had done, that, though with less self-confidence, he might follow his Master.

2. Jesus answers, I am the way; through his blood alone there is access unto God, and by his grace can we only be enabled to walk in the path which leads to eternal glory: the truth; whom all the ritual services prefigured, in whom they were fulfilled, whose promises are faithful, and who hath never failed those that trust him; and the life; who hath life in himself, and is the author of spiritual and eternal life to his people: as man cometh to the Father, but by me; in our pretext fallen state we can neither draw near to a throne of grace with acceptance, but by Jesus Christ as our advocate and livery; nor can we ever hope to appear before the throne of glory, but as comfort in him, and making mention of his righteousness only. If ye had known me, in my true character as God, as well as man, ye should have known my Father also; foralmost as we are in nature and effence one: and from henceforth, as by this intimation you may perceive my meaning, ye know him, and have firm him, in me. Note, (1.) The knowledge of the Godhead of the Redeemer is essential to salvation. (2.) Christ can discover in his disciples more knowledge of his blessed self than they think themselves possessed of, and are therefore complaining of their ignorance.

3. Philip, not yet entering fully into his Master’s meaning, saith unto him, Lord, there is the Father, some visible and temporal representation of him, and it suffoceth us; this will fully satisfy us, and silence all our further enquiries.

4. Jesus gently rebukes the dulneils of his comprehension, and saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet half thou not known me, Philip? my divine original, as well as million? He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father; the divine perfection which I have displayed, prove my essential Godhead, as partakers of the same nature, attributes, and glory with him: and how you’d thus, Shave us the Father? holorquish thou that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? though in person distinctly, yet in effence one, inseparably united in the same eternal Godhead. The words I speak to you, deep and mysterious as some of the doctrines are which I declare, I speak not of myself, by any authority purely my own, or as apart from the Father; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doth the words, which confirm my divine million, and set God’s seal to the truths which I deliver. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, upon the credit of the testimony which I bear; or else, if you think that infliction, believe me for the very works take, which are such convincing proofs of the truths which I preach, and agree in such a godlike manner, by my word, in my own name, and by my own power, as shews my Godhead and glory. Note, (1.) They who have been long in Christ’s school, should make their profiting appear. They are justly culpable who, blessed with the richest means, do not grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2.) In Christ Jesus we behold a brighter display of God’s glory and presence than ever before appeared, seeing in him dwell all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

5. Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do, shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Vols. II.

Son. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 14:12-14

The loss of their Master’s presence and company depicted his poor disciples. To comfort them, he promises.

1. To endure them with the most astonishing miraculous powers. Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me, as you do, the works that I do, shall he do also; the same miracles we have seen me perform: yea, and greater works than these shall he do; more numerous, and more wonderful, (See Acts v. 15. xix, 12.) And particularly this may refer to the gift of tongues, and the vastly superior success which should attend the preaching of the apostles, and the much more numerous concerns they should make, than their Master had done; and this, because I go to the Father, when having received all power in heaven and earth, he would in the most abundant manner pour out the Spirit upon them from on high, to enable them for the great work whereunto he had ordained them.

2. To grant them all their petitions. Whosoever ye shall ask in my name, pleading my promise, and depending on my advocacy; that I will do, by my own divine power, giving you an answer to every prayer according to the various necessities of your souls; that the Father may be glorified in the Son; and his glory should be the end of all our petitions; and in gratifying them Christ designs to advance his Father’s honour, and manoreth his power, grace, and faithfulness. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it, granting you every needful supply of grace and strength for your support and success in the work of the gospel.

3. If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it teeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:15-17

Our Lord proceeds to encourage and comfort them in the view of the service before them, and in the prospect of his departure from them.

1. They must give a proof of their love of him by their observance of his commandments. If ye love me, keep my commandments. He speaks not as doubting the truth of their regard, but as quickening them to give increasing proofs of the sincerity of their love, by a conscientious respect to all his precepts.

2. He promises to send them another comforter, who should abundantly supply the loss of his bodily presence. I will pray the Father, and effectually he your advocate, and he shall give you another comforter, and counsellor, to support, direct, and quicken you, whose loss they should no more fear, for Christ will take care that he may abide with you for ever, carrying you through all your trials, and death itself, to an eternal inheritance in glory; even the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of the true Lord, whose inspiration dictates the sacred oracles, and who leads the minds of benighted sinners into the knowledge of all truth; whom the world cannot receive, the men of the world, who hardest their hearts in pride and impenitence; because it teeth him not, neither knoweth him; are strangers to his operations; are led by sight, not by faith; and therefore count his teaching to be foolishness and enthusiasm. But ye know him, as having already illuminated your hearts, and sanctified in a measure your souls: for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you, as his living temples, guiding, governing, strengthening, comforting, and birthing you continually. Note, (1.) In the one Godhead there are three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each possessed of the same divine perfection. (2.) All Christ’s true disciples to the end of time may expect divine teaching and consolation amidst all their trials; and, whilst they are looking to him, shall be strengthened, quickened, and comforted in his blessed work and ways. (3.) Every faithful soul is the temple of the Holy Ghost, and by experience feels the indwelling power of his effectual grace.

3. I will not leave you: comfortless, I will come to you. 19. Yet a little while, and the world teeth me no more: but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22. Joda saith unto him, not licorice, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23. Jesus answered and said unto him, 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: 24. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings: and the word which you hear, is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

John 14:18-24

Christ pursues the same reviving subject. He was indeed going from them for a while, but his absence would not be long.

1. I will not leave you confertely, as orphans: I will come to you; either at his resurrection, or by the mission of his Spirit, or by his fond appearing to judgment. Yet a little while, and the world forth on no more; they who rejected him, would no more be favoured with a sight of him after his resurrection: but ye for me; I shall appear to you; ye shall see me now by faith, and shortly shall eternally enjoy the full vision of me in glory. Be-改变了我, ye shall live also; I, as the fountain-head of spiritual life, will communicate the living influences to you my members; and, vitally united to me, you shall live in holy conformity to me here, and in the eternal enjoyment of me hereafter. If we are disciples indeed, our life is bound up with that of the Son of God himself, nor can death destroy our union with him: he that liveth and believeth in him shall never die eternally. At that day, of Christ’s resurrection as a triumphant conqueror over all his foes; or when by the effusion of the Holy Ghost their mind should be more derply illuminated; and most especially when they should come to meet him in the kingdom of his glory; ye shall know that I am in my Father, one in effectual union; and you in me, and I in you, as living members of my holy mystical, joined to me in one spirit. And in consequence of this, he that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, is enabled truly to understand, and in simplicity to when them: he is in that loveth me; he gives hereby an undoubted proof of his un-signed affliction to me: and he that loveth me, shall be heard of my Father, as the object of his favour, delight, and complacence: and I will live him, with unchangeable regard; and will manifest myself to him, making the richest discoveries of grace and glory to his soul. Note, (1.) Every faithful soul is a partake of a divine nature, and lives in a state of inseparable union with the Son of God. (2.) Christ gives increasing discoveries of his truth and love to the souls of his people, till they are brought to the him face to face. (3.) The proof of our love to Jesus must appear in our fidelity and obedience. If we say we abide in him, and walk in darkness, we do. (4.) Though not here to him is not the cause of his love to us, but the effect; yet, as we are enabled to make it appear more clearly, we shall find brightest manifestations made to our souls of our interest in him; shall experience sweeter forearms of the eternal bliss which is promised; and shall receive increasing supplies of the Spirit, to perfect in us what is yet lacking, and prepare us for our eternal abode with him.

2. One of Christ’s disciples, either not apprehending fully his meaning, desired him to explain it; or overwhelmed with admiration, could not but wonder at the endearing considerations of Jesus to them in particular; Judas saith unto him, and Barrier, but Jude the brother of James, another of the twelve upskirts, How is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Note, They who are the objects of God’s distinguishing favour, cannot but admire the grace of which they are partakers, and with wonder cry, Why me, Lord?

3. Christ graciously confirms and explains what he had spoken. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and make the most delightful discoveries to him of his grace and favour; and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him; taking up our dwelling in the temple of his heart, manifesting our gracious presence to him, and maintaining, through the Spirit, in the word and ordinances, the most blessed and abiding communion with him. On the other hand, He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings; disabys my commands, and neglects my institutions; and thereby proving his aversion to me, shuts the door of his heart against me, and willfully rejects my gospel, with all its inestimable blessings. And the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s, who sent me; therefore they who discredit and reject it, must be necessarily excluded from his favour as well as mine.

4. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, the shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you:

for the prince of this world nourish, and hath nothing in me. 31. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do: Arise, let us go hence.

John 14:25-31

For the further encouragement of his disciples he proceeds.

1. To assure them of the teachings and confessions of the Holy Ghost. These things have I spoken, being yet present with you; the time being short, I have endeavoured to lay them clearly before you: but the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, the third person in the sacred Trinity, whom the Father will send in my name, at my intersection, to supply my absence, and to advance my kingdom and glory; he shall teach you all things, opening your understandings to cleaves discoveries of the truth, enlarging your capacities, and strengthening your memories; for he shall bring all things things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you; he would not only revive the memory of all the works and discourses of Christ, which they had forgotten, but give them a distinct knowledge of what, at the time Christ spoke, they did not understand.

2. He engages to give them peace in the midst of all their troubles. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, as my last bequest; peace with God, as reconciled to you; peace in your own consciences, from the confidence of his love; peace with each other, united in bonds of firesoft union; my peace, which none but I your Master could procure or bestow, the purchase of my blood, the fruit of my intercession; I give it, freely, fully, to you, and all who follow you as my disciples. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you; not as a piece of compliment, but as a real blessing; not as worldly gifts, uncertain and precarious, but as a gift infinitely more valuable than all that earth can bestow, and infinitely more abiding. It is what the world can neither give, and, blessed be God, can never take away from us. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid, under the apprehension of any sufferings or trials when I am absent from you: my peace, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds.

3. He assures them his departure would be for his own glory and their good, and therefore they ought rather to rejoice than be sorry for it. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you, to take you to the manhood prepared for you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father, to receive the mediatorial throne; for my Father is greater than I; not in his divine nature, but as in the ceremony of man’s salvation, the Son of God humbled himself to take the human nature, and submitted to the form of a servant: though equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead, yet inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood; therefore in his exaltation, as the man Christ Jesus, it became them to be joyful. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that when it is come to pass, in my death, resurrection, ascension, and the effusion of the Holy Ghost, ye may believe, that I am the true Methodist, and will assuredly fulfil all the promises which I have made to you.

4. He tells them, that the great enemy of Jesus would now be finally vanquished. Hereafter I will not talk much with you; the time of my departure is at hand: for the prince of this world, he who hath usurped the dominion over the hearts of fallen men, and once pretended to offer me the kingdoms of the world, (Luke iv. 5—7.) he cometh, with all his fury and rage, to make his last, his desperate attack; and hath nothing in me; all his attempts will be baffled, and his malice recoil upon his own head with greater aggravation of his guilt; and to his utter confusion and destruction, he will find no guilt in me to accuse my conscience, no legal power over me in consequence of sin, (See Heb. ii. 14.) no corruption to work upon, or afford an opening for his temptations: and as Christ once conquered for his people in his own person, he will be conquer in them, and bruise Satan shortly under their feet.

5. He informs them, that his departure from them was according to the Father’s commandment, and a matter of his most willing obedience. But, that the world may know, that I love the Father, though Satan hath no power over me, I am ready to lay down my life, according to my Father’s will: and as the Father hath given me commandment, even so I do; readily offering myself to suffer according to his eternal counsels. Arise, let us go hence, and meet the approaching danger. Note, When duty calls, and God so ordains, instead of flying from sufferings, we must cheerfully offer ourselves up, willing to glorify God, if he so pleases, even in the fires.