John 14:1-17; 25-261NIV New International Version Translations
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; 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 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 in you.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.
Background2https://www.christianity.com/bible/commentary.php?com=mhc&b=43&c=14
We are too often overwhelmed with the sorrows of our present time, but Christ calls to us and says do not be so. The calling to a Christian life requires full trust in God. Christ’s disciples, more than others, needed to keep their minds quiet, when everything else around them was loud and noisy. The remedy was simply, “Believe.” By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God and man, we find our comfort. These verses speak to the happiness of heaven as in a father’s house. There are many mansions, for there are many sons to be brought to eternal glory.
Mansions are lasting dwellings. Christ will be the Finisher (Omega) of that of which He is the Author or Beginner (Alpha). If He prepared the place for us, He will also prepare us for the place. Christ is the sinner’s Way to the Father and to heaven. We must always remember (never forget!) that Christ in his person as God manifest in the flesh, in His atoning sacrifice, and He operates as our Advocate before God. Christ is the Truth, as fulfilling all the prophecies of a Savior, simply meaning that believing in Him as sinners, He is our Way, our Gate. Christ is the Life, by whose life-giving Spirit the dead to sin are brought to life. No man can come to God , their Father, who is not led by Christ who is the Life. How does that work? We are led by Him as the Truth, to come by Him as the Way. By Christ, as the Way, our prayers go to God, and His blessings come to us. It is the best Internet connection in the Universe.
Christ shows us the Resurrection and the eternal Life that lies ahead. All that see Christ by faith, see the Father(God) in Christ. In the light of Christ’s doctrine, we see God as the Father of all light; and through Christ’s miracles, we see God as the God of all power. It is when the holiness of God shines a light on the spotless purity of Christ’s life, we can believe the revelation of God and man in Christ together.
Whatever we ask in Christ’s name, will always be for our own good, suitable, adequate and sufficient for our needs. To ask in Christ’s name, is to plead His merit and intercession, and to depend fully upon that plea. The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of Christ’s mediation, bought by His merit, and received by His intercession. The word used here, signifies an advocate, counselor, monitor, and comforter. Christ would abide with the disciples to the end of time; His gifts and graces would encourage their hearts. The expressions used in these verses and elsewhere, plainly denote a person, and the office itself includes all the Divine perfection due Him. The gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon the disciples of Christ, and not on the world. This is the favor God bears to His chosen. As the source of holiness and happiness, the Holy Spirit will abide with every believer forever.
While we know these things are all for our good, we must also pray for, and depend on the teaching of the Holy Spirit. This is the way Christ’s own words can serve our memory as we struggle with the problems of life itself. To all Christians, the Spirit of grace is given to remember Christ, to keep faith in Christ and to always pray to Christ. Peace of mind from our forgiveness before God is our source hope.
Items for Discussion
- How would you describe the Holy Spirit to someone?
- What is the caveat you see in verse 26?
- How would you summarize the teachings of Jesus? Are they complex? Is there a lot to remember? What are the most important teachings?
- If you had to compare worldly teachings with those from the Holy Spirit, what should be the things you can do to help the Spirit along?
- Keeping the faith, not worrying is much easier said than done. How does one practice this?
Discussion Challenge
- This is the Holy Spirit – Are you comfortable with these concepts?
- The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity
- The Holy Spirit inspired Scripture
- The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment
- Holy Spirit leads us into all truth
- The Holy Spirit gives revelations
- 1NIV New International Version Translations
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