John chapter 14

[VW]

We read the scriptures by verses. The scriptures have been divided into topics by the translators, these topical divisions often not having any relation to the actual structure of how the scriptures were written. We write in sentences and paragraphs. Sentences are complete statements, and paragraphs are thoughts arranged to show a complete thought or principle. The 14th chapter of John has 2 paragraphs. This entire chapter revolves around the place and ministry of the Holy Spirit, and what He will be in us and to us.

In the beginning of the first paragraph, Jesus is telling the disciples not to be troubled because He is going away. He gives them the promise of a place in His Father's house. And He promises that if He is going to prepare a place for them, then He will come and receive them to Himself again. In other words, Jesus is not doing this to no purpose. He promises that where He is, there the disciples will be also. Thomas ask that Jesus show them the way, and Jesus gives the quote we all know well, that He is the way and the truth and the life, and that no one comes to the Father by through Him.

He says that if they had known Him, then they had also known the Father. This was hard for them, and Phillip asked Him to show them the Father. Jesus answers with the words of if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father, in a mild rebuke, asking how they had not come to know Him, as He had been with them so long. And then He says this: "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works."

Remember these words are you read the rest of the chapter.

It is the same for us. Exactly the same. By the Holy Spirit.

Look and see if it is not true.

 

[VW]

Oh yeah, as you read this chapter, ignore the topical divisions. They only break up the message and obscure the meaning.

And by all means, ask the Holy Spirit to open these verses to you, maybe in a new understanding that will help us be more like Jesus.

 

[lighthousejohn]

We read the scriptures by verses. The scriptures have been divided into topics by the translators, these topical divisions often not having any relation to the actual structure of how the scriptures were written. We write in sentences and paragraphs. Sentences are complete statements, and paragraphs are thoughts arranged to show a complete thought or principle. The 14th chapter of John has 2 paragraphs. This entire chapter revolves around the place and ministry of the Holy Spirit, and what He will be in us and to us.

In the beginning of the first paragraph, Jesus is telling the disciples not to be troubled because He is going away. He gives them the promise of a place in His Father's house. And He promises that if He is going to prepare a place for them, then He will come and receive them to Himself again. In other words, Jesus is not doing this to no purpose. He promises that where He is, there the disciples will be also. Thomas ask that Jesus show them the way, and Jesus gives the quote we all know well, that He is the way and the truth and the life, and that no one comes to the Father by through Him.

He says that if they had known Him, then they had also known the Father. This was hard for them, and Phillip asked Him to show them the Father. Jesus answers with the words of if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father, in a mild rebuke, asking how they had not come to know Him, as He had been with them so long. And then He says this: "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works."

Remember these words are you read the rest of the chapter.

It is the same for us. Exactly the same. By the Holy Spirit.

Look and see if it is not true.

This is one of the most amazingly awesome "chapters" in the Bible. I draw great encouragement from the continuation of this passage which states "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 miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

This passage challenges me to ask some questions;

1. Do I beliieve this passage?

2. If I believe it, why don't I put it into practice?

3. Why does the church not put it into practice?

I would appreciate any answers you might have.

 

[VW]

This is one of the most amazingly awesome "chapters" in the Bible. I draw great encouragement from the continuation of this passage which states "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 miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."

This passage challenges me to ask some questions;

1. Do I beliieve this passage?

2. If I believe it, why don't I put it into practice?

3. Why does the church not put it into practice?

I would appreciate any answers you might have.

The message of this passage is summed up this way.

"I and My Father are one"

"You and I will be one."

The first part is fact because of Jesus having His Father's Spirit in Him. It is by His Father's Spirit that He sees what His Father is doing, and hears what His Father is saying. If we do not believe by the words, then at least believe because of the works.

The second premise is true because of the Spirit of Christ in us. (Note that the Spirit of the Father and the Spirit of Christ is the same Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.) By this Spirit being in us, just as it is in Jesus, and was in Him in His walk in the earth, we are one with Him. By this Spirit being in us, we see what He is doing, and hear what He is saying. And the same works that He did we will do also, by His Spirit in us. In truth, if we are walking by the Spirit of Jesus, we too should be able to say that if they have seen us, then they have seen Jesus.

These things are not true in us because we have not believed, we have not submitted to the hand of God which is here in us by His Spirit. We know so much, have so much knowledge, preach a gospel which is from our minds, true none the less, but from our minds and not from the Spirit. We preach this gospel. Not the Spirit. We are like the woman at the well, who says, "is this not the Christ, is it." She testified of what she had seen and heard. Jesus testified of the Father by the Spirit of the Father.

When we determine to lose all of our testimony, what we have seen and heard, and to have the Spirit be the witness of Himself, then we will see the promises of this chapter fulfilled, for He will be the One fulfilling these promises.

 

[VW]

This may be construed by some as my saying that the gospel of the cross is not valid nor from God, but I would not say this, for I first heard the gospel of the cross of Jesus. It is like the gospel of John the baptist. It brings repentance and awareness of our sins and of our need. But the Gospel of the Savior is in the Power of the Spirit, able to save even to the utmost.

Therefore I am not refuting the gospel of the cross of Jesus Christ, and let no one say that I am.

 

[lighthousejohn]

The message of this passage is summed up this way.

"I and My Father are one"

"You and I will be one."

The first part is fact because of Jesus having His Father's Spirit in Him. It is by His Father's Spirit that He sees what His Father is doing, and hears what His Father is saying. If we do not believe by the words, then at least believe because of the works.

The second premise is true because of the Spirit of Christ in us. (Note that the Spirit of the Father and the Spirit of Christ is the same Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.) By this Spirit being in us, just as it is in Jesus, and was in Him in His walk in the earth, we are one with Him. By this Spirit being in us, we see what He is doing, and hear what He is saying. And the same works that He did we will do also, by His Spirit in us. In truth, if we are walking by the Spirit of Jesus, we too should be able to say that if they have seen us, then they have seen Jesus.

These things are not true in us because we have not believed, we have not submitted to the hand of God which is here in us by His Spirit. We know so much, have so much knowledge, preach a gospel which is from our minds, true none the less, but from our minds and not from the Spirit. We preach this gospel. Not the Spirit. We are like the woman at the well, who says, "is this not the Christ, is it." She testified of what she had seen and heard. Jesus testified of the Father by the Spirit of the Father.

When we determine to lose all of our testimony, what we have seen and heard, and to have the Spirit be the witness of Himself, then we will see the promises of this chapter fulfilled, for He will be the One fulfilling these promises.

Awesome insight! The thought that I am one with Christ and one with the Father just blows away all sense of reasoning. To further consider that I am one with the Spirit and have been imbued with His power and authority challenges me to seek a closer relationship with Him. I realize that I am not where I need to be but by His power, I will strive to be.

 

[VW]

Awesome insight! The thought that I am one with Christ and one with the Father just blows away all sense of reasoning. To further consider that I am one with the Spirit and have been imbued with His power and authority challenges me to seek a closer relationship with Him. I realize that I am not where I need to be but by His power, I will strive to be.

Amen, I am constantly challenged to walk in Him, to find the fullness of following the Spirit even as He did. And some will say that we cannot do that. But this is ignoring the fact of doing works just like His, and even greater works.

It is an unsettling study when we look at the gospel accounts and see just what Jesus said about Himself, and how He walked in this world. He did everything by the Spirit, so we could follow His example completely. This is why He emptied Himself of His authority and power of the godhead, to become a little lower than the angels. To be the perfect example and the forerunner for us.

This truth is hidden from those who still put confidence in the flesh, who still have some measure of their own self worth, of their own wisdom. To gain this wisdom and insight takes a work of the cross which removes the old man, by showing him for what he is.

In His Spirit, and His love,