John 14

St. John Chapter 14

Jesus had just told his team of disciples of his own departure from them, that he should not only go away, but go away in a cloud of sufferings.

Also they were told that where He was going they could not come just yet.

They must shortly hear him loaded with reproaches, and these will be as a sword in their bones; they must see him barbarously abused and put to death, and this also will be a sword piercing through their own souls, for they had loved him, and chosen him, and left all to follow him.

They will think themselves shamefully disappointed; for they looked that this had been he that should have delivered Israel, and should have set upon his kingdom in secular power and glory, and, in expectation of this, had lost all to follow him.

Plus, I am sure they were quite disturbed concerning the circumstance surrounding the last supper, in which Jesus predicted that one of them will betray him, and another would deny Him, not once, but three times.

That they should go out as homeless wanderers without the presence of their Lord and be subjected to persecution was also in their thoughts.

I think Jesus must have seen the fear and anxiety in their faces and began to give them words of comfort beginning here in chapter 14.

Jesus said, in verse one, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

The word “heart” here is taken from the Greek word, “Cardia” (kar-dee-ah) which means the thoughts or feelings (mind). So, He said, “Don’t let your minds be troubled,” or don’t be upset in your mind. Don’t allow your minds to be worried concerning these things I have told you.”

“You believe in God, believe also in me.”

They had believed in him, but they were so confused over the prospect of his death and departure, they stumbled.

He bids them to believe in him as they believed in God; to trust him even if they did not comprehend; to walk by faith rather than by sight through the darkness of that hour.

Jesus said, “Ye believe in God, “Absolutely” then you should believe in me also.

Do you trust God? Then you should trust me also.

Verse 2

Jesus gives them outstanding words of comfort and hope here in verse 2.

Don’t worry about what is going to happen.

Don’t be filled with anxiety and fear.

Don’t act as if though you are to be forsaken.

Because, “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.”

Or, in my Father’s oy-kee-ah (Greek for house), or in my Father’s abode, dwelling place, are many, or plenteous mansions.

The word mansion was taken from the Greek word, mon-ay, which means a residence, or a place to stay.

If it were not so, I would have told you. I would not have said there are dwelling places in heaven if there weren’t any.

Listen, He said, “I go to prepare a place for you.”

Or, I go to make ready a place for you!

My, my, my! What a comfort! What a consolation! What a hope! What a confidence!

Don’t be troubled! Don’t be perplexed! Don’t be filled with anxiety! Don’t worry about what you may face.

For it will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

He has gone to prepare a place for you my friend! He is making it ready! What a joy it will be when we walk into our mansion for the first time!

Listen to verse 3.

“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Paul said in 1 Thess. 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Acts 1:11 says “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

So yeah! He is coming again! Coming to receive us unto Himself, that where He is, (heaven) there we will be also.

He said, “I will come again.”

Listen devil, He said “I will come again!”

Listen sinner, He said “I will come again.”

Listen backslider, He said “I will come again”

Listen Child of God; He said “I will come again.”

To all those agnostics out there, He’s coming again!

To all those atheists out there, He’s coming again!

He’s gone to make ready a place for us to live for eternity.