John 14:1–31

November 06, 2012

After Judas was gone, Jesus began to teach.

• "Don't let your hearts be troubled..." (Verse 1) Learn what it means to let go and TRUST. You cannot move forward and worry at the same time.
• "You know the way..." (Verse 4) Quit trying to reinvent the wheel. When we listen, God directs our paths. He will show you what you already know but have not seen. Isaiah 30:21 - "If you go the wrong way, to the right or left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the right way. You should go this way.' "
• "I am the way..." (Verse 6) He is the only way. He is truth. He is life. It is not "our way or the highway." It is only through Jesus. God's way IS the only way.
• "Believe... believe... believe..." (Verses 11 & 12) Believe Him because of what He says, or believe Him because of what He has done. Whatever you do—BELIEVE. When you believe you will be able to do great things not because of who you are but whose you are.
• "Ask!..." (Verse 13) I John 5:14–15 - "...if we ask God for anything that agrees with what he wants he hears us. If we know he hears us every time we ask him, we know we have what we ask from him." The motives behind our requests; the purpose of what we ask for; the result of what we want; must be to bring Honor and Glory to His Name and not our own.  
• "If you love me, you will obey my commands." (Verse 15) You will. Not once in a while, not some of His commands, not the ones you choose. "IF you love me, you will..." No ifs; ands; or buts. You will!! Complete obedience. Total surrender.
• "...Spirit of truth." (Verse 17) In a world where "seeing is believing," the Spirit of Truth is often not recognized. "The world cannot accept him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and he will be in you." (Verse 17) The Holy Spirit is real and alive in our lives. This journal bears witness to many of the ways He has ministered to us. He guides us and directs us. Yet, because He cannot be understood by those in the world, His existence and guidance is denied or misunderstood and as a result we are often falsely accused and viewed with suspicion.  
• "Those who know my commands and obey them are the ones who love me, and my Father will love those who love me. I will love them and will show myself to them." (Verse 21) The love of the Father, and the love of the Son, and our understanding of them is predicated on our actions—knowing His commands and obeying them. It isn't enough to just know. We must also obey. 
• "If people love me, they will obey my teaching." (Verse 23) And the reverse would also be true. Those who do not love me do not obey my teachings. You cannot love Him and continue to disobey His teachings. Cannot! You can say you love Him, but words are not enough. Our actions prove whether we do or do not love Him. Love = Obedience. Obedience = Love.  
• "I leave you peace; my peace I give to you." (Verse 27) You cannot buy peace. You cannot manufacture it; manipulate it; or fake it. Only God can give true, lasting, peace. So don't be afraid. Fear cannot survive in a heart filled with God's peace. It truly is a peace that passeth all understanding.
• "I have told you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens, you will believe." (Verse 29) This the the second time Jesus said this in John. (See John 13:19) Psalm 140:12–13 - "I KNOW the LORD will get justice for the poor and will defend the needy in court. Good people will praise his name; honest people will live in his presence." Those two verses, spoken by Jane (Her Name Was Jane) contain the promise of "before it happens," and the result of "when it happens."  
• "Come now, let us go." (Verse 31) I never noticed this verse before. It's like a coach gathering his team in a huddle; preparing them for the game ahead; giving them the final pep talk; then everyone putting their hands together; and on the count of three saying:

Come now, let us go!!

We are ready LORD. We are all in. We are ready and willing to do whatever it is you ask us to do. Thank you for preparing us; growing us; changing us; encouraging us; blessing us; and using us.  Thank you, LORD for allowing us to be the recipients of this Blessed Event. LORD, we will not squander it. "Come now, let us go!" Praise the LORD!

John 14 - What a chapter!! 


Next Entry: John 15:1 – 16:4a