John Chapter 14

Why did Jesus say “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” What was bothering the disciples?
Jesus was saying I am going away and you cannot follow now. Even though Jesus was telling them they would follow him, they did not understand where it was they were to go or how 
they would get there.


List, at least, 3 things Jesus told his disciples so as to calm their troubled hearts. 

• Trust in God
• Trust also in me
• In my Father's house are many rooms
• I am going there to prepare a place for you
• I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am
• You know the way to the place where I am going

What was Thomas’ fear?
That he would not be able to be with the Lord


In Chapter 14, verse 6 Jesus says "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
What does this statement say for the major religions of the world such as Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Animism, and Hinduism that do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world?

That they are not the way, they are false, not true and that they have no life


What are 3 spiritual truths Jesus provides in Chapter 14, verses 9 through 11?

• Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father
• I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me
• The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

What do you think Jesus meant when he stated in verse 12 that“…anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these”? Specifically, how has this truth been manifested in the world?
Not greater in quality but greater in quantity. . . e.g. millions of Gentiles have been preached to and saved. . . Jesus was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, we his disciples are to bring him to the world. See 1 Tim 2:3-4

Three times Jesus states in this chapter that “…if you love me you will keep my commandments”.


What were the commandments of Jesus?
Matt 22:36-40
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

What are the benefits provided in Chapter 14, verses 21 through 23 for loving Jesus and keeping his commandments?

•  You be loved by the Father
• Jesus will love you.
• Jesus will show himself to you
• The Father and Jesus will make their home with you
• Whoever has my commands and obeys them, is the one who loves me. Those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

23 "Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

What did Jesus imply or state in his answer to the question Judas asked him “…why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"
Do not second guess my actions, obey my teachings.
That it was not the Father’s will for him to show himself to the world.
Don’t worry be happy, the Comforter is coming, you will understand. 

What were the 2 things the Holy Spirit was promised to do for the disciples?
1. Holy Spirit will teach them all things
2. Holy Spirit will remind them of everything Jesus said to them

26 "But the Counselor, 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."

Why were the promises associated with the Holy Spirit so important?
Because Jesus was leaving and they would have no teacher but with the Holy Spirit they would have a teacher who would teach them all things.
This was especially important for them because Jesus was going to die and they were about to become very confused.
Many traditions and teachings associated with the past would fall away and an entirely new and more wonderful tradition and doctrine was to be taught (salvation by grace, salvation of mankind).

Because the Holy Spirit was to remind them of all Jesus taught them, they would lose not a word of what Jesus spoke to them and were able to combine that with the new teachings of the Holy Spirit.
This complete understanding of God and his plan facilitated the creation of the Bible as the Word of God.

What was going to happen after Jesus left the disciples?

• Jesus was going to come back (vss 3, 18, 21, 28)
• They would be where Jesus was; Jesus and The Father would make their home with them (vss 3, 23)
• They would do greater things that Jesus did (vs 12)
• They would know the Father; in fact - Jesus was going to be in them and they were going to be in Jesus (vss 7, 20)
• They could ask anything in Jesus name and he would do it (vss 13,14)
• They would receive a counselor or comforter who would be with them forever; in fact - The Holy Spirit would teach them all things and remind them of all Jesus said (vss 16, 17, 26)
• They would live because Jesus lived(vs 19) 

Who is the prince of this world mentioned in Chpater 14, verse 30 and why do you think Jesus said “He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”?

The devil

So that the disciples would understand (perhaps later) that Jesus was doing the Father’s will in submitting himself to the seemingly ill-fated plans of the devil 

How is our situation today like that of the disciples in the upper room? How is it different? What comfort can we also take from Jesus’ exhortation to them?

We are just like them in our lack of faith, our lack of understanding at times, but we are able to understand so much more because we have the Bible and Holy Spirit.
Today we can claim so many of the promises that Jesus gave them that they did not then understand.
We will all see Jesus return.