THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST: JESUS COMFORTS HIS DISCIPLES

John 14:1-4

New International Version (NIV)

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^[a]; believe also in me. ²My 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? ³And 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. ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going.”

The Lord begins in verse 1 with a long address that continues through Chapter 17 and ends with His prayer for them. Jesus had repeatedly talked about His coming death and departure and He brings into a sharp emphasis the comments He had made. At this time the disciples did not seem to accept or understand, but obviously now this truth was beginning to sink in that the Lord was leaving them.

How Christ took notice of it. Perhaps it was apparent in their looks; it was said they looked one upon another with anxiety and concern, and Christ looked upon them all, and observed it.

In spite of how gloomy His leaving appeared, He comforts them telling them not to let their hearts be troubled. He emphasizes that they believed and trusted God the Father, and therefore they should also believe in Him. The disciples are not aware of the severe trials and persecutions that lay ahead for them. All of them will suffer persecutions because of their faith in the Lord and all but John will be martyred. The Lord’s coming betrayal, trial, and crucifixion will be the beginning of great troubles from them. Surely, this was on Jesus' mind when He spoke to them and assured them of the promise of heaven.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also."

The sure hope of heaven is the foundation of boundless strength and comfort to the child of God. It was clear that Jesus was explaining that He would soon return to heaven which is the house or abode of God the Father. Jesus was assuring them that in returning to heaven He would be preparing a place for them there where they could be with Him again. He explained several things to them.

One, their belief in Him assured them of a place in heaven. He was the means whereby they would enter heaven. He had explained in John 11:25-26 that He was the resurrection and the life and those that believed in him would live.

Jesus told them there were ample dwelling places (mansions) in heaven for them all.

He told them His leaving was to go ahead and prepare a place in heaven for them. He promised that their separation would not be permanent and that He would return for them.

Jesus said they knew the way. Jesus, by the Spirit, takes His own along with Him through life, and then takes them to His side at death. He himself conducts them to Himself.

"And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."

Thomas saith unto him, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" vv. 4-5

Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." vv. 6-7

Once again, the Lord repeats what He has been telling them throughout His ministry. He made it clear, that only He was the way, the only truth, the only life, and no one could come to the Father, and have eternal life except through Him. Thomas and the other disciples may not have understood earlier, but by saying salvation was only by Him they could not now misunderstand who He was or why He came into the world.

Jesus' next statement is profound. The word general word for "known" (ginosko) means "to become acquainted with." However, Jesus used the word "ginwkeite" (known), the more precise word, three times in this verse. It means to personally and intimately know Him which is a deeper relationship. The suggestion is that if they knew Him on this level of knowledge, they should know God the Father. To know Jesus spiritually is to know the Father.

Jesus further says that "henceforth you know Him" or from this moment the disciples would begin to know Him more profoundly. They did love Jesus as a man, teacher and companion, but now they would know Him as their Savior and God. He then, to preclude any misunderstanding says "you have seen Him." When they saw Jesus, they were seeing Almighty God incarnate in man. Jesus proclaimed He was God.

Note: All that saw Christ in the flesh might have seen the Father in him, if Satan had not blinded their minds, and kept them from a sight of Christ, as the image of God, 2 Cor. 4:4.

All that saw Christ by faith did see the Father in him, though they were not suddenly aware that they did so. In the light of Christ’s doctrine, they saw God as the father of lights; in the miracles they saw God as the God of power, the finger of God. The holiness of God shone in the spotless purity of Christ’s life, and his grace in all the acts of grace he did.

I find it amazing that some men cannot seem to comprehend what they hear and see. Preceding beliefs, prejudices and preconceptions cloud the understanding. Jesus had just stated in absolute clarity that salvation was only through Him. He told them that when they saw Him they were looking at God in corporal form. Yet, Philip's response showed the degree of his understanding. He wanted Jesus to confirm His statement with a sign or some visible form of God. He plainly had not been impressed with the great number of incredible mirages Jesus has done, nor in Jesus repeated statements as to His deity. The Jews understood God revealed Himself through His prophets, signs, and through the Shekinah glory of God.

Jesus tells them He has other things to teach them, but His time was drawing short because the devil (the prince of this world) was coming. He was referring to Judas, who was now possessed by Satan. Nevertheless, John proclaims ". . . the prince of this world is judged." And from that day, even the memory of Satan and those that served Him will exist no longer. In contrast, those who by faith believed in Him, will be present in the New Heaven (…many mansions) and Earth with the Savior.

In Christ,