John 14 · WEB
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John 14

The way to the Father

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. You know where I go, and you know the way.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus comforts his disciples: in his Father's house are many dwelling places, and he is going to prepare a place for them. When Thomas says they do not know the way, Jesus answers, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." When Philip asks to see the Father, Jesus says that whoever has seen him has seen the Father.

What does this mean?

"Mansions" (KJV) does not mean grand houses; it comes from a Latin word for dwelling places, and the WEB has "homes". "In my name" means on his authority and in keeping with who he is.

Historical context

Chapters 14 to 17 are often called the Farewell Discourse. Farewell speeches by great figures before their deaths, such as Moses in Deuteronomy, were a familiar form in Jewish and Greek literature.

Why does it matter?

"I am the way, the truth, and the life" is one of the most quoted sayings in the Gospel and has been central to Christian claims about Jesus' unique role. The idea that the Father is seen in Jesus develops the prologue (1:18). The promise of "greater works" is usually read as referring to the disciples' work after Jesus' departure.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

The promise of the Spirit and of peace

If you love me, keep my commandments. I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”

Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

“I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. You heard how I told you, ‘I am going away, and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I. Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let’s go from here.

Jesus promises that the Father will send another Counselor, the Spirit of truth, to be with the disciples for ever and to teach and remind them of all he said. He will not leave them orphans: those who love him will keep his word, and he and the Father will make their home with them. He leaves them his peace and tells them to get up and go.

What does this mean?

"Comforter" (KJV) or "Counselor" (WEB) translates paraclete, a Greek word for someone called alongside to help: an advocate, helper or encourager. "Abide" means remain or live. "Judas (not Iscariot)" is a different disciple, probably the Judas "of James" in Luke's list of the Twelve (Luke 6:16).

Historical context

Peace (shalom in Hebrew) was the usual greeting and farewell, meaning wholeness and well-being, not just absence of conflict. "The prince of this world" refers to Satan.

Why does it matter?

The words "Arise, let us go hence" (verse 31) are followed by three more chapters of speech before Jesus leaves in 18:1. Many scholars think this shows the discourse was assembled in stages; others suggest the group walked as Jesus spoke. Later Christian teaching about the Holy Spirit drew heavily on chapters 14 to 16.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

Chapters

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21

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Reading

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Verse numbersSmall numerals within the text
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