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.