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John Chapter Fourteen

 

John 14

The Lord now begins to discourse with them in view of His departure. He was going where they could not come. To human sight they would be left alone upon the earth. It is to the sense of this apparently desolate condition that the Lord addresses Himself shewing them that He was an object for faith even as God was. In doing this He opens to them the whole truth with respect to their condition. His work is not the subject treated of but their position by virtue of that work. His Person should have been for them the key to that position and would be so now: the Holy Ghost the Comforter who should come would be the power by which they should enjoy it and indeed more yet.

To Peter's question "Whither goest thou?" the Lord replies. Only when the desire of the flesh seeks to enter into the path on which Jesus was then entering the Lord could but say that the strength of the flesh was unavailing there; for in fact he proposed to follow Christ in death. Poor Peter!

But when the Lord has written the sentence of death upon the flesh for us by revealing its impotency He can then (chap. 14) reveal that which is beyond it for faith; and that which belongs to us through His death throws its light back and teaches who He was even when on earth and always before the world was. He did but return to the place from which He came. But He begins with His disciples where they were and meets the need of their hearts by explaining to them in what manner-better in a certain sense than by following Him here below-they should be with Him when absent where He would be. They did not see God corporeally present with them: to enjoy His presence they believed in Him; It was to be the same thing with regard to Jesus. They were to believe in Him. He did not forsake them in going away as though there were only room for Himself in His Father's house. (He alludes to the temple as a figure.) There was room for them all. The going thither observe was still His thought-He is not here as the Messiah. We see Him in the relationships in which He stood according to the eternal truths of God. He had always His departure in view: had there been no room for them He would have told them so. Their place was with Him. But He was going to prepare a place for them. Without presenting redemption there and presenting Himself as the new man according to the power of that redemption there was no place prepared in heaven. He enters it in the power of that life which should bring them in also. But they should not go alone to rejoin Him nor would He rejoin them down here. Heaven not earth was in question. Nor would He simply send others for them; but as those He dearly valued He would come for them Himself and receive them unto Himself that where He was there should they be also. He would come from the Father's throne: there of course they cannot sit; but He will receive them there where He shall be in glory before the Father. They should be with Him-a far more excellent position than His remaining with them here below even as Messiah in glory on the earth.

Now also having said where He was going that is to His Father (and speaking according to the effect of His death for them) He tells them that they knew whither He was going and the way. For He was going to the Father and they had seen the Father in seeing Him; and thus having seen the Father in Him they knew the way; for in coming to Him they came to the Father who was in Him as He was in the Father. He was then Himself the way. Therefore He reproaches Philip with not having known Him. He had been long with them as the revelation in His own Person of the Father; and they ought to have known Him and to have seen that He was in the Father and the Father in Him and thus have known where He was going for it was to the Father. He had declared the name of the Father; and if they were unable to see the Father in Him or to be convinced of it by His words they ought to have known it by His works; for the Father who dwelt in Him-He it was who did the works. This depended on His own Person being still in the world; but a striking proof was connected with His departure. After He was gone they would do even greater works than He did because they should act in connection with His greater nearness to the Father. This was requisite to His glory. It was even unlimited. He placed them in immediate connection with the Father by the power of His work and of His name; and whatsoever they should ask the Father in His name Christ Himself would do it for them. Their request should be heard and granted by the Father-shewing what nearness He had acquired for them; and He (Christ) would do all they should ask. For the power of the Son was not and could not be wanting to the Father's will: there was no limit to His power.

But this led to another subject. If they loved Him it was to be shewn not in regrets but in keeping His commandments. They were to walk in obedience. This characterises discipleship up to the present time. Love desires to be with Him but shews itself by obeying His commands; for Christ also has a right to command. On the other hand He would seek their good on high and another blessing should be granted them; namely the Holy Ghost Himself who should never leave them as Christ was about to do. The world could not receive Him. Christ the Son had been shewn to the eyes of the world and ought to have been received by it. The Holy Ghost would act being invisible; for by the rejection of Christ it was all over with the world in its natural and creature relationships with God. But the Holy Ghost should be known by the disciples; for He should not only remain with them as Christ could not but be in them not with them as He was. The Holy Ghost would not be seen then or known by the world.

Until now in His discourse He had led His disciples to follow Him (in spirit) on high through the knowledge which acquaintance with His Person (in which the Father was revealed) gave them of whither He was going and of the way. He was Himself the way as we have seen. He was the truth itself in the revelation (and the perfect revelation) of God and of the soul's relationship to Him; and indeed of the real condition and character of all things by bringing out the perfect light of God in His own Person who revealed Him. He was the life in which God and the truth could thus be known. Men came by Him; they found the Father revealed in Him; and they possessed in Him that which enabled them to enjoy and in the reception of which they came in fact to the Father.

But now it is not what is objective which He presents; not the Father in Him (which they ought to have known) and He in the Father when here below. He does not therefore raise their thoughts to the Father through Himself and in Himself and He in the Father in heaven. He sets before them that which should be given them down here-the stream of blessing that should flow for them in this world by virtue of that which Jesus was and was for them in heaven. The Holy Ghost once introduced as sent the Lord says "I will not leave you orphans I will come to you." His presence in spirit here below is the consolation of His people. They should see Him; and this is much more true than seeing Him with the eyes of flesh. Yes more true; it is knowing Him in a much more real way even though by grace they had believed in Him as the Christ the Son of God. And moreover this spiritual sight of Christ by the heart through the presence of the Holy Ghost is connected with life. "Because I live ye shall live also." We see Him because we have life and this life is in Him and He in this life. "This life is in the Son." It is as sure as His duration. It is derived from Him. Because He lives we shall live. Our life is in everything the manifestation of Himself who is our life. Even as the apostle expresses it "That the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal bodies." Alas! the flesh resists; but this is our life in Christ.

But this is not all. The Holy Ghost dwelling in us we know that we are in Christ. [1] "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in me and I in you." It is not "the Father in me [which however was always true] and I in him"-words the first of which here omitted expressed the reality of His manifestation of the Father here on earth. The Lord only expresses that which belongs to His being really and divinely one with the Father-"I am in my Father." It is this last part of the truth (implied doubtless in the other when rightly understood) of which the Lord here speaks. It could not really be so; but men might imagine such a thing as a manifestation of God in a man without this man being really such-so truly God that is to say in Himself-that it must also be said He is in the Father. People dream of such things; they speak of the manifestation of God in flesh. We speak of God manifest in the flesh. But here all ambiguity is obviated-He was in the Father and it is this part of the truth which is repeated here; adding to it in virtue of the presence of the Holy Ghost that while the disciples should indeed fully know the divine Person of Jesus they should moreover know that they were themselves in Him. He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Jesus did not say that they ought to have known this while He was with them on earth. They ought to have known that the Father was in Him and He in the Father. But in that He was alone. The disciples however having received the Holy Ghost should know their own being in Him-a union of which the Holy Ghost is the strength and the bond. The life of Christ flows from Him in us. He is in the Father we in Him and He also in us according to the power of the presence of the Holy Ghost.

This is the subject of the common faith true of all. But there is continual guardianship and government and Jesus manifests Himself to us in connection with and in a manner dependent on our walk. He who is mindful of the Lord's will possesses it and observes it. A good child not only obeys when he knows his father's will but he acquires the knowledge of that will by giving heed to it. This is the spirit of obedience in love. If we act thus with regard to Jesus the Father who takes account of all that relates to His Son will love us. Jesus will also love us and will manifest Himself to us. Judas (not Iscariot) did not understand this because he saw no farther than a bodily manifestation of Christ such as the world also could perceive. Jesus therefore adds that the truly obedient disciples (and here He speaks more spiritually and generally of His word not merely of His commandments) should be loved of the Father and that the Father and Himself would come and make their abode with him. So that if there be obedience while waiting for the time when we shall go and dwell with Jesus in the Father's presence He and the Father dwell in us. The Father and the Son manifest themselves in us in whom the Holy Ghost is dwelling even as the Father and the Holy Ghost were present when the Son was here below-doubtless in another way for He was the Son and we only live by Him-the Holy Ghost only dwelling in us. But with respect to those glorious Persons they are not disunited. The Father did the works in Christ and Jesus cast out devils by the Holy Ghost; nevertheless the Son wrought. If the Holy Ghost is in us the Father and the Son come and make their abode in us. Only it will be observed here that there is government. We are according to the new life sanctified unto obedience. It is not here a question of the love of God in sovereign grace to a sinner but of the Father's dealings with His children. Therefore it is in the path of obedience that the manifestations of the Father's love and the love of Christ are found. We love but do not caress our naughty children. If we grieve the Spirit He will not be in us the power of the manifestation to our souls of the Father and the Son in communion but will rather act on our consciences in conviction though giving the sense of grace. God may restore us by His love and by testifying when we have wandered; but communion is in obedience. Finally Jesus was to be obeyed; but it was the Father's word to Jesus observe as He was here below. His words were the words of the Father.

The Holy Ghost bears testimony to that which Christ was as well as to His glory. It is the manifestation of the perfect life of man of God in man of the Father in the Son-the manifestation of the Father by the Son who is in the bosom of the Father. Such were the words of the Son here below; and when we speak of His commandments it is not only the manifestation of His glory by the Holy Ghost when He is on high and its results; but His commandments when He spoke here below and spoke the words of God; for He had not the Holy Ghost by measure so that His words would have been mingled and partly imperfect or at least not divine. He was truly man and ever man; but it was God manifest in the flesh. The old commandment from the beginning is new inasmuch as this same life which expressed itself in His commandments now moves in and animates us-true in Him and in us (compare 1 John 2). The commandments are those of the man Christ yet they are the commandments of God and the words of the Father according to the life that has been manifested in this world in the Person of Christ. They express in Him and form and direct in us that eternal life which was with the Father and which has been manifested to us in man-in Him whom the apostles could see hear and touch; and which life we possess in Him. Nevertheless the Holy Ghost has been given us to lead us into all truth according to this same chapter of John's Epistle-"Ye have an unction from the Holy One and ye know all things."

To direct life is different from knowing all things. The two are connected because in walking according to that life we do not grieve the Holy Spirit and we are in the light. To direct life where it exists is not the same thing as to give a law imposed on man in the flesh (righteously no doubt) promising him life if he keep these commandments. This is the difference between the commandments of Christ and the law: not as to authority-divine authority is always the same in itself-but that the law offers life and is addressed to man responsible in flesh offering him life as the result; while the commandments of Christ express and direct the life of one who lives through the Spirit in connection with his being in Christ and Christ in him. The Holy Ghost (who besides this teaches all things) brought to remembrance the commandments of Christ-all things that He had said to them. It is the same thing in detail by His grace with Christians individually now.

Finally the Lord in the midst of this world left peace to His disciples giving them His own peace. It is when going away and in the full revelation of God that He could say this to them; so that He possessed it in spite of the world. He had gone through death and the drinking of the cup put away sin for them destroyed the power of the enemy in death made propitiation by fully glorifying God. Peace was made and made for them before God and all that they were brought into-the light as He was so that this peace was perfect in the light; and it was perfect in the world because it brought them so into connection with God that the world could not even touch or reach their source of joy. Moreover Jesus had so accomplished this for them and He bestowed it on them in such a way that He gave them the peace which He Himself had with the Father and in which consequently He walked in this world. The world gives a part of its goods while not relinquishing the mass; but what it gives it gives away and has no longer. Christ introduces into the enjoyment of that which is His own-of His own position before the Father. [2] The world does not and cannot give in this manner. How perfect must that peace have been which He enjoyed with the Father-that peace He gives to us-His own!

There remains yet one precious thought-a proof of unspeakable grace in Jesus. He so reckons upon our affection and this as personal to Himself that He says to them "If ye loved me ye would rejoice because I said I go unto the Father." He gives us to be interested in His own glory in His happiness and in it to find our own.

Good and precious Saviour we do indeed rejoice that Thou who hast suffered so much for us hast now fulfilled all things and art at rest with Thy Father whatever may be Thine active love for us. Oh that we knew and loved Thee better! But still we can say in fulness of heart Come quickly Lord! Leave once more the throne of Thy rest and of Thy personal glory to come and take us to Thyself that all may be fulfilled for us also and that we may be with Thee and in the light of Thy Father's countenance and in His house. Thy grace is infinite but Thy presence and the joy of the Father shall be the rest of our hearts and our eternal joy.

Here the Lord closes this part of His discourse. [3] He had shewn them as a whole all that flowed from His departure and from His death. The glory of His Person observe is always here the subject; for even with regard to His death it is said "Now is the Son of man glorified." Nevertheless He had forewarned them of it that it might strengthen and not weaken their faith for He would not talk much more with them. The world was under the power of the enemy and he was coming: not because he had anything in Christ-he had nothing-therefore he had not even the power of death over Him. His death was not the effect of the power of Satan over Him but thereby He shewed the world that He loved the Father; and He was obedient to the Father cost what it would. And this was absolute perfection in man. If Satan was the prince of this world Jesus did not seek to maintain His Messiah glory in it. But He shewed to the world there where Satan's power was the fulness of grace and of perfection in His own Person; in order that the world might come from itself (if I may use such an expression)-those at least who had ears to hear.

The Lord then ceases to speak and goes forth. He is no longer seated with His own as of this world. He arises and quits it.

That which we have said of the Lord's commandments given during His sojourn here below (a thought to which the succeeding chapters will give interesting development) helps us much in understanding the Lord's whole discourse here to the end of chapter 16. The subject is divided into two principal parts:-The action of the Holy Ghost when the Lord should be away; and the relationship of the disciples to Him during His stay upon the earth. On the one hand that which flowed from His exaltation to the right hand of God (which raised Him above the question of Jew and Gentile); and on the other that which depended on His presence upon earth as necessarily centering all the promises in His own Person and the relations of His own with Himself viewed as in connection with the earth and themselves in it even when He should be absent. There were in consequence two kinds of testimony: that of the Holy Ghost strictly speaking (that is what He revealed in reference to Jesus ascended on high); and that of the disciples themselves as eye-witnesses to all that they had seen of Jesus on the earth (chap. 15:26 27). Not that for this purpose they were without the help of the Holy Ghost; but the latter was not the new testimony of the heavenly glory by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. He brought to their remembrance that which Jesus had been and that which He had spoken while on earth. Therefore in the passage we have been reading His work is thus described (chap. 14:26): "He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you" (compare v. 25). The two works of the Holy Ghost are here presented. Jesus had spoken many things unto them. The Holy Ghost would teach them all things; moreover He would bring to their remembrance all that Jesus had said. In chapter 16:12 13 Jesus tells them that He had many things to say but that they could not bear them then. Afterwards the Spirit of truth should lead them into all truth. He should not speak from Himself; but whatsoever He should hear that should He speak. He was not like an individual spirit who speaks on his own account. One with the Father and the Son and come down to reveal the glory and the counsels of God all His communications would be in connection with them revealing the glory of Christ ascended on high-of Christ to whom belonged all that the Father had. Here it is no question of recalling all that Jesus had said upon earth: all is heavenly in connection with that which is on high and with the full glory of Jesus or else relates to the future purposes of God. We shall return to this subject by-and-by. I have said these few words to mark the distinctions which I have pointed out.

Footnotes

[1] Note this is individual not the union of the members of the body with Christ; nor is union indeed an exact term for it. We are in Him. This is more than union but not the same thing. It is nature and life and position in it our place in that nature and life. When He was on earth and they had not the Holy Ghost they should have known that He was in the Father and the Father in Him. When He was in heaven and they had the Holy Ghost they would know they were in Him and He in them.

[2] This is blessedly true in every respect except of course essential Godhead and oneness with the Father: in this He remains divinely alone. But all He has as man and as Son in manhood He introduces into "My Father and your Father my God and your God." His peace His joy the words the Father gave to Him He has given to us; the glory given to Him He has given to us; with the love wherewith the Father has loved Him we are loved. The counsels of God were not merely to meet our responsibility as children of Adam but before the world to put us into the same position with the second Adam His own Son. And Christ's work has made that to be righteousness.

[3] Chapter 14 gives to us the Son's personal relationship with the Father and our place in Him who is in it known by the Holy Ghost given. In chapter 15 we have His place and standing on earth the true Vine and then His state of glory as exalted and sending the Comforter to reveal that.

── John DarbySynopsis of John

 

John 14

Chapter Contents

Christ comforts his disciples. (1-11) He further comforts his disciples. (12-17) He still further comforts his disciples. (18-31)

Commentary on John 14:1-11

(Read John 14:1-11)

Here are three words upon any of which stress may be laid. Upon the word troubled. Be not cast down and disquieted. The word heart. Let your heart be kept with full trust in God. The word your. However others are overwhelmed with the sorrows of this present time be not you so. Christ's disciples more than others should keep their minds quiet when everything else is unquiet. Here is the remedy against this trouble of mind "Believe." By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God and man we gain comfort. The happiness of heaven is spoken of as in a father's house. There are many mansions for there are many sons to be brought to glory. Mansions are lasting dwellings. Christ will be the Finisher of that of which he is the Author or Beginner; if he have prepared the place for us he will prepare us for it. Christ is the sinner's Way to the Father and to heaven in his person as God manifest in the flesh in his atoning sacrifice and as our Advocate. He is the Truth as fulfilling all the prophecies of a Saviour; believing which sinners come by him the Way. He is the Life by whose life-giving Spirit the dead in sin are quickened. Nor can any man draw nigh God as a Father who is not quickened by Him as the Life and taught by Him as the Truth to come by Him as the Way. By Christ as the Way our prayers go to God and his blessings come to us; this is the Way that leads to rest the good old Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life. All that saw Christ by faith saw the Father in Him. In the light of Christ's doctrine they saw God as the Father of lights; and in Christ's miracles they saw God as the God of power. The holiness of God shone in the spotless purity of Christ's life. We are to believe the revelation of God to man in Christ; for the works of the Redeemer show forth his own glory and God in him.

Commentary on John 14:12-17

(Read John 14:12-17)

Whatever we ask in Christ's name that shall be for our good and suitable to our state he shall give it to us. To ask in Christ's name is to plead his merit and intercession and to depend upon that plea. The gift of the Spirit is a fruit of Christ's mediation bought by his merit and received by his intercession. The word used here signifies an advocate counsellor monitor and comforter. He would abide with the disciples to the end of time; his gifts and graces would encourage their hearts. The expressions used here and elsewhere plainly denote a person and the office itself includes all the Divine perfections. The gift of the Holy Ghost is bestowed upon the disciples of Christ and not on the world. This is the favour God bears to his chosen. As the source of holiness and happiness the Holy Spirit will abide with every believer for ever.

Commentary on John 14:18-24

(Read John 14:18-24)

Christ promises that he would continue his care of his disciples. I will not leave you orphans or fatherless for though I leave you yet I leave you this comfort I will come to you. I will come speedily to you at my resurrection. I will come daily to you in my Spirit; in the tokens of his love and visits of his grace. I will come certainly at the end of time. Those only that see Christ with an eye of faith shall see him for ever: the world sees him no more till his second coming; but his disciples have communion with him in his absence. These mysteries will be fully known in heaven. It is a further act of grace that they should know it and have the comfort of it. Having Christ's commands we must keep them. And having them in our heads we must keep them in our hearts and lives. The surest evidence of our love to Christ is obedience to the laws of Christ. There are spiritual tokens of Christ and his love given to all believers. Where sincere love to Christ is in the heart there will be obedience. Love will be a commanding constraining principle; and where love is duty follows from a principle of gratitude. God will not only love obedient believers but he will take pleasure in loving them will rest in love to them. He will be with them as his home. These privileges are confined to those whose faith worketh by love and whose love to Jesus leads them to keep his commandments. Such are partakers of the Holy Spirit's new-creating grace.

Commentary on John 14:25-27

(Read John 14:25-27)

Would we know these things for our good we must pray for and depend on the teaching of the Holy Ghost; thus the words of Jesus will be brought to our remembrance and many difficulties be cleared up which are not plain to others. To all the saints the Spirit of grace is given to be a remembrancer and to him by faith and prayer we should commit the keeping of what we hear and know. Peace is put for all good and Christ has left us all that is really and truly good all the promised good; peace of mind from our justification before God. This Christ calls his peace for he is himself our Peace. The peace of God widely differs from that of Pharisees or hypocrites as is shown by its humbling and holy effects.

Commentary on John 14:28-31

(Read John 14:28-31)

Christ raises the expectations of his disciples to something beyond what they thought was their greatest happiness. His time was now short he therefore spake largely to them. When we come to be sick and to die we may not be capable of talking much to those about us; such good counsel as we have to give let us give while in health. Observe the prospect Christ had of an approaching conflict not only with men but with the powers of darkness. Satan has something in us to perplex us with for we have all sinned; but when he would disturb Christ he found nothing sinful to help him. The best evidence of our love to the Father is our doing as he has commanded us. Let us rejoice in the Saviour's victories over Satan the prince of this world. Let us copy the example of his love and obedience.

── Matthew HenryConcise Commentary on John

 

John 14

Verse 2

[2] 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.

In my Father's house are many mansions — Enough to receive both the holy angels and your predecessors in the faith and all that now believe and a great multitude which no man can number.

Verse 4

[4] And whither I go ye know and the way ye know.

The way — Of faith holiness sufferings.

Verse 5

[5] Thomas saith unto him Lord we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Thomas saith — Taking him in a gross sense.

Verse 6

[6] Jesus saith unto him I am the way the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

To the question concerning the way he answers I am the way. To the question concerning knowledge he answers I am the truth. To the question whither I am the life. The first is treated of in this verse; the second John 14:7-17; the third 14:18 etc.

Verse 7

[7] If ye had known me ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him and have seen him.

Ye have known — Ye have begun to know him.

Verse 10

[10] Believest thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me he doeth the works.

I am in the Father — The words that I speak etc.-That is I am one with the Father in essence in speaking and in acting.

Verse 11

[11] Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Believe me — On my own word because I am God.

The works — This respects not merely the miracles themselves but his sovereign Godlike way of performing them.

Verse 12

[12] Verily verily I say unto you He that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Greater works than these shall he do — So one apostle wrought miracles merely by his shadow Acts 5:15; another by handkerchiefs carried from his body Acts 19:12; and all spake with various tongues. But the converting one sinner is a greater work than all these.

Because I go to my Father — To send you the Holy Ghost.

Verse 15

[15] If ye love me keep my commandments.

If ye love me keep my commandments — Immediately after faith he exhorts to love and good works.

Verse 16

[16] And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever;

And I will ask the Father — The 21st verse John 14:21 shows the connection between this and the preceding verses.

And he will give you another Comforter — The Greek word signifies also an advocate instructer or encourager.

Another — For Christ himself was one.

To remain with you for ever — With you and your followers in faith to the end of the world.

Verse 17

[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you.

The Spirit of truth — Who has reveals testifies and defends the truth as it is in Jesus.

Whom the world — All who do not love or fear God cannot receive because it seeth him not - Having no spiritual senses no internal eye to discern him; nor consequently knoweth him.

He shall be in you — As a constant guest. Your bodies and souls shall be temples of the Holy Ghost dwelling in you.

Verse 18

[18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

I will not leave you orphans — A word that is elegantly applied to those who have lost any dear friend.

I come to you — What was certainly and speedily to be our Lord speaks of as if it were already.

Verse 19

[19] Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live ye shall live also.

But ye see me — That is ye shall certainly see me.

Because I live ye shall live also — Because I am the living One in my Divine nature and shall rise again in my human nature and live for ever in heaven: therefore ye shall live the life of faith and love on earth and hereafter the life of glory.

Verse 20

[20] At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and ye in me and I in you.

At that day — When ye see me after my resurrection; but more eminently at the day of pentecost.

Verse 21

[21] He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.

He that hath my commandments — Written in his heart.

I will manifest myself to him — More abundantly.

Verse 23

[23] Jesus answered and said unto him If a man love me he will keep my words: and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.

Jesus answered — Because ye love and obey me and they do not therefore I will reveal myself to you and not to them.

My Father will love him — The more any man loves and obeys the more God will love him.

And we will come to him and make our abode with him — Which implies such a large manifestation of the Divine presence and love that the former in justification is as nothing in comparison of it.

Verse 26

[26] But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.

In my name — For my sake in my room and as my agent.

He will teach you all things — Necessary for you to know. Here is a clear promise to the apostles and their successors in the faith that the Holy Ghost will teach them all that truth which is needful for their salvation.

Verse 27

[27] Peace I leave with you my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.

Peace I leave with you — Peace in general; peace with God and with your own consciences.

My peace — In particular; that peace which I enjoy and which I create I give - At this instant.

Not as the world giveth — Unsatisfying unsettled transient; but filling the soul with constant even tranquillity. Lord evermore give us this peace! How serenely may we pass through the most turbulent scenes of life when all is quiet and harmonious within! Thou hast made peace through the blood of thy cross. May we give all diligence to preserve the inestimable gift inviolate till it issue in everlasting peace!

Verse 28

[28] Ye have heard how I said unto you I go away and come again unto you. If ye loved me ye would rejoice because I said I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

God the Father is greater than I — As he was man. As God neither is greater nor less than the other.

Verse 29

[29] And now I have told you before it come to pass that when it is come to pass ye might believe.

I have told you — Of my going and return.

Verse 30

[30] Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in me.

The prince of this world is coming — To make his grand assault.

But he hath nothing in me — No right no claim or power. There is no guilt in me to give him power over me; no corruption to take part with his temptation.

Verse 31

[31] But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment even so I do. Arise let us go hence.

But I suffer him thus to assault me 1. Because it is the Father's commission to me John 10:18. 2. To convince the world of my love to the Father in being obedient unto death Philippians 2:8.

Arise let us go hence — Into the city to the passover. All that has been related from John 12:31 was done and said on Thursday without the city. But what follows in the fifteenth sixteenth and seventeenth chapters was said in the city on the very evening of the passover just before he went over the brook Kedron.

── John WesleyExplanatory Notes on John

 

John 14:6

A traveler engaged a guide to take him across a desert area. When the two men arrived at the edge of the desert the traveler looking ahead saw before him trackless sands without a single footprint path or marker of any kind. Turning to his guide he asked in a tone of surprise “Where is the road?” With a reproving glance the guide replied “I am the road.”

So too is the Lord our way through unfamiliar territory.

── F.E. MarshFive Hundred Bible Readings

 

Chapter 14. Send the Helper

Go Openly
Come Secretly

I. Bid Disciples to Believe in Him

  1. Prepare a Place
  2. The Way to the Place
  3. In Father's House

II. Grant Precious Promises

  1. Do Greater Works
  2. The Spirit of Truth
  3. Not Orphans

III. Jesus Leaves Peace

  1. Peace of the Lord
  2. Peace in the Lord
  3. Enjoy the Peace
── Chih-Hsin ChangAn Outline of The New Testament

 

“ I WILLS” OF JOHN 14.

Ⅰ. The “ I will” of hope. “ I will come again” (verse 3).

Ⅱ. The “ I will” of answered prayer. “ If ye shall ask anything in My Name I will do it” (verse 14).

Ⅲ. The “ I will” of intercession. “ I will pray the Father” (verse 16).

Ⅳ. The “ I will” of comfort. “ I will not leave you comfortless” (verse 18).

Ⅴ. The “ I will” of presence. “ I will come to you” (verse 18).

Ⅵ. The “ I will” of love. “ I will love him” (verse 21).

Ⅶ. The “ I will” of silence. “ I will not talk much with you” (verse 30).

── F.E. MarshFive Hundred Bible Readings