I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

14 (A)“Let not your hearts be troubled. (B)Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. In (C)my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that (D)I go to prepare a place for you?[b] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you (E)to myself, that (F)where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”[c] (G)Thomas said to him, “Lord, (H)we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am (I)the way, and (J)the truth, and (K)the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (L)If you had known me, you would have (M)known my Father also.[d] From now on you do know him and (N)have seen him.”

(O)Philip said to him, “Lord, (P)show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? (Q)Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that (R)I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you (S)I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that (T)I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else (U)believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, (V)whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I (W)am going to the Father. 13 (X)Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that (Y)the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 (Z)If you ask me[e] anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 (AA)“If you love me, you will (AB)keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another (AC)Helper,[f] to be with you forever, 17 even (AD)the Spirit of truth, (AE)whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and (AF)will be[g] in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; (AG)I will come to you. 19 (AH)Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but (AI)you will see me. (AJ)Because I live, you also will live. 20 (AK)In that day you will know that (AL)I am in my Father, and (AM)you in me, and (AN)I in you. 21 (AO)Whoever has my commandments and (AP)keeps them, he it is who loves me. And (AQ)he who loves me (AR)will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and (AS)manifest myself to him.” 22 (AT)Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it (AU)that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, (AV)“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and (AW)we will come to him and (AX)make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And (AY)the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the (AZ)Helper, the Holy Spirit, (BA)whom the Father will send in my name, (BB)he will teach you all things and (BC)bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 (BD)Peace I leave with you; (BE)my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. (BF)Let not your hearts be troubled, neither (BG)let them be afraid. 28 (BH)You heard me say to you, (BI)‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I (BJ)am going to the Father, for (BK)the Father is greater than I. 29 And (BL)now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for (BM)the ruler of this world is coming. (BN)He has no claim on me, 31 but I do (BO)as the Father has commanded me, (BP)so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Footnotes

  1. John 14:1 Or You believe in God
  2. John 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you
  3. John 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know
  4. John 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also
  5. John 14:14 Some manuscripts omit me
  6. John 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7
  7. John 14:17 Some manuscripts and is

14 “Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. 2-3 There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

“No, we don’t,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me. If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him—and have seen him!”

Philip said, “Sir, show us the Father and we will be satisfied.”

Jesus replied, “Don’t you even yet know who I am, Philip, even after all this time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own but are from my Father who lives in me. And he does his work through me. 11 Just believe it—that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or else believe it because of the mighty miracles you have seen me do.

12-13 “In solemn truth I tell you, anyone believing in me shall do the same miracles I have done, and even greater ones, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask him for anything, using my name, and I will do it, for this will bring praise to the Father because of what I, the Son, will do for you. 14 Yes, ask anything, using my name, and I will do it!

15-16 “If you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, for it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, for he lives with you now and some day shall be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm—I will come to you. 19 In just a little while I will be gone from the world, but I will still be present with you. For I will live again—and you will too. 20 When I come back to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 The one who obeys me is the one who loves me; and because he loves me, my Father will love him; and I will too, and I will reveal myself to him.”

22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but his other disciple with that name) said to him, “Sir, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us disciples and not to the world at large?”

23 Jesus replied, “Because I will only reveal myself to those who love me and obey me. The Father will love them too, and we will come to them and live with them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t obey me doesn’t love me. And remember, I am not making up this answer to your question! It is the answer given by the Father who sent me.

25 “I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Comforter[a] instead of me—and by the Comforter I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I myself have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.[b] 28 Remember what I told you—I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, for now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do, you will believe in me.[c]

30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, for the evil prince of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will freely do what the Father requires of me so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.

Footnotes

  1. John 14:26 Comforter, or “Helper.” instead of me, literally, “in my name.”
  2. John 14:27 So don’t be troubled or afraid, implied.
  3. John 14:29 in me, implied.

The Road

14 1-4 “Don’t let this rattle you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live. And you already know the road I’m taking.”

Thomas said, “Master, we have no idea where you’re going. How do you expect us to know the road?”

6-7 Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen him!”

Philip said, “Master, show us the Father; then we’ll be content.”

9-10 “You’ve been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don’t understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, ‘Where is the Father?’ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you aren’t mere words. I don’t just make them up on my own. The Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.

11-14 “Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.

The Spirit of Truth

15-17 “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

18-20 “I will not leave you orphaned. I’m coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you’re going to see me because I am alive and you’re about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I’m in my Father, and you’re in me, and I’m in you.

21 “The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said, “Master, why is it that you are about to make yourself plain to us but not to the world?”

23-24 “Because a loveless world,” said Jesus, “is a sightless world. If anyone loves me, he will carefully keep my word and my Father will love him—we’ll move right into the neighborhood! Not loving me means not keeping my words. The message you are hearing isn’t mine. It’s the message of the Father who sent me.

25-27 “I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.

28 “You’ve heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away, and I’m coming back.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I’m on my way to the Father because the Father is the goal and purpose of my life.

29-31 “I’ve told you this ahead of time, before it happens, so that when it does happen, the confirmation will deepen your belief in me. I’ll not be talking with you much more like this because the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don’t worry—he has nothing on me, no claim on me. But so the world might know how thoroughly I love the Father, I am carrying out my Father’s instructions right down to the last detail.

“Get up. Let’s go. It’s time to leave here.”

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

14 “Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, [a]I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Jesus’ Oneness with the Father

If you had [really] known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father and then we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and you do not know Me yet, Philip, nor recognize clearly who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you I do not say on My own initiative or authority, but the Father, abiding continually in Me, does His works [His attesting miracles and acts of power]. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed]. 12 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name [[b]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son.(A) 14 If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.

15 “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.

Role of the Spirit

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another [c]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, bereaved, and helpless]; I will come [back] to you. 19 After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 On that day [when that time comes] you will know for yourselves that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. 21 The person who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him [I will make Myself real to him].” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered, “If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him. 24 One who does not [really] love Me does not keep My words. And the word (teaching) which you hear is not Mine, but is the Father’s who sent Me.

25 “I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the [d]Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.(B) 27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] 28 You heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you [really] loved Me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going [back] to the Father, for [e]the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does take place, you may believe and have faith [in Me]. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. And he has no claim on Me [no power over Me nor anything that he can use against Me]; 31 but so that the world may know [without any doubt] that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father has commanded Me [and act in full agreement with Him]. Get up, let us go from here.

Footnotes

  1. John 14:6 The sixth of the memorable “I am” statements. See note 6:35.
  2. John 14:13 Acting as Jesus’ representative means that the person calling on His name is in a close relationship with Him and wants what He wants.
  3. John 14:16 Gr Paracletos, one called alongside to help.
  4. John 14:26 Gr Paracletos, one called alongside to help.
  5. John 14:28 The Father and the Son are equal—they share the same essence, but the Father was greater in His heavenly glory than the Son during the Son’s time of subordination as a man, cf 10:30; 17:5.