14
‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house. If this were not true, would I have told you that I am going there? Would I have told you that I would prepare a place for you there? 3 If I go and do that, I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.’ 5 Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way?’
6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father also. From now on, you do know him. And you have seen him.’
8 Philip said, ‘Lord, show us the Father. That will be enough for us.’
9 Jesus answered, ‘Don't you know me, Philip? I have been among you such a long time! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, “Show us the Father”? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father? Don't you believe that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. The Father lives in me. He is the one who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say I am in the Father. Also believe that the Father is in me. Or at least believe what the works I have been doing say about me. 12 What I'm about to tell you is true. Anyone who believes in me will do the works I have been doing. In fact, they will do even greater things. That's because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do anything you ask in my name. Then the Father will receive glory from the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name. I will do it.
15 ‘If you love me, obey my commands. 16 I will ask the Father. And he will give you another friend to help you and to be with you for ever. 17 That friend is the Spirit of truth. The world can't accept him. That's because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him. He lives with you, and he will be in you. 18 I will not leave you like children who don't have parents. I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore. But you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Anyone who has my commands and obeys them loves me. My Father will love the one who loves me. I too will love them. And I will show myself to them.’
14:1–21 Jesus comforted his disciples as he explained that he would be leaving them. But he also promised that they would be together again. Jesus said I am the way and the truth and the life. This was the sixth time he had described himself using the words I am. Jesus shows the truth about God. He is the way that people can become close to God and have life for ever with God. Jesus and the Father are joined together through the deepest love. Jesus explained this love by saying that he is in the Father. He explained that the Father is in him as well. They share their deep love with all who obey Jesus. Jesus promised that the Father would send the Holy Spirit. The Spirit would be a friend who comforted and helped Jesus' followers. Through the Spirit's power, Jesus' followers would continue his work. They would do even more mighty works than when they were together with Jesus. They would pray to him asking him to do his powerful works through them. And they could be sure that he listened and would answer.
22 Then Judas spoke. ‘Lord’, he said, ‘why do you plan to show yourself only to us? Why not also to the world?’ The Judas who spoke those words was not Judas Iscariot.
23 Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them. We will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. The words you hear me say are not my own. They belong to the Father who sent me.
25 ‘I have spoken all these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 I leave my peace with you. I give my peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid.
28 ‘You heard me say, “I am going away. And I am coming back to you.” If you loved me, you would be glad I am going to the Father. The Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you now before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you. The prince of this world is coming. He has no power over me. 31 But he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father. They must also learn that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me to do.
‘Come now. Let us leave.
14:22–31 Jesus didn't answer Judas’ question plainly. Instead, he reminded the disciples that he and the Father are one. Those who love and obey him will share a home with the Father and Jesus. God's Holy Spirit will teach and guide them. Jesus gave the disciples the gift of his peace. His peace helps his followers to be strong and brave as they trust him. The prince of the world is the devil. It was going to seem like the devil had won the victory over Jesus. But Jesus made sure his disciples knew the truth about what was going to happen. The devil couldn't kill Jesus. Jesus chose to sacrifice his life because he loved and completely obeyed his Father. Jesus loved the people in the world that the Father had created. So he would save them from evil.