The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Study note
Jesus calms the disciples' anxious hearts by revealing that his Father's house has many rooms and that he goes to prepare a place for them. When Thomas asks how they can know the way, Jesus delivers one of his most definitive statements: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' Philip's request to see the Father prompts Jesus to explain that seeing him is seeing the Father, because the Father dwells in him and works through him. He promises that believers will do even greater works through prayer in his name.
1 Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many rooms. 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: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 "You already know the way to get where I am going." And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas spoke up and said, "Lord, we do not even know where you are going. How can we possibly know the way?" Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 "If you had truly known me, you would have recognized my Father too. But starting now, you do know him -- you have seen him." If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip jumped in and said, "Lord, show us the Father! That is all we need and we will be satisfied." Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus said, "Philip, I have been right here with you all this time, and you still have not figured it out? When you look at me, you are looking at the Father! How can you still say, 'Show us the Father'?" Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 "Do you not realize that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The things I say to you are not my own ideas. The Father lives inside me and does his work through me." 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.
11 "Trust me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If my words are not enough to convince you, at least look at the miracles and let them convince you." Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 "Here is an amazing truth: anyone who believes in me will do the same things I have been doing. In fact, they will do even greater things, because I am going to be with the Father." 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.
13 "And whatever you ask for using my name, I will do it, so that the Father receives glory through the Son." And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 "If you ask me for anything using my name, I will make it happen." If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
The Promise of the Comforter
Study note
Jesus links love for him with keeping his commandments and promises to ask the Father to send another Comforter -- the Spirit of truth -- to be with the disciples forever. Unlike Jesus' physical presence, the Spirit will dwell within them. Jesus assures them he will not leave them as orphans but will come to them. He teaches that those who love him and keep his word will experience the Father and Son making their home with them. The Holy Spirit will teach them all things and remind them of everything Jesus said.
15 If you love me, keep my commandments. If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 "And I will ask the Father, and he will send you another Helper -- one who will stay with you forever." And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 "This Helper is the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because the world does not see him or know him. But you know him already, because he is living alongside you and will live inside you." 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.
18 "I will not abandon you and leave you all alone. I am going to come back to you." I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 "Very soon the world will not be able to see me anymore, but you will still see me. Because I am alive, you will be alive too." Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 "When that day comes, you will understand that I am in my Father, that you are in me, and that I am in you." At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 "The person who knows my commands and follows them -- that is the person who truly loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father. I will love that person too, and I will reveal myself to them." 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.
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but a different one) asked a question. "Lord, why will you show yourself to us but not to the world?" Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus explained, "When someone loves me, they will live by what I say. My Father will love that person, and together we will come and make our home right inside them." 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.
24 "Someone who does not love me ignores my words. And remember, the message you are hearing is not something I invented -- it comes straight from the Father who sent me." He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 "I am sharing all of this with you now while I am still here beside you." These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 "But the Helper — the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name — he will teach you everything you need to know. He will bring back to your memory everything I have told you." 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.
The Gift of Peace
Study note
Jesus bequeaths his peace to the disciples -- a peace fundamentally different from what the world offers. He urges them not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid, and tells them that if they truly loved him, they would rejoice in his going to the Father. He forewarns them of these events so their faith will be strengthened when they occur. He concludes by declaring his obedience to the Father and calls them to depart with him.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 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.
28 "You heard me say that I am going away and that I am coming back. If you truly loved me, you would be happy that I am returning to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am." 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.
29 "I have told you all this now, ahead of time, so that when it happens you will trust me completely." And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30 "I do not have much more time to talk with you. The ruler of this world is on his way. But he has zero power over me." Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31 "Everything I do, I do because the Father told me to. I want the whole world to see how much I love the Father. Now get up -- let us get going." 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.