John 14 - NIV Study Bible

14:1 Do not . . . be troubled. The apostles had just received disturbing news (13:33,36). You believe in God; believe also in me. Jesus’ antidote for a troubled heart (cf. Ps 56:3–4; Isa 26:3–4).

14:2 My Father’s house. Heaven. many rooms. Or “many dwelling places.” Both imply plenty of room. The traditional translation “mansions” is a mistranslation of the Latin.

14:3 I will come back. Jesus comes in several ways, but the primary reference here is to his second advent (cf. Rev 22:7, 12,20).

14:4 way. See v. 6 and note.

14:5 Thomas. He was honest and plainly told the Lord he did not understand (see note on 11:16).

14:6 I am. See note on 6:35; see also article. the way. To God. Jesus is not one way among many but the only way (see Ac 4:12; Heb 10:19–20 and notes). In the early church, Christianity was sometimes called “the Way” (see, e.g., Ac 9:2 and note). the truth. A key emphasis in this Gospel (see note on 1:14). the life. See 1:4; 10:10; Php 1:21 and notes. Very likely the whole statement means “I am the way (to the Father) in that I am the truth and the life” (cf. 17:3).

14:7 me . . . my Father. Once more Jesus stresses the intimate connection between the Father and himself. Jesus brought a full revelation of the Father (see 1:18 and note), so the apostles had real knowledge of him (see note on 8:19).

14:9 Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. See 1:18 and note.

14:10 I do not speak on my own authority. Jesus’ teaching was not of human origin, and there was an inseparable connection between his words and his work.

14:11 Believe . . . that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Saving faith is trust in a person, but it must also have factual content. Faith includes believing that Jesus is one with the Father (see 17:21–22 and notes).

14:12 Very truly I tell you. See note on Mk 3:28. greater things. Greater in the sense that these would be fulfilling the purpose of Jesus’ redemptive mission. These things depended on Jesus’ going to the Father, because they are works done in the strength of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus would send from the Father (see vv. 16–17; 15:26 and notes). Cf. Col 1:6 and note.

14:13 in my name. Not simply prayer that mentions Jesus’ name but prayer in accordance with all that the person who bears the name is (see note on 2:23). It is prayer aimed at carrying forward the work Jesus did—prayer that he himself will answer (v. 14).

14:15 love . . . keep. Love, like faith (see Jas 2:14–26 and notes), cannot be separated from obedience (vv. 21,23–24; 1Jn 5:3).

14:16 the Father . . . will give you. The first of a series of important passages about the Holy Spirit (see v. 26; 15:26; 16:7–15 and notes), the gift of the Father. another. Besides Jesus. advocate. Greek parakletos; so that the Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Paraclete. The word’s most basic meaning is advocate, but it can also mean comforter, counselor, teacher or helper. The Spirit will always stand by Christ’s people and live in them.

14:17 Spirit of truth. In essence and in action the Spirit is characterized by truth. He brings people to the truth of God. All three persons of the Trinity are linked with truth. See also the Father (see 4:24 and note; cf. Ps 31:5; Isa 65:16 and note) and the Son (see v. 6 and note). The world. Which takes no notice of the Spirit of God (see notes on 1:9; 1Co 2:14). But the Spirit was “with” Jesus’ disciples and would be “in” them. Many believe the latter relationship (indwelling) specifically anticipates the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (see Ac 1:2; 2:4,17,38 and notes; cf. Ro 8:9 and note).

14:18 I will come to you. The words relate to the coming of the Spirit, but Jesus also speaks of his own appearances after the resurrection and at his second coming (see vv. 3,19,28 and note on v. 3; 16:22 and note).

14:19 world . . . but you. The cross separated the world (those who would not see Jesus thereafter) from the disciples (who would). Because I live, you also will live. The life of the Christian always depends on the life of Christ (see 1:4; 3:15; 10:10; Php 1:21 and notes).

14:20 On that day you will realize. The resurrection would radically change their thinking.

14:21 keeps . . . loves. Love for Christ and keeping his commands cannot be separated (see note on v. 15). loved by my Father . . . I too will love them. The love of the Father cannot be separated from that of the Son.

14:22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot). See Lk 6:16 and note. why . . . ? Judas (and, for that matter, the other apostles) probably looked for Jesus to fulfill popular Messianic expectations. It was not easy, therefore, to understand how that would mean showing himself to the disciples but not to the world.

14:23 loves . . . obey . . . love. Again love and obedience are linked (see vv. 15,21; 15:10 and notes).

14:24 Once more the close relationship between Jesus’ words and the Father’s is stressed (v. 10; 7:16).

14:26 Advocate. See note on v. 16. Holy Spirit. See 1:33 and note. whom the Father will send. Both the Father and the Son are involved in the sending (see 15:26 and note). name. See notes on v. 13; 2:23. remind you of everything I have said to you. Crucial for the life of the church—and for the writing of the NT.

14:27 Peace . . . my peace. A common Hebrew greeting (see 20:19,21,26 and note on 20:19), which Jesus uses here in an unusual way (see article). The term speaks, in effect, of the salvation that Christ’s redemptive work will achieve for his disciples—total well-being and inner rest of spirit, in fellowship with God. All true peace is his gift, which the repetition emphasizes. I do not give . . . as the world gives. In its greetings of peace the world can only express a longing or wish. But Jesus’ peace is real and present (see 16:33 and note). troubled. See note on v. 1.

14:28 heard me say. Cf. v. 3. the Father is greater than I. Revealing the subordinate role Jesus accepted for a time as a necessary part of the incarnation. The statement must be understood in the light of the unity between the Father and the Son (see 10:30 and note).

14:30 prince of this world. See note on 12:31. has no hold over me. Satan has a hold over people because of their fallen state. Since Christ was sinless, Satan could have no hold over him.

14:31 I . . . do exactly what my Father has commanded me. Jesus had stressed the importance of his followers being obedient (see vv. 15,21,23 and notes), and he set the example. With these words he goes to fulfill his mission (Chs. 18–19). Cf. 4:34; 17:4 and notes. let us leave. Possibly means “let us leave the upper room [see note on 13:1—17:26] and proceed to Gethsemane” (18:1). On the other hand, Jesus does not necessarily leave at this point. Jn 15:1 begins without any introduction as if Jesus were continuing to speak in the upper room. Only in 18:1 does John say that “Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley to go to the Garden.” This has led some to suggest that John has combined two separate discourses of Jesus together here (Jn 14, 15–16). Studies of the style, themes, structure and vocabulary of Jn 14–16 have nevertheless strengthened the case for its unity. There is evidence for ancient speakers using language like that of 14:31 for delayed exits to someone’s death; perhaps John is following that convention.