John 14 - Jon Courson's Application Commentary

So, too, every one of us find ourselves going through times when it all comes down, when the roof caves in, when things fall apart. And the disciples were no exception. In the previous chapter, Jesus had told them that one of them would betray Him (13:21), that Peter would deny Him (13:38), and that He would leave them (13:33).

“How can this be?” they must have wondered. They had left all to follow Jesus. But now it seemed as though it was all for nothing. We know the story. We know it has a glorious, happy ending. But if you put yourself in their sandals, you can see it must have been a moment of real intensity not only for the disciples, but for Jesus as well.

Oftentimes we look at these events through the eyes of the disciples. But consider what Jesus was going through, as only hours after this He would be nailed to a Cross to absorb the sin of humanity-and would remain as a Lamb slain into eternity (Revelation 5:6). No wonder He prayed, “Father, if it be possible, remove this cup from Me” with such intensity that He actually sweat blood (see Luke 22:42-44).

Here in John 14, in the midst of His Upper Room discourse, Jesus knew the hour of great difficulty was upon Him. Yet notice how He ministers to those around Him…

Even in the hour of His own temptation and struggle, Jesus looked at His disciples with compassion. What a model for you and me. What an example for what we deal with daily. What a comfort to know that Jesus looks on me-dirty feet and all-and His heart is full of compassion toward me.

Jesus gives the commandment, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” And then He gives the way to obey it when He says, “Believe in God; believe in Me.”

Belief being the singular key to a trouble-free heart, Jesus goes on to give the disciples five reasons why they shouldn’t be troubled-and why we shouldn’t be troubled when things seem to be falling down around us.…

The key to keeping your heart from being overwhelmed in sadness and depression is to remember that you have a home in heaven.

To those who doubt the existence of heaven because no matter how far we travel in space, we have yet to locate it, consider the following: The distance between the electrons and the nucleus of an atom being proportionate to the distance between Pluto and the sun, all matter on this earth is comprised of ninety-five percent space-leaving plenty of room for an unseen dimension to coexist with the material world we presently perceive.

Flanked by enemies, Elisha prayed that the eyes of his servant, Gehazi, would be opened. When the Lord did so, Gehazi saw a mountain full of angels previously invisible to him (2 Kings 6:17). Could it be that when Paul said we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), he meant that they are literally surrounding us? Is this what Jesus meant when He said the kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:21)? Stay tuned for more information. We’ll know the answer when we get to heaven.

When Jesus says, “I go to prepare a place for you,”-He is not speaking generically, but specifically. Jesus is preparing a place for you specifically. Think through this. What do you enjoy? What has God built into your being? Whatever it is, know this: Jesus is preparing a place for you to fulfill the elements He’s woven into the fabric of your personality uniquely and specifically.

Jesus is what makes heaven heaven.

For topical study of John 14:1-3 see “Heaven”.

If there’s ever a bone of contention people want to pick with believers, it’s exclusivity. “You’re too narrow,” they say to us. “I don’t mind you believing what you believe, but don’t say it’s the only way.”

We don’t say this-it’s Jesus who declared it. Call me narrow if you wish, but Jesus is the One who said, “Narrow is the way which leads to life eternal, and broad is the path that leads to destruction,” (see Matthew 7:13). In His wisdom, the Father kept the way to heaven very exclusive, knowing that if there were ten ways, there would be fifty counterfeits and it would be all the more confusing. “Neither is there salvation in any other,” Paul would say, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (see Acts 4:12). Period. Case closed.

Understanding the naiveti of people, God said, “I’m going to keep it real simple. There’s only one Way”-making His not an act of exclusivity, but of love.

Not only do we have the hope of heaven, but we know the nature of the Father. “Show us the Father,” Philip said. “That would help.”

Is “Where is God?” your cry in troubling times?

Jesus looked at Phillip and said, “You know the Father already because you’ve been with Me. He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.”

The trend in our generation is to blame our parents for our present perversions, problems, depressions, and difficulties. Such thinking has also infected the Christian community wherein believers are saying, “I can’t relate to the Father because my earthly father ignored me, abused me, or abandoned me.” I think that’s bogus. The issue is not a matter of understanding one’s earthly father. The issue is one of understanding Jesus Christ. If you want to know the nature of the Father, study the Son. The character of one’s earthly father is immaterial. The sole issue is Jesus, for in seeing Him, we see the Father.

In addition to the hope of heaven and an understanding of the nature of the Father, we have been given the privilege of prayer. We have the privilege of asking in Jesus’ name for anything of which we have need. “I have a hard time with that,” you say, “because I’ve asked for a lot of things in Jesus’ name that haven’t come my way.”

Gang, asking in Jesus’ name is not simply attaching the phrase, “In Jesus’ name” to our prayers the way a trucker closes his calls with “Ten-four, good buddy.” No, asking in Jesus’ name means asking in harmony with His character and His personality, for the Name speaks of nature.

“Show me Your glory, Lord,” prayed Moses. So after hiding Moses in the cleft of a rock, the Lord passed by and in proclaiming His nature to Moses thereby revealed His glory and proclaimed His name (see Exodus 34:6,7) .

If I’m praying, “Lord, she’s been really mean to me. Sic her!” or, “Lord, what I really need is a new Cadillac so I can make everyone jealous,” I’m not praying in the name of the Lord no matter how many “In Jesus’ name’s” I attach. Is what I’m praying for full of mercy and goodness? Is it in line with the personality of Jesus? That’s what it means to pray in His name.

We have also been given the comfort of the Spirit. The word translated “Comforter” is parakletos, referring to someone “called to one’s side.” With His disciples, Jesus was limited in that He could only be in one place at one time. That is why He would say, “It is expedient for me to go away that the Comforter might come (John 16:7). The Comforter is One who will heal your hurts, still your storms, and supply your needs.”

Although sometimes comforting involves correcting and convicting, the Spirit is not a buzzard who circles over us waiting for us to fail that He might come and pick at us. Nor is He a screeching hawk who makes a lot of noise, striking fear in the hearts of everyone around Him. Neither is He a hummingbird who flaps His wings incessantly, yet makes no progress practically. The Spirit is a dove (Matthew 3:16)-known for His gentleness, beauty, and purity. Truly, He is a Comforter in reality.

Finally, we have been given the peace of Jesus Christ. Even though I might not understand what’s going on, I have a peace that bypasses my brain and permeates my heart. I might not know why things aren’t working out, or why things are coming down. But in the midst of it all, Jesus offers me His peace.

“Don’t let your heart be troubled,” Jesus said. “Believe in God. Believe in Me.” Therefore, I can either drown in doubt or I can choose to say,

“Thank You, Father, that I’m going to heaven.

Thank You that I can know Your nature because I can see it in Your Son.

Thank You that I can talk to You freely because of the privilege of prayer.

Thank You for the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Thank You for the peace you give to me in Jesus Christ.

In obedience to Your command, Lord, I will not let my heart be troubled.”

To you who are down in the mouth, down in the dumps, and troubled in spirit, Jesus would say, “Don’t be! Believe in God. Believe in Me. Arise and let’s go out in ministry.”