The Gospels · New Testament
John 14
John 14: the way, the Comforter promised, and peace left behind
General context
The chapter is a speech at the table, interrupted three times by questions. Jesus tells the disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, speaks of many mansions in his Father's house and of going to prepare a place, and says they know the way. Thomas says they do not know where he is going, and Jesus answers that he is the way, the truth and the life. Philip asks to be shown the Father, and Jesus answers that whoever has seen him has seen the Father, and points to the words and the works. He promises that those who believe will do the works he does, that whatever is asked in his name he will do, and that the Father will send another Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who will teach them and bring his words to their remembrance. Judas, whom the text marks as not Iscariot, asks why he will show himself to them and not to the world, and the answer turns on keeping his words. He leaves peace with them, says the Father is greater than he, and ends by telling them to rise and go.
Cited passages: John 14:1, John 14:2, John 14:4, John 14:5, John 14:6, John 14:8, John 14:9, John 14:10, John 14:12, John 14:14, John 14:16, John 14:17, John 14:18, John 14:22, John 14:23, John 14:26, John 14:27, John 14:28, John 14:31
John 14 (KJV)
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In 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.
3And 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.
4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9Jesus 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?
10Believest 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.
11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12Verily, 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.
13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17Even 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.
18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21He 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.
22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23Jesus 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.
24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26But 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.
27Peace 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.
28Ye 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.
29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31But 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.
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Historical context
The text distinguishes the questioner at verse 22 from Judas Iscariot in the wording itself, adding not Iscariot after the name. Philip, who asks to see the Father, is the disciple called in the first chapter and questioned about bread in the sixth. The Comforter is named in two ways in the same speech, as the Spirit of truth and as the Holy Ghost, and is described as sent by the Father in his name. Two statements stand side by side without being reconciled by the speaker: that whoever has seen him has seen the Father, and that the Father is greater than he. The closing words tell them to rise and go, though the speech continues in the chapters that follow, and the text gives no note about the move.
Cited passages: John 14:22, John 14:8, John 14:9, John 1:43, John 6:5, John 14:17, John 14:26, John 14:16, John 14:28, John 14:31
Literary context
The chapter is shaped by three interruptions, each a short question that pulls the speech toward a plainer statement. Going away and coming again alternate until leaving and returning are held together rather than opposed. Knowing and seeing are repeated as the terms the disciples keep asking about, and each request for more is answered by pointing back to what is already before them. Love and keeping commandments are linked four times over, so that affection is measured by what is done. The opening line about a troubled heart returns near the end alongside peace, framing the chapter, and the last sentence is an instruction to move rather than a conclusion.
Cited passages: John 14:5, John 14:8, John 14:22, John 14:3, John 14:18, John 14:19, John 14:7, John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:24, John 14:1, John 14:27
Key moments
- Many mansions (John 14:2). Jesus speaks of his Father's house and of going to prepare a place.
- Thomas asks the way (John 14:5). Thomas says they do not know where he is going.
- The way, the truth, the life (John 14:6). Jesus answers Thomas by naming himself the way to the Father.
- Shew us the Father (John 14:8). Philip asks to be shown the Father.
- Another Comforter (John 14:16). Jesus promises that the Father will give another Comforter to stay with them.
- Peace left with them (John 14:27). He leaves them peace unlike what the world gives.
- Arise, let us go (John 14:31). The chapter ends with an instruction to get up and leave.
For reflection
Philip asks to be shown the Father and is told that he has been looking at the answer for a long time. What does the chapter say about requests that ask for something already given?
