As Jesus’ disciples listened to Jesus talk after their Passover meal, their hearts became troubled. He had told them that He would be leaving them very soon, and that they would not be able to go where He was going (see John 13:33). Keep in mind that they had been with Him for over three years, so the thought of being separated from Him was traumatic. Jesus told them not to be troubled, and gave them at least five good reasons why they shouldn’t be.
First, He said He was going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house, a house in which there were many rooms.
Second, He promised that He would ultimately come back for them to take them with Him to His Father’s house. Then they would never be separated from Him again.
Third, during the time they were apart, He would send them another Helper, the Holy Spirit, who would never leave them. The Holy Spirit would lead them into truth, teaching them and reminding them of what Jesus had said.
Fourth, soon after His departure, they would see Him again for a time after His resurrection and be assured that He was alive forevermore. Once they saw Him raised from the dead, they wouldn’t entertain the idea that He was dead and gone.
And fifth, He would give them peace in their hearts, His own peace, as a gift. They only needed to tap into it. What more could they ask?
In today’s reading, Jesus made several claims, most of which only God could rightfully make. He claimed to be the way, the truth and the life (see John 14:6). That is, He is the only way to heaven, the only One who knew and revealed spiritual truth, and the only One who could give eternal life. He claimed to be one with the Father, to the extent that anyone who saw or knew Him could say they’d seen and known the Father.
He claimed that His words were His Father’s, and His ability to do miracles came from the Father. As I’ve written before, Jesus didn’t leave us the option to think of Him as just a good man or a prophet. His claims were too outrageous. If He wasn’t God, He was the biggest liar who has ever lived.
Finally, Jesus made it very clear who His people are. They are those who love Him and who prove their love by their obedience to Him. And those are the people whom God indwells by His Holy Spirit. Isn’t it great to be one of them?
Q. Near the end of today’s reading, Jesus said, “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the prince of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father” (John 14:30-31). Who is the “prince of this world”?
A. Satan.
Q. What did Jesus mean when He said that the prince of this world was approaching?
A. He was referring to how Satan was orchestrating His imminent betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion. Jesus implied that Satan was only doing what God was permitting him to do, and, unknowingly, was playing right into God’s hands. By motivating men to kill Jesus, Satan was setting the stage for Jesus to fulfill God’s preordained plan for His Son to be sacrificed for the sins of the world!
Application: Jesus said, “For I will live again, and you will, too” (John 14:19). For Christians, death is not something to be feared. It’s the beginning of a new life. We have that promise from someone we can trust, someone who knows what He’s talking about, and someone who’s crossed over the line of death and come back to life!
