John Chapter 14 in Simple English

Read John Chapter 14

1"Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me."

2"In my Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you."

3"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself. Then where I am, you may be also."

4"And you know where I am going, and you know the way."

5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. So how can we know the way?"

6Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."

7"If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you know him, and have seen him."

8Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us."

9Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long a time, and yet you have not known me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?"

10"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak from myself. It is the Father who lives in me who does the works."

11"Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. Or else believe me because of the works themselves."

12"I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. And he will do greater works than these, because I go to my Father."

13"And whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

14"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."

15"If you love me, keep my commandments."

16"And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, to stay with you for ever."

17"He is the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you."

18"I will not leave you without comfort. I will come to you."

19"In a little while the world will see me no more. But you will see me. Because I live, you will live also."

20"On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you."

21"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will show myself to him."

22Judas said to him (not Iscariot), "Lord, how is it that you will show yourself to us, and not to the world?"

23Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my words. And my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."

24"Whoever does not love me does not keep my sayings. And the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me."

25"I have spoken these things to you while I am still with you."

26"But the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things. He will bring to your memory everything I have said to you."

27"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not let it be afraid."

28"You have heard how I said to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming again to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad, because I said, 'I go to the Father,' for my Father is greater than I."

29"And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe."

30"After this I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has nothing in me."

31"But the world must know that I love the Father. As the Father gave me commandment, so I do. Get up, let us go from here."

Explanation

John 14

In short

Jesus speaks to his disciples about his death and departure, reassuring them of his return and promising them a place with him. He teaches them that he is the only way to God the Father and that his Holy Spirit will come to comfort and guide them after he leaves.

Context

Jesus has just finished his final meal with the disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. The disciples are troubled and confused about what is happening. This chapter records Jesus' long final conversation with them, offering comfort and instruction for what lies ahead. He is preparing them for both his imminent death and his eventual return.

What the text says

Verses 1-3: Jesus tells the troubled disciples to trust him as they trust God, and promises his Father's house has "many mansions." He is going to prepare a place and will come back to receive them.

Verses 4-6: Thomas asks how they can know the way if they do not know where Jesus is going. Jesus answers "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Verses 7-11: Jesus teaches that knowing him means knowing the Father, and that he and the Father are one. What Jesus does and says comes from the Father within him. His works themselves are evidence of this.

Verses 12-14: Believers will do the works Jesus does and greater ones, because he goes to the Father. Whatever they ask in his name, he will do it.

Verses 15-17: Keeping his commandments shows love for him. Jesus will ask the Father to send "another Comforter," the Spirit of truth, who will dwell with them forever. The world cannot receive this Spirit, but his followers will know him.

Verses 18-24: Jesus will not leave them orphaned but will come to them. Those who love him and keep his words will be loved by the Father, and Jesus will reveal himself to them.

Takeaways

Jesus presents himself as the sole means of approaching God and promises both his return and his Father's Spirit to sustain believers after he leaves.
The relationship between Jesus and the Father is presented as intimate and inseparable, with the Father's work and words flowing through Jesus.
Believers are promised both supernatural empowerment and direct relationship with Jesus and the Father through keeping his words and loving him.

John 14 - Simple English