Chronological Gospels: John 14-15
As we begin this week, read the very first verse of John 14 and carry that with you through the rest of the reading. This is a passage to memorize, meditate on, and find comfort in. Here in John 14, Jesus makes some vital promises and teaches some vital truths. He knows He is about to be crucified and that He doesn’t have much time left with His disciples and He makes this point very clear to them.
The primary truths that strike me through our chapters this week are that Jesus is the only way to God, that if we know Jesus we know God, and that if we love Him it will be evident all over our lives. Jesus implores His disciples to believe in Him, and likewise to believe in the Father. He also promises to give us a Counselor, the Holy Spirit, when He goes back to Heaven to make a place for His people.
What does it mean that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?
Jesus presses this point that faith is based on love, and true love is evident by our obedience. Obedience based on love and faith is evident by the fruits produced. If we truly believe in Jesus, we believe what He says. Because we believe it, we obey and follow His teachings. If we are following His teachings and commandments, we are abiding in Him and Him in us. If we are abiding in the will of God, we are aligned with Him and in good standing with Him. Prayers prayed by those who are aligned with Him will be heard and answered and there will be evidence in our lives if we are truly abiding in Him.
What does this teach you about your own faith and relationship with Jesus?
None of us can do anything without Christ. When we have faith in Jesus, we then get to know God, are given His Holy Spirit, and are indwelt by Him. It is through Him and His power that we can understand any of His teachings and again by His power that we can obey Him. On our own, we will fail. When we are truly aligned with Him, we will do His will and it will bring us peace and joy no matter the circumstances we face. We will draw closer to Him, and we will also be a testimony to draw others to the Lord.
Jesus also makes the promise that He is going away to His Father’s house to make a place for us and that He will return. This is a vital promise we should all cling to and look forward to – that Jesus will be back for us! Those who are abiding in Him will have a place with Him. Those who are not abiding in Him will be like dead branches, cut off and thrown into the fire.
What does this truth teach you about Jesus?
What does this teach you about Biblical prayer?
Jesus also teaches us that we are to remain in His love, which requires faith, love, and obedience. It requires lovingly abiding in Him. Likewise, we are supposed to love one another. This “one another” refers to fellow believers. We should be loving the Church as Christ loves His Church. We are tasked with the commission to endure, to bear with, to be kind, to not be arrogant, rude, selfish, or dishonest. We are instructed to love the way that God so loves us (1 Corinthians 13). To do this, we must commit to learning about the true love of God and how we are to live it in our own life.
What does it mean to love as Christ loves us?
How do these truths impact and apply to your own faith, life, and relationships?
