Jesus’ Assurance of Paradise, the Only Way to the Father, and His Unity with the Father
John 14:1–11 (NKJV)
Christ Comforts His Disciples
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In 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. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Christ Answers Thomas
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Christ Answers Philip
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who 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 on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
Message
I. The Disciples Will Be In Paradise (1-3)
See v1.
1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
Why did Jesus tell them not to let their heart be troubled? It may be because He has said He should leave them soon (John 13:33a), they could not come where He was going (John 13:33b), and Peter would deny Him three times (John 13:38). Jesus acknowledged their belief in God as the history of the Jews was led by God. Jesus asked them to believe also in Him (1b) before telling them what He was going to do for them in v2-3. See v2-3.
2 In 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. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
My Father’s house (2a) may be ‘Paradise’ (Luke 23:43). There are many mansions there. Jesus will prepare more mansions if needed (2). If the mansions for them are ready, Jesus will come again and get them so that they may be also where Jesus is (3). So the disciples will be in Paradise eventually. But as for the Jews, they would die in their sin and could not come to Paradise (John 8:21) unless they believe in Jesus, the Messiah (John 8:24).
II. Jesus Is The Only Way To The Father (4-6)
See v4-6.
4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Jesus already told them He was going back to Him who sent Him (John 7:33). But Thomas didn’t know both where Jesus was going and the way to go there (5). Jesus’ answer (6) shows where He was going is ‘the Father’ and the way is Jesus. And Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father (6b).
III. Knowing (Seeing) Jesus is Knowing (Seeing) His Father (7-11)
See v7.
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Knowing Jesus is knowing His Father (7a). The Son is the exact representation of God (See Hebrews 1:3 NIV) and the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Seeing Jesus is seeing His Father (7b). See v8.
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Even though Jesus said v7, Philip requested Jesus to show the Father. Philip probably wanted to see the Father with his physical eyes, but He is spirit (John 4:24) and invisible and lives in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 1:16a), whom no one has seen or can see (1 Timothy 1:16b, John 1:18a). See v9-11.
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who 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 on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
Knowing Jesus is knowing His Father (7a). Philip had enough opportunity to know and experience Him (9a). Experiencing Jesus is experiencing His Father (9b). When they see the works of God Jesus performed (10b, 11b), they can see (believe) Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Jesus (10a). Jesus spoke what the Father who dwells in Him commanded Him to say (10b, John 12:49).
Jesus asked Philip,
“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.” (11)
If they don’t know for sure yet, they should believe. If they can’t believe, they should look at the works of God performed. The object of belief is Jesus who is in the Father and in whom the Father is.
