John 14

14:1 - Don't let your heart be troubled. How do you do this? I mean, it is easy to say not to be troubled, but what practically do you DO to not be troubled? According to Jesus you trust in God and trust in Him. Most, if not all, of the trouble in our life comes about because we do not trust the Father and the Son. If we trusted them what would there be to be troubled by?

14:2 - There is more than enough room in my Father's home. - This is a such a cool idea when you understand it from an Eastern worldview. The homes in the east are not like our single family units. They start with a house and a courtyard and the family members build onto the house and share the courtyard. They all live together. When Jesus says there are many rooms He is saying there is plenty of space for Him to build us a place to live with Him and the Father and the rest of the family. What an incredible idea. So many of us think of Heaven like a mansion on a hill somewhere, but Jesus' promise is for Him to prepare a room for us in His Father's house and not just in His Father's lands. I love the idea of being so close to God that I get to share the courtyard with Him and see Him every day.

I am going to prepare a place for you - This phrase and the statement about preparing a room in His Father's house is tied to the wedding practices of that time. The bridegroom would make the proposal and if the young lady agreed he would go back to His Father's house and start building a room on His Father's place for the two of them. When the Father says the room is ready the Son can go and get His bride and bring her home to live with Him and the Father. It means the bridegroom spends lots of time and energy preparing the perfect place for his bride. In our case it means Jesus is spending His time preparing a terrific place for His bride, the Church.

14:3 - ... so that you will ALWAYS be with me where I am.

14:6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. - No one!

14:10 - Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?

14:12 - I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, AND EVEN GREATER WORKS, because I am going to be with the Father. - I know this is not the experience for many of us, but that is something we need to work through, because God is always faithful and true. We need to work with the Holy Spirit through the Word of God to figure out how to begin to live in such a way that greater things begin to happen because we are with the Father through the Son with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

14:13-14 - That ask me anything is about the Father's glory. It isn't about us getting everything we want. People who get everything they want are normally called spoiled brats. The promise of Jesus is that we can ask anything we need to accomplish the will of the Father and He will equip us with it.

14:16-17 - Advocate/Comforter/Encourager/Counselor = Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. - We need to reconfigure our life so that the Holy Spirit has room to lead us.

14:23 - All who love me will do what I say, My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

14:26 - The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. - Are you open to being taught, reminded and led by the Holy Spirit? It seems like this is one of those things where He is willing, but He waits not only for our openness, but also our attention and effort in this area.

14:27 - I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart.... - Have you received this gift? If not, it is on us and not on Him. Let God be proven true and every man a liar. God has given you the right to peace of mind and peace of heart. Will you do what it takes to receive that gift at least today?

14:31 - but I will do what the Father requires of me, SO THAT the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going. - I love this verse. Jesus will do whatever the Father requires SO THAT the world will know. Will you do WHATEVER the Father requires so the world will know Him? What a great verse to have as a life's purpose.

Love, Michael