John 14

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Jesus tells the disciples (and believers) not to be troubled by the forthcoming events (his death, crucifixion, and ascension, and the subsequent struggles of the early church). Being firm believers in God, the disciples are told to believe in Jesus. In fact, there is no point in believing in the unseen God without believing in Jesus (Word manifested as flesh).

Moreover, one must not be troubled by anything, given that our guardian is none other than God Himself.

2In 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.

There are many mansions (note: not cottages, nor palaces!) in Jesus’ (my) Father’s (God) house (heaven): all waiting to be filled by the Saved. Jesus would have told them hadn’t there been any mansions. He is going to heaven to prepare a place for them (and essentially, all believers).

3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And if Jesus goes and prepares such places for them, he will come again and receive them personally unto himself in heaven; so that they will be wherever he is. Like a good shepherd, he will keep his lambs near him.

4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

‘You know where I am going, and the course to that place’.

5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Thomas, doubting as ever, says- ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going; and how can we know the way?’

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus utters the absolute truth: He is the (only) way to the true God; He is truth regarding the true God; and, he is only method by whom one can attain eternal life. No one can reach the Father (God) except via him. Thus, mediation using saints or religious figures, and other religions will not take an individual to the Father.

7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Jesus points out that if the disciples had known him, they would have known his Father too: and thus, they have not only known Him but has also seen Him.

8Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Despite all of Jesus’ miracles, teachings, and even hearing the voice of God Himself, it is evident that the disciples are unaware of Jesus’ divinity. Thus, Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father.

9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Jesus asks Philip why he hasn’t understood his true divinity despite having been with them for a long time. Whoever has seen Jesus, has seen the Father. Do they not believe that Jesus is in the Father, and the Father in him? The words which he spake to them were not from himself: but it was God, who dwells in Jesus, who did the works.

All of Jesus’ teachings and miracles were performed by God himself for His glory. The duality of the two is best visualised as a water molecule: The molecules of Hydrogen and Oxygen, by itself, does not form water. But it is their combination, which creates a water molecule.

12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

28Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

Whoever believes in Jesus, he will receive the power to perform the same miracles which Jesus did. And he shall do greater works because Jesus will be with the Father in all his power and majesty. This is also an authority which Jesus promises to his followers.

If Jesus’ disciples love him, they will rejoice over his leaving, for he is going to the Father: who is much greater than Jesus. And Jesus will personally intercede with the Father.

13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

15If ye love me, keep my commandments.

21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

And Jesus promises to do whatever one asks in his name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. There is a clause though: If we love him, we will keep his commandments. More often, we love ourselves and make our own commandments, or try to make compromises. Is it because we do not love him enough?

Later on, Jesus stresses twice that those who love him are those who follow his commandments (keep my words). Those who love him will not only be loved by the Father, but also by Jesus, who will appear unto him. In fact, the Father and the Son will dwell with him… in fact, they will make their abode with him – in modern day terms, they will move into the same house!

Those who do not love Jesus will not follow his commandments. These commandments (the word) are not from Jesus, but from the Father who sent him.

16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jesus will request the Father to send another Comforter (The Spirit of truth), in Jesus’ name (in my name), to the believers, so that they will be guided and taught by the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) during Jesus’ physical absence, and will remind them of Jesus’ words. This Comforter will abide with them forever and the world cannot receive this Spirit since it/they cannot see him or know him- after all, how can they if they do not believe in Christ? But the Spirit will dwell with the believers and will be in them because they will know him. Jesus will not abandon them, and he himself will come to them.

19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

In a little while, Jesus will be crucified, and thus will not be physically present as far as the unbelievers are concerned. Nor will they see him, for they do not believe in him. But those who believe in Jesus (and the disciples) will see him. And since Jesus lives for all eternity, so shall they.

Another Judas cannot comprehend how Jesus can appear only to the disciples, and not to the rest of the people.

20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

On the final day, the believers will know the mystery of the Duality: the relationship between God and the Son, and the relationship between Jesus and his followers.

25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

Jesus is able to convey all this since he is still with them.

27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus bestows his own peace with them: Peace, which is denied to many rich and powerful, but which is given to his own loved. Therefore, there is no reason for the disciples (and believers) to be troubled or afraid, for Jesus’ peace will keep them calm.

29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.

Jesus is telling them before it all happens, so that they will remember and believe when it happens.

30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Jesus indicates that he will not talk much with them, for Satan (the prince of this world, with whom Jesus has nothing in common) is approaching to carry out the betrayal.

31But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Jesus loves the Father, and is sacrificing himself for all mankind as per the commandments of the Father. Thus, one can notice how Jesus does the same which he advises his disciples to do in v. 13-15; 21-24.