Devotionals

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17).

Notice that Jesus did not say “the world will not receive Him,” but “the world cannot receive Him.” Why is that? If the Apostle Peter is correct in saying (2 Peter 3:9), The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, then how does that correspond with the words of Jesus? 

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17).

Jesus called the Holy Spirit ‘another Helper’. Confusion abounds as to the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, especially today with the plethora of false doctrines preached and taught by false prophets. 

If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15).

Obedience to the commandments of Jesus Christ is the test of our love for Him. But there are certain aspects to obedience which are found only in the life of the true believer. As these aspects are revealed in our obedience, so our true character is also revealed. In other words, when we understand what genuine obedience to the Lord is, and we measure our obedience by these aspects, we will also understand if we genuinely love the Lord like we think or say we do.

If you love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15).

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father (John 14:12).

This text has caused a lot of discussion on the part of modern-day Christians. Was Jesus speaking about His disciples, or was He speaking about all Christians beyond the 1st century? Was Jesus saying Christians would be able to do everything He did (i.e., raise the dead, walk on water, etc.), or was He saying Christians would be able to do only those works that minister to people (i.e., feed the poor, care for the sick, etc.)? What greater works are Christians capable of that Jesus Himself did not do?

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him (John 14:7).

What does it mean to ‘know’ and ‘see’ the Father? To ‘know’ is ginosko. It means to know in a complete sense, especially through personal experience. To ‘see’ is horao. It means to perceive, see, or discern through personal experience.

“And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:4-6).

“And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:4-6).

Jesus said, I am the way. . . . What did He mean by that? The word is hodos. Normally the word refers to a road that is traveled, or the journey itself. As a metaphor it can refer to a course of conduct or the manner of thinking feeling, and/or deciding. Jesus used it to refer to the means whereby a person has access into the presence of God, to a relationship with God, to the blessings of God.

“And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:4-6).

On 3 separate occasions Jesus told the disciples that He was going to die, rise, ascend to heaven, and that they would not understand it (Matthew 16:21; Luke 9:22; 18:31-32). So we are to treat our Lord’s words here as a rebuke to a knowing but unbelieving discipleship. 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:3).

The word ‘take’ is an unfortunate translation. Paralambano means to receive, to associate with oneself in a personal relationship. From the time a person becomes a Christian to the time they die, the Holy Spirit is in charge of their life. We are not present with Christ, for He is in heaven at the right hand of God interceding for us, but His Holy Spirit has been sent to live in us. Just as Jesus was with the disciples in the days of His flesh, so the Holy Spirit is in us in the days of our flesh.

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:1-6).

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:1-6).

TROUBLED HEARTS
Monday, April 11, 2022

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:1-6).

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me” (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24).

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me” (Matthew 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24)

In the midst of the Passover meal Jesus introduced and instituted what is called ‘The Lord’s Supper’ or ‘Communion’. The observance includes unleavened bread and wine. Four major ‘doctrinal’ interpretations regarding the bread and wine exist today.

Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:31-32).

Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee" (Matthew 26:31-32; Mark 14:27-28). 

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now?” Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:31-32; Mark 14:27-28; John 13:36-37). 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35). 

When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once (John 13:31-32).

So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "What you are going to do, do quickly." Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night (John 13:26-30).

Before leaving the story of Judas Iscariot, there are some lessons to be learned from this wretched man - lessons that are intended to lead us to examine ourselves to see if we are a true disciple of Jesus or not. My thanks to Dr. John MacArthur for these insights.

Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so” (Matthew 26:25).

When Jesus disclosed to the disciples that one of them would betray Him, they all began questioning themselves and each other as to who that person might be. John asked Jesus privately, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it” (John 13:26). None of the others heard this conversation because they misunderstood why Judas left the group (vv. 28-29).

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born"  (Matthew 26:23-24; Mark 14:20-21; Luke 22:21-22; John 13:23-26).

The disciples began to be sorrowful and looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. Then they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this, saying to him one after another, "Is it I, Lord?" (Matthew 26:22; Mark 14:19; Luke 22:23; John 13:22).

The word ‘sorrowful’ is actually 2 words in the Greek text, sphodra lupeo, which translated literally is ‘violently distressed’. It means to be heavy in spirit or grieved in spirit. The idea is to be crushed under the weight of grief and sorrow.

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them (John 13:12-17).