2. A Time of Questions – John 14:1-14

Jesus’s Question v1-4

Right from the start, we see that Jesus is concerned for his followers. In a sense they should have been supporting him because back in chapter 13 Jesus had been looking for their support. Remember what He has said so far during dinner (chapter 13) … He is going away, He is going to die, one of the twelve is a traitor, Peter will disown Him 3 times, Satan is at work against all of them, and the disciples will fall away. At the start of chapter 14, notice the immediate context when he says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” He is saying, “You need to know, firstly, that I’m going to prepare a place for you; secondly, I’m going to come back for you; thirdly, you actually know the way to where I’m going, because I’ve already told you that I am going to the cross. I have told you on a number of occasions. Whether you have registered it or not you need to know that I am going via the way of the cross.”
 

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is one with the Father and the Son, Matt 28:19. He is sent from both the Father and the Son. John 15:26. He was an agent of God during the first creation. He was active in creation bringing order out of chaos Gen 1:2. By God’s Holy Spirit the heavens were made beautiful Job 26:13. Man was made by the Spirit of God. Job 33:4 The Holy Spirit is the author of the new birth. John 3:5-6

The reason Jesus is doing all of this is because he wants them to understand that as they face the prospect of his death, they need to know that it will not be the end. Jesus loves them so much that he is working for their future. He is telling them that He will send them ‘the Comforter,’ the Holy Spirit. This is not the end. In fact, it is just the start of the whole story of Jesus. His death is not going to mean that everything is going to come to a crashing halt.

There is a scene in the film “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” where the Hotel manager is confronted by a lady at the front desk. She is keen to let the owner know that nothing works. The air conditioning does not work. The door does not lock. She has a complete list of things. The young man looks at her and says, “We have a saying in India: ‘Everything will be all right in the end. And if everything is not all right, it is not the end.’” This is what Jesus is saying. They do not get it. But it is going to be all right in the end

Thomas’s Question v5
Thomas, then asks a question. We should be pleased that there are people like Thomas, people who ask questions that we secretly would like to ask. We are embarrassed that we do not know the answer. Thomas asks Jesus after he said, “And you know the way to where I’m going.”  Thomas asks,

“Lord, I am speaking for all the disciples: we do not know where you are going. And how can we know the way?”

Thank God for Thomas. It is his question that gives us v6. v6 is one of the great verses in the Bible. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. [And] no one comes to the Father except through me.” It was Thomas’s question, which gave rise to this amazing answer from the lips of Jesus.

Philip’s Question v8
What does Philip’s question in v8 reveal about him? Philip is basing his request on the premise that “seeing is believing.” If they could but see the Father, then they would believe all that Jesus has told them about the Father, and then they could have peace of mind. Jesus is going to turn this reasoning inside-out. He is going to say that it is not “seeing that leads to believing,” but rather it is, “believing that leads to seeing.” It is to those who believe in Jesus to whom He reveals Himself (v21). Christianity is a walk of faith, not a walk of sight.

How can Christians do greater things than Jesus (v12)?
The New Testament gives many occasions when Jesus performs some amazing miracles. Yet we know that not everyone is transformed spiritually. Now I think we would all agree that the saving of a lost person, and seeing them move from death to life, and from darkness to light, is the greatest miracle of all. This is possible because of the power and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Across the Book of Acts we will see this repeatedly. (Acts 2) This miracle took place through the disciples and their preaching. Simply being with Jesus did not lead them to be transformed. What we can say is that during Jesus’ earthly ministry few people believed in Him, but after his ascension everything started to change. When Pentecost comes, the miracle of regeneration increases and the Father sends the Holy Spirit. In Philippi we see different people come to faith (Acts16). The church continues to spread across the Roman Empire during the apostolic age whereas Jesus’ personal ministry does not extend beyond Palestine. The whole Book of Acts is part of the fulfilling of what Jesus predicted.

What is at the heart of asking in prayer as given in these verses 13-14? Jesus says, “Ask in His name and for the purpose of glorifying God.” What does “in His name” mean? It is a lot more than just saying, “In Jesus’ name” at the end of a prayer! The key here is to ask in harmony with Jesus’ mind and will. This means that when we pray, we are to pray for things which will glorify God, bless humanity, and be for our spiritual good. We are being told to live in the heart of His will. We need to be in step with Him, which means asking for anything the Lord would desire because that should be the desire of our heart.
The goal of answered prayer is to bring glory to God. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

Conclusion 
The Holy Spirit is like the spotlight at a theatre. The spotlight works to show us the actors on the stage and help us understand the drama. This is the work of the Holy Spirit to show us Jesus. His personality, His words, and His works. The Holy Spirit is showing us that Jesus is God with us.

Bible Study 2 Questions
A Time of Questions - John14:1-14
Q1. Share and reflect with the group, the kind of things and situations that you find distressful? What are some of the remedies for a troubled or distressed heart?
 
Q2. How does Jesus expect his disciples to be feeling at this time after hearing His unexpected news? (v1-4) What promise does Jesus offer to them to for comfort? (v1&6)
 
Q3. What will it take for Jesus to prepare a place for you in heaven? (v1-6)
 
Q4. Jesus, in v6, makes a big claim in response to Thomas’s question. What is it? How is Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life?
 
Q5. This verse can be controversial in our day (v6). People often say that there are many "pathways" to God. How might you explain to a friend that what Jesus says here is still true today? How do you feel about the exclusivity of Jesus’ claims in this passage? 
 
Q6. What does Philip’s question in verse 8 reveal about him?
  
Q7. How do verses 9–11 address Philip’s question in verse 8? Can you summarise Jesus’ answer.
 
Q8. How do you understand the words of Jesus’ in 14:13-14, in the light of unanswered prayer? How would you explain God’s dealing with us in prayer to a member of the Youth Group? Why do some prayers get answered and others do not?

Next Study: Study 3 The Holy Spirit (John 14:15-31)