John 14: 1 – 14 – Jesus the way to the Father
Judas Iscariot has left to do his dastardly deed. Jesus now prepares his disciples for his departure. Belief in God includes belief in him (v. 1). He is going, through resurrection and ascension, to the Father, to prepare a place of permanent fellowship for them (vv. 2,3). He will return to take them there, a place where there is ample room (“many dwelling places”). Thomas is logical, and bewildered. Jesus is the road map, “the way” (v. 6); he is ultimate “truth” and the source of “life” itself. Access to God is only through him. Being both god and human, to know him is to know the Father. Knowing him, they are already getting to know the Father and “have seen him” (v. 7) in Jesus.
Philip shows by his question in v. 8 that he still does not understand (“know”) Jesus, for Jesus is the revelation of God. the son is present (“dwells”, v.10) in the Father, and the Father in the son. Father and Son are one and the same. A master entrusted his agent to act on his behalf in every way. Jesus is the Father’s agent, empowered to act completely for the Father. Jesus says, in essence, if you do not buy this mutual presence, then trust in me on the basis of what I do: you are seeing the Father’s “works” (vv. 10,11), including miracles.
The faithful will continue these works. (The ones they do will be “greater”, v. 12, because Jesus has nullified sin.) By asking Jesus in prayer (“in my name”, v. 14), God will do whatever the faithful ask.
© 1996-2025 Chris Haslam
Prayer of the Week
Saving God, who called your church to witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself: help us so to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be reconciled to you; through him who died and rose again and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.