João 14
Kenneth Wuest · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 14
Wuest writes that "Agapao speaks of a love which is awakened by a sense of value in an object which causes one to prize it. It springs from an apprehension of the preciousness of an object. It is a love of esteem and approbation. The quality of this love is determined by the character of the one who loves, and that of the object loved. See lists of what "Agapao is..." Agapao in John's Gospel - Jn. 3:16; Jn. 3:19; Jn. 3:35; Jn. 8:42; Jn. 10:17; Jn. 11:5; Jn. 12:43; Jn. 13:1; Jn. 13:23; Jn. 13:34; Jn. 14:15; Jn. 14:21; Jn. 14:23; Jn. 14:24; Jn. 14:28; Jn. 14:31; Jn. 15:9; Jn. 15:12; Jn. 15:17; Jn. 17:23; Jn. 17:24; Jn. 17:26; Jn. 19:26; Jn. 21:7; Jn. 21:15; Jn. 21:16; Jn. 21:20 Keep (reserve, guard, heed, observe, preserve) (5083) tereo from teros - a guard or warden) means to keep an eye on, to keep something in view, to hold firmly, to attend carefully, or to watch over it (watchful care - Jesus' prayer to His Father for His disciples - Jn 17:11). Tereo speaks of watching over, of taking care of, of guarding something which is in one’s possession keeping it from loss or injury. It means to watch as one would some precious thing. The idea is to observe attentively, to heed, to keep watch over and to retain in custody. Tereo with the idea of obey - Mt 19:17, Mt 23:3 (tereo = observe), Mt 28:20, Jn 8:51, 52 (one who keeps Jesus' Word = a believer = one who will never see the second death in hell), Jn 9:16 (keep = observe the Sabbath), Jn 14:15, Jn 14:21, 23, 24 (no love = no obedience = not a believer - Note Jesus is not talking about legalistic obedience but Spirit enabled obedience which is the only obedience that pleases the Father!), Jn 15:10 (used twice), Jn 15:20 (used twice), Jn 17:6 (the 11 disciples), Acts 15:5, 1Ti 6:14, James 2:10, 1Jn 2:3, 4, 5, 3:22, 1Jn 3:24, 1Jn 5:2, 3, Rev 1:3 (heed), Rev 2:26, 3:3, 3:8, 3:10, 12:17, 14:12, Rev 22:7 (heeds), Rev 22:9. Tereo with idea of keep watch or guard - Mt 27:36, 27:54, Mt 28:4 (guards = tereo), Jn 17:11, 12, Jn 17:15 (with nuance of protection from Satan), Acts 12:5, Acts 12:6 (watching), Acts 16:23, Acts 24:23, 25:4, 25:21 (held in custody), 1Jn 5:18, Jude 1:1, 6, Tereo in the sense of to preserve or maintain -Jn 2:10, 1Cor 7:37, 2Cor 11:9, Eph 4:3, 1Th 5:23, 1Ti 5:22, 2Ti 4:7, James 1:27, 1Pe 1:4, 2Pe 2:4, 2Pe 2:9, 2Pe 2:17, 2Pe 3:7, Jude 1:13, 21, Rev 16:15 Tereo in John's Gospel and his letters - Jn. 2:10; Jn. 8:51; Jn. 8:52; Jn. 8:55; Jn. 9:16; Jn. 12:7; Jn. 14:15; Jn. 14:21; Jn. 14:23; Jn. 14:24; Jn. 15:10; Jn. 15:20; Jn. 17:6; Jn. 17:11; Jn. 17:12; Jn. 17:15; 1 Jn. 2:3; 1 Jn. 2:4; 1 Jn. 2:5; 1 Jn. 3:22; 1 Jn. 3:24; 1 Jn. 5:3; 1 Jn. 5:18 C H Spurgeon in his sermon Love's law and Life If you love Christ, set to work to find out what his commandments are. Study the Scriptures upon every point upon which you have the slightest question. This sacred oracle must guide you. Next, be always true to your convictions about what Christ’s commandments are. Carry them out at all hazards and carry them out at once. It will be wicked to say, ‘Hitherto I have obeyed, but I shall stop here.’ We are committed to implicit obedience to the whole of the Master’s will, involve what it may. Will you not agree to this at the outset? If you love him, you will not demur. Take note of every commandment as it concerns you. Let me mention one or two and beg you to obey them as you hear them. ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Is not this a call to you, my brother, to be a missionary? Do you hear it? Will you not say, ‘Here am I; send me’? Another person has come into this house tonight full of enmity: somebody has treated him very badly and he cannot forget it; I pray him to hear the Lord’s command: ‘Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.’ And again: ‘Beloved, let us love one another’. If any of you are in debt, obey this commandment: ‘Owe no man any thing, but to love one another’. If you neglect the poor and live in a niggardly way, hear this commandment: ‘Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.’ At the back of all comes this, ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.’ JOHN 14:15 READ: John 15:9—17 I HEARD some interesting comments at a conference about factors that motivate publishers to monitor the content of their magazines. Publishers are restrained by the following: (1) the fear of libel suits; (2) the tastes of their readers (who will stop buying the magazine if the content becomes too offensive); and (3) the publishers' code of ethics. About the same time, I heard a criminologist speak about the restraints in society that cause people to behave correctly: fear of going to jail, family morals, peer pressure, and fear of revenge. Whether in the publishing world or in society as a whole, certain influences keep us from immoral or destructive behavior. This led me to wonder, What keeps Christians from breaking the moral law of God? Some of the factors mentioned above are certainly valid, but they are not the best reasons. According to God, love for Him ought to be our primary motive for living moral lives. Whom we love, we want to please, and what pleases God and benefits all that He has created is obedience to Him. And because God is holy, He has the right to give commands and to call us into account.—DCE I notice, Lord, that You did not say "Keep My commandments and I will love You." You said, "Keep My commandments if you love Me." This seems to imply that those who don't love You cannot gain Your favor by obeying laws. Let this be a reminder to me that my motives are at least as important to You as my actions. Oswald Chambers - Authority and independence John 14:15 Our Lord never insists upon obedience; He tells us very emphatically what we ought to do, but He never takes means to make us do it. We have to obey Him out of oneness of spirit. That is why when Our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an IF—you do not need to unless you like. “If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself”; let him give up his right to himself to Me. Our Lord is not talking of eternal positions, but of being of value to Himself in this order of things, that is why He sounds so stern (cf. Luke 14:26). Never interpret these words apart from the One who uttered them. The Lord does not give me rules, He makes His standard very clear, and if my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without any hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone else in competition with Him, viz., myself. Jesus Christ will not help me to obey Him, I must obey Him; and when I do obey Him, I fulfil my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small petty incidents, altogether unnoticeable and mean, but if I obey Jesus Christ in the haphazard circumstances, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God, and when I stand face to face with God I shall discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When once God’s Redemption comes to the point of obedience in a human soul, it always creates. If I obey Jesus Christ, the Redemption of God will rush through me to other lives, because behind the deed of obedience is the Reality of Almighty God GOTQUESTIONS' - What did Jesus mean when He said, “If you love me keep my commandments? ANSWER - On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ gave a lengthy private teaching to His disciples. This discourse in the upper room takes place right after the Lord’s announcement that one of the disciples will betray him and Judas leaves the room. As part of the instruction, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15ESV). The unmistakable meaning of the passage is that obedience to Christ’s commandments is both a sign and a test of our love for Him. The connection between love for Christ and obedience to Him is a recurring theme in the apostle John’s writings: “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands” (1 John 5:2–3). In the same upper room discourse, John quotes Jesus saying yet again, “Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them” (John 14:21; see also Jn15:14). What does Jesus mean when He says, “Keep my commands?” Is Jesus referring to keeping a list of rules and laws like the Ten Commandments, or does He have something else in mind? The words John uses in the original language are not merely to be understood as obeying a series of moral instructions. These “commands” encompass all of Jesus’ words and teachings, which, in truth, are God the Father’s words: “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me’” (John 14:23–24). These commands involve the full scope of Christ’s revelation: “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?’ Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word’” (John 8:31–37; see also John 12:44–50). Only those who believe and receive the truth of who Jesus is (John 14:6) are set free and thus “hold to His teachings” or keep His commands. Praying to God His Father, Jesus says, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word” (John 17:6). Immediately after Jesus makes the statement “If you love me, you will keep my commands,” He says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16, CSB). Jesus knows that keeping His commands in this fallen world will require a divine source of power in the form of the Holy Spirit’s presence living within us. Thankfully, we have a model for loving Jesus and keeping His commandments: the love of Jesus Christ and His life of obedience to the Father (John 14:31). Obeying Christ’s commands means copying the example of Jesus (John 13:15–16). Loving Jesus is not merely a feeling; it is an active, abiding, ongoing relationship of following and obeying our loving Master: “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands” (1 John 2:3). Related Resource: If Anyone Loves Me, He Will Keep My Word - sermon by John Piper The Delight Of Duty If you love Me, keep My commandments. —John 14:15 Today's Scripture : John 14:15-24 Augustus H. Strong (1836-1921) was a highly respected pastor and seminary president. Many years after his death, I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with his son. He told me about the time he was baptized by his father in a church in Rochester, New York. Walking home with his father after that mountaintop experience, he had exclaimed, “Father, I’m so glad I was baptized. It made me feel so good.” His dignified father, looking down at his son, sternly replied, “Feeling or no feeling, it was your duty.” While that might be regarded as a deflating rebuke, it might also be interpreted as a wise piece of counsel. What is the motive for any spiritual activity—whether praying, worshiping, Bible reading, giving, or witnessing? Is it to have an emotional experience? Is it to make us feel good? Or is it done in keeping with Jesus’ words in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments”? There’s no doubt that obedience brings blessing to us, but our purpose ought to be to please God by carrying out His will. O help me, Lord, to be afraid Of disobeying You; And may I bring You highest praise In everything I do. —Sper If we love God, we'll obey God. Love Makes Obedience Easy If you love me, you will keep my commandments, not the other way around. Love makes obedience easy. It is the delight of love to do what the loved one desires when the heart grows dull and obedience is difficult, the proper response of the Christian is not to grit his teeth and tough it out, but to remember who it is that asks this of him and the for his sake, to do it. Ray Stedman, Authentic Christianity, p. 157 Obedience: Our Obligation By Melvin Worthington SCRIPTURE: John 14:15 INTRODUCTION: The vocabulary of Christians is often void of terms such as duty, obligation, commitment, sacrifice, obedience, and discipline. Jesus declared that those who loved Him would keep His commandments and live obedient lives. 1. Regarding Our Wealth. Christians have an obligation to use their wealth for the glory of God. Jesus commends giving (Matt. 23:23). God desires the tithe, deserves the offering, defends saving, and directs spending. 2. Regarding Our Words. We must guard our tongue. We have a sacred obligation to speak words that edify, enlighten, and encourage others (Col. 4:4, 6; Eph. 4:29). 3. Regarding Our Walk. Christians have an obligation to walk worthy of their vocation (1 Thess. 4:1, 1 John 2:6). 4. Regarding Our Work. Jesus addressed this in John 13 when He washed the disciples’ feet. We are called to serve one another (John 13:12–15). 5. Regarding Our Worship. We are to worship the Lord in spirit and truth. Worship is not an option but an obligation (1 Tim. 3:15). CONCLUSION: Do we love the Lord Jesus? Such love evidences itself in loyal obedience. When God Feels Pain Read: Hebrews 4:14-5:3 If you love Me, keep My commandments. --John 14:15. That sheds some light on our Savior's statement, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (Jn. 14:15). If we willfully break those commandments, we will suffer loss. But it should also matter to us how God responds to our disobedience. Hosea 11:8 tells us that God the Father feels loving anguish. Because of Israel's sin, He said, "My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred." Jesus also experiences pain when we disobey. He wept over the city of Jerusalem when it spurned His love (Lk. 13:34). And in Ephesians 4:30-31, Paul exhorted believers not to grieve the Holy Spirit by being hard-hearted. O help me, Lord, to be afraid Of disobeying You; And may I bring You highest praise In everything I do. --Sper The highest motive for serving God is the desire to please Him. Signs Of Love If you love Me, keep My commandments. — John 14:15 Today's Scripture : John 14:15-24 School was over for the day, and 14-year-old Sandy couldn’t wait to get home. Bursting into the kitchen, she exclaimed, “Mother, I’m in love! I tingle whenever I’m near him, and I have butterflies in my stomach when he talks to me.” Sandy’s mother listened as her daughter bubbled over about the wonders of being in love, but she wasn’t unduly alarmed. She expected that before long the romance would end—and in a few days it did. There’s much more to true love than a tingling sensation and butterflies in the stomach. Likewise, the signs of a genuine love for Jesus must be much more than the good feelings gained from enthusiastic singing and glowing testimonies in public. I heard of a woman who exuberantly described how much she enjoyed her church and loved Jesus. Yet she refused to speak to her mother-in-law, fought with her sisters, and tried to dominate her husband. If she couldn’t show her devotion to Jesus by obeying His command to love others, the happiness she felt at church meant nothing. For many, love is just a word, A passing phase, a brief emotion; But love that honors Christ our Lord Responds to Him with deep devotion. —Hess One proof of your love for God is your love for your neighbor. John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; I will ask the Father Joh 14:14 Jn 16:26,27 Jn 17:9-11,15,20 Ro 8:34 Heb 7:25 1Jn 2:1 another Helper: Joh 14:18,26 Jn 15:26 Jn 16:7-15 Ac 9:31 13:52 Ro 5:5 8:15,16,26,27 14:17 Ro 15:13 Ga 5:22 Php 2:1 He may be with you forever: Joh 4:14 Jn 16:22 Mt 28:20 Eph 1:13,14 Col 3:3,4 2Th 2:16 Related Passages: John 14:26 “But the Helper (parakletos), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 15:26 “When the Helper (parakletos) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, John 16:7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (parakletos) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ANOTHER HELPER "THE OTHER JESUS" Jesus has just defined love of God as obedience to God. The verb He uses for love calls for selfless, unconditional love. For selfish creatures such a love is impossible, so in this verse Jesus gives us the answer to how to love in this way. Yes, it is impossible, but with the Spirit's enablement it is Him-possible! I will ask the Father, and He will give you another (allos) Helper (parakletos) - The Helper is clearly the Holy Spirit that Jesus asks the Father to give to the disciples. And He is also given to every believer since Pentecost. The word another (allos) is important because it shows that the Spirit is another Helper of the same kind as Jesus had been while He was with the disciples. G. Campbell Morgan called the Spirit "the other Jesus." In fact John uses this same noun parakletos to describe the work ("Help") of Jesus in 1 John 2:1 -- "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate (parakletos) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The idea of the parakletos is one called alongside (pare = side + kaleo = call) to help and was used in secular writings in a legal sense. THOUGHT - I would suggest that the Spirit might also be called our Enabler, that is, the One Who supernaturally energizes (enables) us for Christ-like life and ministry. The point is that we don't just need a little "help" (cf Name "Helper") or a little push, but we need Him to give us both "the desire and the power" (paraphrase of Php 2:13NLT+) to work out our salvation (Phil 2:12+), whether in everyday Christian living or in specific ministries to which He has assigned each and every believer (1Pe 4:10, 1Co 12:7 = "each one"). I personally believe there are no "bench players" on God's team, but that every believer is called to be on the field so to speak, actively involved in the great game of redeeming men's soul's from hell to heaven! Beloved, are you in the grandstands or are you on the playing field? That He may be with you forever - That (hina) expresses purpose, in this case the promise that the disciples would have the Spirit forever.
João 14
Wuest adds that the) life that God is, is not to be defined as merely animation, but as definitely ethical in its content. God is not the mere reason for the universe, as the Greeks thought, but a Person with the characteristics and qualities of a divine Person. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life which God is, are communicated to the sinner when the latter places his faith in the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and this becomes the new, animating, energizing, motivating principle which transforms the experience of that individual, and the saint thus lives a Christian life. (ED: ENABLED BY THE SPIRIT OF JESUS) The message of (the epistle of) John is that since the believer is a partaker of this life, it is an absolute necessity that he show the ethical and spiritual qualities that are part of the essential nature of God, in his own life. If these are entirely absent (ED: THIS IS CONTRA WHAT A NUMBER OF EVANGELICAL COMMENTATORS BELIEVE!), John says, that person is devoid of the life of God, and is unsaved. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life were exhibited to the human race in the earthly life of the Lord Jesus. His life thus becomes the pattern of what our lives should be in holiness, self-sacrifice, humility and love (ED: SEE The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked!). (Wuest's Word Studies Eerdmans Publishing - used by permission) Click for an in depth 8 PAGE discussion of zoe and see preceding discussion of "BIOS" in the New International Dictionary of the New Testament Click for an in depth 10 PAGE discussion of PSUCHE/PSYCHE [which is often translated LIFE] in the New International Dictionary of the New Testament No one (nothing) (3762) oudeis from ou = not + dé = but + heis = one) Literally "but absolutely not one" no one, nothing, none at all; emphasizes not even one, not the least. Oudeis is used as a negating adjective (not even one) to negate a noun, denying absolutely and objectively (e.g., Lk 4:24) Note that oudeis differs from medeís which also is often translated "no one" as the negative particle ou differs from me. Thus ou = absolutely NOT and is objective while me = conditionally NOT and is subjective. For example Paul uses oudeis twice in 1 Cor 12:3+ "Therefore I make known to you that NO ONE speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and NO ONE can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." Through (1223) dia is a preposition occurs about 670 times in the NT as a preposition with the genitive and accusative cases. in the NT and over 1500 times in the Septuagint. The majority (225x) of NT uses are translated with the English word "through." Click for partial list of NT uses of dia (Mt thru Romans 5:11). Dia is used with two Greek noun cases - (1) with the genitive case dia can motion through a place (see summary below) or describe the instrument of an action (by, by means of) (Stated another way dia with this meaning introduces the intervening agent or "instrument" as the necessary "go-between"). (2) with the accusative dia gives the basis of an action = on account of, by reason of, for the sake of, because of; through, Luke 17:11 Dia with the genitive; (1) spatial through, by way of (Jn 10.1); (2) temporal; (a) of a whole duration of time through, throughout ( Lu 5.5); (b) of time within which something takes place during, within (Mt 26.61); (c) of an interval of time after (Acts 24.17); (3) modal; (a) denoting manner through, in, with (Lk 8.4); (b) of accompanying circumstance with, among, in spite of (Acts 14.22 ); (4) causal; (a) of the efficient cause in consequence of, by, on the basis of, on account of (Ro 12.1); (b) of the intermediate agent of an action by, through, by agency of (Gal 1.1; 1Co 1.9) (Borrow Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament) For more in depth discussion click here for 4 pages on "Dia" in the Dictionary of New Testament Theology (volume 3, page 1180) Here is an excerpt - Originally dia signified “passing through and out from,” a sense reflected in Matt. 4:4 (“… every word that proceeds from [ekporeuomenō dia] the mouth of God”) and 1 Cor. 3:15 (“he himself will be saved, but only as one who escapes through fire,” dia pyros)....Means or Instrument. From the local sense of dia there naturally developed the instrumental sense, which marks the medium through which an action passes before its accomplishment. Walter Kaiser - Hard Sayings page 466 - John 14:6 No One Saved Without Jesus? When we read John 14:6, it sounds like a very exclusive statement. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Does this statement mean what it seems to imply, that no one can be saved without Jesus? What about those who lived before Jesus? Are they all damned? This verse appears so out of place in our tolerant society in which we have learned to respect the beliefs of others. John 14:6 is one of those verses that are difficult not because we do not understand them but because we understand them all too well. It is the central verse of the whole section, John 14:1–11. It builds on the question of Thomas in the previous verse: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus has told his disciples that he is going to his Father’s house to prepare a place for them. Thomas is concerned about how they will get there to be with Jesus. This verse is Jesus’ answer. It is followed by a discussion of who the Father is. In this verse Jesus speaks of himself as “the way, the truth and the life” (KJV). The emphasis is clearly on “the way,” for that is the question that Thomas was asking. Jesus does not show or teach about the way; he is the way to the Father’s house. He is the way, of course, because he is also the truth (a term found twenty-one times in John, beginning with the Logos passage [Jn 1:14, 17]) and the life (found thirty-nine times in John, beginning with Jn 1:4, but especially important in Jn 5:21–29 with reference to raising the dead). The concept of truth is what will lead us forward into the next section of the chapter, for it is his being full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14) that is connected to his being the full revelation of the Father on earth. Why did John, who admits that he had much more material than he included in his Gospel, put this material into his book? First, John includes a lot of discussion between Jesus and the Jews. The issue is whether Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament hopes or not. Jesus in the Gospel consistently indicates that he is that fulfillment and that he supersedes Jewish expressions of worship (for example, Jn 2:13–22, in which it is his body which is the true temple, and Jn 4:21–26, in which the presence of the Messiah, Jesus, makes both Jerusalem and Gerazim irrelevant). Thus John surely interprets this saying as indicating that the old ways of Jewish worship, good as they were (“salvation is from the Jews”) will no longer do. A new era has dawned in Jesus and the way of salvation and life is through him. Second, this Gospel was written in a Gentile-dominated world. In that world there were many cults offering salvation and many saviors associated with those cults. Also part of that world was the idea that one need not be totally committed to any one cult. One “worshiped” the Roman deities, of course, for it was one’s patriotic duty, much as Americans honor the American flag. And then there were the deities of one’s city, trade guild (if one were an artisan) and clan. The various mystery religions and exotic cults (many of them with Eastern roots) were on top of all of this. In the Greco-Roman world there were many “ways,” and while one selected what one felt was the best way, one also tried to keep all of the deities happy. It is obvious that Jesus’ words in such a world are quite exclusive. There are no other ways to the Father, there is no other source of real life, there is no alternative source of truth. Jesus is the Logos incarnate. Thus he is the final revelation from God. He is the one to whom the Father has committed the resurrection of the dead (see John 11 as well as John 5). No one comes to the Father who does not come through him, for he is the way. John is certainly aware of this exclusive claim, for it repeats in different forms over and over again in the Gospel. It is also clear that the Gospel was written for people who do not yet believe, for that is clearly stated in the author’s purpose statement: “But these are written that you may believe [the best manuscripts imply ‘come to believe’] that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (Jn 20:31). These people are probably not Jews, for otherwise he would not have presented “the Jews” in such a negative light. What John appears to be doing is telling his Gentile readers that none of their former ways to life will do. Jesus is the only way. John’s Jesus may in fact be offensive to us, but this is part of the offense of classic Christianity. The belief that Jesus is the way to God is also presented in Acts 2 and 3 (to Jews) and Acts 17 (to Gentiles). First Peter, written to Gentiles, claims that the whole world will appear before God to be judged according to the standards Jesus gave (for example, 1 Pet 4). The author of Hebrews does not believe that there is any salvation for those who turn back to Judaism from Jesus. The whole New Testament teaches that Jesus is the exclusive way to God or eternal life (it uses a variety of terms for these concepts). The issue, then, is not whether or not we like this claim, but whether or not it is true. The usual smokescreen is to say, “What about those who have never heard of Jesus?” The response to this is twofold: (1) there is a missionary imperative in the New Testament to minimize this problem (that is why, for example, Paul dedicates his life to preaching Jesus where he has not yet been preached) and (2) how God may choose to reveal himself or deal with those who have no human messenger is his business. If we know God’s character, we can trust him to do his business well. Our problem is that we do know about Jesus and are living in a culture in which Jesus is all too well known. Furthermore, the missionary imperative falls to those of us who believe. If, then, this claim is true, two conclusions follow. First, we are deceiving ourselves if we think that we can come to God any other way than through Jesus. What is more, no other way will supplement or add to Jesus as the way. Second, if we are already following Jesus, we are called, in John’s terms, to be witnesses to the truth and life found in Jesus. ALL THAT THRILLS MY SOUL IS JESUS “I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE.”—John 14:6 Life has a way of becoming complex, confusing, and often disappointingly flat, which makes the entrance of Jesus into our lives so refreshing. Into our dull routines and disappointing days, Jesus makes this hope-filled claim, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” It’s an offer of the truly good life to those who follow in His way. When life gets cluttered with a cacophony of voices, and conflicting advice is everywhere, only His voice carries weight with followers. He simplifies the complexities of life and unravels our confusion. There really is only one way! All that counts is what He tells me to do. Solutions and strategies for the best in life are offered on every talk show and in every magazine, but His ways are always best. They always work. And better yet, they are filled with the gift of grace which enables us to succeed. Following Christ not only simplifies life, but it also fills the follower with a riveting sense of wonder and awe. Jesus is a most intriguing person. He will take us to places we have never been and unveil perspectives that are new. His compassion knows no stranger. His disdain for empty tradition and meaningless ritual is refreshing. Followers are awestruck by Christ’s unlikely tolerance for—and interest in—scoundrels such as “sinners” and tax collectors. Equally intriguing is His intolerance of hypocrisy and pride. His cleansing of the temple and His ministry of humble sensitivity show sides of His character that seem at once contradictory and compelling. His clarity of truth and arresting wisdom captivate our hearts and minds. The fact that He chose to come to our earth as a servant instead of a king is an extraordinary paradigm. He is our awesome God. Following Him as the all-compelling center of life is the starting point. Staying on the road with Him will reward you with a constant sense of adventure and awe. Have you spent enough time with Christ to be struck with the awe of His person? Is your life tuned to hear His voice, and His alone? (See Joseoph Stowell Strength for the Journey: Day By Day With Jesus - Page 114) The Sweeper’s Prayer TODAY’S READING: John 14:1-10 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. -John 14:6 When Raza saw a man sweeping his street, he felt sorry for him and gave him some money. The man thanked him and asked Raza if he could pray for him. Surprised, Raza wondered how to answer, feeling conflicted but wanting to make the man happy. He consented and the sweeper prayed, giving thanks for the money and for Raza, saying “God, please show him the way, the truth and the life.” Raza was puzzled by the prayer but forgot about it. Yet six years later, “God changed my life,” he said, when he came to know Jesus as his Savior. Suddenly he understood that God had answered the sweeper’s prayer, for in Jesus Raza had found the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus told His friends on the night before He died that they would know “the way to where I am going” (John 14:4). Thomas questioned how they could know the way because they didn’t know where He was going. Jesus responded: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (v. 6). He assured them that if they knew Him, they would also know the Father (v. 7). How might God inspire you to pray for others, perhaps even a stranger on the street? How have you seen Him answer someone’s prayers for you? Dear Jesus, You’re the way, the truth, and the life. Thank You for taking me to the Father through Your work on the cross. DRIVING IN ENGLAND - DRIVING in England can be stressful for Americans. British drivers sit on the right side of the car and drive on the left side of the road. Intersections called roundabouts are particularly confusing. No stoplights or stop signs. Before turning into one of these traffic circles, you have to know which lane takes you where you want to go. You stay in the outer lane if you are taking the first turn, the middle lane if you go halfway around, and the inside lane if you go three-quarters of the way around. If you get in the wrong lane, you may end up going down the wrong road or in circles. The Lord spoke to His people Israel as if they were about to enter a British roundabout (Jeremiah 6:16). He told them to consider where they were going. He encouraged them to follow the good way, trusting Him as they had done in the past. But Israel refused to ask where the good way is. The result? Disaster! Millions of people today make the same mistake. When faced with the decision of whether to live for God or for themselves, they choose themselves. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). After receiving Him as Savior, we must travel through life with Him in the driver's seat. His way is the only way to get where we want to go. —DLB Lord, too often I rely on my own common sense when making decisions. While I am grateful that You gave me common sense, I realize that it is unreliable when it comes to spiritual decisions. These require wisdom and discernment that come only as a result of prayer and meditation. Increase my desire to see the world from Your perspective so I'll not be so tempted to do things my own way. HOW TO GET THERE FROM HERE "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life."- John 14:6 Mr. Brown was driving his car in an unfamiliar city and was having trouble finding a certain address. So he stopped and asked a pedestrian how to get to his desired destination. The man replied, "Well, let's see. Go two blocks north, turn right, proceed six blocks, and -- wait, no -- go four blocks south to the first light. Turn right and stay on -- no, that won't work either. Just turn at the corner and go west -- no, that won't do. The new interstate is going through there." The man finally blurted out, "I'm sorry, Mister, I guess I just can't get there from here." This story reminds me of the tragic situation in which we could find ourselves if the Savior had not been born. It would have been necessary to say to a world of sinners searching for the way to heaven, "Sorry, you just can't get there from here." Because of sin, which separates us from God, we were all lost and unable to make it to heaven on our own. I must needs go home by the way of the cross, There's no other way but this; I shall ne'er get sight of the gates of light If the way of the cross I miss. -- Pounds People will go to hell their own way, but must enter heaven God's way. Getting “In The Way” Jesus said . . . , “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 The ancient Romans were known for their roads, which crisscrossed their empire with wide, heavily traveled highways. It’s what Jesus’ audience would have pictured when He claimed, “I am the way” in John 14:6. While this verse indicates that He is the way to heaven, there’s really more to His statement. Cutting through the underbrush of the dense jungle of our world, Jesus is our trail-guide who makes a new way for us to live. While many follow the way of the world by loving their friends and hating their enemies, Jesus carves out a new way: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matt. 5:44). It’s easy to judge and criticize others, but Jesus the Way-maker says to take the plank out of our own eye first (7:3-4). And He cuts a path for us to live with generosity instead of greed (Luke 12:13-34). As people of the Lord we’re called To follow in His way; And though the world won’t understand, They’ll see Him on display. —Sper We don’t need to see the way if we’re following the One who is the Way. Nowhere Tickets Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 We kept getting tickets to nowhere. We had finished a missions trip to Jamaica and were trying to get home. However, our airline was having problems, and no matter what our tickets said, we couldn’t leave Montego Bay. Over and over we heard, “Your flight has been canceled.” Even though we had purchased our tickets in good faith, the airline could not back up its promise to transport us to the US. We had to stay an extra day before boarding a plane that could take us home. Imagine thinking that you are headed for heaven, but discovering that your ticket is no good. It can happen. If you trust the wrong plan, you will get to the gate of eternity but be denied entrance into heaven to live with God forever. The apostle Peter said there is salvation in no one else but Jesus (Acts 4:12). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The only ticket to heaven goes to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross as payment for their sin. Lord, I know I’m a sinner and cannot save myself. I need You as my Savior. Thank You for dying in my place and rising again. I believe in You. Please forgive my sin. I want to live with You in heaven someday. Jesus took my place on the cross and gave me a place in heaven. All Roads? Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6 Today's Scripture & Insight : John 14:1–7 “Don’t get on the expressway!” That text came from my daughter one day as I was leaving work. The highway home had become a virtual parking lot. I began trying alternate routes, but after experiencing gridlock on other roads, I gave up. The trip home would have to wait till later in the day, so I drove in the opposite direction to an athletic event my granddaughter was involved in. Discovering that no roads would lead me home made me think about people who say that all roads lead to an eternal relationship with God. Some believe the road of kindness and good behavior will get you there. Others choose the road of doing religious things. Relying on those roads, however, leads to a dead end. There’s only one road to take to God’s eternal presence. Jesus clarified this when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He was revealing that He was going to die to open the way for us to enter His Father’s house—to His presence and the real life He provides for today and eternity. Why is it vital to know that only Jesus can save us? Why are we prone to try to add to what it takes to be welcomed into His family? Dear God, I want to trust You for eternity. Thank You for the salvation found in Jesus alone. Read about the difference between relationship with Jesus and religion at DiscoverySeries.org/Q0215. Aim Day Co - The first missionary to the Kiowa Indians was a woman named Miss Reside. After living with the Indians long enough for them to know what it meant to be a Christian, they began calling her "Aim Day Co." Explaining the significance of this name, Chief Bigtree said, "When we Kiowas see anyone on the wrong trail, we call out, 'Aim day co,' which means 'Turn this way' Our sister came to us from a far land and found us on the wrong path and in great danger. She stood and called to us and said, 'Turn this way,' and then she showed us the Jesus road. God bless Miss Aim Day Co." The Lord Jesus declared that there are only two paths to take in life. One is the narrow way that ascends to life eternal. The other is the broad way that descends to the pit of destruction (Matt. 7:13-14). And He said that He is "the way" (John 14:6).—H. G. B. THERE IS NO OTHER ROAD TO GOD THAN JESUS, THE "LIVING WAY." Gate-Crasher I am the way . . . . No one comes to the Father except through Me. — John 14:6 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 Scott Kerman calls himself a professional gate-crasher—and with good reason. He claims he has attended 300 sporting events or concerts, including 25 World Series baseball games, and he has done so without paying a penny. In fact, he has written a book that describes 50 ways to sneak into concerts and sporting events. Scott’s gate-crashing raises all sorts of ethical questions, but let’s move beyond that to a higher issue. Think with me about what it takes to get into heaven. Jesus said there’s only one way to get in—through Him (Jn. 14:6). The “ticket” is personal faith in Christ, believing that He paid the penalty for our sin and accepting His offer of forgiveness as a gift (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 6:23). That and that alone guarantees admission. There’s no way to crash the gates of glory—and it makes absolutely no sense to try. Nobody will enter the radiant presence of God unless that person is escorted by Jesus Christ Himself. He the pearly gates will open So that I may enter in, For He purchased my redemption And forgave me all my sin. —Blom Christ is the only door into heaven. John 14:6 Need for Godly Leaders The need for godly leaders has been a popular topic in the Christian community. And rightly so. Leadership has often been sadly lacking within the church. But “fellowship” also needs attention. When believers aren’t prepared to follow, they cast doubt on their status as believers. The following account comes to us from E. Stanley Jones. He told of a missionary who lost his way in an African jungle. He could find no landmarks and the trail vanished. Eventually, stumbling on a small hut, he asked the native living there if he could lead him out. The native nodded. Rising to his feet, he walked directly into the bush. The missionary followed on his heels. For more than an hour they hacked their way through a dense wall of vines and grasses. The missionary became worried: “Are you sure this is the way? I don’t see any path.” The African chuckled and said over his shoulder, “Bwana, in this place there is no path. I am the path.” Today in the Word, May, 1996, p. 24 Barna Statistics Even those who claim to be Born Again are not necessarily firmly grounded in the truths of the Bible. In his book which provides a statistical analysis of religious beliefs in America, George Barna cites several fascinating statistics which are based on a national survey. In chapter four he states, “The Devil, or Satan, is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” Then asking that segment of his survey respondents who have identified themselves at being Born Again, he states, “Do you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat, or disagree strongly with that statement?” The Born Again population reply with 32 percent agreeing strongly, 11 percent agreeing somewhat and 5 percent did not know. Thus, of the total number responding, 48 percent either agreed that Satan is only symbolic or did not know! Should it then be surprising that a few pages later Barna would receive some very startling responses? His next question, “Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and others all pray to the same God, even though they use different names for that God.” Again, the respondents were asked to agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly. Of that population surveyed who identified themselves as Born Again, 30 percent agreed strongly, 18 percent agreed somewhat and 12 percent did not know. That is a total of 60 percent! (What Americans Believe, pp. 206-212). Watchman Expositor, Vol. 10, No. 4, 1993, p. 31 Hundreds of Religions H. A. Ironside was occasionally interrupted during his sermons with the objection that there were hundreds of religions,” and that no one could determine which was the right way. Ironside would answer by indicating that he knew of only two religions. “One,” he would say, “covers all who expect salvation by doing; the other, all who have been saved by something done. The whole question is very simple. Can you save yourself, or must you be saved by another?” Which Highway? Read: John 14:1-14 Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. --Matthew 7:14 Roads. They're everywhere. Criss-crossing the landscape, taking us wherever we want to go. Freeways. Avenues. Toll roads. Boulevards. And now there's yet another type of thoroughfare that's taking us to never-before traveled areas. It's called the "information superhighway," and it promises to be an avenue to discovery and knowledge. Via computer hookups, we can access vast libraries of new information. Asphalt and concrete roads lead us to physical destinations. Computer highways take us to places of the mind--information destinations that can enlighten, educate, and entertain us. All those roads. All those decisions. All those possibilities. Yet no road, no highway, no computer network can compare with the only true superhighway--the narrow way. In Matthew 7, Jesus told us about that way. It is entered through a narrow gate, its course is difficult, and it is not as crowded as the broad way that leads to destruction. Jesus was talking about the path that we take when we put our faith in Him. He was talking about the road to heaven. Oh, choose now the path of salvation And enter in at the strait gate! Come now, while the Savior is calling; Tomorrow may be too late! --Haines The path that fools have trod is a well-beaten one. 'I Know The Way' I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. —John 14:6 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 Dwight Slater, who is a retired missionary doctor, told me that while serving in Africa he had trained a brilliant but unschooled man to serve as his surgical assistant. Kolo was a quick learner, and soon he was able to perform surgeries. A team of doctors from the United States was in Africa to provide some short-term help. They were performing operations when they came across a condition rare in the US but common in Africa. When they weren’t sure what to do, Kolo took the surgical instruments, cut through layers of tissue and ligaments, and corrected the problem. When the amazed doctors began quizzing Kolo on the specifics of the complicated procedure, he answered simply, “I do not know the terms; I just know the way.” Many Christians may not be able to define complex theological terms like redemption, justification, and propitiation, but they can still be effective witnesses because they know Jesus, who is the way to God (Jn. 14:6). Unbelievers need the simple gospel—that Jesus died for their sin and that they must accept Him by faith. A guilty soul longs most to hear The simple message true and clear That tells how Jesus bled and died, And for man's sin was crucified. —DJD Only one road leads to heaven—Jesus Christ is the way. River Of Disappointment Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." —John 14:6 Today's Scripture : Acts 4:5-12 Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820) is a Canadian hero. An early fur trader and explorer, he led a daring expedition across Canada to the Pacific Ocean. His incredible journey was completed in 1793, 11 years before Americans Lewis and Clark began their famous expedition to the West. Mackenzie was determined to succeed, for an earlier attempt in 1789 had ended in failure. His crew of 12 explorers in three canoes had set out from Lake Athabasca in an effort to find a water route to the Pacific. The valiant group followed a mighty river (now named the Mackenzie) with high hopes, paddling furiously amid great danger. Unfortunately, it didn’t empty into the Pacific but into the Arctic Ocean. In his diary, Mackenzie called it the “River of Disappointment.” Many people are following religions that lead to ultimate disappointment. Because these beliefs do not point to Christ, they are false and will not lead to heaven. Only Jesus can take us to the waters of eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Man gropes his way through life's dark maze, To gods unknown he often prays, Until one day he meets God's Son— At last he's found the Living One! —D. De Haan Those who put their hope in Christ will never be disappointed. Two Ways To God? I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. —John 14:6 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 In the marketplace of ideas, all vendors have an equal right to sell what they believe. But that doesn’t mean all their ideas are equally right. Christians proclaim that Jesus is the only way to God not because they are bigots but because they believe it is true. They take at face value His claim that He alone is the true and living way to God. Many people shrug off the claims of Jesus as the only Savior of the world by saying, “Well, that’s all fine and good, but you have your way to God and I have mine.” Jesus stood such thinking on its head when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6). If Jesus’ claims are true, they are true for everyone. If they are false, the sooner we are proved wrong and put on the right road the better. As C. S. Lewis put it, “Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.” THINKING IT OVER What did Peter say about Jesus in Acts 4:12? What did John the Baptist say about Jesus? (Jn. 1:29). What did Jesus say about Himself? (Jn. 14:6). Christ is the only door into heaven. A Person Is The Pathway There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-6 The pilot of a military plane was forced to parachute into a jungle in southeast Asia. How could he possibly find his way out? A local man saw what had happened and came to the pilot’s rescue, slashing through the tangled underbrush. The frightened pilot cried out, “Where’s the road? Where’s the way out?” The rescuer shouted back, “No road! I’m the way! Follow me!” The pilot trusted the man, who led him through the jungle to safety. Some people have a difficult time accepting similar words spoken by the Lord Jesus. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Critics call this teaching intolerant and divisive. But because the Son of God said it, and the Word of God records it, it is true no matter how much it is challenged. Faith in Jesus is the only way to eternal fellowship with God. Not all roads lead to God, As many people claim; There's only one true way— Christ Jesus is His name. —Sper No one can bypass Jesus and get to heaven. Valid Entry Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-10 On a teaching trip outside the US, my wife and I were denied entry into our country of destination because of visa problems. Although we were under the assumption our visas had been correctly issued by the country we planned to visit, they were deemed invalid. Despite the efforts of several government officials, nothing could be done. We weren’t allowed in. We were placed on the next flight back to the States. No amount of intervention could change the fact that we did not have the proper validation for entrance. That experience with my visa was inconvenient, but it can’t begin to compare with the ultimate entry rejection. I’m speaking of those who will stand before God without valid entry into heaven. What if they were to present the record of their religious efforts and good deeds? That would not be enough. What if they were to call character references? That wouldn’t work. Only one thing can give anyone entry into heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). There aren’t many ways into heaven; The Bible says there’s only one; Good works won’t gain anyone entrance; t’s only through faith in God’s Son. —Sper Only through Christ can we enter the Father’s presence. Truth In A Taxi I am the way, the truth, and the life. — John 14:6 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-11 One day when I was in downtown Chicago, I hailed a taxi. Once inside, I noticed several advertisements for a New Age guru posted on the seat in front of me. The driver claimed that this mystic was the “divine one” for our day. He believed that God appointed various leaders throughout the ages, and that Jesus had merely been the appointee for His time. Of course, I had to disagree. As we talked, I mentioned Jesus’ words: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Contrary to the cabbie’s belief, Jesus was not just one in a series of enlightened religious leaders—He is the only way to know God, and only through Him can we get to heaven. As the “Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16), Jesus didn’t simply declare Himself to be the ultimate spiritual authority. He proved it with His death and resurrection. Christ “offered one sacrifice for sins forever” (Heb. 10:12). My heart is stirred whene’er I think of Jesus, That blessed Name that sets the captive free; The only Name through which I find salvation, No name on earth has meant so much to me. —Eliason Spiritual phonies will only take us for a ride, but Jesus will take us all the way to heaven. Is Jesus Exclusive? Jesus said . . . , “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — John 14:6 Today's Scripture : John 14:1-12 I once saw Billy Graham’s daughter Anne Graham Lotz on a popular news talk program. The interviewer asked, “Are you one of those who believe that Jesus is exclusively the only way to heaven?” He added, “You know how mad that makes people these days!” Without blinking she replied, “Jesus is not exclusive. He died so that anyone could come to Him for salvation.” What a great response! Christianity is not an exclusive club limited to an elite few who fit the perfect profile. Everyone is welcome regardless of color, class, or clout. In spite of this wonderful reality, Christ’s claim in John 14:6 to be the only way to God continues to offend. Yet Jesus is the only way—the only option that works. All of us are guilty before God. We are sinners and cannot help ourselves. Our sin had to be dealt with. Jesus, as God in the flesh, died to pay the penalty for our sins and then rose from the dead. No other religious leader offers what Jesus provides in His victory over sin and death. No one could enter heaven, Our many sins stood in the way; So God in love sent Jesus, For He alone sin’s debt could pay. —D. De Haan Embrace the good news: Jesus is a non-exclusive Savior. JESUS' SEVEN "I AM" STATEMENTS One striking feature of John are the seven "I Am" statements none of which are found in the Synoptic Gospels (in fact 92% of John is unique material not found in the Synoptic Gospels!). Note Jesus' repeated use of metaphors - Bread, Light, Door, Good Shepherd, Resurrection and Life, Way, Truth and Life, and Vine. John 6:35+ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. - The Son has the resources to meet all of man's needs. John 8:12+ Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” - The Son has the power to overcome the darkness of sin in our life. John 10:7+ So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. John 10:9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. - The Son by virtue of His sinless life and sacrificial death is literally the only way through which man can enter the Kingdom of God. John 10:11+ “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me - The Son is our Divine Shepherd whose infinite resources meet all of our needs for guidance, care and protection. John 11:25+ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies. The Son of God has the power to raise the dead from the grave. John 14:6+ Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Only the Son can bring us into the presence of His Father, can counter the lies of Satan with the Truth and can give us eternal life. John 15:1+ “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. The Son (via His Spirit) is the sole supernatural source that enables His followers to be spiritually productive. John 14:7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” If you had known Me: Joh 14:9,10,20 1:18 8:19 15:24 16:3 17:3,21,23 Mt 11:27 Lu 10:22 2Co 4:6 Col 1:15-17 2:2,3 Heb 1:3 from now on you know Him, and have seen Him: Joh 14:16-20 16:13-16 17:6,8,26 Related Passage: John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. John 12:44-45 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. 2 Corinthians 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. Hebrews 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, TO KNOW JESUS IS TO KNOW THE FATHER If you (plural) had known (ginosko) Me, you would have known (eido) My Father also - The NIV and NLT add a word (not in Greek) which helps understand the sense of Jesus' words - "If you REALLY knew Me" (NIV); "If you had REALLY known Me." (NLT) The point is the disciples DID NOT REALLY understand Who Jesus was! In other words, if they had REALLY known Jesus, they would have REALLY known His Father! Jesus had been addressing Thomas in Jn 14:6 but now the you is plural so He is addressing all 11 disciples. They had received previous "clues" regarding Jesus' relationship with His Father. For example, Jesus had clearly stated that to see Him was to see the Father (see passages above)! Jesus is saying that if the 11 had REALLY understood (ginosko) Who He was, they would have known the Father beyond a shadow of a doubt (that's the idea of this verb eido). Once again Jesus is clearly claiming His Deity and equality with His Father. And this makes sense because the only way He could have been the way to the Father in Jn 14:6 is if He was God Himself (Jn 1:1-3, 14, 17, 18, Jn 5:18, Jn 8:58, Jn 10:30-33). There is some variation in how this IF is translated but most favor the "IF" as a first class conditional statement, so that it would read "if you had known Me and you do, then you would have known My Father, which you do." (See NET NOTE for lengthy discussion) From now on you know (ginosko) Him, and have seen Him - What does this mean? His point is that the 11 would come to know the Father and understand that they had seen the Father in the Person of Jesus His Son. When would this revelation break through to the eleven? Possibly after they saw Him in the resurrected stated but certainly after the Spirit came and would teach them all things (Jn 14:26).