Tuesday 3 February, 2015
John 14:1-14
14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s house. If this were not true, would I have told you that I am going there? Would I have told you that I would prepare a place for you there? 3 If I go and do that, I will come back. And I will take you to be with me. Then you will also be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. So how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father also. From now on, you do know him. And you have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father. That will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered, “Don’t you know me, Philip? I have been among you such a long time! Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father? Don’t you believe that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. The Father lives in me. He is the one who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say I am in the Father. Also believe that the Father is in me. Or at least believe what the works I have been doing say about me. 12 What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who believes in me will do the works I have been doing. In fact, they will do even greater things. That’s because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do anything you ask in my name. Then the Father will receive glory from the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name. I will do it.
This passage opens with Jesus’ instruction to His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. They were struggling to accept that Jesus was going to be sent to death, and were experiencing grief and confusion. However Jesus said to simply believe in God and believe in Himself.
Through Thomas and Phillip’s questioning and doubt, Jesus reinforces that He is the way, the truth and the life, and that the only way for us to have a relationship with God and spend eternity in Heaven is through Him.
In reading this passage, I am reminded to take my eyes off my troubles and concerns, and instead focus on the work of Jesus. Even when it’s hard to comprehend the circumstances around me, I know that I can find my way, the truth and eternal life in Jesus.
God, I thank You that You are faithful to Your Word, and that I can find my confidence and direction in You. Please help me to fix my eyes on You each day, and not get distracted by my circumstances. May all that I do bring You glory. Amen.
Written by Laura Samperi
So true – and good to be reminded. Verse 8 stuck me this morning when Philip says: “Lord show us the Father. That will be enough for us.” I wonder what I think will be enough… what more proof do I need to completely trust in Jesus. I see myself in the disciples and hear Jesus reply “Don’t you know me…I have been with you such a long time”
Help me grow in my faith – based on who You are and what the Bible tells me – not on what I think you should do or how I want you to answer my prayers. How patient you are with me Lord – thank you for loving me with a never changing, never-giving-up, always and forever love.