I. A Place Prepared For Followers Of Jesus Vs. 1-3
A. Jesus Recognized Their Troubled Hearts V. 1
1. The disciples were troubled in their hearts.
2. They had hoped that Jesus would make all things right in Israel; instead, He told them that He was about to die.
3. He had told them that one them was a betrayer, and He had told Peter he would deny Him three times.
4. He did not rebuke them for having troubled hearts; Jesus had experienced that Himself.
a. See John 12:27; 13:21
5. The disciples were troubled that Jesus was leaving them; He offered them consolation.
6. Jesus is answering Peter’s question from John 13:36.
B. He Offered Them Comfort For Their Troubled Hearts Vs. 2, 3
1. Jesus’ departure would be an eternal benefit for them.
2. Just as surely as He would go, He promised to return in order to receive them to Himself.
3. Mansions- literally- dwelling places.
a. 1 Peter 1:4 “…an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…”.
4. Jesus promised to return for them, and to receive them, that they would be where He was
5. The main message of comfort for them was that they would again be with Jesus.
6. Jesus had alluded to this in John 12:26. Where Jesus was His servant would be.
7. Where is the location of “My Father’s House”?
a. John 2:16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
i. Though called the Father’s House, Jesus wasn’t referring to the Temple.
ii. He previously said, “Where I am going, you cannot come (yet). John 13:33
b. Matthew 6:9 “Our Father, who art in Heaven…”.
c. The location of the Father’s House is in Heaven.
d. 2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago–whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows–such a one was caught up to the third heaven. (1st heaven – Our blue sky, 2nd heaven – outer space, 3rd heaven – beyond that)
8. When will Jesus come again?
a. Jesus will come for His church at the Rapture of the church.
A sudden, imminent appearing.
i. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
ii. 1 Corinthians 15:50-55 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed– 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
b. Jesus will later come physically with His church to judge the human race.
9. The main point is that followers of Jesus will be with Him forever.
II. The Way To That Place Vs. 4-11
A. An Honest Question Vs. 4, 5
1. Thomas was one who sought verification and understanding regarding Jesus.
2. He didn’t have a clear concept of Heaven, or of how to get there.
B. A Remarkable Answer V. 6
1. This is an amazing and divisive claim. Divisive in that Jesus separates Himself from all other religions or religious or philosophical leaders.
a. Some people are happy that Christians have found what works for them, but they believe that other paths work for them just as effectively.
b. Some say that all religious/spiritual/ethical roads lead to God, as long as a person is sincere. The idea is: that it’s not so important what you believe, but that you believe.
c. If that is true, then consider the following. If Jesus isn’t the only way to God as He claimed, then He can’t be a way to God at all, for he is a liar and/or a deceiver or is deceived. The one who embraces the idea of many roads to God must decide on whether Jesus was a liar, a deceiver, or a deceived man.
2. Guzik- But is Christianity bigoted? Certainly, there are some who claim to be Christians who are in fact bigots. But Biblical Christianity is the most pluralistic, tolerant, embracing of other cultures religion on earth. In fact, Christianity is rather pluralistic – it is the one religion to embrace other cultures, and has the most urgency to translate the Scriptures into other languages. A Christian can keep their native language and culture, and follow Jesus in the midst of it. An early criticism of Christianity was the observation that they would take anybody! Slave or free; rich or poor; man or woman; Greek or Barbarian. All were accepted, but on the common ground of the truth as revealed in Jesus Christ.
C. To Know Jesus Is To Know The Father Vs. 7-11
1. V. 7- Know me- ginosko- to know by experience. They had known Jesus, but not in the fullness of His Messianic calling. They looked for an earthly kingdom, and wanted to rule and reign with Jesus. Their shortsightedness left them with troubled hearts.
2. Vs. 8, 9– A gentle rebuke. Their proper knowledge would have brought them peace.
3. Vs. 10, 11 Jesus asked Philip to believe that He and the Father were one based upon two things.
a. The amazing words that Jesus had spoken…the Father speaking through Jesus.
b. the miraculous works that Jesus had done.
4. Remember what started this whole conversation: Their troubled hearts.
5. Jesus had given them assurances of Him going to prepare a place for them, and then coming back for them. Jesus claimed to be the only way to Heaven.
6. He then tried to reassure them of the truth of what He was saying because of who He was
7. His words and works proved who He was.
8. If they would consider all they knew about Jesus, then their hearts would be at peace.
9. They had trusted God the Father. Jesus is now asking them to trust God the Son.
a. Guzik- This forever finishes the idea some people have that there is a “bad God” in the Old Testament that Jesus somehow calmed down and made nice so we could be saved. If you want to know what God the Father is like, look at Jesus – the same love, compassion, mercy, and goodness which is evident in Jesus is evident in God the Father.