John 14 v 1-14

 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”

 5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"  6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

 8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

John 14 v 1-14

 9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Bradley Stoke Evangelical ChurchSunday 17th February 2008

John 14 v1-14

Outline Trust in the Father (v 1) At home with the Father (v 2-

3) The way to the Father (v 4-6) Knowing the Father (v 7-11) The work of the Father (v 12) Asking of the Father (v 13-14)

Trust in the Father

1Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled”Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet

Judas had left to arrange Jesus’ betrayalJesus had told the disciples that he

would be leaving themJesus has just told Peter that he would

deny ever having known JesusJesus has exposed pride, ambition and

self confidence among the disciplesWhy would the disciples not be troubled?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled”

Assurance to be based not on themselves....

Not in their present circumstances..........but in God

In spite of all that is to come - betrayal, denial, desertion, crucifixion - God will accomplish his plan

The end of self confidence is the beginning of trust in God

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD,        my confidence since my youth.

Psalm 71 v5

... the LORD will be your confidence        and will keep your foot from being snared.

Proverbs 3 v26

At home with the Father2In my Father's house are many rooms;

if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

In my Father’s house....

Why was Jesus leaving? To prepare a place A place of union with both the Father

and the Son A place with room for all A place for eternity But also for this life

The way to the Father4You know the way to the place where

I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't

know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"  6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I am the way....

How do we get there? The fall brought separation, ignorance

and death Jesus is the way to the father

At the cross comes healing, forgiveness and reconciliation

Jesus reveals the truth about God and ourselves

Jesus’ death and resurrection brings life Jesus is the only way

Knowing the Father7If you really knew me, you would know my Father

as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

 8Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."  

9Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

If you really knew me, you would know my Father.....

Jesus identifies himself with the Father: “I am in the Father and the Father is in

me” “The words I say to you are not just my

own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work”

The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being.

Hebrews 1 v3

Like Father, like Son Trust in God In my father’s

house... No-one comes to

the Father.... If you really knew

me I am in the Father

Trust in me....you will be where I

am XXXXXX....except through meyou would know my

FatherThe Father is in me

The work of the Father

12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been

doing Jesus is preparing to hand over his earthly ministry to his disciples

Not just the remaining eleven disciples, but “anyone who has faith in me”

Are you a believer? – You have a job to do

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5 v6).

Greater things?

Miracles? Social and technological advancement? Missionary activity of the church? These greater things are possible

because I am going to the Father The Spirit will come, the believers will

receive the full benefit of salvation – union with Christ

Not just more believers, believers with a deeper reality of Christ than that experienced before Calvary.

Asking of the Father

13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

I will do whatever you ask in my name

In my name? Praying in keeping with God’s

character and concerns As we are united with Christ we are

taken up into his agenda “Greater things” can only be

accomplished with God’s help

In what do you take comfort?

Fellow believers? Your present spiritual

experience? God himself is our refuge

and strength

What do you think of Jesus?

Trickster?Deluded?The Way, the truth and the life?

Are you ready to continue Jesus’ work?

Faith is expressed in action You don’t have to go it

alone All the resources you need

are found in Christ