1.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5.
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7.
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Verse 7
Have seen him; seen him in Christ.
8.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10.
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11.
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Verse 12
Greater works; greater achievements in extending and establishing the Redeemer's kingdom; for the word works seems to refer, here, not to miracles, but to efforts in general made to bring men to repentance and salvation.
13.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17.
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18.
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19.
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Verse 19
Ye see me; ye shall see me.--Shall live; shall be preserved and protected.
20.
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Verse 21
Hath; receiveth.
22.
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Verse 23
Jesus does not appear to reply directly to the question of Judas.
24.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Verse 24
Not mine; not mine alone.
25.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Verse 27
Peace I leave with you. This was the customary Hebrew form of farewell, and, of course, like other such forms, was used ordinarily without much regard to its import and signification. Jesus says that he pronounces the benediction, not as the world ordinarily do, that is, as a mere form, but that he truly invokes upon them a real peace. It was, however, peace of mind, not peace in regard to external circumstances; for perhaps twelve men never came together who had to pass through so many exciting scenes of persecution, trial, suffering, and worldly tribulation, in every form, as these disciples, to whom Jesus thus, at midnight, in their solitary chamber, promised this peculiar peace, and which he left them as his legacy. All these trials Jesus foresaw, and frankly foretold John 15:18-21,16:John 15:1-4; and more distinctly still, John 16:32,John 16:33. This last promise was fulfilled; and nothing is more striking, in the subsequent history of the apostles, than the contrast between the perils, dangers, and agitations, of their condition, on the one hand, and the calm contentment and happiness of their hearts on the other. They enjoyed, at all times, a certain deep-seated repose and calmness of soul, which could not be reached or disturbed by external agitations.
28.
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
Verse 28
If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, &c. The meaning seems to be, that they would rejoice in his approaching reunion with the Father, by which he would again be restored to the position of greatness and majesty, which he had left to assume the office of Mediator for man. (Comp. John 17:5.)--My Father is greater than I. Jesus Christ, as speaking and acting upon earth, in the execution of his mediatorial office, was in no sense equal with the Father. It was the Word which was God. But Jesus Christ, in whom this Word was mysteriously conjoined with human nature, always assumed the position of obedience and submission, which is plainly recognized in all his allusions to the Father, and is here distinctly declared. It true that, in one passage, (John 10:30,) he says, "I and my Father are one;" but the sense which he intended to be understood is made clear in John 17:11,John 17:22, when he prays that the same oneness which joins him, as Mediator, with the Father, may unite the disciples with him.
29.
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30.
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31.
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.