Nazarene Commentary 2000©
21st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures©
–
21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures©
[NCMM]
|
Locate verse: Type a verse reference like 'Romans 10:9' or abbreviated 'Rm 10:9'.
By just typing the verse one can jump to the corresponding verse on the active page (only works if the current page displays a chapter).
If a chapter and a verse is entered without a book, the current selected book is assumed.
Providing only the name of a book will bring one to the chapter index of that book.
Examples (without the quotes): '1 Tim 3:16', 'Rv 1:8', 'Matthew 5', '3:16', '8', 'Phm'.
|
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
THE WAY HOME, SEEING THE FATHER,
AND A NEW HELPER
[“I Am Returning”]
Key Word: the Way
John 14:1-4 – “I Am Coming Again”
JN14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You [apostles]
continue to believe in The God. Continue to believe in me.
| 728 | Do not let your hearts be troubled: Or, disquieted, distressed, upset. Imagine how you would feel learning your Master was leaving? |
| 729 | You [apostles]: To make clear where the plural “you” addresses the apostles this word is added in some places. |
| 730 | Believe in me: Clearly Jesus is not God. |
JN14:2 In
the House of my Father
are many abodes.
If it were otherwise I would certainly have told you, because I am going to prepare you a place.
| 731 | In the House of my Father: His celestial residence where “the heavens of the heavens cannot contain Him.” [1 Kings 8:27;
2 Chronicles 2:6; 6:18] |
| 732 | Are many abodes: Or, mansions, abiding places, dwellings, resting-places, rooms. We can only imagine these in the divine celestialum. [Luke 16:9] |
| 733 | I am going to prepare you a place: Or, make ready a place. This “place” is “eternal in the heavens.” [2 Corinthians 5:1; Colossians 1:5; 1 Peter 1:4] |
JN14:3 Also, if I should ever go and prepare a place for you, I am returning
and shall bring you along toward myself.
| 734 | I am returning: Or, I am coming again, I shall return. The Greek ERCHOMAI means “come” but the direction depends on the
context, and so it can mean leave or return. For details research presence or parousia in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. The words refer to the “second coming” or the Presence, Arrival, Return, Manifestation, Revelation. It is visible
to all humanity and the end-time Saints following the Great Oppression. [Matthew 24:29-31; Hebrews 9:26, 27; Daniel 7:21-25; Revelation 11:2, 3, 12, 13] |
| 735 | Shall bring you along toward myself: Or, NWT: receive you home to myself; KJV: receive you; ABU: will take you to myself; TCN: take you to be with me; BEC: take you home with me. The main Greek word is PARALEMPSOMAI [Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance #3880, to take with one’s self; or, to welcome someone] and is related to those words at Luke 17:34 and Acts 1:11. See the Biblical Article in Nazarene Commentary 2000©, Our Lord Taught the Rapture. [1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17] This occurs in two ways: a] upon the resurrection of the dead Saints; and, b] at the rapture of the end-time living Saints. |
JN14:4 And where I am withdrawing, you [apostles] know the way.” | 736 | You [apostles] know the way: The disciples have already heard the Nazarene’s teachings at Matthew 24:28, 31, 40, 41; Mark 13:26, 27; Luke 17:34-37. |
John 14:5-7 – “I Am the Way”
JN14:5 Thomas asked Jesus: “Master, we are not aware where you are withdrawing. How have we known the way?”
JN14:6 Jesus said to Thomas:
“I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.
No one can approach the Father,
if not through me.
| 737 | I am the Way and the Truth and the Life: Or, PME: I myself am the road; MOF: I am the real and living way. [John 1:4, 17; 6:63; 10:9;
17:3] |
| 738 | No one can approach the Father: Or, come to. Jesus may mean, in harmony with the context, a literal
approach to the Father in the celestial realms. Wherever this may be, it must occur through the agency of the Son. |
JN14:7 If you [apostles] had known me,
you certainly would have perceived my Father also.
From this moment you [apostles] are knowing Him, and all of you have seen [Him].” | 739 | If you [apostles] had known me: Or, recognized, learned, experienced. It is likely the word “known” implies a close relationship,
for the apostles already had an intellectual understanding of him. |
| 740 | You certainly would have perceived my Father
also: Or, appreciate, discern, distinguish, comprehend. The Greek is EDEITE and the root for the English “idea.” That is, “have some idea…” |
| 741 | You have seen [Him]: It seems obvious Jesus does not speak in any literal sense, as if the apostles had actually seen God. Compare notes on John 1:18. [Exodus 33:20] It is likely that the word
“seen” means something like “experience.” Jesus goes on to explain what he means. |
John 14:8-14 – “Look at Me and See the Father”
JN14:8 Philip said to Jesus: “Master, show to us the Father, and it will suffice!”
JN14:9 Jesus said to him:
“I have been with you [apostles] for this long and yet you [Philip] have not known me? The person having seen me has seen the Father.
How can you [Philip] ask, ‘Show to us the Father’?
| 742 | The person having seen me has seen the Father: Or, BER: He who has looked on me, has looked on the Father. This may be something like the similarities in English: “like father, like son,” “the apple does not fall far from the tree,” “the spitting image of,” “a chip off the old block.” Verse 10 explains what Jesus means: the things Jesus speaks are not his own, but what his Father told him to say. Thus, when Jesus speaks one is really hearing what the Father thinks – one is seeing or experiencing the Father. Also, the manner in which Jesus treated others gives an indication into the character of God. It is similar to the way others should see Christ in us. As men are in the image of God, so Christ is the perfect image God. [1 Corinthians 11:1, 7; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3] |
| 743 | Show to us the Father: It is possible the disciples – as we would – wanted to actually behold the Father, not understanding Jesus’ words. Such will literally happen upon becoming inhabitants of the celestial New Jerusalem. [1 John 3:2; Revelation 22:4] |
JN14:10 Philip, do you not believe that I [am] in the Father, and the Father is in me?
The Sayings that I spoke to you [apostles] I did not speak from myself.
But rather the Father remaining in me is doing His works.
| 744 | I [am] in the Father, and the Father is in me: Or, GDS: in union with. This phrase has been much abused to prove that Christ was part of the triune godhead. By comparing John 17:21 one can see that the apostles were included in this. [See notes on John 10:38.] |
| 745 | I did not speak from myself: Or, RSV: on my own authority; MOF: my own accord; NAS: own initiative; GDS: I am not the source of the words. It is in regard with these sayings and words that the Father is “in” the Son. |
| 746 | The Father remaining in me is doing His works: Or, dwells, abides. The Father accomplishes His will in His works through the agency of His Son. When the Son speaks it as though the Father spoke. Compare notes on John 1:1, 18. In this same sense, Yehowah was in Moses, and Moses in Aaron. [Exodus 4:15, 16] |
JN14:11 You [apostles], continue to believe me that I [am] in the Father and the Father [is] in me.
JN14:12 I tell you this truth: the person believing in me will do greater works than I am doing,
for the very reason that I am going toward the Father.
| 747 | The person believing in me will do greater works than I am doing: How could any person do works greater than God? Jesus’ ministry
was only three and a half years long and was limited to Israel. Future missionaries such as Paul would perform similar works over a longer period and wider territory. Also, experience a more prolonged danger over a greater period. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:24-27] |
| 748 | Going toward the Father: Or, returning, journeying to, going away to. [John 17:5; Acts 1:9-11; 2:33] In fulfillment of Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1. |
JN14:13 And whatever you [apostles] should ever ask in my name,
this I will do,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
| 749 | And whatever you [apostles] should ever ask in my name: Jesus speaks to his eleven apostles particularly, though others have applied
some of these matters to themselves. |
| 750 | This I will do: There is yet time to ask for something – as well
as during the 40 days after his resurrection. As the agent of the Father, the Son carries out the answers to requests from the apostles. |
JN14:14 If you [apostles]
should ever ask me in my name,
this I shall do.”| 751 | Ask me in my name: Or, WEY: if you make any request of me. Jesus speaks of requests from his apostles. There can be little doubt that following his resurrection, Jesus spent much time answering the questions of the apostles and other disciples. [Luke 24:27, 32] |
John 14:15-21 – “If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments”
JN14:15 “If you [apostles] continue to love me, you will continue to observe my commandments.
| 752 | You will continue to observe my commandments: Or, keep. It is estimated that the Nazarene gave about 60 [one-tenth of the Law of Moses] commandments, both positive and negative. For a list of these see the publication Nazarene Commandments 2000© in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. |
JN14:16 Then I shall request the Father and He will give you [apostles] another Helper, so that it may be with you [apostles] throughout all future periods of time –
| 753 | I shall request the Father: Or, pray, ask. The Son can do nothing of his own initiative and must request such from the Father. [John
5:19ff] Messiah was foretold, following his death, to make “intercession” on behalf of his followers. [Isaiah 53:12] |
| 754 |
He will give you [apostles] another Helper: Or, Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Paraclete. The Greek is PARAKLETON [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3875, intercessor, advocate, comforter] and there are a variety of views on how it should be understood.
This is shown by the variety of ways it is rendered. [John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7] 1 John 2:1 identifies this “helper” as the heavenly Jesus Christ. It should be noted that this “Helper” is given to the apostles and is nowhere described
as operating on any others. The Helper has one major function: to guide the apostles into “all of the truth”. To accomplish this the Helper stimulates the memories of the apostles to recall everything Jesus taught. This Helper is identified as a guide and will speak regarding three subjects: sin, righteousness, and judgment. For more details see the other occurrences of the word “Helper.” |
| 755 | It may be with you [apostles] throughout all future periods of time: Some versions will use “he” and such a word does occur elsewhere regarding the masculine Helper, though spirit or pneuma is feminine. [John 16:7, 13] The Greek verbs here are neuter and thus “it” is closer. AUTO in John 14:17 may be rendered “it.” The Helper will remain with the apostles until the end of the early apostolic Church period, and end with the death of the apostle John. |
JN14:17 the Truth-Pneuma – which the world of humankind is unable to receive, because it does not behold it, nor knows it. You [apostles] continue to know it, because it is remaining with you [apostles], and it is in you [apostles].
| 756 | Truth-Pneuma: Or, KJV: spirit of the truth; BAS: the spirit of true knowledge; KNX: the truth-giving spirit. For details on what the Spirit, or Pneuma is compare notes on 1 Corinthians 2:16 in Nazarene Commentary 2000©. [Also see the subject of the Pneuma in Error of the Trinity.] The Pneuma of The God is His force of Mind that exerts a spiritual pressure on the object of His will. One of the major characteristics of Pneuma is “truth.” Compare the opposite of the “spirit of truth” at 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 and 1 John 4:1. There is a “spirit of the world.” [1 Corinthians 2:12] |
| 757 | Unable to receive: Or, cannot accept, can find no room. [1 Corinthians 2:12, 14] |
| 758 | Because it does not behold it: Or, see, observes. Other versions that use “it” are KNX, GDS. If one understands that the Pneuma is actually God’s Mind at work as the “spirit of the truth” then any use of “him” would refer to The God and His projected thoughts. |
| 759 | Remaining with you: Or, abides, lives with. |
JN14:18 I shall not leave you [apostles] like orphans. I am returning to you.
| 760 | Orphans: Or, comfortless, desolate, bereft, fatherless, bereaved. |
| 761 | I am returning to you: Or, I am coming back. That is, after his resurrection he will manifest himself to his apostles. |
JN14:19 Yet a little while and the world of humankind will not see me. You [apostles] are going to see me, because I will live [again] and you will live.
| 762 | Yet a little while: Or, after a little while. Actually, less than 24 hours. |
| 763 | The world of humankind will not see me: Or, see me no more. Though some use this as proof of an invisible parousia at the Return of Christ, it is more likely Jesus speaks of that period between his resurrection and ascension. Peter explains this at Acts 10:40, 41. Jesus was not revealed to the world during this period. [John 21:1] He would become visible to the world upon his Return in his foretold Parousia following the Great Oppression. [Matthew 24:29-31] See notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000© on John 14:19. |
| 764 | You [apostles] are going to see me: That is, as witnesses appointed beforehand to testify of Jesus’ resurrection. [Acts 10:40, 41; 1 Corinthians 15:5, 6] |
JN14:20 In that day you [apostles] will realize that I am in harmony with my Father, and you in harmony with me, and I in harmony with you [apostles].
| 765 | In that day you [apostles] will realize that I am in harmony with my Father: Or, GDS: in union with. The evidence of this will be
his resurrection and subsequent presence in private with his apostles. |
JN14:21 The person having my commandments and continuing to observe them, that person is the one who continues to love me. Also, the person who continues to love me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him, and I shall make myself visible to him.” | 766 | Continues to love me: Those who claim to love Jesus are characterized by two things: a] they receive, keep or hold on to Christ’s [60] commandments; and, b] they obey them. John echoes this in 1 John 2:5 and 1 John 5:1. |
| 767 | I shall make myself visible to him: Or, manifest, reveal. As Acts 10:40 states, Jesus became visible by God’s authority to “witnesses appointed beforehand.” The Greek EMPHANISO may be rendered visible, appear, plainly seen. [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1718, make visible] |
John 14:22-24 – How Show Us and Not the World?
JN14:22 Judas (not Iscariot) asked Jesus: “Master, what has happened that you are about to make yourself visible to us and not to the world
of humankind?”
| 768 | Visible to us and not to the world: The apostles were slow of understanding in part because they had not yet received the holy Pneuma.
Even the simplest matter of the Messiah’s suffering they could not fathom, nor matters regarding the Kingdom. [Matthew 16:22; Acts 1:6, 7] It is likely they could not understand his death and resurrection, and what he would do after. The Nazarene sticks
to one strong theme: love and obedience. In this portion of his Passover teachings Jesus uses the word “love” about 15 times. [John 13:34, 35; 14:15, 21, 23, 24, 31; 15:9, 10, 12, 13, 17; 17:26] They will comprehend these matters later. |
JN14:23 Jesus answered and said to him:
“If anyone continues to love me, he will observe my word, and
my Father will love him, and we shall come toward him and we will make an abode alongside him.
| 769 | He will observe my word: Or, keep, obey, cherish. One cannot separate the love for Christ from obedience to his word and commandments.
Those who refuse to observe the Nazarene’s word remove themselves from God’s love. |
| 770 | We shall come toward him: After his death and resurrection, Jesus promised to return to his apostles and make himself visible to them. In doing so, Christ still speaks the words his Father gives him. Thus, both the Father and the Son, in affect, move toward the apostles by taking up a spiritual residence with them. Some believe Thomas refers to this when he later exclaims, “My Master [Jesus] and my God [the Father].” [John 20:28] John echoes this later at 1 John 2:24. |
| 771 | We will make an abode alongside him: Or, MON: make our home with him; GDS: we will come to him and live with him; NEB: and make our dwelling with him. Compare Romans 8:11 and 2 Corinthians 6:16. |
JN14:24 The person not loving me does not continue to observe my word. Now the word you continue to hear is not mine, but is the Father’s who sent me.”| 772 | The person not loving me does not continue to observe my word: Or, my teachings. Again, as above, true love for the Master is manifest in obedience to his teachings. |
| 773 | The word you continue to hear is not mine: What Jesus speaks is not his own teaching or doctrine, as though he had originated them, but rather are those of his Father. It is in this manner that the Father and the Son, by the pressure of the holy Pneuma, take up residence within a disciple’s heart and mind. [Romans 8:11] |
John 14:25-31 – “The Helper Will Teach You Everything”
JN14:25 “I spoke these words while remaining among you [apostles].
| 774 | I spoke these words while remaining among you: That is, those words of teaching and doctrine the Father gave to His Son. All of Jesus’
teachings originate with his God. |
JN14:26 But, the Helper – the holy Pneuma which the Father will send in my name – that one will teach you [apostles] everything, and will heighten your memories of everything I told you
[apostles].
| 775 | The holy Pneuma which the Father will send in my name: Or, holy spirit. See notes elsewhere on Pneuma. The holy Pneuma is God’s force of mind with its manifold manifestations in the lives of the apostles. The apostles always performed their signs and miracles through the pressure of the Pneuma and in the authority of the name of Jesus. [Acts 2:38; 3:6; 4:10; 16:18] |
| 776 | That one will teach you [apostles] everything: Or, he; all things. The Helper is a spiritual teacher by the mental force of God which exerts a pressure on the heart and mind of the person serving as a teaching instrument. Judging from the teachings that followed, this “help” materialized in the many inspired writings of some of the apostles, such as Matthew, Peter, and John. Later, by the personal selection of Jesus Christ, Paul became an inspired apostle who contributed a large portion of the Christian Bible. Thus, when these men teach in their writings they really speak for God by means of Jesus Christ and the holy Pneuma. [2 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 4:1] “Everything” is later described as “all truth.” [John 16:13] |
| 777 | Heighten your memories of everything I told you: Or, KJV: bring all things to your remembrance; RHM: put you in mind of; BER: remind you of all that I told you; TCN: recall to your minds. The Greek is HYPO-MNESEI [under + memory]. The Helper can remind the apostles only of those things they personally witnessed or heard. It is for this reason that whole portions of the Nazarene’s teachings can be recalled under the pressure of the holy Pneuma and then recorded for future generations of believers. See notes on John 17:20. |
JN14:27 Peace I leave you. I give you [apostles] my own peace. I am not giving it to you as the world of humankind gives it. Do not let your hearts be troubled nor cowardly.
| 778 | Peace I leave you: Or, NEB: peace is my parting gift. We can imagine the apostles were very much distressed and they were in great
need of a calming tranquility. Jesus repeats this just before his final prayer with them. [John 16:33] This “peace” was not limited to an inner tranquility but also included a spiritual harmony among the apostles. |
| 779 | My own peace: Despite his own troubles and distress [John 12:27] |
| 780 | I am not giving it to you as the world of humankind gives it: The word “peace” was a general greeting and often without genuine meaning, much as “How are you?” is today in America – not expecting any kind of reply. Worldly peace is never lasting, as “there is no peace for the wicked.” [Isaiah 48:22] |
| 781 | Troubled nor cowardly: Or, disquieted, unsettled, distressed; afraid, fearful, intimidated, dismayed. Despite this from Jesus, all of the apostles will become greatly distressed and take cowardly flight. Such indicates that heavenly blessings do not always result in immediate fulfillment. |
JN14:28 You [apostles] heard that I said to you, ‘I am departing and I am returning to you [apostles].’ If you loved me you would certainly rejoice, because I am going toward the Father, because the Father is greater than me.
| 782 | You would certainly rejoice: They are troubled and Jesus appeals to them in order to arouse them to some sense of joy. We have a feeling this does not work. |
| 783 | The Father is greater than me: Or, KNX: greater power than I. Jesus has already stated that the one who sends is greater than the one sent. The one sent must also return and give a report regarding the purpose for which he was sent. Thus, both in his coming and in his returning, the Father is greater. |
JN14:29 And now I have told you [apostles] before it happens, so that whenever it does happen you should believe.
| 784 | Whenever it does happen you should believe: One of the most powerful statements in the Bible. What turned a cowardly group of deserting
men into willing martyrs filled with conviction? The evidence of Christ’s resurrection! Jesus had told them he would leave and then become visible again to them. |
JN14:30 I
shall not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world of humankind is coming, and
yet he has nothing on me.
| 785 | The ruler of the world of humankind is coming: In the form of the traitor Judas and the arresting officers. The time for the “bruising
in the heel” has come. [Genesis 3:15] |
| 786 | And yet he has nothing on me: Or, KJV: hath nothing in me; MOF:
has no hold on me; TCN: nothing in common with me; NEB: no rights over me; RSV: no power over me; BEC: no claim on me. [John 16:33] Despite any accusations made against Jesus in the angelic realms, Christ led a sinless and perfect life. Compare Job 2:1ff and
Revelation 12:10. |
JN14:31 But, so that the world of humankind may realize that I continue to love the Father, and just as [He] gave me a commandment, just so I am doing. Rouse yourselves, and let us continue from here.” | 787 | [He] gave me a commandment, just so I am doing: The Son was obedient to the Father unto death. [Philippians 2:7-11; Hebrews 5:8] |
| 788 | Rouse yourselves, and let us continue from here: Or, KJV: arise, let us go hence; GDS: come, let us go away. The phrase seems unusual since they do not depart until after the final prayer in chapter 17. It is possible that Jesus changes the subject to the vine as it may relate to the wine cup at the Memorial which followed the Passover. This may have been the place where the “Lord’s Supper” took place, but since the other three Gospels record the event, John moves on. |
Review Questions on Chapter Fourteen
- What promises does Jesus make?
- What questions does Thomas ask, and how does Jesus answer?
- What does Philip ask Jesus, and how does Jesus answer?
- How is love for Christ manifest?
- What question does Judas ask, and how did Jesus answer?
- What Helper did Jesus promise the Father would send?
|
|
Nazarene Commentary 2000©
Mark Heber Miller
©2000 All Rights Reserved
|
