S = 14:1-11
“Let not your hearts be
troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my
Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you
that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And
you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas
said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know
the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you
had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know
him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is
enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me,
Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us
the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am
in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do
not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his
works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father
and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
O = Jesus had just been speaking to Peter about death and
betrayal, now in this section he expanded his conversation to include all the
disciples and spoke to their need, “Don’t be let your heart be troubled.” This
is an interesting use of the plural “your” and the singular “heart”. Belief in
this sense was a collective command for them, as a group, with one “heart” to
believe in Jesus and the Father specifically in regards to his coming departure
and promised return.
The phrase “many rooms/dwelling places/mansions” speaks into their cultural understanding that many generations of a family share the same house with each new generation building on another extension to the house. Jesus was going to prepare a place, by his death on the cross, for all who would be entering his family through placing their trust in him. In response there are two immediate requests:
A = Do I implicitly trust Jesus to do what he has said he will do? There is no “bad cop” kind of divine unity behind the loving words of Jesus. I need to see more clearly than ever that when I wonder what the Father is like I am to look at Jesus. It is in Christ that we can see the Father and live…eternally. This week I am choosing to not allow troubling circumstances to shake my trust in Jesus’ faithfulness. He doesn’t promise me a smooth ride, just good company and a sweet destination. I also realize that I need to be in relationship with other believers as we wait, and work, together until Jesus returns…or we die and go to him. He has prepared a place for me, now he is preparing me for that place.
P = O Lord Jesus, I do believe in you, your Father, your promises, and your works. I ask that you would strengthen our heart together to love and trust you more every day. I ask for our families, friends, and acquaintances to put their trust in you as well, so that they might know you, and be a part of your eternal family. May we minister your encouragement to troubled hearts, as your Spirit leads us, this week. Amen.
The phrase “many rooms/dwelling places/mansions” speaks into their cultural understanding that many generations of a family share the same house with each new generation building on another extension to the house. Jesus was going to prepare a place, by his death on the cross, for all who would be entering his family through placing their trust in him. In response there are two immediate requests:
- Show us the way (Thomas)! To which Jesus responds, “I am the way…to know me is to know the Father.”
- Show us the Father (Philip) To which Jesus responds, “…if you have seen me you have seen the Father.”
A = Do I implicitly trust Jesus to do what he has said he will do? There is no “bad cop” kind of divine unity behind the loving words of Jesus. I need to see more clearly than ever that when I wonder what the Father is like I am to look at Jesus. It is in Christ that we can see the Father and live…eternally. This week I am choosing to not allow troubling circumstances to shake my trust in Jesus’ faithfulness. He doesn’t promise me a smooth ride, just good company and a sweet destination. I also realize that I need to be in relationship with other believers as we wait, and work, together until Jesus returns…or we die and go to him. He has prepared a place for me, now he is preparing me for that place.
P = O Lord Jesus, I do believe in you, your Father, your promises, and your works. I ask that you would strengthen our heart together to love and trust you more every day. I ask for our families, friends, and acquaintances to put their trust in you as well, so that they might know you, and be a part of your eternal family. May we minister your encouragement to troubled hearts, as your Spirit leads us, this week. Amen.
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