Jesus in His Own Words

In John 14:1, Jesus reassures Thomas when he tells his disciples that he is going away. Let's listen in.

"Don't worry about my going away. I know you trust in God, so put your trust in me as well. There's plenty of room for everyone in my Father's house. If it weren't so, would I have told you that I'm going there to prepare a place for you? And once that place is ready, you may be sure that I will come back and take you to be with me. That way we will always be together. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Somewhat confused, Thomas said, "Lord, we aren't sure where you are going, so how can we know the way that will take us there?"

"I am that way," I declared. "I am the truth; I am the life. No one can go to the Father unless he goes through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him, and you have seen him."

Philip said, "Lord, please show us the Father, and then we will be satisfied."

I replied, "Philip, we've been together for a long time. Don't you know by now who I really am? To see me is to see the Father! So how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I and the Father are one? I don't speak to you on my own authority. The Father who lives in me is the one who carries out the miraculous deeds you see.

"Believe me when I say that I and the Father are one, or believe it to be true on the basis of the miracles you see me do. I tell you the truth, if you believe in me, you will do the same things that I am doing. In fact, you will do even greater things because I am going away to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it." (John 14:1-14)

The Promise of the Paraclete

"If you love me, you will do what I tell you to do. And I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit to help you and remain with you forever. He is the one who reveals the truth about God. The people of the world reject the Spirit because they neither see him nor know him. But you know him because even now he lives with you and soon will be in your hearts.

"When I go, I will not leave you unprotected, on your own. Besides that, I will come back, just as I promised. In a little while the world won't be able to see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you too will live. Then it will be clear to you that the Father and I are one. Furthermore, you will be one with me and I with you. To know what I have taught and put it into practice is to prove that you love me. If you love me, you will be loved by my Father. I too will love you and reveal myself to you."

The other Judas (not Iscariot) spoke up and asked, "Lord, I don't understand why you are going to reveal yourself to us but not to others."

I replied, "Those who love me will do what I say. Then my Father will love them, and he and I will come and make our home with them. Those who do not love me will not do what I say. What I am telling you is not something I made up but comes from the Father who sent me.

"I've told you these things while I've been with you. But when I am gone, the Father will send the Holy Spirit to take my place. He will help you remember all that I have said to you and teach you even more." (John 14:15-26)

The Gift of Peace

"The gift I leave with you is peace, the peace that I myself enjoy. It's not the kind of peace the world gives. So don't let your heart be troubled. Don't lose courage.

"Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will be back. If you really loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to my Father because he is greater than I.

"I have told you this ahead of time, so that when it happens, your faith will not fail. I can't talk with you much longer because the ruler of this world is on his way. But he has no basis for an accusation against me. I am doing exactly what the Father has told me to do. Thus everyone in the world will know that I love the Father.

"It's time to leave; let's be on our way" (John 14:27-31).

I Am the True Vine

"I am the real vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He cuts off every branch that fails to bear fruit, but he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so it will produce even more. You have been 'pruned' already by the words I have spoken to you.

"It's crucial that you remain in me and I in you. No branch can bear fruit separated from the vine. In the same way you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me.

"I am the vine and you are the branches. Only if you remain in me and I in you will you be able to bear an abundant crop of fruit. If you break that connection, you can accomplish nothing. If you do not remain in me, you will be thrown aside like a withered branch. Branches like that are picked up and used for firewood.

"If you remain in me and ponder what I have taught you, then whatever you ask for in prayer will be done for you. Would you like to bring honor to my Father? Then bear much fruit and show that you are my disciples" (John 15:1-8).

"Abide in My Love"

"My love for you has been the same as the love my Father has for me. Remain true to that love. If you obey my commands you will remain true to my love, just as I obey my Father's commands and remain true to his love. I have told you these things so that you may experience the joy that is mine. I want you to be filled with joy.

"My commandment is that you love one another just as I have loved you. The ultimate proof that a person loves his friend is his willingness to sacrifice his life for him. You will prove your love for me if you do what I command. No longer will I call you servants, because a servant doesn't really know what his master is doing. Rather, I will call you friends because I have shared with you everything my Father has told me.

"It was not you who chose me but I who chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit, the kind of fruit that lasts. The Father will give you whatever you ask for in my name. I give you these commands so that you may love one another" (John 15:9-17).

Used by permission. Excerpt taken from Jesus in His Own Words by Robert H. Mounce, ©2010, B&H Publishing Group.

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