Post by John on May 29, 2019 17:23:47 GMT -5
During our Wednesday night Bible Study, we spent a great deal of time on the teachings of Jesus. We went through the parables and the Sermon on the Mount. One thing we didn't cover was a big section from the Gospel of John. I thought we could go through this together in the forums, where more people can participate. I was going to make one big thread, but I have decided not to do that, but to break each topic down separately, so people can keep adding comments to it if they have more to contribute. The text we will be covering is from John 14 through John 17. In this thread, we will be examining John 14:1-14
Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.verses 1-4
Jesus is speaking to people that have faith in Jehovah. He tells them that in the same way they believe in God the Father, believe in him.
He goes on to say that in his Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, he would have told us. This has been an interesting point of discussion regarding what Jesus means by mansions. Some say this is only speaking of a room or chamber, while others believe there are literal mansions lined up along streets of gold. Then you come down to the meaning of his "Father's house." Is that speaking of this single gigantic mansion with a room prepared for each of us, or is his house all of heaven, and our mansions part of heaven itself? Either way, it is not going to be this tiny, cramped room. I believe the word mansion is right, no matter which way you believe this, because it is used to show that it will be magnificent, not just a common room like we may have in our home.
If this was not true, Jesus would have told us that this life is it. Once you are dead, that is the end. Instead, Jesus tells them that not only will there be a mansion in heaven for them when they die, but that he is going to prepare it personally. The Lord of glory himself is preparing our eternal dwelling! That is something to get excited about.
Jesus says that he will come back to earth again and receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also. We will live forever in the presence of our Lord and King. Something else to be excited about. We have read about him. We have experienced the feeling of his presence, but one day, we will be right there in heaven with him eternally. We will be with the one who died for us that we could be there in the first place. Hallelujah.
Jesus says that where he is going, his disciples know, and they know the way. They know that he is returning to his home in heaven with the Father, and they know how to get there also, because he told them. Remember the sermon on the mount, and his teachings about that narrow road leading to the straight gate? That is the way to eternal life, as opposed to those choosing the broad road of iniquity, that leads to the wide gate and eternal damnation.
One of his disciples, Thomas, struggled a little with his faith. We all remember how he reacted when Jesus rose from the dead, and wouldn't believe till he had touched his hands to feel the nail prints, and his side, to feel where the spear pierced it. Here, he is stressed out because he doesn't know where Jesus is going or how to get there. Let's continue. First, here is what Thomas had to say in verse 5...
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Thomas says that he doesn't know where Jesus is going, so how can he know how to get there? I don't know if Thomas thought Jesus was speaking of an earthly town or what, but he clearly was thinking with his carnal mind. Before we are too hard on Thomas, I always like to remind myself that I have no idea how I would have reacted if I was in the same place he is. None of us do. I can't imagine what he was going through or how his mind was working. That was Thomas's question, and now, here is Jesus' reply...
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
How do we know where Jesus is going and how to go there? First of all, we need to recognize that Jesus is the way. Follow him. He is the good shepherd. If you follow him and his teachings, you will get to heaven, where he is going. He is the truth. You can believe whatever he said. You can count on it. He is the life. The only one that can give us eternal life is Jesus Christ. There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved but Jesus Christ. That is it. No man comes to the Father, but by him. Jesus is the door. He is the bridge between sinful man and God. It is only through faith in him that we can be restored to fellowship with God the Father. He shed his precious blood to make the way possible. He hadn't done it yet, but was going to.
If you know Jesus, you should know the Father. How come? Because Jesus and the Father are one. There is one God who exists in three persons: The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is God, so if you know him, you know the Father. That is how come, Jesus explains that because they know Jesus, they know the Father and have seen the Father through him.
We talk a lot about Thomas, and his struggles, but now we see Philip, and his own struggle to believe, and also to understand what Jesus just told him. Jesus just got through saying that if they see him, they see the Father, but look at Philip's reply...
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
In other words, Philip was not satisfied with Jesus just telling him. Philip needed to see God the Father to believe what Jesus said. I can't remember the last time I heard anyone refer to doubting Philip, but here he clearly had his own doubts. Notice Jesus' response...
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? 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. Believe me that I am in the father, and the father in me: or else believe me for the very work's sake.
Jesus replies with what appears to be astonishment that Philip can't understand that when he sees him, he has seen the Father. Philip is standing in the very presence of God incarnate. That is because he is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus. They are one. God is not divided. The words that Jesus speaks are from the Father who dwells in him, and God the Father is doing the works. Praise God. He tells Philip that he should believe that he is in the Father and the Father is in him, but if that is too hard, think of the works the Father did through Christ.
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. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it
Here is one passage where the name it and claim it doctrine comes from. Anything we ask in his name, the Father will do it, but look at this more closely. Jesus is speaking of the works he is doing, not getting a bunch of things. He is speaking of the miracles he has been working. He says that greater miracles than he has done, we can do if we ask the Father in his name. In other words, as he healed the sick, we can heal the sick. As he raised the dead, we can raise the dead. As he walked on water, we can walk on water. As he worked numerous miracles, so can we, if we ask the Father in his name. Of course, the one thing we need to realize is that we have to believe if we are to receive anything from God. Without faith, it is not possible to please him. You can go up to someone and lay hands on them and pray for their healing, but not really believe, and nothing may happen. You have to believe if you are going to receive anything from God, but, the power is here. It is not in us, but from God. We have to act upon it.
That is all I am going to cover in this thread. You all are welcome to add your comments, agreements or disagreements. Basically, when we have Bible Study, we do a live version of something like this from the Bible. We just examine the text, and take it as written. The only difference is that everyone can add their comments in real time. Here, you can do so as you have a chance. Lord willing, I will start a new thread picking up where we have left off in a week or so.
Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 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, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.verses 1-4
Jesus is speaking to people that have faith in Jehovah. He tells them that in the same way they believe in God the Father, believe in him.
He goes on to say that in his Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, he would have told us. This has been an interesting point of discussion regarding what Jesus means by mansions. Some say this is only speaking of a room or chamber, while others believe there are literal mansions lined up along streets of gold. Then you come down to the meaning of his "Father's house." Is that speaking of this single gigantic mansion with a room prepared for each of us, or is his house all of heaven, and our mansions part of heaven itself? Either way, it is not going to be this tiny, cramped room. I believe the word mansion is right, no matter which way you believe this, because it is used to show that it will be magnificent, not just a common room like we may have in our home.
If this was not true, Jesus would have told us that this life is it. Once you are dead, that is the end. Instead, Jesus tells them that not only will there be a mansion in heaven for them when they die, but that he is going to prepare it personally. The Lord of glory himself is preparing our eternal dwelling! That is something to get excited about.
Jesus says that he will come back to earth again and receive us to himself, that where he is, there we may be also. We will live forever in the presence of our Lord and King. Something else to be excited about. We have read about him. We have experienced the feeling of his presence, but one day, we will be right there in heaven with him eternally. We will be with the one who died for us that we could be there in the first place. Hallelujah.
Jesus says that where he is going, his disciples know, and they know the way. They know that he is returning to his home in heaven with the Father, and they know how to get there also, because he told them. Remember the sermon on the mount, and his teachings about that narrow road leading to the straight gate? That is the way to eternal life, as opposed to those choosing the broad road of iniquity, that leads to the wide gate and eternal damnation.
One of his disciples, Thomas, struggled a little with his faith. We all remember how he reacted when Jesus rose from the dead, and wouldn't believe till he had touched his hands to feel the nail prints, and his side, to feel where the spear pierced it. Here, he is stressed out because he doesn't know where Jesus is going or how to get there. Let's continue. First, here is what Thomas had to say in verse 5...
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Thomas says that he doesn't know where Jesus is going, so how can he know how to get there? I don't know if Thomas thought Jesus was speaking of an earthly town or what, but he clearly was thinking with his carnal mind. Before we are too hard on Thomas, I always like to remind myself that I have no idea how I would have reacted if I was in the same place he is. None of us do. I can't imagine what he was going through or how his mind was working. That was Thomas's question, and now, here is Jesus' reply...
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
How do we know where Jesus is going and how to go there? First of all, we need to recognize that Jesus is the way. Follow him. He is the good shepherd. If you follow him and his teachings, you will get to heaven, where he is going. He is the truth. You can believe whatever he said. You can count on it. He is the life. The only one that can give us eternal life is Jesus Christ. There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved but Jesus Christ. That is it. No man comes to the Father, but by him. Jesus is the door. He is the bridge between sinful man and God. It is only through faith in him that we can be restored to fellowship with God the Father. He shed his precious blood to make the way possible. He hadn't done it yet, but was going to.
If you know Jesus, you should know the Father. How come? Because Jesus and the Father are one. There is one God who exists in three persons: The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is God, so if you know him, you know the Father. That is how come, Jesus explains that because they know Jesus, they know the Father and have seen the Father through him.
We talk a lot about Thomas, and his struggles, but now we see Philip, and his own struggle to believe, and also to understand what Jesus just told him. Jesus just got through saying that if they see him, they see the Father, but look at Philip's reply...
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
In other words, Philip was not satisfied with Jesus just telling him. Philip needed to see God the Father to believe what Jesus said. I can't remember the last time I heard anyone refer to doubting Philip, but here he clearly had his own doubts. Notice Jesus' response...
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? 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. Believe me that I am in the father, and the father in me: or else believe me for the very work's sake.
Jesus replies with what appears to be astonishment that Philip can't understand that when he sees him, he has seen the Father. Philip is standing in the very presence of God incarnate. That is because he is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus. They are one. God is not divided. The words that Jesus speaks are from the Father who dwells in him, and God the Father is doing the works. Praise God. He tells Philip that he should believe that he is in the Father and the Father is in him, but if that is too hard, think of the works the Father did through Christ.
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. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it
Here is one passage where the name it and claim it doctrine comes from. Anything we ask in his name, the Father will do it, but look at this more closely. Jesus is speaking of the works he is doing, not getting a bunch of things. He is speaking of the miracles he has been working. He says that greater miracles than he has done, we can do if we ask the Father in his name. In other words, as he healed the sick, we can heal the sick. As he raised the dead, we can raise the dead. As he walked on water, we can walk on water. As he worked numerous miracles, so can we, if we ask the Father in his name. Of course, the one thing we need to realize is that we have to believe if we are to receive anything from God. Without faith, it is not possible to please him. You can go up to someone and lay hands on them and pray for their healing, but not really believe, and nothing may happen. You have to believe if you are going to receive anything from God, but, the power is here. It is not in us, but from God. We have to act upon it.
That is all I am going to cover in this thread. You all are welcome to add your comments, agreements or disagreements. Basically, when we have Bible Study, we do a live version of something like this from the Bible. We just examine the text, and take it as written. The only difference is that everyone can add their comments in real time. Here, you can do so as you have a chance. Lord willing, I will start a new thread picking up where we have left off in a week or so.