(43-42a)
For this week’s study:
- Whenever you read or study the Bible, always begin with prayer, asking God to guide you so you understand God’s message and learn His methods for living.
- Read John 14:1-14 several times using your Bible and the two translations provided below to understand the boundaries, content, and flow of the study passage. (Reading the passage once a day from any of those translations is recommended.)
- Read and respond to the “Study Guide” and use the “Study Resources” provided below to learn more from this study passage.
Read the Passage
Berean Standard Bible
(BSB)
In My Father’s House Are Many Rooms
14 <1>“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God;1 believe in Me as well. <2>In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?2 <3>And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. <4>You know the way to the place where I am going.3 ”
The Way, the Truth, and the Life
<5>“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
<6>Jesus answered, “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 know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
<8>Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
<9>Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who 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 I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. <11>Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.
<12>Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. <13>And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. <14>If you ask Me 4 for anything in My name, I will do it.
Word Come Alive
(WCA)
(An extended translation)*
‘I’ll roll out the red carpet for you’
<1>Jesus turned from speaking only to Peter to comfort and strengthen all his apprentices, ‘You will go through many tough and painful times. Your faith will be shaken. Don’t let your hearts become discouraged. Look to God and remember that he is faithful. You trust in God; trust also in me. <2>There are many apartment suites in my Father’s palace in heaven. If that weren’t true, would I have told you I’m going on ahead of you to get your rooms ready? <3>If I go and get your rooms ready, I will then “roll out the red carpet” for you all. I will return and welcome you with open arms. You will see me and be with me where I am for ever in your new home. <4>You know the way to where I’m going.’
‘I am the one true way to life’
<5>Thomas answered, perhaps speaking for all the apprentices, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you’re going, so how can we know the way there?’
<6>Jesus replied, ‘I am the one true way—the only road—that leads back to God. I am the truth, the deepest reality and the answer to your ultimate questions. I am the life; life makes sense only with me at its centre. I am the energy, power and resources you need. No one can come to the Father except through me. I am the only way to know him. <7>If you really knew me, then you would also know my Father. From now on, you do know him and have seen him too. The more you know me, the more you know the Father.’
<8>‘Lord,’ Philip asked Jesus, ‘show us the Father and that will be all we need and our doubts will disappear.’
<9>Telling him off gently, Jesus replied, ‘Philip, don’t you know me well enough, even after I’ve been with you all for such a long time? If anyone has seen me and trusted in me as the Messiah, they’ve also seen the Father. How can you then say, “Show us the Father”? <10>Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me? I am one with the Father and the Father is one with me. As I’ve said before, the words I’ve spoken to you have not been based on my own authority. No; it is the Father, who lives in me, who is at work when I speak. <11>Trust in me when I say that I am in the Father and Father is in me. Or at least I ask you to trust in me based on what I have actually done.’
‘I will give you another Mentor’
<12>‘I am telling you the truth, whoever keeps trusting me will also accomplish what I’ve been doing. In fact, they will accomplish even more than that. They will serve all humanity so that more people will respond to my message. That is because I’m going to the Father and he will send the Holy Spirit in his fullness. <13>I will do whatever you ask for that is true to what I am like and with my authority. The result will be that God’s reign will advance and the Father will be honoured in the Son. <14>I repeat this promise: if you ask me for anything that is true to what I am like and with my authority, I will accomplish it.
* Words in italics are not translated from the original Greek text. They have been added to explain and at times apply the text, much as a preacher does on a Sunday or notes do at the foot of the page in a study Bible. These additions are integrated with the text itself, and are in italics, so readers can see what has been explained, changed or added.
Study the Passage
Study Guide
Born-again Christians want to …
- Be with Jesus (1-4)
- Follow Jesus (5-7)
- Believe in Jesus (8-11)
- Work with Jesus (12-14)
(They manifest God’s DNA: Desires, Nature, Actions)
How should verses 1-4 make followers of Jesus feel?
- How do they make you feel?
What did Jesus mean in verse 6 when He said He is:
- The way?
- The truth?
- The life?
If someone doesn’t believe Jesus is God (v. 11), what do His works tell them?
What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ Name (vv. 13-14)?
Study Resources
To learn more about this study passage, go to
https://www.bibleref.com/John/14/John-14-1.html. Read the commentary for each verse in the study passage. (Also read the Context Summary and the Chapter Summary.)
If you have any questions about this passage, type the verse reference or your question in the search box at the top of
https://www.gotquestions.org/ and explore the results.
If you have a study Bible, read the footnotes and study notes and see how they help you understand this passage. Also, check out any maps, charts, and articles related to the study passage.
Thessalonian Faith 