Bible Chapter: John 14

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    John 14 leads into a few chapters of Jesus’ farewell to the disciples.  Jesus had just told them that His time had come and He was ready to be sacrificed.  Now, the important last words, the final words of a dying person telling His loved ones the most essential issues they needed to know.
    Don’t worry, Jesus was going to prepare an eternal place for them.  He would show them the way to an eternal home in God’s presence.  Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.  He did many miracles in their presence, they would do many miracles in God’s power. Jesus would send a very special Comforter, the Holy Spirit to come alongside them to help.  He would continue to minister to them and empower them.  This Comforter would be for them everything they needed.
    Jesus also reminded them of the importance of keeping His commandments.  He connected it with the teachings of love.  If they (we) really loved Jesus, they would keep His commandments.  The Holy Spirit would come along side them and teach, bringing to remembrance all Jesus had taught.  We see how all of Jesus’ teachings really do work together.
    Jesus also said they would have a supernatural peace.  It would not be what the world offers, it would be a peace that passes all understanding and allow believers to not live in fear.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    I must take the promises of God’s provision of an eternal home and His supernatural peace and let them guide me.  Since I have this amazing promise of a place to dwell that supercedes anything I have ever seen (such as the Palace at Versailles near Paris), I can have peace through the trials and tribulations of life.  Heaven beats anything we can dream of.  It is the best place to be.  So, live for Jesus and don’t let anything interfere.  Jesus is the way, follow Him.
    I must also remember to continually follow His commandments.  I am challenged by the intricacies of verse 21.
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.  NKJV
    To have Jesus’ commandments and keep them shows that I love Him.  That opens a new river of God’s love for me and the presence of God in me.  It all stems from my obedience to God.  Obedience is one the most difficult things for people to do.  So many wrestle with doing right.  Those who get that victory gain much more than they though possible.

3.  How can I help someone?
    Always be ready to talk about the Way, Truth and Life.  Simply being religious (whatever that means) is not enough.  Going through some rituals won’t bring me to Jesus, eternal life and His peace.  I must come to Him and follow His way.  Then I can have the comfort and assurance of my eternal home.  That will allow me to live in peace.
    God’s peace does not mean that I will never have trials and struggles.  It means that He will carry me through them and I won’t be overwhelmed by the enormity of problems.  I will, with the struggles of life, find a way to bear them.  I can help people see Jesus so they can experience the same peace.