John 14: I am the way and the truth and the life
Jesus comforts His disciples: He is the way to the Father, goes to prepare a place, and will send the Advocate.
Where John 14 sits
- In the story
- Act V, Christ: Matthew–John
- In the Bible
- New Testament · Gospels · chapter 14 of 21 in John
- In John
- The upper room, 13:1–17:26 · part of the book of glory: the hour
- Before
- John 13: He loved them to the end
- After
- John 15: I am the true vine
John 14 summary
Jesus comforts His disciples with the promise of a place in His Father's house and His return to bring them into His presence. He answers Thomas by declaring that access to the Father comes through Him alone. He answers Philip by explaining that seeing Him reveals the Father, who works through Him. Jesus promises to answer prayer in His name and connects the disciples' greater works with His return to the Father. Love for Him bears fruit in obedience. He will ask the Father to send the Spirit of truth, another Advocate, who will remain with them. He will not abandon them as orphans. Father and Son will make their home with those who love Him and keep His word. The Holy Spirit will teach the apostles and remind them of what Jesus said. Jesus leaves His peace with them and prepares them for His departure, which fulfills His loving obedience to the Father.
John 14 in context
- Speaking
- Jesus, at the supper; Thomas, Philip and Judas (not Iscariot) ask Him questions
- Written for
- Troubled believers who need to know where Christ has gone, how to come to the Father, and that He has not left them alone
- Around it
- Follows the news of His going and of Peter's denial (13:33–38); 14:31 closes the first part of the farewell, which continues in 15–16
The sections of John 14
Read John 14
In My Father’s House Are Many Rooms
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. 2In 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? 3And 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. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
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?”
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
9Jesus 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’? 10Do 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. 11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves.
12Truly, 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. 13And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
22Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”
23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me.
25All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
Peace I Leave with You
27Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. 28You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.
30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me. 31But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.
Get up! Let us go on from here.
Berean Standard Bible, 31 verses. The BSB is in the public domain.
Around John 14
Also in The upper room
- John 13
- John 15
- John 16
- John 17
Read alongside
- Hebrews 10
- Colossians 1
- 1 Thessalonians 4
- Acts 2
Chapters that point here
- Psalm 43
- 1 John 2
Questions on John 14
What does Jesus answer Thomas in 14:6, and what does it say about other ways to God?
Whom does Jesus promise to send in 14:16–17 and 14:26, and what will He do?
What does Jesus say at the end of chapter 14, and how does His teaching go on?
The answers are in TheoMaps Challenges.
Plus What TheoMaps holds for John 14
- How John 14 points to Christ
- What each of its 5 sections says, and how one leads into the next
- 4 threads and 5 promises, with the verses that join them
- 3 doctrines it teaches: Christ the Mediator, good works and perseverance of the saints
- Why those 4 chapters belong beside it
- The answers to its questions, in Challenges
TheoMaps Plus opens every book the way Genesis is open, on the map, with Challenges to help you remember it.