Scripture reading

John 14
John 14 (NKJV)

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

1“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

2In 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.

3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

4And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The Father Revealed

7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

10Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

The Answered Prayer

12“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

13And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Jesus Promises Another Helper

15“If you love Me, keep My commandments.

16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—

17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

Indwelling of the Father and the Son

19“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.

20At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

21He 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.”

22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

24He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.

The Gift of His Peace

25“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.

26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

27Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

28You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I am going to the Father, for My Father is greater than I.

29“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.

30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

31But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.”

John 14 breakdown

If you love Me, keep my commandments

If you love Me, keep my commandments

Devotional

“If you love me, keep my commandements”

I have always wrestled with these very simple words of Jesus. To Him, love is defined by obedience. If you love Him, you obey. Easier said than done, right? And that’s why it’s the most beautiful and highest form of love.

What Jesus is saying is much more than “read your Bible every day” or “say a prayer.” He’s saying much more than “go to church once a week”.

What Jesus is saying is: choose Me every day.

Love to Him is not found in the easy things that we can fit in whenever or wherever, love is sacrificial.

It’s choosing His way, His presence, His Word above everything, every time.

It’s crucifying our deepest desires so that His will may be done in our lives.

This is true faith because it follows the pattern of the Son.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” - 1 John 3:16 NKJV

Jesus was obedient to death, and this was the proof of His love. And now He turns to us.

All He desires is that which He asks for…and it’s all of us. We are to love God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This means I must bring my heart, my emotions, my mind, and my strength into obedience to Christ daily. And that’s what makes this true faith, this true love, impossible without the Holy Spirit.

“For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energising, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfil your purpose] for His good pleasure.” - Philippians 2:13 AMP

The good news is this: you can’t do it. Actually, that’s an understatement—it’s literally impossible. And that’s why the Father has given us this beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit abiding with us.

The Holy Spirit is our Helper. Philippians 2:13 reminds us that God is at work within us, not only giving us the ability to do the will of God, but also creating in us a desire to do it in the first place.

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the words of Christ and helps us live faithfully to them every day. The Holy Spirit convicts us when we go astray and lovingly brings us to the throne of grace so we may receive the mercy and grace we need to do His will.

Loving Jesus is easier said than done. True faith (obedience) does not come without sacrifice, but it’s worth it. For everything that we lay down, there is a greater reward. And just as He said to the father of faith, Abraham, He says to us:

“I am your exceedingly great reward.” – Genesis 15:1 NKJV

The reward of true faith is more of Him. Will you give your life as a sacrifice in response to Jesus today?

Guided prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die for me and for sending Your Spirit to live in me. Thank You, Jesus, that You loved me so much that You lived an obedient life and died an obedient death. In response to Your sacrifice, I give myself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You.

Holy Spirit, I pray that You would grant me a willing spirit to obey the words of the Lord. I pray that I would not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Teach me how to be like Jesus and reveal Him to the world around me by Your power. Create in me the desire and give me the grace to obey You, Lord.

In Jesus’ name,
Amen