John 14

In the Upper Room

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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also—John 14:2,3

Austin Williams

Before our Lord’s last discourse as recorded by the apostle John in chapter 14 and the touching moments he spent during the closing hours while here on earth and after washing the disciples’ feet, giving the sop to Judas, and foretelling Peter’s denial of him three times, our Lord said, "Let not your heart be troubled" (John 14:1). He sensed that their hearts were filled with fear knowing that he would no longer be with them. These words were not to prepare them to mourn but that they might see and internalize the things he had been saying to them about his mission on earth which would culminate in his death.

The disciples did not understand what he was saying; they were troubled and bewildered. Notice the words in verse one: You believe in, adhere to, trust in, and rely on God; also believe in, adhere to, trust in, and rely on me. He was asking them to look back on all the things they had witnessed, heard, and experienced during his 3 year ministry when he always honored and acknowledged the heavenly Father. He was comforting them by telling them that his objective was to please the heavenly Father and that they must continue to trust in him.

Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "In my Father’s house there are many mansions [planes of existence]; I am going to prepare a place for you and afterwards I will come again and will take youto myself that where I am, there you may bealso." The significance of this verse is so profound. There was no place yet created in heaven for his bride, so the master as the first-born to this condition (the divine plane of existence—Hebrews 9:24) would, upon his return and upon the completion of his "bride class," receive his church unto himself on this new plane of existence.

In verse 5 Thomas asks how they would know the way. We can understand why Thomas and the others did not know the way. It was expedient for our Lord after laying down his life, to ascend to the Father and present the merit of his ransom sacrifice, thus enabling a comforter to be sent. This comforter would open their minds of understanding and give them an experiential knowledge of God’s plan. Jesus answered: "I am the way, the truth and the life." This is true not just for those who are called, chosen, and remain faithful during the Gospel age, but also for the world of mankind during the next age.

The called are first drawn before they can come to Jesus (John 6:44). Then they must come to Jesus before they can be accepted in the beloved by the Father as sons (Ephesians 1:6). The Father does not draw anyone arbitrarily; he draws through his word. The mechanism through which we are drawn is by hearing and meditating upon his word in our hearts, whether it be obtained through a tract, a radio broadcast, or through other human agencies.

In verse 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father." He implies that is all he asks; if he were given that, he would be satisfied. How do we know our heavenly Father? We see him through our Lord Jesus by his suffering, his obedience, and fully manifesting the Father’s love by his character, revealing him by words and deeds as the God of Love. Jesus repeatedly told them that the Father was greater than he was and that the works he did were through his Father’s power. It was said of him, "Never man spake like this man" (John 7:46). Jesus always honored the heavenly Father in the works he accomplished. He was faithful in the greater as well as the lesser things. Nothing we can ever do could be in the category of great things, but we can do many small things. By virtue of having received the holy spirit we can preach the good news and comfort those around us so that any with a receptive heart will have their blind eyes opened, if not now, then during the next age.

The Master assured his disciples that they would not be left as orphans, comfortless. When he asked the Father to send a comforter, it was not in the sense of a soothing presence, but as an encourager, sustainer, strengthener. This comforter was not only for them, but through them to the entire church. It thus enabled them to be energized and strengthened to endure anything divine providence might permit in the future. Notice that the Master did not say he was sending the comforter to the world at that time.

His reassurance—"let not your heart be troubled" (verse 27)—was coupled with the peace he wanted to give his disciples. Once again our attention is drawn to the peace of God he enjoyed in spite of all the things hesuffered for righteousness’ sake. This peace made it possible for Jesus to make his calling and election sure. He left this legacy for us so that inour busy and eventful lives, we can still walk in his ways. He said, "If you had known in thisday, even you, the things which make for peace" (Luke 19:42). Those who become entangled with the world lose the peace that God gave them.

The most important thing which would make one lose the peace of God is the lack of appreciation of the truth which the heavenly Father gives. This gives peace that surpasses anything the world can offer. The world craves for peace and happiness and they cannot find it. The Christian must cling with his whole being to the truth because the adversary will try to destroy every consecrated child of God.

In verse 30 the Master concludes his words in the upper room by showing us that the adversary could not find any sin in him.

Are grace and peace being multiplied in us, or are they being subtracted? We need to build our faith structure with gold and precious stones. This legacy of peace started in the upper room.