The verse declares that the disciples already knew both the destination and the road, because for three years they had been taught that He was going to the Father and to His Father's house of many mansions. The road they knew is Christ Himself, the only road to the Father and to eternal life, who came to reveal the path and secure a home in His kingdom. To know Him by personal acquaintance is to know the Father, for the Father is revealed and dwelling in Him, and to see Him is to see the Father. His going is to prepare a place for His followers, and He will come again in person with power and great glory to receive them to Himself so they may be where He is. Therefore troubled hearts are commanded to believe in God and in Him, finding comfort, peace, courage and hope to endure trial and to live in obedience while they prepare for His soon coming.
Farewell Words Before Crucifixion
The words were spoken in the upper chamber on the night before the crucifixion, when the hour of trial was nearing and a cruel death lay just before Him. Judas had left, leaving the eleven alone with Him, and rejection and trial stood immediately ahead, just before the move toward the Mount of Olives. They belong to the farewell discourse of John 13-17, and especially to John 14-16, spoken near the close of His earthly ministry. As He faced the cross and approaching separation, with divine love and tenderest sympathy He turned their thoughts to the great object of His mission kept ever before Him, His joy that all His humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name.
They were spoken to comfort troubled hearts that were to be severely tempted and tried, facing sorrow, conflict, and severe trial. They were meant to give strength and assurance, courage and hope, courage to stand fast in the most trying hour and to endure without failing. They were meant to steady the disciples in sorrow as an anchor through trials, to acquaint them with His purposes and plans and strengthen them for difficulties and future work, and to awaken living faith to share with others. That instruction prepared them for their future work, teaching that ministry would fail if divine agency were left out of the effort.
The instruction belonged to a time when, contrary to their wishes and desires, the disciples could not comprehend that their beloved Teacher would be betrayed, scourged, and put to death. He knew the trials His church would face through unconverted believers and the severe testing of His disciples' faith and courage. Though simple enough for even children to understand, its comfort and consolation were spoken to last for true believers as long as time shall last.
The chapters containing the words plainly outline God's will and contain the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world, specifying duties given by the Substitute and Surety that cannot be lived in neglect of. They are to be carefully studied and earnestly practiced, believed and lived out before fellow ministers as their privilege. When the mind is reshaped by the Spirit of God they are understood with new enlightenment, to cure dissension, heal souls that are sick yet think themselves whole, humble self-seeking pride as a little child before God, and work out unity and love in practical life with one another and with Christ so believers stand the test.
Known Way and Destination
Jesus told the disciples that they already knew both where He was going and the way to get there, because for three years He had been teaching them. The destination He meant was the Father Himself, and the Father's house of many mansions where He was going to prepare a place and to which He would come again to receive them to Himself. He had come to reveal Himself so they might believe, and He identified Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life by whom alone anyone comes to the Father, continuing His work for them with the Father. To know Christ through personal acquaintance is to have a more perfect knowledge of God, for He is the express image of the Father's person and the brightness of His glory, sent as God's representative, with the Father revealed and dwelling in Him in His words and works, and those who believe in Him will do His works because He goes to the Father.
Thomas answered in doubt and unbelief that they did not know where He was going and therefore could not know the way. Philip still asked to be shown the Father, proving that much of Christ's teaching about His relation to God was still dark to them. They had not understood His repeated teaching about the kingdom of heaven and the future life, and they did not yet understand where He was going or how to reach the Father until He explained that He Himself is the way to the Father and that knowing Him reveals the Father.
Their fuller understanding came only afterward, as the Holy Spirit made Christ's teaching clearer and applied the Word to the receptive heart, not by merely reading the words. The resurrection and the Spirit's work steadied them in sorrow and remained an anchor through trial, bringing comfort, peace, hope, encouragement, and a deeper experience of God's love. The instruction in John 14-17 is understood with new enlightenment when the mind is reshaped by the Spirit of God, and those who follow the light they have and continue to seek the Lord receive increased light and come to know the way He prepares.
Christ the Way to Father
The way the disciples already knew was Christ Himself, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only way to the Father through whom alone anyone comes to the Father and receives eternal life. He came to reveal the way, to show the path to the Father's kingdom, and to secure the right to a home there for His followers. Where He goes is to the Father and to His Father's house of many mansions to prepare a place, to which He will come again to receive them to Himself. That identification answers Thomas's doubt that they did not know the destination and therefore could not know the way, for access to the Father is through Him alone.
Knowing Christ through personal, experiential acquaintance is knowing the Father, and seeing Christ is seeing the Father. He is the express image of the Father's person and the brightness of His glory, sent into the world as God's representative. The Father is revealed and dwelling in Him through His teachings, character, words and works, so those who know Christ have a more perfect knowledge of God. Much teaching about His relation to God had still been dark to Thomas and to Philip when Philip still asked to be shown the Father, yet Christ desired them to have a clearer, more distinct knowledge of God as revealed in Himself.
Because He goes to the Father, those who believe in Him will do His works and continue His work as His representatives by faith, love and obedience. Though He was leaving them, they could know and follow Him by faith, continue in His love and obedience, and carry forward His work. In perplexity believers are to go to the Word, to read of His character and work, and to do as He would do in their place. He is truth itself and could never in word or practice testify to wrong.
The knowable way to the prepared mansions is the narrow path to eternal life and the highway of holiness made clear by God giving the light needed for salvation. The humble seeker is directed along that path so no one need wander from it. Speculative questions beyond what is essential do not open the way.
Promise to Prepare and Return
His going is to the Father, to His Father's house of many mansions, to prepare a place for His followers. He will come again to receive them to Himself so that where He is they may be also, and His departure is therefore not a final separation. His work for them continues with the Father after He goes, and these words were given as comfort with the command not to let hearts be troubled, words to be kept in mind. Those to whom He spoke were told they already knew where He was going and knew the way, which way is Christ Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life by whom alone men come to the Father and by whom the Father is known and seen.
This coming again is the personal second appearing of Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to take to be where He is His disciples, all who believe on His name, all who love Him. It calls believers to expect His soon coming. It points to their hope of being with Him and to their need to prepare for that future.
While He prepares their home, they are to build characters like God's. His going to prepare a place and His promise to receive them call for their active concern for eternal life and living, and for implicit obedience as those whom Christ has purchased with His blood. The verse belongs to His words of comfort as He faced the cross, and it points to the need for a personal, daily experience in the things of God, since church membership alone is not enough to enter heaven.
Comfort Faith and Holy Living
The saying is a command to troubled hearts to believe in God and to believe in Christ, given to comfort disciples who were to be severely tempted and tried and to steady them in sorrow as an anchor through trial. It belongs with the promise of many mansions in the Father's house, of going to prepare a place and coming again to receive followers to Himself that where He is they may be also, and with the declaration that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life by whom alone men come to the Father and know and see Him. Its words bring hope, encouragement, peace, and a deeper experience of God's love, and their full meaning becomes clear as the Holy Spirit applies the Word to a receptive heart rather than by merely reading the words. They are to be kept in mind, opened in trouble and difficulty, read at family worship so that children's minds comprehend the truth, believed as God's Word, laid hold of and presented in the family with the assurance that He will not leave His people comfortless, bringing rejoicing even when discouraged.
It teaches the right kind of faith that believes the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Without such faith it is impossible to please God, so under every circumstance faith in God must be cultivated and brought into practical life, believing Christ is the only Saviour. The saying is offered as evidence of who He is, and personal experience confirming the inspired Word makes that faith a living reality despite unbelief like that shown in Thomas's reply.
When people draw near to God He draws near to them, and each step toward Jesus is met by His advance toward the person. Doing the duties given by the Substitute and Surety bears the divine credentials to the world that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The chapters to which the saying belongs need careful study and earnest practice by all who honor God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, specifying duties that cannot be lived in neglect of.
The instruction prepared the disciples for their future work and taught that their ministry would fail if divine agency were left out of their efforts. Believing it and living it out before fellow ministers is their privilege, as part of the plain outline of God's will in John 13-17 and John 6 which contains the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world. It is part of the great process by which believers are made one with Him in this present life to be one with Him throughout all eternity, and with John 6, 13, 15, 16, and 17 as a plain expression of God's will for His people it is meant to cure dissension, heal souls that are sick yet think themselves whole, humble self-seeking pride as a little child before God, and work out Christ's unity and love in practical life with one another and with Christ so believers stand the test. Though He was leaving them, they could know and follow Him by faith, continue in His love and obedience, and carry forward His work as His representatives.
The verse declares that the disciples already knew both the destination and the road, because for three years they had been taught that He was going to the Father and to His Father's house of many mansions. The road they knew is Christ Himself, the only road to the Father and to eternal life, who came to reveal the path and secure a home in His kingdom. To know Him by personal acquaintance is to know the Father, for the Father is revealed and dwelling in Him, and to see Him is to see the Father. His going is to prepare a place for His followers, and He will come again in person with power and great glory to receive them to Himself so they may be where He is. Therefore troubled hearts are commanded to believe in God and in Him, finding comfort, peace, courage and hope to endure trial and to live in obedience while they prepare for His soon coming.
Farewell Words Before Crucifixion
The words were spoken in the upper chamber on the night before the crucifixion, when the hour of trial was nearing and a cruel death lay just before Him. Judas had left, leaving the eleven alone with Him, and rejection and trial stood immediately ahead, just before the move toward the Mount of Olives. They belong to the farewell discourse of John 13-17, and especially to John 14-16, spoken near the close of His earthly ministry. As He faced the cross and approaching separation, with divine love and tenderest sympathy He turned their thoughts to the great object of His mission kept ever before Him, His joy that all His humiliation and suffering would glorify the Father's name.
They were spoken to comfort troubled hearts that were to be severely tempted and tried, facing sorrow, conflict, and severe trial. They were meant to give strength and assurance, courage and hope, courage to stand fast in the most trying hour and to endure without failing. They were meant to steady the disciples in sorrow as an anchor through trials, to acquaint them with His purposes and plans and strengthen them for difficulties and future work, and to awaken living faith to share with others. That instruction prepared them for their future work, teaching that ministry would fail if divine agency were left out of the effort.
The instruction belonged to a time when, contrary to their wishes and desires, the disciples could not comprehend that their beloved Teacher would be betrayed, scourged, and put to death. He knew the trials His church would face through unconverted believers and the severe testing of His disciples' faith and courage. Though simple enough for even children to understand, its comfort and consolation were spoken to last for true believers as long as time shall last.
The chapters containing the words plainly outline God's will and contain the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world, specifying duties given by the Substitute and Surety that cannot be lived in neglect of. They are to be carefully studied and earnestly practiced, believed and lived out before fellow ministers as their privilege. When the mind is reshaped by the Spirit of God they are understood with new enlightenment, to cure dissension, heal souls that are sick yet think themselves whole, humble self-seeking pride as a little child before God, and work out unity and love in practical life with one another and with Christ so believers stand the test.
Known Way and Destination
Jesus told the disciples that they already knew both where He was going and the way to get there, because for three years He had been teaching them. The destination He meant was the Father Himself, and the Father's house of many mansions where He was going to prepare a place and to which He would come again to receive them to Himself. He had come to reveal Himself so they might believe, and He identified Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life by whom alone anyone comes to the Father, continuing His work for them with the Father. To know Christ through personal acquaintance is to have a more perfect knowledge of God, for He is the express image of the Father's person and the brightness of His glory, sent as God's representative, with the Father revealed and dwelling in Him in His words and works, and those who believe in Him will do His works because He goes to the Father.
Thomas answered in doubt and unbelief that they did not know where He was going and therefore could not know the way. Philip still asked to be shown the Father, proving that much of Christ's teaching about His relation to God was still dark to them. They had not understood His repeated teaching about the kingdom of heaven and the future life, and they did not yet understand where He was going or how to reach the Father until He explained that He Himself is the way to the Father and that knowing Him reveals the Father.
Their fuller understanding came only afterward, as the Holy Spirit made Christ's teaching clearer and applied the Word to the receptive heart, not by merely reading the words. The resurrection and the Spirit's work steadied them in sorrow and remained an anchor through trial, bringing comfort, peace, hope, encouragement, and a deeper experience of God's love. The instruction in John 14-17 is understood with new enlightenment when the mind is reshaped by the Spirit of God, and those who follow the light they have and continue to seek the Lord receive increased light and come to know the way He prepares.
Christ the Way to Father
The way the disciples already knew was Christ Himself, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only way to the Father through whom alone anyone comes to the Father and receives eternal life. He came to reveal the way, to show the path to the Father's kingdom, and to secure the right to a home there for His followers. Where He goes is to the Father and to His Father's house of many mansions to prepare a place, to which He will come again to receive them to Himself. That identification answers Thomas's doubt that they did not know the destination and therefore could not know the way, for access to the Father is through Him alone.
Knowing Christ through personal, experiential acquaintance is knowing the Father, and seeing Christ is seeing the Father. He is the express image of the Father's person and the brightness of His glory, sent into the world as God's representative. The Father is revealed and dwelling in Him through His teachings, character, words and works, so those who know Christ have a more perfect knowledge of God. Much teaching about His relation to God had still been dark to Thomas and to Philip when Philip still asked to be shown the Father, yet Christ desired them to have a clearer, more distinct knowledge of God as revealed in Himself.
Because He goes to the Father, those who believe in Him will do His works and continue His work as His representatives by faith, love and obedience. Though He was leaving them, they could know and follow Him by faith, continue in His love and obedience, and carry forward His work. In perplexity believers are to go to the Word, to read of His character and work, and to do as He would do in their place. He is truth itself and could never in word or practice testify to wrong.
The knowable way to the prepared mansions is the narrow path to eternal life and the highway of holiness made clear by God giving the light needed for salvation. The humble seeker is directed along that path so no one need wander from it. Speculative questions beyond what is essential do not open the way.
Promise to Prepare and Return
His going is to the Father, to His Father's house of many mansions, to prepare a place for His followers. He will come again to receive them to Himself so that where He is they may be also, and His departure is therefore not a final separation. His work for them continues with the Father after He goes, and these words were given as comfort with the command not to let hearts be troubled, words to be kept in mind. Those to whom He spoke were told they already knew where He was going and knew the way, which way is Christ Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life by whom alone men come to the Father and by whom the Father is known and seen.
This coming again is the personal second appearing of Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory to take to be where He is His disciples, all who believe on His name, all who love Him. It calls believers to expect His soon coming. It points to their hope of being with Him and to their need to prepare for that future.
While He prepares their home, they are to build characters like God's. His going to prepare a place and His promise to receive them call for their active concern for eternal life and living, and for implicit obedience as those whom Christ has purchased with His blood. The verse belongs to His words of comfort as He faced the cross, and it points to the need for a personal, daily experience in the things of God, since church membership alone is not enough to enter heaven.
Comfort Faith and Holy Living
The saying is a command to troubled hearts to believe in God and to believe in Christ, given to comfort disciples who were to be severely tempted and tried and to steady them in sorrow as an anchor through trial. It belongs with the promise of many mansions in the Father's house, of going to prepare a place and coming again to receive followers to Himself that where He is they may be also, and with the declaration that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life by whom alone men come to the Father and know and see Him. Its words bring hope, encouragement, peace, and a deeper experience of God's love, and their full meaning becomes clear as the Holy Spirit applies the Word to a receptive heart rather than by merely reading the words. They are to be kept in mind, opened in trouble and difficulty, read at family worship so that children's minds comprehend the truth, believed as God's Word, laid hold of and presented in the family with the assurance that He will not leave His people comfortless, bringing rejoicing even when discouraged.
It teaches the right kind of faith that believes the promises of God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Without such faith it is impossible to please God, so under every circumstance faith in God must be cultivated and brought into practical life, believing Christ is the only Saviour. The saying is offered as evidence of who He is, and personal experience confirming the inspired Word makes that faith a living reality despite unbelief like that shown in Thomas's reply.
When people draw near to God He draws near to them, and each step toward Jesus is met by His advance toward the person. Doing the duties given by the Substitute and Surety bears the divine credentials to the world that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). The chapters to which the saying belongs need careful study and earnest practice by all who honor God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, specifying duties that cannot be lived in neglect of.
The instruction prepared the disciples for their future work and taught that their ministry would fail if divine agency were left out of their efforts. Believing it and living it out before fellow ministers is their privilege, as part of the plain outline of God's will in John 13-17 and John 6 which contains the divine antidote for the sin of the whole world. It is part of the great process by which believers are made one with Him in this present life to be one with Him throughout all eternity, and with John 6, 13, 15, 16, and 17 as a plain expression of God's will for His people it is meant to cure dissension, heal souls that are sick yet think themselves whole, humble self-seeking pride as a little child before God, and work out Christ's unity and love in practical life with one another and with Christ so believers stand the test. Though He was leaving them, they could know and follow Him by faith, continue in His love and obedience, and carry forward His work as His representatives.