John 14, Counselor

Jesus has been speaking to his disciples, telling them how they should live in his absence. Judas has left the room to betray him.

John 14: 1-4, In my Father's house
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Jesus prepares to leave but reassures his followers that he has a longterm plan that includes preparing a home for them.

John 14: 5-7, The Way, Truth, Life
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Thomas asks a good question.  "Where are you going?"  The disciples thinks Jesus is going into exile. But Jesus is speaking metaphorically, about an eternal kingdom, of which the path is simply through him.

John 14: 8-14, Ask!
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'?  Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Both Thomas and Philip are fixating on a literal journey and Jesus, with a hint of frustration, explains that he is (or represents) the Father.

Is this promise, "Ask in my name", just to Philip and the disciples? Or is it universal?  What does it mean?

John 14: 15-21, The Counselor
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever‑‑ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

As Jesus leaves, he promises a replacement for himself, the Counselor, who will not ever leave the disciples.  The Christian now recognizes that Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit, provided more fully at Pentecosst.

John 14: 22-26, Follow my teachings ... and the Holy Spirit
Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?"

Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The disciples are to follow the teachings of Jesus and that will be made possible by the promised Holy Spirit.

John 14: 27-31a, Peace
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

You heard me say, `I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.

I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me." 

Something deep is going on here.  Evil, represented by "the prince of this world" is being allowed to win, for a time.  But Jesus is at peace and passes this security on to his followers.  I only understand parts of this.

John 14: 31b, Time to leave
"Come now; let us leave.

This chapter ends with this a short sentence, as if everyone is about to stand up and leave.  Yet the intimate teachings continue for three more chapters.  It is likely that they continue as they walk towards the Mount of Olives.