The Bible — World English Bible

John 14

In brief

John 14 opens Jesus' farewell discourse at the last supper. The disciples are troubled by his announced departure. Jesus reassures them: he goes to prepare a place in his Father's house, and he himself is the way, the truth and the life. He then promises another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will remain with them, and he leaves his peace. The chapter connects love for Jesus, obedience to his word and the presence of the Father and the Son.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-7Let not your heart be troubled: the Father's house and the way
  2. v. 8-14Seeing the Father in Jesus: Philip and the works
  3. v. 15-21The promise of another Helper, the Spirit of truth
  4. v. 22-26Love Jesus, keep his word and receive the teaching Spirit
  5. v. 27-31The peace Jesus leaves

1“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.

2In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.

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

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

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. 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.

7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.”

8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’

10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works.

11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

12Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father.

13Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

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

15If you love me, keep my commandments.

16I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever:

17the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.

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

19Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.

20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

21One who has my commandments and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.”

22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”

23Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.

24He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

25I have said these things to you while still living with you.

26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.

27Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

28You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I.

29Now I have told you before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe.

30I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me.

31But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let’s go from here.

Key verses

Verse 1
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.

Jesus addresses troubled disciples and invites them to put their trust in God and in him. Faith is not a past act: it is renewed when trouble returns.

Verse 2-3
In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

Jesus speaks of his Father's house and the place he prepares, then promises to come back and take his own with him. The text is often read as a promise about eternal life in God's presence.

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

Jesus presents himself as the way, the truth and the life, and says no one comes to the Father except through him. The verse makes relationship with Jesus the access to the Father, not first a system to understand.

Verse 16-17
I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever: the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him and doesn’t know him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.

Jesus promises that the Father will give another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will remain with believers forever. The Greek word parakletos can also be translated as defender or advocate.

Verse 27
Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

Jesus leaves his peace, which he distinguishes from the peace the world gives. It does not depend on circumstances, which is why he repeats: do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.

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Frequently asked questions about John 14

What does 'I am the way, the truth and the life' (John 14:6) mean?

Jesus answers Thomas who asks how to know the way. He does not point to a route; he presents himself: in him, one meets the Father, one knows God's truth and one receives life. This is an exclusive word, which Christians understand as an invitation to come to God through Jesus.

Who is the Helper in John 14?

The Helper is the Holy Spirit. The Greek word parakletos designates one who is called alongside to help, and is also translated as defender or advocate. Jesus promises that the Father will send him to remain with believers, teach them and remind them of his words. Christian traditions speak of him somewhat differently, but all agree on his presence.

What does the Father's house and its rooms mean in John 14?

Jesus reassures his disciples: he does not abandon them; he goes to prepare a place for them with the Father. The rooms evoke the place reserved for each one in God's presence. Believers see in it the promise of eternal life and a word of comfort in the face of death and separation.

What peace does Jesus leave in John 14:27?

Jesus says he leaves his peace, a peace he distinguishes from that of the world. It is not the absence of problems but an inner assurance founded on his presence and the promise of the Spirit. This is why he adds that the heart must neither be troubled nor afraid.

Articles quoting John 14

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World English Bible translation — public domain.