John 14 v "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 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. 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

John 14 v 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'? 10 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. 11 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. 12 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. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church Sunday 17 th February 2008 John 14 v1-14

Outline  Trust in the Father (v 1)  At home with the Father (v 2-3)  The way to the Father (v 4-6)  Knowing the Father (v 7-11)  The work of the Father (v 12)  Asking of the Father (v 13-14)

Trust in the Father 1 Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled” Jesus had washed his disciples’ feet Judas had left to arrange Jesus’ betrayal Jesus had told the disciples that he would be leaving them Jesus has just told Peter that he would deny ever having known Jesus Jesus has exposed pride, ambition and self confidence among the disciples Why would the disciples not be troubled?

“Do not let your hearts be troubled” Assurance to be based not on themselves.... Not in their present circumstances but in God  In spite of all that is to come -  betrayal, denial, desertion, crucifixion -  God will accomplish his plan The end of self confidence is the beginning of trust in God

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. Psalm 71 v5... the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3 v26

At home with the Father 2 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. 3 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.

In my Father’s house....  Why was Jesus leaving?  To prepare a place  A place of union with both the Father and the Son  A place with room for all  A place for eternity  But also for this life

The way to the Father 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I am the way....  How do we get there?  The fall brought separation, ignorance and death  Jesus is the way to the father  At the cross comes healing, forgiveness and reconciliation  Jesus reveals the truth about God and ourselves  Jesus’ death and resurrection brings life  Jesus is the only way

Knowing the Father 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 8 Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9 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'? 10 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. 11 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.

If you really knew me, you would know my Father.....  Jesus identifies himself with the Father:  “I am in the Father and 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”  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being. Hebrews 1 v3

Like Father, like Son  Trust in God  In my father’s house...  No-one comes to the Father....  If you really knew me  I am in the Father Trust in me....you will be where I am XXXXXX....except through me you would know my Father The Father is in me

The work of the Father 12 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.

Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing  Jesus is preparing to hand over his earthly ministry to his disciples  Not just the remaining eleven disciples, but “anyone who has faith in me”  Are you a believer? – You have a job to do  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5 v6).

Greater things?  Miracles?  Social and technological advancement?  Missionary activity of the church?  These greater things are possible because I am going to the Father  The Spirit will come, the believers will receive the full benefit of salvation – union with Christ  Not just more believers, believers with a deeper reality of Christ than that experienced before Calvary.

Asking of the Father 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

I will do whatever you ask in my name  In my name?  Praying in keeping with God’s character and concerns  As we are united with Christ we are taken up into his agenda  “Greater things” can only be accomplished with God’s help

In what do you take comfort?  Fellow believers?  Your present spiritual experience?  God himself is our refuge and strength

What do you think of Jesus?  Trickster?  Deluded?  The Way, the truth and the life?

Are you ready to continue Jesus’ work?  Faith is expressed in action  You don’t have to go it alone  All the resources you need are found in Christ