John 14: Promise of the Holy Spirit
Why were the disciples distressed?
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John 14:1 “Don’t be distressed,” Jesus said. “You trust God. Trust me as well.”
King James
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
How was Jesus going to prepare a place for his disciples?
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John 14:2–3 “There are many places where you can stay in my Father’s house. I would have told you if that were not true. I must go to make the place ready for you. After I have prepared for your arrival, I will come back for you so we can be there together.”
King James
John 14:2–3 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.
Why did Jesus say he would come back after preparing for his disciple’ arrival?
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John 14:3 “After I have prepared for your arrival, I will come back for you so we can be there together.”
King James
John 14:3 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.
How well did the disciples understand “the way” that Jesus described? Why?
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John 14:4–9 “You know where I am going, and you know the way.”
“No, we don’t,” Thomas said. “Sir, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
“I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said. “Everyone who reaches the Father goes through me. If you really knew me, you would also know my Father. From now on, you will know him because you have seen him.”
Philip said, “Master, show us the Father and that will satisfy our needs.”
“Philip! Have I been with you so long and you still do not recognize who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. So why do you ask me to show him to you?”
King James
John 14:4–9 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
How can both the Father be in the Son and the Son be in the Father? What does that mean?
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John 14:10–11 “Don’t you know that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not due to my own initiative. The Father lives within me and does his work through me. Believe me when I say I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If you struggle with that, consider the miracles I have done, which only God can do.”
King James
John 14:10–11 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Why should we think it’s possible to do greater works than what Jesus did?
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John 14:12 “I guarantee, those who believe in me will do the work I have been doing. They will do even greater work because I go to the Father.”
King James
John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
What does it mean to ask “in Jesus’ name”?
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John 14:13–14 “To reveal the Father’s glory in the Son, I will do whatever you ask under my direction and authority.”
King James
John 14:13–14 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
What does disobedience say about our love?
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John 14:15 “If you love me, you will do what I tell you to do.”
King James
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Who is the Guide (or Comforter) who will always be with us? Why did he need to be sent if he was already present?
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John 14:16–17 “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Guide, one who will always be with you, the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot receive him, because it neither sees him nor knows who he is. But you know, because he lives with you and shall be in you.”
King James
John 14:16–17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
What did Jesus mean when he said, “I will come”?
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John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans. I will come.”
King James
John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
How would the disciples see Jesus when others would not?
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John 14:19–20 “In a little while, the world will not see me anymore, but you will. Because I live, you will also live. On that day, you will know that I am in my Father. You will know that you are in me and I am in you.”
King James
John 14:19–20 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
If the Father loves those who love the Son, how does he feel about those who don’t love the Son?
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John 14:21–23 “Those who receive and obey my instructions are the ones who love me. My Father loves those who love me, and I will love and reveal myself to them.”
Judas (not Iscariot) said, “Sir, why would you reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”
“People must love me enough to do what I say. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to live with them.”
King James
John 14:21–23 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
How closely should we follow Jesus’ example, not taking an independent initiative but speaking the Father’s words? Why?
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John 14:24 “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. Remember that my words are not from my own initiative but from the Father, who sent me.”
King James
John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”
How can we hear God if he is not with us?
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John 14:25 “I can tell you these things because I am with you.”
King James
John 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
In what ways is it important to have the Holy Spirit working in our lives? How can we have more?
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John 14:26 “Under my direction and authority, the Father will send the Holy Spirit, your new Guide, to teach you all things and cause you to remember everything I have told you.”
King James
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
What is the difference between the world’s peace and what we can have in Christ?
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John 14:27 “I give you peace that is nothing like what the world has to offer. Because of me, you do not have to worry or fear.”
King James
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Which is true, “absence makes the heart grow fonder” or “out of sight, out of mind”? Why?
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John 14:27 “I give you peace that is nothing like what the world has to offer. Because of me, you do not have to worry or fear.”
King James
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
How is the Father greater than the Son?
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John 14:28 “You heard me say I was leaving and will return. If you love me, you will be happy that I am going to the Father, because he is greater than I am.”
King James
John 14:28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
What makes hindsight better than foresight?
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John 14:29 “I have told you this beforehand so when it happens, you will believe.”
King James
John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
If the prince of this world had no power over Jesus, why was his coming significant?
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John 14:30–31 “I cannot speak to you much longer, because the prince of this world is coming. He has no power over me, but I will show the world that I love the Father and will do all that he has commanded. Come. It is time for us to go.”
King James
John 14:30–31 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.