John 14:2-3 / 13-14 / 16-17
The disciples have just concluded celebrating the Lord’s Supper in what was a long evening of drama…dialogue…teaching…and prayer…John 14 begins an address by Jesus that goes until the end of chapter 17 that is composed entirely of the words of Jesus.
Jesus makes three astonishing statements…FIRST statement is John 14:2-3
2 My Father’s house has many dwelling places; if it were not so I would have told you; for I go 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 where I am you may be also.
Verse 2 gets often mistranslated as…In My Father’s house are many mansions …it’s one of the most misunderstood passages in the Bible…put right alongside:
—God causes all things to work for good [Romans 8:28].
—If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it [John 14:14].
‘in My Father’s house are many mansions…is the King James Version familiar to many Christians…TWO THINGS:
FIRST…Mansions is not a correct translation…the Greek word does not imply that a castle awaits every believer…many mansions mean that there is room for all… each child of God has a dwelling place of their own…nothing to do with an elaborate house with servants.
In ancient culture, a father’s house was where the extended family lived…as the family grew through birth and marriage rooms were often added on…the father’s house had many rooms or dwelling places to live in.
SECONDLY…is the mistaken idea that “My father’s house” is referring to Heaven…it’s not…Heaven is not mentioned once in the whole chapter. What then is the ‘Father’s house’?
Jesus speaks out of the context of the Old Testament…in the Old Testament the Lord’s ‘house’ or ‘dwelling place’ was any place where God’s presence was.
Often in the Psalms God’s ‘house’ or ‘dwelling place’ is the temple in Jerusalem …other times it refers to the whole creation, or even the whole universe…some Psalms describe God himself as our ‘dwelling place’ [Ps 90:1, 91:9].
The point is: God’s ‘house’ or ‘dwelling place’ is wherever God is…wherever His presence is…not referring to a physical building.
Next Jesus tells the disciples that He’s going to prepare a place for them.
Where is this place…so, Jesus tells them and us as well… that in going away He’s accomplishing the next step in God’s plan for his kingdom.
Our hope is not that we will fly away into space like a spaceman to some unknown place…it’s that God will renew the earth and put it back the way it should be…the way it was when God initially created it.
As followers of Jesus we will live forever with God, but it won’t be in heaven…the Bible shows that heaven will one day come to earth…it will be earth as God originally intended it to be. It will be Eden restored.
It was the blood that Jesus shed on the cross that prepared a dwelling place for us in the Father’s house…it is our reward to be with the One who secured this for us by His death and resurrection.
A major feature of the new earth will be the New Jerusalem. John calls it ‘the Holy City…coming down out of heaven from God’…this glorious city, with its streets of gold and pearly gates, is situated on a new, glorious earth where the tree of life will be (Revelation 22:2)…it is the place we will live in.
In the new heaven and new earth, Scripture says, there are seven notable things that are absent…seven things that are “no more”:
• no more sea (Revelation 21:1)
• no more death (Revelation 21:4)
• no more mourning (Revelation 21:4)
• no more weeping (Revelation 21:4)
• no more pain (Revelation 21:4)
• no more curse (Revelation 22:3)
• no more night (Revelation 22:5)
• no more sin –-two forces that prompt us to sin: our own evil desire (our sin nature) and enticement (the devil’s schemes). Neither of those forces will be in heaven.
He tells us and them He’s going to a ‘place’ they cannot follow…it’s a path that only Jesus could walk…He’s about to be arrested… executed [19:30] …resurrected [20:17] …then ascend into heaven [Acts 1:6-9].
What is about to happen to Him …no one can accompany Him on…BUT it is a place that we will one day live in.
The point in John 14 is not about Heaven…but the person…Jesus makes a key statement…Where I am, there you [will] be also…and where will Jesus be?
Initially for a while in Paradise…because He told the thief on the Cross that was where He was going…but that’s only temporary.
John 14:2-3 is not about heaven…it’s about our ‘dwelling place’ being eternally secure with God…Jesus doesn’t say [3] ‘I will take you to heaven’… He says, I will take you to myself when I return to earth just as I promised.
The general idea is that followers of Jesus will live forever with God…but nowhere does it say that place will be in Heaven…in fact the Bible doesn’t say that when you die you even go to Heaven.
The Bible teaches that our hope is not in heaven…but in the resurrection when our souls will be reunited with our bodies, and we will all be bodily resurrected…the eternal state involves both a physical earth and physical bodies.
[Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2; John 11:23-24; Luke 14:14; Matt. 22:30; Phil. 3:11; 1 Cor. 15:23]
…Jesus finally brings comfort to the disciples by saying, [John 14:3] If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am there you may be also.
The SECOND astonishing statement Jesus makes follows on the heels of the first one. [14:13-14]
I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Few observations…Jesus starts this promise off by stating ‘whoever believes in Me’…it’s a promise to all believers…there is no exclusion here if you are a Christian…you shouldn’t think:
Oh, this is for pastors, or for the highly spiritual mature Christians, or missionaries, or elders, or evangelists, or gifted Christians. No. The text says, “whoever believes in me.”
We have seen this exact phrase before:
—“Whoever believes in me shall never thirst” [John 6:35].
—“Whoever believes in me Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” [John 7:38].
—“Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live” [John 11:25].
—“Whoever believes in me will not remain in darkness” [John 12:46].
That’s the first observation: the promise is not made to the apostles alone, but to all who believe…so when it says, whoever believes in Jesus will do this or that, it is describing the normal Christian life.
The second observation is that Jesus promises all believers will do his works…a confusing statement…does that mean turning water to wine…healing people… feeding people…the connection between verses 11 and 12 goes like this:
Believe in me on account of my works — let my works lead you to faith (verse 11),because whoever believes in me (verse 12a),will also do works that lead people to believe in me…He’s not talking about doing miracles.
To pray ‘in Jesus’ name’ is not evoking a magical spell as if the words themselves have power…anything we ask for in prayer must be according to the character of God and in the will of God, if it is to be granted.
The emphasis of these verses is in the phrase, “in my name,” and “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
This promise of Jesus never fails and is always at our disposal but it’s up to us to meet its condition: to genuinely pray in Jesus’ name and for the purpose that the Father may be glorified in the Son…you can’t have one without the other.
In chapter 14, Jesus has been comforting His disciples…easing their fears about His leaving…that despite His going away…He assures them…He would not leave them …so He shares with them something hidden from all eternity past…
The THIRD astonishing statement Jesus makes [14:16-17]
16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you 18 I will not leave you…”
He begins teaching them about the Holy Spirit, the ‘Paraclete’ who will come to take his place when He goes to the Father.
In chapters 14, 15, and 16, we see Jesus’ fullest teaching about the Holy Spirit…far too many Christians go through their entire life not fully realizing or understanding exactly what Jesus is saying about the Holy Spirit.
That word paraklētos …in the Greek…is translated a lot of different ways in English depending on the translation:
‘Comforter’ (KJV)
‘Counselor’ (NIV, RSV)
‘Advocate’ (NRSV)
‘Helper’ (ESV, NASB)
Out of 27 different translations I looked at only one…the Contemporary English Version…translated paraklētos correctly…as the Holy Spirit.
The reason for the wide variety of translations is that the Greek word paraklētos can’t be easy translated into English in a single word…because depending on if it’s used as an adjective or a verb it can cover a wide range of meaning.
The Disciples were already familiar with Jesus as their Paraclete…their comforter …counselor…helper…BUT…notice Jesus says that the Father, not wanting to leave them alone…will send another of the same kind to help them after He’s gone.
What…another Jesus is coming? NO…Jesus is saying that they have experienced the Paraclete abiding WITH them…but… when the Father sends the Holy Spirit, this Paraclete will abide IN them…to always be with them to guide and instruct.
The Holy Spirit in a sense does from the inside what Christ does from the outside …teach…convict…remind…and guide…then He clarifies that this Helper is only available to those who believe [14:17].
For many the Holy Spirit is this mystical Casper the ghost like figure that looms around unseen and undetectable…actually…The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity and undoubtedly the least understood member of the Godhead.
The Bible’s description of the Holy Spirit proves He is not a “force” or “energy” or an “it,” but He is a person…The Holy Spirit is a person because He possesses a mind…emotions… and a will.
Most people agree that it is possible to sin against God…and Jesus…but how about the Holy Spirit…we also can sin against the Holy Spirit…because in reality all sins are against the Trinity.
I want to share with you what happens regarding how the Holy Spirit works in our lives…it’s the difference between the baptism of the Spirit…and… being filled with the Spirit.
Two entirely completely different concepts that receive a lot of attention primarily because of insufficient knowledge regarding the
Difference between being Baptized in the Spirit…and Filled with the Spirit
“For we were all baptized by (in) one Spirit” – [1 Cor. 12:13] …into one single spirit of unity…. whether Jews or Gentiles…male or female…bond or free… whatever nationality…OR condition your life is in….we all equally belong to Christ which makes us all equal members of one body.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at salvation…it is at that point the Holy Spirit comes to permanently dwell inside of you
The moment you are born again you receive the Holy Spirit…God does not give you something…He gives you Himself…the Holy Spirit is God…living out His life through you carrying out His purposes.
Two Verses to validate that:
1) [1 Cor. 12:13] In the Greek…“We are all baptized” …is in the Aorist tense, what we say in English…the past tense…indicating a completed past action don’t know when it happened…it happens at different times depending on when you became a Christian…Baptism with the Spirit is never repeated…it is a one-time event at salvation.
2) [Rom. 8:9, / 1 Cor. 3:16] both verses purposely use the word “dwell” when referring to the Spirit being in you…indicating permanency…the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in you…you have all of Him you are ever going to get.
You don’t have to do anything to be baptized in the Spirit except trust Jesus as your Savior…people are consumed with a desire to do something …speak in tongues… have an experience…seek some kind of physical manifestation to confirm they were baptized in the Spirit…maybe even somehow win the Spirits approval…or convince God of their sincerity.
AGAIN…you do nothing…baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at salvation… The Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside of you…He takes up permanent residence in you …you have all of Him you are ever going to get.
Different than being filled with the Spirit
Christians are saved and are baptized in the Spirit at conversion…BUT…not all Christians are equally filled with the Spirit.
The filling of the Spirit is not getting more of the Spirit…at conversion you already have all you are ever going to get…it’s a matter of the Holy Spirit empowering and getting more control of you.
Every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit…once and for all…BUT…the filling of the Spirit is a matter of NOT how much of the Spirit we have…but how much the Spirit has of us.
Without the filling of the Holy Spirit…we will always be out there just doing things on our own…in our own strength…trying to make ourselves better … trying to be acceptable to God by our human effort.
Without the filling of the Spirit we will continually suffer under the domination of sin…the filling of the Spirit means to be filled with the immediate presence of God to the extent that you are feeling what God Himself feels…desiring what God desires …doing what God wants…Progressively become more like Christ.
Without the Spirit’s help we will always be out there battling the world in our own strength…God wants to give us His strength through the Holy Spirit to overcome the world.
Remember I said earlier—“Baptism of the Spirit” indicated a completed action … being “Filled with the Spirit” carries the idea of continuous action…it is a present imperative verb…meaning TWO THINGS:
1) Being in the imperative mode it is a command—we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
2) Being in the Present tense…indicating continuous action…Peluso Paraphrase would be—Be filled and keep on being filled
All Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at conversion…that’s the baptism part…all Christians are equally saved…SO…If we are given the Holy Spirit atconversion…when we accepted Jesus as Savior…WHY…are we NOT seeing victory in those difficult areas of sin in our life?
KEY— The answer…BECAUSE…price of admission…not all Christians are equally filled with the Spirit…all Christians are baptized in the Spirit…but not all Christians are equally filled with the Spirit.
We have not fully surrendered ourselves to God…this is why we are unsuccessful in our Christian life…this is why we are not experiencing a closer walk with God…this is why situations continue to overwhelm us.
HOLD IT….I’m a Christian…if I’ve have been baptized with the Spirit…isn’t that surrendering myself to God…NO IT IS NOT…as long as I am self-sufficient… attempting to live my life under my set of rules…on my own…I will never be in a position to be fully surrendered to God.
God’s purpose for us is that we would have a daily walking-and-talking relationship with Him…where we experience His presence daily…relying on Him for every decision…and have Him be a part of every thought you think.
That’s what the phrase… “Spirit-filled life” means…Paul uses an illustration to demonstrate what he means by the words “be filled” …the illustration is of a person who is drunk… [Eph. 5:18] …whose whole body has been affected by alcohol.
The more alcohol a person consumes the more they are under the control of it…
to be filled with the Spirit is to voluntarily put oneself under the influence of the Holy Spirit…to be under the control of the Spirit is just like someone who is drunk is controlled and dominated by being intoxicated.
BUT…just like someone who’s drank too much…eventually the effects of the alcohol diminish…so does the filling of the Holy Spirit …that’s why Ephesians 5:18 should be translated… “keep being filled.”
God does not want us to come to Christ then lead a life of defeat and discouragement…going through the motions of…going to church… reading our bibles…praying…confessing sins…but all the while…being discontent with our Christian walk and just surviving.
When we are filled by the Spirit it will turn the drudgery of our everyday life…and our Christian walk from one of complacency…to an empowering blessing.
KEY — The “baptism of the Spirit” takes place once at salvation…at conversion you have all the Spirit you are ever going to get…the filling of the Spirit is the Spirit empowering and getting more control of you.
It’s a repeated experience…something that takes place when we willingly surrender to the influence of the Spirit…it is directly dependent upon our willingness.
Jesus knew after His ascension people would become fearful…so He gave us the assurance of these three statements to help us during our time on earth…He starts off in chapter 14 with what ought to be the most soothing words in the N.T.
Do not let your heart be troubled [John 14:1]
Jesus realized this was the problem with the disciples…so He tells them…He’s telling us… you have grief now but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
If there is a single, central message in Jesus’ words that provides a basis of comfort …it’s trusting faith…often times our inability to be comforted is because we’re not trusting Him like we should.
God’s strength is made perfect when we rely on His strength to sustain us.