Our verses to study are John chapter 14 vs1-3 +
In this passage of scripture we have our Lord’s own promise of heaven and of His second advent. Which He gave to his own agitated, troubled and fearful followers who were gathered with Him just prior to His arrest, trial and crucifixion. In these verses we are told something about the Person of Christ, the Promise of Christ and the Purpose of Christ.
THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
Notice first who it is that says ‘Let not your heart be troubled’in verse 1, who is this ‘ME’ in verse 1. Who is the one who speaks of MY Father. Who is the “I” in verse 3. It is non other than the Lord Jesus Christ. But who is He? According to the verses here He is the Promise maker. To Christ His promises are binding. How’s your faith? To those in Christ His promise is binding, how is your faith your promise? In the early verses in the chapter we find four statements concerning the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Firstly He is the son of God. Notice the words in verse 1 “Ye believe in God (and therefore His promises), believe also in me”. Here the Lord is claiming equality with God His Father. Notice in verse 2 the words “My Father” . He was the son of God and God was His father in a unique relationship. Five times in the scriptures He is called ‘ The only begotten son’. Showing He is Uniquely beloved, uniquely one of a kind, uniquely without president, a special title which is only given to Him, which indicates that He is one with the Father and with the Holy Spirit in the unity of the Godhead.
Secondly He is the only way to the Father. We learn this from verse 6 in the emphatic words “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. Emphatically, to express forcefully, positively, definitely, directly. No getting away from it Jesus is the only way by which a sinner can come into the presence of a Holy God. This is emphasized throughout scriptures. Check out Isaiah ch 45 :18-25, John 10:9, Acts 4:12. There’s a story about a lady who said “I see getting to heaven it is like you are going to the post office. You can get to it down queens road, or you can get there by going down abbey street. Or by harfield road they all lead to the post office that’s the way I see getting to heaven, all roads lead to there” and pastor replied “lady we ain’t going to the post office there’s only one way to heaven and that’s through Jesus!”
Thirdly He is the One who perfectly reveals the Father. We are told this in ch14 verses 7-9 in response to Philp “have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me Phillip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father and how sayest thou then show us the Father”. John 14 is crucial to our understanding of Jesus Christ’s relationship with the Father. See John 1:18, Hebrews 1:1-3
Fourthly He is the one who claims our faith and trust. We learn this from verse 1″believe also in me”and in verses 10 and 11. There is only one person in the whole universe who is really qualified and worthy to stand before men and say believe in me …trust in me…follow me That one is Jesus Christ our Lord.
Here then, in these verses we have a declaration of the person of Christ. He is the son of God; He is the only way to God. He is the revealer of God; and He is the one who claims our complete trust. How great and glorious He is!
THE PROMISE OF CHRIST
The promise is stated in four words “I will come again” in vs3
Three things to note
One The certainty of this promise. Notice how clear and unambiguous it is “I WILL COME AGAIN” not a maybe, a certainty. If we look at verse 10 “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” These words surely certifies His promise to us.
Two The connection this promise has with His ascension. Verse 3 says “if I go” ” I will come again and receive you to myself verse 3 says “if I go”. He is referring to His Ascension which we know happened see Acts 1:9-11. Our Lord did go, and when He went the promise of His return was confirmed by the angels, see Acts 1:11″ this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manners ye have seen Him go into heaven.”
Three The significance of this promise. What did our Lord mean when He said “I will come again”. He was not referring to his Resurrection He was not referring to the coming of the Holy Spirit, He was not referring to the death of a believer. No …He was referring to his own personal, bodily, literal return. He said “I will come again” in ACTS 1:11 the angel said “this same Jesus”. see 1 Thes 4:16.’the Lord Himself ‘. Thus, we see the same Lord Jesus Who was born, lived, died, rose and ascended, and Who is now exalted at the right-hand of God, will come again. This is His Promise, and His Promise leads us to ask the question: What will be the purpose of His coming?
THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST.
Why is He coming? What will He do when He comes? There are several answers to these questions. His return has special reference to His Church, to the Jews, to the world, to Satan. But here in John 14 :1-3 He is speaking to and of His own followers, including those of us who today love and belong to him. What is the purpose of the Lords return for His own people? Here are 3 R’s which sum up the purpose of His coming.
1 Reception . Verse 3 tells us that our Lord said “I will come again and received you unto Myself”. He is coming to receive to Himself all His own on the grounds of His sovereign grace.
See 1 Thes 4:13-18
2 Rehabilitation. This is seen in verse 2 and 3 here we are told that the Lord has gone to prepare a place for us, which consists of many mansions, abiding dwelling places. See the assurance He is giving us in verse 2 “If it were not so I would have told you”. And verse 3 ” I will come again and received you unto Myself”. He is coming to gather us and take us to our heavenly home where we shall be freed from sin sickness and death and enjoy His presence for all eternity.
3 Reunion.Noticein verse 3 “that where I am, there ye may be also”. So there will a great reunion with the Lord Himself.
A must to look up, look up 1 John 3:1-3 with the closing thought of our SONSHIP ,a masterpiece of God’s love and assurance of our coming heavenly home.
Are you His?
God bless
Michael Whitehouse
When the trumpet of the lord shall sound, and time shall be no more
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright, and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Psalm 16:11