What Jesus Did

[Jesus said,] "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!"

—John 14:12-14 NLT

Key Thought


Incredible! Jesus promises that his disciples will do even greater works than he did. And they did! And they still...

 

[Jesus said,] "And you know the way to where I am going." "No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!"

—John 14:4-7 NLT

Key Thought


I sometimes give way too many instructions when giving...

 

[Jesus said,] "There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am."

—John 14:2-3 NLT

Key Thought


At this moment in his earthly ministry, Jesus is preparing to leave the earth and return to heaven. He is going back to heaven to prepare a place for his disciples (including us). When...

 

[Jesus said,] "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me."

—John 14:1 NLT

Key Thought


All their lives, Jesus' disciples were taught to trust God. Their childhoods had been filled with great stories of faithfulness. Jesus' words (which follow in John 14) will stretch their understanding past the breaking point. He will equate himself with God. They will struggle to understand. Much of what happens will remain an impenetrable mystery to...

 

Simon Peter asked, "Lord, where are you going?" And Jesus replied, "You can't go with me now, but you will follow me later." "But why can't I come now, Lord?" he asked. "I'm ready to die for you." Jesus answered, "Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter — before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me."

—John 13:36-38 NLT

Key Thought


Most of us have done it. We've overstated (or at least, overestimated) our commitment...

 

[Jesus said,] "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples."

—John 13:35 NLT

Key Thought


Want to know which churches and which groups of people are really Jesus' disciples? Simple: administer the love test. Do they truly love each other? Do they love people as Jesus loved them when he was on earth? Jesus' later disciple and church planter, the apostle Paul, reasserted this truth in his famous "love chapter" when he reminded us that...

 

[Jesus said,] "Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can't come where I am going. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."

—John 13:33-34 NLT

Key Thought


The standard of love has been set for us. We are to love each other as Jesus has loved us — he served us, and he sacrificed for us. Jesus shows us that love...

 

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, "The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once."

—John 13:31-32 NLT

Key Thought


John has hinted throughout his gospel that Jesus would redefine glory. The word for exalt or glorify actually means to lift up on high. For Jesus, his glory will involve his...

 

When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, "Hurry and do what you're going to do." None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

—John 13:27-30 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus had warned that night was coming. He knew he was to battle the forces of darkness on...

 

The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, "Who's he talking about?" So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus responded, "It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl." And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, "Hurry and do what you're going to do."

—John 13:23-27 NLT

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