Good morning,

John 15 is about abiding in Christ. We will learn about vines, branches, and why it is important for the branches to abide in the vine. We will also learn God loves us, calls us His friend, we will be hated by the world, and that Jesus will send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God.

Christians will be hated (15:18-25)

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.¹⁹ If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.²⁰ Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.²¹ But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.²² If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.²³ He that hateth me hateth my Father also.²⁴ If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.²⁵ But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.”

The Christian life is not pain free. If we are abiding in Christ, doing His bidding, witnessing for the Lord, and living for Christ, then we should expect to be persecuted. The world does not believe the Bible or that Jesus existed. They put believers in Christ down and make fun of them. How we react tells a lot about who we are in Christ. Do we have a humble spirit or fight back? Do we love the unlovely or do we hate? It should be our heart attitude to follow Jesus example.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

Coming of the Holy Spirit (15:26-27)

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:²⁷ And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

Soon Jesus would be gone. The disciples, although warned, did not comprehend all that was about to happen. Jesus made them a promise to send the Comforter to them. The Comforter (Holy Spirit) would bear witness to all Jesus taught them.

Abiding in Christ comes with a cost. We must be willing to suffer and be rejected. We must be humble as Jesus. We must be sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit, who lives within us, to lead and guide.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 15 is about abiding in Christ. We will learn about vines, branches, and why it is important for the branches to abide in the vine. We will also learn God loves us, calls us His friend, we will be hated by the world, and that Jesus will send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God.

Christians are friends of Christ (15:12-17)

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.¹⁴ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ¹⁵ Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.¹⁶ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.¹⁷ These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

Jesus teaches us three principles.

First, we are to love one another. This is not a request, but a command. Before we were saved, Jesus loved us. God sent Him to earth, in the form of a man, to pay the sin debt we owed.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Second, Jesus calls us His friends. He saw us as “friends” before His death. He laid done His life on the cross for us, His friends. He tells us we are His friends, if we follow His commands.

When we think of Jesus, we think of Him as God the Son, the creator of all things, the Savior of all mankind, the babe in the manger, the man on the cross, or the man resurrected from the dead. But friend? What a relationship we have with God the Son, for Him to call us His friend.

Third, He reminds us that He has chosen and ordained us to go and bring forth fruit. Soul winning and discipleship go hand in hand. When God allows us to see someone come to know Christ, our responsibility has just begun. Discipleship produces fruit in the person’s life. Character, obedience, reading and understanding the Bible, and church attendance, is the fruit of a person who witnesses for Christ.

This passage is challenging.

Do we love as Jesus loves? Do we call the unlovable our friends? Are we witnessing and discipling others, so they can bear much fruit?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 15 is about abiding in Christ. We will learn about vines, branches, and why it is important for the branches to abide in the vine. We will also learn God loves us, calls us His friend, we will be hated by the world, and that Jesus will send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God.

John 15

Abiding in Christ

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)

INTRODUCTION

The true vine (15:1-3)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.² Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.³ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

The metaphor in John 15 is of a vine and its branches. The vine is the source and sustenance of life for the branches, and the branches must abide in the vine to live and bear fruit. Jesus is the vine, and the branches are people. While it is obvious the fruit-bearing branches represent true Christians, the identity of the fruitless ones is in question. The Father is the vinedresser.

Abiding in Christ (15:4-11)

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

The disciples were familiar with the role of the vinedresser. After a vine is planted, the vinedresser has two duties. First, he cuts off fruitless branches, which take away sap from the fruit-bearing branches. If sap is wasted, the plant will bear less fruit. Then he constantly trims shoots from the fruit-bearing branches so that all the sap is concentrated on fruit-bearing. The fruit-bearing branches are pruned so they will bear more fruit. We know these branches represent Christians, because only Christians can bear fruit. Pruning is not done only once—it is a constant process. The Father prunes a branch so it may bear more fruit. After continual pruning, it bears much fruit.

Christians are friends of Christ (15:12-17)

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.¹⁴ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ¹⁵ Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.¹⁶ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.¹⁷ These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

Christians will be hated (15:18-25)

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.¹⁹ If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.²⁰ Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.²¹ But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.²² If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.²³ He that hateth me hateth my Father also.²⁴ If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.²⁵ But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.”

Coming of the Holy Spirit (15:26-27)

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:²⁷ And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 15 is about abiding in Christ. We will learn about vines, branches, and why it is important for the branches to abide in the vine. We will also learn God loves us, calls us His friend, we will be hated by the world, and that Jesus will send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God.

Abiding in Christ (15:4-11)

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.⁹ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.¹⁰ If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.¹¹ These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

The disciples were familiar with the role of the vinedresser. After a vine is planted, the vinedresser has two duties. First, he cuts off fruitless branches, which take away sap from the fruit-bearing branches. If sap is wasted, the plant will bear less fruit. Then he constantly trims shoots from the fruit-bearing branches so that all the sap is concentrated on fruit-bearing. The fruit-bearing branches are pruned so they will bear more fruit. We know these branches represent Christians, because only Christians can bear fruit. Pruning is not done only once—it is a constant process. The Father prunes a branch so it may bear more fruit. After continual pruning, it bears much fruit.

The nourishment we need, as believers in Christ, is in Jesus Christ. Practically speaking, we need to abide in Christ. Understanding the Bible, who Jesus is, what He has done for us, what He continues to do, and what He will do in the future, helps us to surrender our lives. A surrendered life, is a life ready to abide in the vine. When we abide in Christ, we become more like Jesus. We desire the things that Jesus desires. We choose to fully obey His word. We want to be like Jesus in every way.

The Christian that abides in Christ, produces brings forth much fruit. The fruit here are character qualities, works that glorify God, and ability to see souls come to Christ.

Unfortunately, there are many who claim to be Christians who fail to produce fruit. They are not abiding in Christ. They make a profession of faith, but have no desire to grow in Christ. They expect Jesus to conform to their image of Christianity. They are the tares among the wheat. These are the unfruitful branches.

What kind of fruit are we producing? Much fruit or no fruit? Abiding or colliding with Jesus? Maturing or decaying?

It is God’s will that all true believers abide in Christ.

Are we?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 15 is about abiding in Christ. We will learn about vines, branches, and why it is important for the branches to abide in the vine. We will also learn God loves us, calls us His friend, we will be hated by the world, and that Jesus will send us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God.

The true vine (15:1-3)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.² Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.³ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”

The metaphor in John 15 is of a vine and its branches. The vine is the source and sustenance of life for the branches, and the branches must abide in the vine to live and bear fruit. Jesus is the vine, and the branches are people. While it is obvious the fruit-bearing branches represent true Christians, the identity of the fruitless ones is in question. The Father is the vinedresser.

This introduction sets the stage for our teaching on abiding in Christ. The vine, the husbandman, and the branches. The branches that produce fruit and those that do not.

“Jesus was not introducing a new idea by using the metaphor of a vine and branches. In the Old Testament, God’s vine was Israel. He used them to accomplish His purpose in the world, and He blessed those connected with them. He was the vinedresser; He cared for the vine, trimmed it, and cut off branches that did not bear fruit. But God’s vine degenerated and bore no fruit. The vinedresser grieved over the tragedy of Israel’s fruitlessness:

Let me sing now for my well-beloved a song of my beloved concerning His vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill. He dug it all around, removed its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. And He built a tower in the middle of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; then He expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced only worthless ones. “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between Me and My vineyard. What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones? So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground. I will lay it waste; it will not be pruned or hoed, but briars and thorns will come up. I will also charge the clouds to rain no rain on it.” For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel. (Isaiah 5:1-7)

God had done everything He could to make Israel bear fruit, yet it bore none. So He took away its wall and left it unprotected. It was then trampled down by foreign nations and laid waste. Israel was no longer God’s vine; it had forfeited its privilege.

Now there is a new vine. No longer does blessing come through a covenantal relationship with Israel. Fruit and blessing come through connection with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the true Vine.” (The Vine and the Branches, pg. 25, John MacArthur, Grace to you ministries)

This week will help us to determine are we fruitful branches or not.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 14 is a book of comfort. We learn about our new home, the relationship between Jesus and God the Father, that believers can do the works that Christ did, the promise of the Comforter, and sweet peace for believers.

Promise of the Comforter (14:16-26)

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;¹⁷ 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.¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.²⁰ At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.²¹ 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. ²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?²³ 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.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.²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.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.”

Here is true comfort. Jesus is leaving. Jesus says He is also coming back. In the interim, The Father will give us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God, who will live within us, guide, and teach us.

This is crucial for our continued growth in Christ. The still small voice, the gentle nudge to do right, and the conviction when we have done wrong. The Holy Spirit is relentless in keeping believers on the straight and narrow path.

Sweet peace for believers (14:27-31)

“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.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.²⁹ And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.³⁰ Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.³¹ 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.”

The world is looking for peace, but there is no peace. The world is looking in the wrong place. Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace. He gives all believers who trust in Him, His peace.

How do we deal with the stresses of life? Only through knowing Jesus Christ and His word. Peace and comfort come from the word of God. The God of heaven is bigger than any problem we have on earth. God knows each one of us inside and out. He is able to take care of all our heartaches.

Our problem is unbelief. We fail to go to God for His help. He will comfort and give us peace, if we will trust Him.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 14 is a book of comfort. We learn about our new home, the relationship between Jesus and God the Father, that believers can do the works that Christ did, the promise of the Comforter, and sweet peace for believers.

Believers can do the works Christ did (14:12-15)

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.¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

There are three things to glean from these verses.

First, we are able to do greater works than Christ. How can that be? Jesus is God. Communicating the gospel, in Jesus time, was in small gatherings, one on one, or in the homes of believers. Some trusted Christ, but not many.

After Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, many more came to Christ. At Pentecost 3,000 souls were saved. Today through radio, television, internet, and mass evangelistic meetings, souls are being saved on a daily basis. These same tools allow the new believer the opportunity to get sound Bible teaching in their homes.

Second, is the study and obedience to God’s word. Everything God wanted us to know is found in the Bible. Without a knowledge of God’s word, we will not know God’s will for our lives. Studying the Scriptures is important. Obedience to what God commands is the basis for loving Jesus.

Third, prayer. Jesus said if you pray in His name, He would answer that prayer. Our prayers must be in line with the Scriptural principles Jesus taught. If our prayers are for worldly pursuits, not in line with what Scripture says, demeans the work of Christ, then Jesus is not obligated to answer our prayer. However, when we pray in Jesus name, upholding the Scriptural principles He taught, exalting His name, He hears our prayers and will answer, yes, no, or wait.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 14 is a book of comfort. We learn about our new home, the relationship between Jesus and God the Father, that believers can do the works that Christ did, the promise of the Comforter, and sweet peace for believers.

John 14

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. (14:26)

Introduction

Christ tells of His return (14:1-6)

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² 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.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.⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.⁵ Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

To know Jesus is to know the Father (14:7-11)

⁷ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.⁹ 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, Show us the Father?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.¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Believers can do the works Christ did (14:12-15)

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.¹³ And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.¹⁴ If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Promise of the Comforter (14:16-26)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;¹⁷ 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.¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.¹⁹ Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.²⁰ At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.²¹ 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. ²² Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?²³ 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.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.²⁵ These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.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.

Sweet peace for believers (14:27-31)

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.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.²⁹ And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.³⁰ Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.³¹ 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.

CONCLUSION

Christ tells of His return

To know Jesus is to know the Father

Believers can do the works Christ did

Promise of the Comforter

Sweet peace for believers

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 14 is a book of comfort. We learn about our new home, the relationship between Jesus and God the Father, that believers can do the works that Christ did, the promise of the Comforter, and sweet peace for believers.

To know Jesus is to know the Father (14:7-11)

“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.⁹ 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, Show us the Father?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.¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.”

We serve a triune God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One God with three different functions. God the Son speaks the words given to Him by God the Father. Jesus is always bringing honor to God the Father. Never to Himself.

“I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30) When Jesus made this statement the Jews took up stones to stone Him. Jesus claims to be God, because He is God.

Jesus was teaching His disciples that He is God. He was giving them a lesson about the relationship between God the Father and God the Son.

Knowing that Jesus is God should be a comfort to us. Since He knows everything, He knows us. He knows our joys, sorrows, and trials. He hears our prayers and has the power to answer them. Yet He knows what is best in every situation. He answers our prayers according to His will.

What a blessing to have the triune God working in unity on my behalf.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

John 14 is a book of comfort. We learn about our new home, the relationship between Jesus and God the Father, that believers can do the works that Christ did, the promise of the Comforter, and sweet peace for believers.

Christ tells of His return (14:1-6)

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ² 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.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.⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.⁵ Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The chapter opens with words of comfort. “Let not your heart be troubled…” Why? Because Jesus is going to prepare a place for us. He then promises to come back for them. Also, where He lives, they would also live. Then He tells them that He is the way, truth, and life.

This portion of Scripture is associated with our heavenly mansion. But is that really the most important lesson?

Jesus would soon die for the sins of all mankind. Those who trust Christ by faith will have their sin debt paid. They will have eternal life waiting for them. And they will have the privilege to spend all of eternity with the one who bought their pardon on the cross.

The key lesson is that all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ will spent eternity with their Savior. It will be a personal relationship. We will see Him face to face. We will speak to Him, ask Him questions, and be taught by Him.

That is true comfort.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001