John

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John 14 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on John 14 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 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.

"I go to prepare a place for you."
When was heaven created?
BOM: Enos 27

It seems the author of the SAB reads the words “I go to prepare a place for you” as “ go to create heaven for you.” Which is a very strange reading. As Jesus clearly says in the beginning of the verse “In my Father's house are many mansions.” Jesus' Father's house is of course heaven and it has many mansions, Jesus clearly indicates that heaven is already there, it has been created. With the preparing of the place Jesus means nothing more than what we would do when we receive guests. The guest room is already there, but we make sure it has fresh linen, the dust is removed, perhaps fresh flowers are placed, just everything is made ready for an actual occupant.

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.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Jesus is the only way to heaven. All other religions lead to hell.

All other religions lead away from the truth, none lead to Jesus who is the truth.

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, shew 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, Shew us the Father?

"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father."
Can God be seen?
Is Jesus God?

On seeing God, John Gill comments:

not with the eyes of his body, but with the eyes of his understanding; he that has beheld the perfections of the Godhead in me

And indeed, it is another clear exposition that Jesus is God.

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.

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.

"Greater works than these shall he do."
Those who believe in Jesus will be able to perform even greater miracles than he did!

The conversion of a sinner is the greatest work of all and the apostle have been instrumental in the conversion of many such as the conversion of 3000 on one day (Acts 2:41). That is because a sinner is blind for the glory of Christ, deaf for the overtures of the gospel, dumb to praise God, and unable and unwilling to remove himself from this condition.

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(14:13-14) "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."
Now how's that for a big lie?

True believers will know this is true till this very day. There kind Father in Heaven will indeed withhold nothing from that which they ask in Jesus name and which is according to their Father's will.

14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 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.

"Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more."
Will Jesus' second coming be visible to all?

As in Matthew 24:30 this verse doesn't discuss the second coming at all. In the previous first Jesus describes he will not leave them comfortless, he will send them the comforter, the Holy Spirit. This happened at Pentecost, ten days after Jesus ascension (Acts 2:20). Jesus does not talk about events far in the future.
What is meant by “the world seeth me no more” is that after Jesus rose from the death, he did no longer show himself to the world, only to his disciples.
But Jesus words can also be taken in a wider context as Jesus explains to Judas in verses 22-23. To this day, Jesus does not show himself to the world, only to his people.
So this chapter doesn't discuss the second coming at all. But at the end of the world, Jesus will come and be visible to all, Rev. 1:7.

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.

"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."
If you follow Jesus' teachings, God will love you -- otherwise... well, you know.

And what are God's commandments? Love God above all and your neighbor as yourself, Luke 10:27. Or is it too much to ask that you love your neighbor as yourself? Is it too much to ask that you do not hurt those around you? And should such deeds go unpunished forever?

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.

"The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send."
Who sent the Holy Ghost?

The Father and the Son have send the Holy Ghost, they were as one in this as this verse and chapter 15:26 make clear.

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.

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you."
Is Jesus peaceful?

In asking if Jesus was peaceful, the author of the SAB cannot mention any example where Jesus is not peaceful. But the effect of Jesus preaching is division, between those who believe and those who reject. See also Matthew 10:34.

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.

"My Father is greater than I."
Is Jesus God?

The author of the SAB interprets “greater than I” as “qualitatively different,” or as “of a different nature.” But when we look at the context, Jesus says that his disciples shouldn't be sad that he would depart, because he would go to a better place. He was living in a low condition here, and would go to the Father, who lived in glory. That is the meaning of Jesus' words here.
See also John Gill on this subject.

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.

(14:30) "The prince of this world"
Who is the Lord of the earth?

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.