Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:5-6)
Jesus explains the way to be with Jesus eternally, is through Jesus. If we walk in his way and believe his truth and live our lives like him, Jesus and God will dwell with us and the blood of Jesus will save us from our sins. There is no other way we can approach God and be saved than through Jesus. See Acts 4:12
If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:7)
Jesus was the reflection of God. The attributes of God were reflected in Jesus so fully, that Jesus could say that if you saw Jesus you would know what God was like. Jesus is the image of God (2 Cor. 4:4), likewise we should reflect the attributes of God to men – “And we all … beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Cor. 3:18)
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:8-9)
These verses continue the theme that Jesus reflects the Father so well that it can be said whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father or as we read in John 1:18: “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. “
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. (John 14:10-11)
Jesus is really trying to emphasize the close relationship between him and his father, appealing to the works as evidence of this. In fact, in John 17:20-21, Jesus extends this concept to the disciples. Just as God was in Jesus and Jesus in God, so would it be with those who would believe: “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one” (John 17:21-22)
“Truly, truly, 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. (John 14:12)
Because Jesus was going to be with God, it would mean that the holy spirit gifts were given for a time. “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.“ (John 16:7)
There is greater meaning to this verse than the passing spirit gifts though. True believers will always try and walk in the footsteps of their master, doing good works whenever they can. Not that good works save us, but good works are a result of the faith of the believer.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:10)
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