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(John 14:6-15 KJV) "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. {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. {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. {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." |
(John 14:6-15 NIV) "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. {7} If you really knew me, you would know[1] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." {8} Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." {9} Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? {10} Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. {11} Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. {13} And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. {14} You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. {15} "If you love me, you will obey what I command." |
BSB - John 14:6
· In response to Thomas' question (v. 5), Jesus gives a comprehensive self-revelation.
· This is the sixth "I am" declaration in John.
o He does not simply show the way; He is the Way.
o He does not simply reveal truth; He is the Truth.
o He does not simply give life; He is the Life.
· All the concepts and abstractions are turned into a Person.
· The way, the truth and the life describe the three principal aspects of the Exodus:
o the way out of bondage (as out of Egypt),
o the truth which guides us in living the Christian life (the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai), and
o the power to live a life pleasing to Christ (the settling into the Promised Land of Canaan).
· The O.T. emphasis on abiding in the "ways" of the Lord (Deut. 26:17; Ps. 1:6; 25:4; 27:11) provides the background for Thomas' question.
o (Deuteronomy 26:17 KJV) "Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:"
o (Psalms 1:6 KJV) "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."
o (Psalms 25:4 KJV) "Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths."
o (Psalms 27:11 KJV) "Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies."
· It is interesting to note that the early disciples are known as followers of "the Way" (Acts 9:2; 19:9).
o (Acts 9:2 KJV) "And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem."
o (Acts 19:9 KJV) "But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus."
· Truth is associated with God's essential nature (Rom. 1:25), with Christ (2 Cor. 11:10; Eph. 4:21), and with the Spirit (v. 17; 15:26). In the Person of Christ, we have not only the statement but the fact of moral perfection realized. John plainly teaches that life is found in the Person of Jesus Christ. He who has Jesus Christ has life, and conversely, he who is without Jesus Christ has no life (1 John 5:12).
Jesus had wisdom from the start of his humanity:
(Luke 2:40 KJV) "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."
(Luke 2:52 KJV) "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
(Matthew 13:54 KJV) "And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" (this is the same as Mark 6:2)
Let’s ask the same question. Where did Jesus’ wisdom come from?
Jesus said (John 14:10), “The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself…” His humanity exists in perfect submission to the Father who indwells Him. His humanity serves as a conduit through whom the words of God flow and the works (deeds) of God are done. His humanity is not the origin or source for the prophecies (predictions) He gives. He spoke, taught, and prophesied only as His humanity was led / instructed by the Father who dwells in Him.
If the Lord Jesus Himself, in His own humanity, knew it was essential to rely on the indwelling Father to provide Him the words to say and deeds to do, I promise you that you and I need to do likewise. No man anywhere, at anytime, is more capable than Jesus of successfully acting in His own right, and yet Jesus refused to do so. If He refused to do so, so should you.
When a man feels like his own wisdom is sufficient, it is unjustified arrogance.
When a man feels like his own predictions are sufficient, it is unjustified arrogance.
When a man feels like his own motives, and plans, and methods, are enough (or “more than enough”) it is unjustified arrogance.
BUT -- When a man realizes he is insufficient in and of himself, and seeks help from the Lord, that is true humility and genuine wisdom, and that wisdom, the wisdom of the Father is seen and found in Jesus:
Scholars say the term “the wisdom of God” in Luke 11:49 is a reference to Jesus, by Jesus.
(Matthew 12:42 KJV) "The queen of the south (Queen of Sheba) shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here." (same as Luke 11:31)
Jesus: “wisdom is justified of her children.” KJV Matthew
11:19 (same in Luke 7:35)
“wisdom is proved right by her actions." NIV
Matthew 11:19
“wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” NRSV
Matthew 11:19
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(Luke 21:12-15 KJV) "But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. {13} And it shall turn to you for a testimony. {14} Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: {15} For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." |
(Luke 21:12-15 NIV) ""But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. {13} This will result in your being witnesses to them. {14} But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. {15} For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." |
The above does not just apply to the Jews to whom Jesus was speaking. It
applies to any disciple!
If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…:
The 7 (including Steven) chosen to serve, had to be full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom. (Acts 6:3)
Steven was proven later to have that wisdom that could not be resisted!
(Acts 6:10 KJV) "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake."
Steven’s sermon talked about wisdom. He told how Joseph of old had this wisdom. He told of how Moses had all the worldly wisdom from the courts of Egypt, and it only led to murder and exile.
Paul the Apostle had all the wisdom that man could given, educated at the feet of Gamaliel, but it only led him to fight against God. Finally, he met Jesus, and then he got the wisdom of God. He then later wrote about it this way:
Romans 11:33-36 KJV) "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! {34} For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? {35} Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? {36} For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."
(Romans 12:1-3 KJV) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. {3} For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
BSB (vv. 12:1-15:16) This is the fifth and final major section of the epistle prior to the conclusion. Matters of practical theology and Christian living are the emphases of these chapters. How the lordship of Christ should affect every area of life is the concern of the apostle.
BSB (vv. 1,2) The initial summary statement in these two verses is a marvel of succinctness and insight. "Reasonable service," which is "logical ministry," demands presentation of oneself as a living sacrifice to God. A sacrifice is that which is utterly devoted to God. The Christian walk is, therefore, a living devotion to God. This may be accomplished through "transformation" (metamorphoo, Gk.) rather than "conformity to the world" (skematizo, Gk.). Skematizo refers to a temporary scheme of things dictated by the world and circumstance. Metamorphoo literally means "to have a form altered." This is a radical change from the inside out. The believer achieves this state of metamorphosis by the operation of the Holy Spirit's renewing his mind, making it possible for the believer "to prove" or "to test in order to find" that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.
BSB - John 14:9: As in v. 7, the words of Jesus contain a mild rebuke. To fail to recognize and know God in Jesus is to fail to know Jesus. The phrase "you have not known" also means "have you not learned to recognize?" The perfect tenses ("has known," "has seen") denote that knowing and seeing Christ have abiding results, although one's knowledge and insight have yet to reach their full maturation. The extent to which we will see the Father is entirely dependent on what we see in Jesus (cf. 1:18; 10:30; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3). This is an additional claim on the part of Jesus that He is, in fact, Deity.