John 14:1-14 NIV84
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."
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'? 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. 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. 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. And I will do what ever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. ..."
Why might the disciples be troubled? (Look back over the last few posts if you have just joined us.)
What does Jesus tell them about where He is going?
Jesus is going to the Father's house, He is the only way to get there, and to see Him is to see the Father. His whole ministry was a revelation of the Father living in Him and doing His work through Him --- to see Jesus is to see Father God. How are we to follow Jesus in this kind of life?
Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we have the same relationship with the Father as Jesus did. God the Spirit could not enter into sinful man until Jesus made the way through His crucifixion and resurrection; through faith in Christ we are purified and can safely receive God's Spirit. Do you believe that by faith you (or anyone) can live a life like Jesus? Do even greater things?
Father God, to the degree I allow the Holy Spirit access to my heart is the degree to which I will walk like Jesus. Work in my heart to develop the character of Your Son so I can truly bear His name.
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