1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
A troubled heart is shaken by things that we do not understand, and the answer is to trust in God. The disciples were going to need this advice. Jesus had just told them that Judas would betray Him and that Peter would deny Him three times that night. They would see Him dragged before Caiaphas, beaten by Pilate, mocked by Herod, and then crucified by Roman soldiers. Let not your heart be troubled! (John 14:27).
There is, perhaps, no more comforting chapter in the Bible for the humble, faithful Christian who finds himself suddenly facing great affliction in this world. It gives a simple yet powerful solution: entrust your soul to the One who has gone before and is waiting even now to receive you in heaven (Heb 6:18-19). The disciples had left all to follow Christ (Mark 10:28), and surely they were greatly disturbed to hear that Jesus was going to leave them, and that they could not follow.
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.
The Father’s celestial house is sufficiently large for all His invited guests. It is beautiful beyond any comparison to the very finest mansion here on earth! Jesus has gone there to prepare a place for all those that love Him, and He will someday come again to this earth to take them to the Father’s kingdom forever (1Cor 15:24).
Here on earth, many Christians have no abiding home, but a heavenly mansion awaits them! It may be tempting to look at the plush gardens and rich homes of the world’s glory, but even the poorest child of God has a far richer home above, a mansion that Jesus has prepared for him. And no words can fill us with more excitement and contentment than His, “Welcome home, my child.” Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you (Mat 25:34).
The story is told of a missionary family who had lived and worked all their lives in the poverty and darkness of Africa. Finally, the day came when they returned to their own land and people, and they boarded a ship that would carry them across the sea. There was a famous author on the ship too, who had gone to visit and see the African sights, so he also was on that ship returning home. At long last the journey was over and the ship began to dock at the port. All the passengers went on deck to get a first glimpse of their destination. There they saw a great crowd of people gathered, clapping and waving and with big ‘welcome home’ signs, all for the benefit of the famous author. The missionaries looked at one another, “Wow,” said one, “All those people, and not even one is here to welcome us.” The other quietly replied, “True, but we aren’t home yet.”
Yes, someday there will be a great welcome home crowd, but in heaven, and for each and every soul who has gotten the victory over the Beast, and his image, and his mark (Rev 15:2). The saints of all time and all the angels of heaven will be there on that shore, and their greeting and applause will make the very heavens ring. Above all, our Savior Himself will say, Well done thou good and faithful servant…well done!…enter thou into the joy of thy Lord (Mat 25:21).
I will come again and receive you unto Myself. This corresponds well with 1Thes 4:14, which describes Jesus returning to earth with all the righteous souls of those who had died in Christ centuries past, and receiving unto Himself the faithful ones alive on the earth at the time of His Second Coming (1Thes 4:17).
I go to prepare a place for you. When I was a boy, this verse was quoted to explain why Jesus has not yet returned. The idea was that Jesus had gone to heaven to prepare our mansions, and that the task was great. The reason Jesus is tarrying, it was said, is that He wants our heavenly mansions to be perfect and beyond imagination. Today, I believe the verse is teaching something different. In going to the Father, Jesus was preparing the way and means that would allow His disciples to follow. Before the death and resurrection of Christ, a great barrier existed between heaven and earth such that no soul tainted by sin could enter there. Because of the sacrificial death of Christ that barrier has been removed, and the way to the Father’s mansion has been prepared (Heb 9:8; Rom 5:2). Jesus is not tarrying because our place is not yet prepared, but because He is not willing that any should perish (2Pet 3:9).
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?
A little earlier Jesus had told His disciples that where He was going they could not follow now, but later they would (John 13:33, 36). Now He says to them, “You know where I’m going, and you know the way there.”
But the disciples were still unsure, “No Lord, we don’t know know where you’re going. How then can we know the way?” Thomas says.
I am the way, Jesus answers, but that doesn’t satisfy them. Eventually, however, they do profess to understand (John 16:16-30).
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This is Jesus‘ answer to Thomas’ question, as well as the best comfort for every troubled heart, “I am going to the Father, and if you want to go there too, you must follow Me.” Of course, following Christ is firstly a matter of faith, for we do not see Him physically. To follow Christ is to believe on Him, obey His commandments and imitate His manner of life. That is the way to the Father. I am the WAY. This word is sometimes used as a synonym for the Christian faith (Acts 19:9; 22:4; 24:22), which is likened to a long, narrow and difficult road or way (Mat 7:13-14). It is a new and living way which will allow access into the heavenly temple of God (Heb 10:19-20; Rom 5:2). To enter upon this way, one must pass through the door (John 10:9), and follow the voice of the Master and Shepherd (John 12:26; 10:27). I am the way. These words are so important and far-reaching.
He is also the Truth (John 1:17; 8:32). If Jesus really is one with the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent God, then all that He says is true: His doctrine, commandments and promises are Truth. In just a few hours, Pilate will famously ask, What is truth? It is not as easy to answer as it might seem. How can truth be proven, or how can we know what someone says is true or false? Pilate struggled with that problem, not recognizing that Truth was right then standing before him. In general, truth is defined as the real state of things, and it can usually be proven logically. However, some truths are accepted by faith and/or consensus (like the rules of argumentation, cause and effect, etc), and another type of truth is discovered only by divine revelation. Revealed truth is greater and surer than those truths based on man’s logic, for that wisdom may be flawed (1Cor 1:25; 3:19). Divine revelation is infallible because it originates in God, who is the Truth. See notes on John 18:38, 4:23.
And the life. This entire three-fold statement would be preposterous if it came from anyone other than Jesus Christ. Earlier Jesus told Martha, I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25), and in Colossians 3:4 Christ is called, our life. Obedience is essential to obtaining this life (John 3:36; 5:24; 8:51). His words are life (John 6:63) and truth (John 17:17), and reveal the way that leads unto life (Mat 7:14). The three are difficult to separate, for they form parts of a greater whole which is Christ. This verse holds a key position in the Christian/unbeliever debates concerning the existence of God, evolution, right and wrong, salvation, morality and human responsibility. If a Christian wishes to convince an unbeliever of the truth in any of these areas, he must first convince him that Jesus Christ is the basis of all truth. Otherwise, the debate will end up being a dispute over opinions, societal consensus and evidences that can be interpreted in more than one way. Convince an unbeliever that Jesus Christ is the way, truth and life, and you have found a common basis for truth which can lead to salvation.
No man cometh unto the Father but by Me. Here is a stern, sober warning to this world of supposed tolerance and self-made religions. There are not many roads to life eternal, but one, and it is a narrow one. That is not unfair however, for Jesus is also Truth and Life, while all others are False and Death. (Acts 4:12).
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.
Throughout the book of John, Jesus and the Father are shown to be one (John 10:30). They are one in purpose (John 5:30), one in word (John 8:38), and one in deed (John 5:19). They have existed together since before the world began (John 1:1-2; 17:5). On the other hand, the Scriptures are also clear that Jesus and the Father are not two names for the same person (John 5:36; 10:29; 16:26). They are separate individuals.
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? 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.
Jesus’ earthly mission was to manifest and declare the Father. No man has ever truly seen God Himself, but the Son has come to make Him known (John 1:18). Jesus was the divine God made flesh so that mankind could see Him and believe (John 1:14; Col 1:15). Therefore He said, He that seeth Me, seeth Him that sent Me (John 12:45).
I am in the Father, and the Father in Me. This is an essential component of the doctrine of the Trinity; the Father and Son are completely unified in will and purpose (see Mat 11:27). However, the Scriptures also say that God is in the believer (Col 1:27; John 14:23) and every believer is in God (Gal 3:28; Rom 8:1; 1Cor 1:2), and even that the believer becomes one with God and Christ (John 17:21). Clearly though, this unity is not the same, nor does it attain to the degree that the Father and Son are one. The believer is a son of God (John 1:12; Gal 4:6; Php 2:15), but not in the same sense that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the only begotten Son of the Father (John 1:14).
For the very works’ sake. The miracles, prophecies and deeds of Christ prove that His words are true (John 10:37-38). The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works. The wording seems to be precise. Christ doesn’t say that His own works reflect the mind and will of the Father, but that the Father Himself was dwelling within Him and was doing the works. Surely the Pharisees, had they heard such “blasphemy,” would have smote their breasts in (self)righteous indignation and rage.
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.
Perhaps these greater works are to be understood concerning events in the spirtual realm, as in the conversion of violent men to lambs in Christ and in boldly preaching the Gospel so fervently that 3000 men were saved under one sermon (Acts 2:41). Of course, all such deeds are actually performed by God, but His hand is moved by whatsoever ye shall ask in My name. The works of Christ’s disciples are not greater than His own in the unique demonstration of divine power, but the results of their works did have greater visible effects, spreading Christianity far beyond Jerusalem and the land of Israel and unto the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8). This would develop because I go unto My Father. See note on John 14:6 concerning Jesus being the Way.
While the Apostles were the primary recipients of this promise, the power of Christ is available to any believer who asks in the name of Christ, meaning that he is asking for something that is agreeable to Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom. However, it does not logically follow that every believer will perform great works, or even that doing great works in the name of Christ is the goal of Christianity. Rather, let it be that the Father and Son may be glorified (v13). Nevertheless, it is beyond dispute that the twelve Apostles were endowed with unique powers beyond that of other men of God. And they did execute the single most significant event of the Gospel, not counting Jesus’ own death and resurrection, which was the inclusion of the Gentiles into God’s plan of salvation.
Peter was the point-man for this operation, and the rest of the Apostles followed the Spirit’s direction, as a Jewish religion became a Gentile religion which spread with such speed and power that even the enemies of the Gospel acknowledged that by their words and deeds the Apostles had turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). Indeed, no greater work of humans can be found in all history which has affected the world more greatly than has the spread of Christianity into all nations (see note Mat 12:21), for Jesus Christ left that major task for His disciples to perform. And how the Apostles did move the hand of the Father! Remember how Peter’s shadow apparently healed the sick (Acts 5:15) and Paul’s handkerchief could cast how evil spirits (Acts 19:12). They spoke in multiple languages at the same time (Acts 2:4-11), and their words caused men to fall down dead (Acts 5:5), or be struck with instant blindness (Acts 13:11). They were snake-bitten without being hurt and stoned to death without being killed. Prison doors opened of their own accord and angels spoke to them in dreams. It was a time like no other in the history of the world.
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.
This goes with the prophecy in verse 12 that Jesus’ disciples would do greater works than He, all for the purpose of bringing glory to God through Christ. For clearly, those greater works are not performed in human strength, but by the power of Christ, who acts upon the prayers of those who ask in His name. Other verses give the same promise (Mat 7:7-8). There are apparent conditions to receiving our petitions, for even the Apostles’ prayers were sometimes not answered. Paul unsuccessfully petitioned the Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh, the disciples failed to cast out an evil spirit (Mt 17:19-21), and the fact that sicknesses, persecution and martyrdom continued in the Apostolic Era strongly imply that not all their prayers were answered. Jesus’ own prayer for deliverance also went unheeded (Luke 22:42).
Here are the conditions.
- If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us (1John 5:14).
- Whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments (1John 3:22).
- If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you (John 15:7).
- And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive (Mat 21:22).
- Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (James 4:3).
Even the verses under present study imply that our prayers must be in tune with Christ’s will and desire for His Kingdom on earth, for our prayers are to be directed to the Father and asked in Christ’s name (see John 16:23-27). In effect, we are asking God for something that Jesus wants, or at least something that is not contrary to His wishes. A good God will not give His children bad gifts, even if they inadvertently ask Him (Mat 7:9-11). God already knows what things we need (Mat 6:6-8), and the Spirit will help us pray as we should (Rom 8:26-28).
This doesn’t mean that we should not ask God for the trivial things in life, like help in finding a misplaced item, etc. God rejoices in being asked and He loves to exceed our expectations! (Eph 3:20). On the other hand, He is not a vending machine to be used for selfish reasons (James 4:3). Pray much, pray without ceasing and pray for what you feel is God’s will; then rest content in the knowledge that He will answer for the good of those who love and serve Him. See note on John 15:7.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
While here the admonition seems to be added to the formula for prayer given in the previous verses, this concept is a favorite of the Apostle John. See John 8:51; 14:21, 23; 15:10; 1John 3:24; 5:3; 2John 1:6; Rev 3:8; 16:15. It is an essential component of being a Christian (Mat 7:19-25).
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Jesus was returning to His Father’s house, and His disciples were troubled by that idea, but He calms their fears by promising to send another Comforter that would abide with them forever. In the NT Scriptures, only John uses the word parakletos, translated Comforter and Advocate in the KJV as a name for the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7) and Christ (1John 2:1). That Greek word appears nowhere else in the NT, and is found only twice in the Septuagint (Job 16:2; Zec 1:13). However, a closely related word, paraklesis, along with its verb form parakaleo, is found frequently in both testaments (Ps 23:4; 77:2; Is 28:29; 40:11; Mat 5:4; 2Cor 1:3-7; Col 2:2; 2Tes 2:16), where it means “to implore, entreat, exhort, encourage, caution, comfort.” All of those are works of the Holy Spirit.
Another Comforter, Jesus is meaning a person like unto He, one who would do the same things He had done and teach the same things He had taught. Jesus’ temporal earthly ministry was ending and He was returning to glory, but this Comforter would come and abide with you forever.
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.
The Holy Spirit reveals, convicts, exhorts and testifies of the Truth, which has its ground in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). The world will not accept or believe His testimony, but those who belong to Christ have the Spirit dwelling always within (Rom 8:9), teaching and guiding them (John 16:13). A few verses later, Jesus says that He and the Father shall also come and dwell with the believer (John 14:23).
While the world thinks that seeing with the eyes is the most authentic and accurate aspect of believing and truth, the fact is that real faith is more powerful and confirming of the truth than what can be experienced by the human senses! Sleight of hand can easily deceive the eyes and every one of the senses can be incorrect with regards to identifying real truth. However, true faith that is placed in Christ and His Word is always right, always valid, and will never disappoint or deceive! It is the greatest and truest security the human soul can have, for it is based in true reality.
“Because the world cannot see Christ, therefore it does not believe in Him or know Him.” If you wish to convince a man of the world concerning the truth, get him to really see Christ.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
The words Comforter in verse 16 and comfortless in v18 are completely different. The literal translation is, I will not leave you as orphans. Jesus has promised to be with His people unto the end of the age (Mat 28:20). I will come to you. He repeats this a few verses later in stronger terms saying if a man loves Him, He and the Father will come unto him and make our abode with him (v23).
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.
The next day, Jesus would die, and the world would see Him no more; nevertheless, His disciples would continue to see Him spiritually forever (John 13:33; 13:36; 7:33-35). Because I live, ye shall live also. And we live and walk by faith. With these words Jesus’ predicts His resurrection from the dead, although the disciples did not understand that until after it had taken place. However, at that day they would know that, truly He was the Son of God and that all He had said was true (John 14:29). Also on that day, the relationship that God and man had lost in Eden on account of man’s sin would be restored again, for the sacrifice of Christ would atone for those sins such that real communion could be possible: I in my Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.
And will manifest Myself to him. Jesus manifests Himself to those who love Him by living within them, meaning that He cares for them, intercedes for them, supports them, works on their behalf and fully communes with them (Rev 3:20). The enigma of the Trinity is also involved, for Jesus says that the Spirit and Father also live in the heart of the believer.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
The disciples had not yet grasped the mission of Jesus Christ the Messiah. They were Jews, and their rabbis had taught them from childhood that the Messiah would rise up in power and forcefully restore Israel to the head of the nations. He would deliver them from the Roman yoke and the Jew would stand as the person of power, dignity and rule. How could this happen if Jesus was planning to manifest Himself only to the disciples and not to the world?
It was not until after the resurrection that the disciples understood Jesus’ mission (John 8:28). They were scattered like sheep without a shepherd when He was taken from them (Mat 26:51) and shaken to the point of even denying that they knew Him. But their greatest devastation and bitterness was seeing Him crucified to death by those very Romans that they thought He would overrule, for they all had trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel (Luke 24:21).
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.
While as yet they could not understand, Jesus explains what He means by not manifesting Himself to the world, but only unto His disciples. The one who demonstrates his love of Christ by keeping His sayings will in turn be loved by the Father and Son, who will then come and make their abode with him. The one who does not keep the words of Jesus but claims to love Him is a liar, and the truth is not in him (1John 2:4).
We will….make our abode with him. The Greek word abode (mone) is translated mansions in verse 2, and does not appear elsewhere in the NT. The thought compares to 1Cor 3:16-17, where the church is called a temple in which God dwells, here however, God dwells with the individual believer. Earlier in John 14:17, Jesus said that the Spirit of Truth would also dwell in the believer.
The word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s. The teachings of Christ have their origin in heaven (John 7:16; 12:49). Jesus never spoke from or for selfish, worldly motives.
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.
Jesus speaks more directly on the subject of the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17), who would act for Him on earth and essentially replace Him there. Unlike Christ, the Spirit works invisibly but very effectively, as described in more detail in John 16:7-15. In this same context, Jesus said that His disciples would do greater works than His own (John 14:12), and that seems to be a reference to the power of the Holy Spirit working on the behalf of many Christians all at the same time. The Spirit has no limitations, being present in multiple places wherever and whenever He is called or needed. While He walked this earth, Jesus did not appear in multiple places, although He could heal without being present and was able to know the future and thoughts of people not present.
He shall teach you. The Holy Spirit brought those things to mind that He wanted the Apostles to write concerning Jesus Christ and what He had said unto them. This gives a strong clue with respect to the inspiration of Scripture and the manner in which the Holy Spirit moved the pens of holy men of God (2Pet 1:21). Not only did the Spirit put into the minds of the Apostles what to write, He also taught them what it all meant, giving them new understanding concerning the fulfillments of OT prophecies and new insights into the purposes of God.
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. 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.
My peace I give unto you, not temporal contentment and physical rest from contention, but the peace of God, which passeth all understanding (Php 4:7). The peace of Jesus is that contentment of soul which can come only upon knowing that one’s sins have been forgiven, that He is accepted of God, and that a future mansion awaits his departure from this world. Remember, Christ gives you peace with God, and that means you will not be at peace with Satan, sin and the World. Earthly troubles and trials of faith will attempt to wrest that contentment from the soul, but they will not prevail over the Christian who has received the peace that Jesus gives (John 16:33). The road the believer must take in this life is not an easy one, and Jesus forewarned His disciples of that fact, saying, I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father…and he that taketh not his cross and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me (Mat 10:34-39).
The true peace that comes from knowing Christ can be illustrated by the conditions in which Noah and his family found themselves within the ark of safety. The waves and winds were buffeting their ship and their future was dauntingly unknown, but they were at peace in the knowledge that they were obeying God, which, in the last analysis is the most important work of man. As with every one of the Christian attributes, peace as an emotional feeling can be fraudulent and misleading. Peace is a state of being, or condition of the person, which may affect the emotions, but true peace is something deeper, something solidly based on faith and the promises of Christ. Thus is it called the Gospel of peace (Rom 10:15; Eph 5:15), for it is the state of a man being reconciled with God.
Not as the world giveth. A false sense of peace is dangerous to the Christian; emotional feelings are a poor measure of one’s true spiritual condition! Jesus said that many who think that they are doing God’s will discover that they were wrong, and to drastic, terrible results (Luke 13:23-28; Mat 7:20-23). They apparently felt at peace with their spiritual state, but it was a false, deceptive peace. Let not your heart be troubled, repeating John 14:1, which adds, believe in God. True peace is based on faith in God, and true faith is based on obedience to God’s Word (Rom 5:1). Note the emphasis on “true.”
The world offers temporal peace that comes with fame, fortune and security of mind, but that too is a false peace of emotion and physical feelings. Nevertheless many have been lulled into spiritual sleep by this anti-peace, which like the anti-christ puts itself in the place of real peace and disguises itself such that it appears to be authentic.
Neither let it be afraid. The future may seem dark and fearful, but take courage and rest in the peace of Jesus! They are not easy words, but coming from the Master, they cannot be more encouraging! Perhaps it carries just a hint of warning too, for see Rev 21:8.
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.
Jesus had told them He was going away (John 13:33), to His heavenly home (John 14:2-4). He promises to come again, which He will do in three separate ways: first by His physical appearing after the resurrection, second by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and third by His coming in the clouds at the final consummation of the world. By going to the Father, Jesus prepared the way for His followers to someday be there too. For that reason all who love Christ should rejoice!
My Father is greater than I. Perhaps anti-Trinitarians will attempt to use this verse to teach that Jesus is not God, but there is nothing here that contradicts the doctrine of the Trinity. Jesus and God are one in essence, but separate in person. They are both God, not separate Gods, but the one God. Therefore there can, and should be, an authority structure in the Godhead (1Cor 11:3). While the analogy is incomplete, in a marriage two persons become one flesh, yet there is still an authority structure in place.
There are many verses in the book of John which describe the divine nature of Christ and His relation to the Father. From purely human rationale, the details of the doctrine of the Trinity cannot be visualized by our limited minds. Given the explanation in verse 26 however, that the Spirit brought to the Apostle’s mind those sayings of Jesus that He wished John to record, we are sure that these statements are authentic and true! In my opinion, a primary reason these are found in the Scripture is to test the faith of those Christians who rely greatly on human logic and intellect. And when one considers the ideas, writings and manner of life of that class of men today, it is clear that many have failed that test.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Jesus did many things in many different ways so that His disciples would have reasons to believe that He was from God (John 13:19; 16:4). True faith has evidence that give reason to believe something that cannot be seen with the physical eyes (Heb 11:1), and the promises of Jesus concerning the existence of a life after death are believable because of the physical evidences He provided.
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
The prince of this world is Satan (John 12:31; 16:11; Eph 2:2), and Jesus was about to enter an hour of the most intense testing in history. During the time He was delivered unto wicked hands to be crucified and slain (Acts 2:23), Jesus spoke very little to His disciples. It was Satan’s hour to do to the Savior of the world as he wished (Luke 22:53), but in the end he lost in spectacular fashion.
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.
That the world may know. Which adds to the thought of verse 29, and corresponds with John 10:18, one of the most powerful statements explaining Jesus’ mission in all the Scriptures.
Even so do I. Jesus’ commandments originate with the Father (John 12:49; 14:24).
Let us go hence. Apparently Jesus and the apostles were still at the communion/feetwashing table, as there is no other reason for this statement. The whole of chapters 13 and 14 took place in the few hours that Christ and His disciples were in the upper room where they ate the Last Supper. It would now be well after dark (John 13:30), a little before midnight perhaps. Chapters 15-16 were apparently spoken to the disciples as they walked toward the Mount of Olives, and Chapter 17 was probably also spoken on the road to Olives, or, it could be part of His personal prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane with Peter and John. In any case the Gospel of John devotes a lot of time in relating Jesus’ last hours on earth.