Side by side
John 14
Our plain-language guide next to the Bible text. Each row lines up one section with the verses it explains.
Section 1: Do Not Let Your Hearts Be TroubledVerses 1 to 4
Jesus begins with comfort. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well" (14:1).
Troubled means upset and afraid. The disciples were. Jesus knew it.
"In My Father's house are many rooms" (14:2). There is room for them with God.
Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for them. He will come back and take them to be with him.
"So that you also may be where I am" (14:3).
Jesus said, "You know the way to where I am going."
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. 2In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Section 2: The Way, the Truth, and the LifeVerses 5 to 7
Thomas didn't understand. "Lord," Thomas said, "we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?" (14:5).
Jesus answered with one of his most famous sayings.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (14:6).
Jesus didn't give Thomas directions or a map. He said, "I am the way." The way to God is not a list of steps. It is a person.
If they know Jesus, they know the Father too.
5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
Section 3: Show Us the FatherVerses 8 to 14
Then Philip spoke up. "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us" (14:8).
"Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me?" Jesus said. "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (14:9).
Jesus is in the Father, and the Father is in him. The words he speaks come from the Father.
Jesus promised that those who believe in him would do great works too, because he was going to the Father.
"If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it" (14:14). To ask in Jesus's name means to ask as his follower, trusting him and wanting what he wants.
8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. 11Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me—or at least believe on account of the works themselves. 12Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.
Section 4: Another HelperVerses 15 to 21
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (14:15).
Jesus said he would ask the Father to send them "another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth" (14:16-17).
An advocate is someone who stands beside you and speaks up for you. This Advocate is the Holy Spirit.
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" (14:18). An orphan is a child whose parents have died. Jesus promised the disciples would not be left alone.
"Because I live, you also will live" (14:19).
15If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.”
Section 5: We Will Make Our HomeVerses 22 to 26
Another disciple named Judas asked a question. John makes sure we know he is "not Iscariot" (14:22), not the one who betrayed Jesus.
He asked why Jesus would show himself to them but not to the world.
Jesus answered, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (14:23).
The Father and the Son will live with the people who love Jesus.
"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you" (14:26).
22Judas (not Iscariot) asked Him, “Lord, why are You going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus replied, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me. 25All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
Section 6: My Peace I Give YouVerses 27 to 31
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you" (14:27).
"I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid" (14:27).
The world's peace is often only quiet for a while. Jesus's peace stays, even in trouble.
Jesus told them he was going to the Father. He told them ahead of time, so that when it happened, they would believe.
Then he said, "Get up! Let us go on from here" (14:31).
27Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid. 28You heard Me say, ‘I am going away, and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. 30I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me. 31But I do exactly what the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up! Let us go on from here.
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