I Am the Way
"Do not let your hearts be troubled"
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On the night before he died, Jesus told his frightened disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, because he was going to prepare a place for them in his Father's house. When Thomas asked the way, Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life," and when Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus said anyone who has seen him has seen the Father. He promised to send the Holy Spirit and left them his peace.
Where it is in the Bible: John 14
Before You Read
Where we are. It is the night before Jesus dies. He has washed his disciples' feet and shared a last meal with them (13:1-5). Judas has gone out into the night to betray him (13:30).
What just happened. Jesus said he would be with them only a little while longer (13:33). He told Peter that before morning, Peter would deny him three times (13:38). The disciples are frightened and confused.
What this chapter is. John 14 is the start of Jesus's last long talk with his disciples. Bible readers call John 14 to 16 the Farewell Discourse. A discourse is a long talk. Jesus is saying goodbye, and telling them what will happen after he goes.
How to read it. Three disciples interrupt with questions: Thomas, Philip, and a disciple named Judas (not Judas Iscariot). Each question opens up something new.
Map of the Passage
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled | 14:1-4 | Jesus goes to prepare a place |
| 2. The Way, the Truth, and the Life | 14:5-7 | Thomas asks the way |
| 3. Show Us the Father | 14:8-14 | Philip asks to see the Father |
| 4. Another Helper | 14:15-21 | Jesus promises the Holy Spirit |
| 5. We Will Make Our Home | 14:22-26 | God will live with those who love Jesus |
| 6. My Peace I Give You | 14:27-31 | Jesus leaves them his peace |
Section by Section
Section 1 of 6Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled
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."
Section 2 of 6The Way, the Truth, and the Life
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.
Section 3 of 6Show Us the Father
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.
Section 4 of 6Another Helper
"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).
Section 5 of 6We Will Make Our Home
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).
Section 6 of 6My Peace I Give You
"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).
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (14:1) | Jesus gives comfort when we are afraid. |
| "In My Father's house are many rooms" (14:2) | There is room with God for everyone Jesus brings. |
| "I am the way and the truth and the life" (14:6) | Jesus himself is the way to God. |
| "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (14:9) | If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. |
| "Another Advocate... the Spirit of truth" (14:16-17) | The Holy Spirit stays with Jesus's followers forever. |
| "I will not leave you as orphans" (14:18) | Jesus does not abandon his people. |
| "My peace I give to you" (14:27) | Jesus's peace is a gift that lasts, even in hard times. |
Back Then
A father's house often had many rooms. When sons married, families sometimes built new rooms onto the family home. Jesus may have been using that picture of a big family house.
"Advocate" is a Greek word that is hard to translate. It is parakletos. It means someone called to stand beside you. Different Bibles say Helper, Comforter, Counselor, or Advocate.
The disciples remembered. Jesus promised the Spirit would remind them of everything he said (14:26). Christians believe this is how the Gospels came to be written down.
Literal Reader Alert
Is heaven a big house with rooms? Jesus is using a picture. The point is that there is a place for us with God. We don't know exactly what it looks like.
"No one comes to the Father except through Me." What about people who never heard of Jesus? That is a hard and honest question. Jesus says he is the way to the Father. The Bible also shows that God loves the whole world and sends his people to tell everyone (John 3:16, Matthew 28:19). We can trust God to be fair and good.
Will Jesus do anything I ask? Asking in Jesus's name means asking as his follower, for what he wants. It is not a magic phrase. Sometimes God's answer is different from what we hoped. He always hears.
Is the Father greater than Jesus? Jesus said "the Father is greater than I" (14:28). He also said, "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (14:9). Christians believe that, as a human being on earth, Jesus served his Father, and that he is also fully God.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The disciples | Troubled | Jesus said he was leaving (14:1) |
| Thomas | Confused | He didn't know the way (14:5) |
| Philip | Longing | He wanted to see the Father (14:8) |
| Jesus | Peaceful | He gave his peace to them (14:27) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
Which promise do you need most right now? Tap one.
A place for me
Jesus said there are many rooms in his Father's house, and he prepares a place for you.
Not left alone
"I will not leave you as orphans." The Spirit stays with you.
Peace
"My peace I give to you." Jesus's peace isn't like the world's. It stays.
The way
You don't have to find it alone. Jesus said, "I am the way."
I'm grieving
These words are for you too. Many people hear them at funerals. Jesus is preparing a place.
You Might Have Heard
"All roads lead to God, so it doesn't matter which one you take."
What's true: God loves the whole world. People everywhere long for God.
What the passage is mainly about: Jesus doesn't point to a road. He says, "I am the way" (14:6). The way to God is a person, and he comes to us. He came to make the way open for everyone.
Where Jesus is: At a table with frightened friends on the night before he dies, giving them comfort instead of asking for it.
Good News
The disciples were afraid. Jesus was about to die. But he spent the night comforting them.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well" (14:1).
He went to prepare a place. He sent the Holy Spirit. He gives a peace the world can't take away.
Jesus is the way to the Father. He prepares a place for you, and he does not leave you alone.
Big Idea
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. He prepares a place for us, sends the Holy Spirit, and gives us his peace.
If this passage brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that we should not try to find God by climbing up to him with our own thoughts. We find God by looking at Jesus. Jesus told Philip, "Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father" (14:9). Luther often pointed troubled people to these words.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year A, it reads John 14:1-14 on the Fifth Sunday of Easter and John 14:15-21 on the Sixth. In Year C, it reads John 14:23-29 on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, and John 14:8-17 on the Day of Pentecost. Many churches also read John 14:1-6 at funerals.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
I am the way and the truth and the life.
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Fifth Sunday of Easter Year AGospel, John 14:1–14
- Sixth Sunday of Easter Year AGospel, John 14:15–21
- Sixth Sunday of Easter Year CGospel, John 14:23–29 or John 5:1–9
- Day of Pentecost Year CGospel, John 14:8–17 [25–27]
For a newsletter or sermon notes
I Am the Way, explained in plain words. Jesus is leaving, and his friends are afraid. He promises a place, a Helper, and peace. About 13 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/i-am-the-way/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church