New Testament Commentary - John 14

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 14 Jesus speaks of many mansions; says he is the way, the truth, and the life; tht to see him is to see the Father—He promises the first and second Comforters.
1 LET not your heart be ^atroubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's ^ahouse are many ^bmansions^a: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you^b. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will ^acome again, and receive you unto myself; that ^bwhere ^cI am, there ye may be also.	2^a In my Father's house are many mansions The 'Father's house' is that which consists only of the Celestial Glory. While there are other 'kingdoms' and as many levels of glory in them as the stars in the heavens, one needs consider that the glory of the Celestial is one glory, all being there in the fulness of the Father. Then what is meant by the 'many mansions'. This goes beyond the scope of this existance which is of the 'generation of Jehovah'. But one must consider that if in Jehovah there is a beginning and and end, then if all of the Father's work was composed of only that which is Christ's, then there would be an end to the Father's works, which there is not. That only certain were given unto Christ, that is Jehovah and that we are of that generation, suggests that beyond the Alpha and Omega of our Lord, the Father has many other mansions and works which he has been and continues to be about. That particular 'mansion' which our Lord is preparing for us, it that which is particular to His generation. Beyond this we need not concern ourselves, for ours is to be concerned with that which does pertain unto us, and we are Christ's, that is Jehovah's, who is the same as Jesus. 2^b I go to prepare a place for you From the beginning to the end of a 'generation of the Father', there is much work to do. Jehovah is our Alpha or beginning, and he is our end or Omega. From his spirit birth, the first of His and our generation in the Father, he marked that beginning of the ages of time which do pertain unto us. He was anointed and ordained by the Father to be our representative God of our generation before the Father. He was to be all things unto us in this, from creator to final judge, our beginning and end. He is our advocate, mediator, intercessor and ministering God, through and by whom all things that are done are done. There is much work about ordering the immortality and eternal life of man. That is the Lord's work and Christ is working to prepare our place, our particular mansion in the Father's Eternity, that we might dwell there in.	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
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? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the ^away, the ^btruth, and the life: no man ^ccometh unto the Father, but by me.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
7 If ye had ^aknown 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. 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 ^aFather; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
10 Believest thou not that I am in the ^aFather, and the Father in me^a? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works^b. 11 Believe me that I am in the ^aFather, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that ^abelieveth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I ^bgo unto my ^cFather. Spirit Children of God There is a 'spirit' within man, which spirit before the world was, was literally born, begotten of God the Eternal Father of the spirits of man. In this we are of the race of God. Jehovah was the 'Firstborn' of every creature. In this he is our Elder Brother. This is what the scriptures teach, this is what Jesus taught. and this is what Jesus' diciples also taught. "Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?" (Malachi 2:10) " ... it shall be said unto them [children of Israel], Ye are the sons of the living God." (Hosea 1:10) "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High." (Psalms 82;6) " ... For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered them, is it not written in your law, Ye are gods [; and all of you are children of the most High]? ... Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?" (John 10:33, 34 & 36) "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to by brethern and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17) "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:6) "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's devise." (Acts 17:28-29 [Isaiah 22:24]) "Furthermore we have had fathers which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Hebrews 12:9) God the Father is the Father of our Spirit body. We are the sons and daughters of God. And to the end that we may know the order of the spirit sons and daughters of God the Father of Spirits, it is also written of Jesus Christ, who is the same as Jehovah, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" (Colossians 1:15). And it continueth to state that 'by him were all things created', speaking of the temporal creation of this second estate. If then all things were so created by him, being after his 'first' being born of the Father, then how else are we to understand that he is the 'Firstborn of the Father' but by Spirit Birth or his spirit body in that realm which is before the very foundation of the earth? Jesus Christ is the Firstborn of the Father's spirit children in that pre-mortal existance of all who does belong to the Generation of Christ. And he is the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh as pertaining to this creation of heaven and earth.	10^a I am in the Father, and the Father in me This is one of the scriptural verses which when not properly understood, does lead to the concept that Jesus and God the Eternal Father are one and the same being. Those who do not have the truth of revelation in their souls, that is the Holy Ghost, can easily be lead into false doctrine upon this matter as were and are they who subscibed to the concept portrayed by the Nicene Creed, that God is but one being expressed in different avenues of persons, something like a women being a mother, a wife and perhaps an emplyee of some business firm. Each view her as a different person though she is but one. This is the false doctrine of the 'Holy Trinity' of Traditional Christianity. The truth they are missing also holds them back from finding the truth. For it is when one comes to understand how it is that the Father is in Christ and Christ is in the Father, that one can also come to that same state of coexistance with them. And this is by being in that same spirit, mind, will and purpose with each other. And that is conveyed when the two being appart and separate by the conveyance and presence of the Holy Spirit, even the Holy Ghost. When one comes to that 'harmony' in and with God, then they too may become one to be intune and at one with the presence of the Father and that Father in accord with the person who is being communed with. Yea, this is what it meaneth, that when any of us come to that level and point of being one in the Spirit of God that our own will is swallowed up in the will of the Father that we say and do what the Father would have us say and do according to his will, then we are one with him. It does not mean that we become the same person as the Father, for each of us is separate and distinct even as Jesus and the Father are. But that we can become 'one' even as Jesus and the Father are one. And if one believes that this means that Jesus and his Father are one and the same being, then they have lost this meaning and have lost the secret of becoming Even As God Is, of how it is that through the workings of that Spirit from God, man might become one with God even as Jesus is one in the Father and the Father in Him. And they will never become one with him, having lost that true understanding of becoming one with God, thus pleasing God and earning that reward. And this is according to the design in Satan in promoting that blasphemous doctrine which robs God the Father of his parenthood of the race of man, he being the Father of Spirits as truly taught by the Holy Scriptures. 10^b the Father that dwelleth in me God the Father had put the Holy Spirit of communication upon Jesus (Isaiah 42:1-4), 'within Jesus', from birth. Jesus' life had been accompanied by the presence of that spirit always. That this effect was greater upon him than the rest of us goes to say something about the being and nature of Jesus Christ and the great spirit and intelliegence he was and is. He was the greatest and most advanced of all the intelliegences of the children of the Father of His Generation (Abraham 3:19), that is the Generation of Jehovah. So effectual was this relation in Jesus that Jesus did and said all that the Father would have he say and do as though it were the Father saying and doing it. When one choses to see it not from this perspective, they have lost their own way of become one in and with God. This is the great blaspheme and tragedy of the false concept of the 'Holy Trinity' as presented by those who uphold it by that Nicene Creed. It is little wonder that Jesus when he spoke to Joseph Smith in the sacred grove, that he told him that 'all their creeds were an abomination in his sight' (JSH 1:19).	1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of; Let the Hymns Speak O My Father, 292 - Eliza R. Snow O my Father, thou that dwellest In the high and glorious place, When shall I regain thy presence And again behold thy face? In thy holy habitation, Did my spirit once reside? In my first primeval childhood, Was I nurtured near thy side? For a wise and glorious purpose Thou hast placed me here on earth And withheld the recollection Of my former friends and birth; Yet ofttimes a secret something Whispered,"You're a stranger here," And I felt that I had wandered From a more exalted sphere. I had learned to call thee Father, Thru thy Spirit from on high, But, until the key of knowledge Was restored, I knew not why. In the heav'ns are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare! Truth is reason, truth eternal Tells me I've a mother there. When I leave this frail existence, When I lay this mortal by, Father, Mother, may I meet you In your royal courts on high? Then, at length, when I've completed All you sent me forth to do, With your mutual approbation Let me come and dwell with you. I Am a Child of God, h.301 - Naomi W. Randall, Adopted from the children's hymns. I am a child of God, And he has sent me here, Has given me an earthly home With parents kind and dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, Help me find the way, Teach me all that I must do, To live with him some day. I am a child of God, And so my needs are great; Help me to understand his words Before it grows too late. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, Help me find the way, Teach me all that I must do, To live with him some day. I am a child of God, Rich blessings are in store; If I but learn to do his will I'll live with him once more. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, Help me find the way, Teach me all that I must do, To live with him some day.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ^aask in my ^bname, 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 ^alove me, ^bkeep my ^ccommandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another ^aComforter, that he may ^babide with you for ever; 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.
18 I will not leave you ^acomfortless: I will ^bcome to you. 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 ^akeepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be ^bloved of my Father, and I will love him, and will ^cmanifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will ^alove him, and we will come unto him, and make our ^babode with him.
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. 26 But the ^aComforter, which is the ^bHoly Ghost, whom the Father will send in my ^cname, he shall ^dteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 ^aPeace I leave with you, my ^bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ^ctroubled, neither let it be afraid. 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 ^ago unto the Father: for my ^bFather is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might ^abelieve. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: ^afor the ^bprince of this ^cworld cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me ^acommandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.