Wisdom in John’s Gospel Part 8
Chapters 13- 14 Way, Truth, Life
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me
will not remain in darkness.” John 12:46 (NASB 95)
In this series, we have examined the theme of the wisdom of God, which is presented throughout the Gospel according to John. In the previous parts of this series, we saw the emphasis:
- Who Jesus was (chapters 1-3)
- The spiritual truth He brought (chapters 3 and 4),
- How He validated His claim to be God’s Son (chapter 5),
- His way of teaching that amazed His hearers (chapters 6 and 7)
- His claim to be the Light that illuminates truth (chapter 8).
- He brought the truth about spiritual reality (Chapter 9).
- His focus is on belief and resurrection (Chapters 10 and 11).
- His continued teaching as the Light of the World and the need for His followers to “walk in the Light” (Chapter 12)
In Chapters 13 – 17, John describes the private withdrawal from the temple after ending His public ministry in Chapter 12. John describes the night before the Passover, where He meets in the upper room with His disciples. During the supper, He washes the disciple’s feet before predicting His betrayal (by Judas) and His denial by Peter. Then, He turns to comfort the disciples. We focus on a key passage in chapter 14 that succinctly summarizes the wisdom of God theme revealed in John’s Gospel.
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:1–6.
Telling the disciples He would go away (and prepare a place for them) and then return, He was queried by Thomas, who did not understand. Jesus then answered with the well-known response in verse 6:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
The table below summarizes these three claims about Jesus’ exclusive access to God the Father, His claim of genuine spiritual reality, and His provision of spiritual light and eternal life to those who receive Him.
In the following verses in chapter 14, Jesus spoke to the disciples about the coming of the God’s Spirit to dwell in them as a Helper and their obedience in keeping God’s Word. He comforted them, reiterated His imminent departure, and His return.
In Chapters 15 and 16, Jesus Illustrated the believer’s role as branches that produce fruit and are connected to the vine (Jesus) and cared for by the Vinedresser (the Father). He emphasized the commandment to love each other and reiterated His imminent departure. In Chapter 17, John narrates the prayer of Jesus in the garden away from Jerusalem, concluding with a lament that while the world (of unbelievers) failed to see His light and acknowledge the truth, yet the small number of followers received Him and, as branches on a vine, will exhibit the fruit of love.
“O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25–26.