John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
 
THIS is the third look at Jesus’ two promises in this passage. Our previous two lessons were understanding Jesus’ first promise here that “anyone who has faith in me will…do even greater things than these (things I have done). We considered how his disciples – you and I included – would do the work of evangelizing, leading people to Christ and healing. These activities have occurred throughout church history around the globe. The Spirit has empowered faithful gospel disciples to do more than Jesus did in three years on earth.
   Then we looked at our Lord’s second promise, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” To truly understand this is “the truth”, we recognize this kind of prayer response comes to us when we are in a close, Spirit-empowered relationship with our Lord. We pray in all circumstances as Jesus would.
   To help you know Jesus spoke the truth, here is a testimony from a pastor in Africa. He testifies to the power of God’s Word to do God’s will on earth: “Thanks man of God. I believe so as you have written, and the Bible declares. These are my prayers, too. Yes, I have experienced that miracle in the ongoing gospel crusades we are doing now. Marvelous healings, demons fleeing in Jesus’ name. We are celebrating the name of the Lord by what God is doing by miracles. Please prayer for more souls to be saved. We are in the outer remote regions of northeastern Kenya until June in the whole country. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.”
   Even more, we have recently heard similar testimony from a church near our home in Tennessee. God powerfully answers prayers as people are healed and lives changed. Yes, it is possible and real when we faithfully pursue God’s will.
   This is the power of God alive in his church and his people. I pray it is so with all of us.

John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
 
OUR previous lesson was understanding Jesus’ first promise here that “anyone who has faith in me will…do even greater things than these (things I have done). Now we look at our Lord’s second promise, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” How do we know this is “the truth”? Do we not ask in our hearts, “Will the Lord, can the Lord do this?”
   To truly pray in Jesus’ name means you are in a faithful relationship with the Holy God. Living in faith to submit to God’s commands opens your heart to be God’s representative on earth. This is as a nation’s ambassador who speaks only in the name of his country’s leader. A true disciple is a true ambassador. You are one with Jesus, united with the Master in your thoughts, words and actions in the same way Jesus is one with the Father. Such a unity will give you the means to live with his power and authority. You will honor the Son to follow his purposes in all you do.
   Thus, to pray in Jesus’ name, does not mean you live as you desire, then suddenly pray, “In Jesus’ name, grant me this prayer.” It means you pray to the Father in the same way Jesus would pray in any given circumstance.
   “Our prayers in Jesus’ name must: (1) reflect Jesus’ character and be consistent with his desires and purposes (2) demonstrate faith in him and his authority (3) reveal a sincere desire to honor both the Father and the Son.  
   “Prayers offered with this attitude and awareness will build faith and provide peace that God is in control and will do what is best for us. Jesus will answer any prayer that he would have prayed himself – that is perfectly in line with his purposes. There is no limit to the power of prayer when it is addressed to Jesus or the Father with sincere faith and according to his desire: Matthew 17:20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ (an illustration of faithful prayer’s power) and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  (from Fire Bible™: Global Study Edition, Copyright © 2009 by Life Publishers International.)
   Will the Lord grant anything you ask? He will as it is true to the Father’s will. Jesus’ words, then, are true for a faithful disciple. As mentioned in the preceding lesson, you will be a faithful participant in God’s work on earth to do the great things of evangelizing, leading people to faith and doing miracles. You will pray with the mind of Christ. You will know in the Spirit’s power what is the Father’s good will.  
   This is the potential of the Christian life. Too many of us reject this as impossible. But we must know “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)  
 

John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  
 
WITH sure teaching, Jesus points the disciples – and the church – with a future view of Kingdom work as he says, “I tell you the truth.” The God of the universe has spoken to mankind to reveal two life-giving, soul-transforming faith promises: First, “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing…even greater things than these.” And second, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Do you believe these promises?
   I think most of us react with, “Do you mean that, Lord? I can and will do greater things than you did on earth? Then what about the, ‘No.’ and, ‘Not now.’ I’ve heard many times when I prayed? You didn’t do what I asked, Jesus. Are you telling me the truth?”
   Does this sound familiar? We’ve all had those thoughts, haven’t we? How do we move through these challenges to our faith to believe the Lord Jesus’ has spoken the truth?
   First, his promise, “Everyone will do greater things than these (things I have done).” is about a true faith life as Jesus’ disciple in three ways. They are: 1) evangelizing, which is to tell the gospel truth as a life habit 2) leading people to confess Jesus as Lord and 3) performing miracles as Jesus did. I know, these all, especially the third one may seem impossible to many of us. But let’s remember, true discipleship is Jesus’ call to submit our lives to his will. Luke 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. We must not look at our own limitations when God calls. We are to look at his limitless power to use us to his will. The 11 disciples and then Matthias, who replaced Judas, demonstrated the Spirit’s transformation of hearts and minds as they evangelized the gospel in: Acts 8:25 When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages. The apostles led people to confess Jesus: Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They did miracles: Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.
   The men who had so many questions for Jesus in the Upper Room became his absolute truth tellers to a lost world. Throughout the ages since, a far greater number of people have come to Christ because Jesus’ disciples in each generation have told the good news of God’s grace.
   Countless people have been born again into a living faith. Untold numbers of sick have been healed in the Spirit’s power. This is much more than in Jesus’ three years of ministry. Indeed, Jesus’ faithful disciples have done greater things on earth over time because the Lord has empowered us – yes, you, me and all who say, “I believe Jesus is Lord.” When you are faithfully walking in Jesus’ commands, the Holy Spirit will gift you to the work of Christ.
          We’ll continue with Jesus’ second promise in our next lesson. 

John 14:7-11 “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”  
 
AS Jesus faced the cross, one of his goals in the Upper Room Discourse was to affirm his relationship with the Father and the Spirit. John 14-18 is perhaps the most defined information we have of the Holy Trinity’s work for the salvation of mankind.
   How would you feel if Jesus said to you,        “If you really knew me.” Would you ask yourself, “What am I missing?” Or perhaps you might ask Jesus, “How can I know you more?” It seems he wanted his disciples to ask both questions. “Even after (Jesus) had been among (them) such a long time, the disciples still had vital lessons to learn.
   When Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” he was revealing his limited view of the work ahead of him. Many faithful Jews longed to experience God’s glory in person as Moses, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel and others had known. Perhaps they believed that if God would show himself to them in a glorious vision, their lives would be complete. But God’s revelations to the prophets were just the beginning of their labors. The same would be true for the disciples. When you begin to truly know Jesus is the Son of God, your journey is just beginning.
   Then Jesus taught Philip and the others that his ministry of preaching, teachings and miracles are signs of the Father’s glory come to earth. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” For three years they had witnessed God’s wonders. Yet, they failed to completely understand Jesus was God’s Son made flesh. They did not always understand he was revealing God to the world.
   When people ask, “How do you know God exists?” You can tell them of Jesus’ promised in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New. His teachings are life-transforming. His miracles were life-giving. His sacrifice is soul-restoring. His resurrection is eternal life. His ascension is our sure hope of God restoring Eden’s perfection. Jesus could only do this work in the Father’s will because he is the Son of God – second Person of the Trinity. Jesus confirmed to Philip and to all of us, “From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
   “Who is God?” people ask. Tell them of Jesus.
 
 

John 14:4-6 Jesus said, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
 
IN his gospel John records Jesus speaking seven self-identifying “I am” statements. They include: “I am the resurrection and the life.” “I am the bread of life.” “I am the good shepherd.” Here is another. You could say it is three-in-one “I am’s”: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Let’s look at the three ways Jesus identifies himself here.
   First, Jesus is “the Way”. The unbelieving world rejects such a notion that there is only one way to Heaven, to God. Still, this is a fundamental truth of Scripture. Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” It’s absurd, isn’t it, to think there is more than one way to the Holy God. The devil wanted Adam and Eve to believe that lie, and the lie remains deadly today – even in so-called churches that teach, “You can find your own way to Heaven.” But think of it! Only Jesus has come to offer us the way out of sin’s spiritual darkness, shame, guilt, condemnation and death. Who else has died and been raised to Heaven’s throne? You can only go to Heaven following the one who has gone before you. Even more, Jesus is the only way to discover your highest purpose on earth.
   Second, Jesus is “the truth”. He is not just part of the truth, but the whole truth. John tells us Jesus is the Living Word (John 1:1-3). The Living Word is the true eternal Word. Everything about Christ and his message is true. Know his truth is absolute and universal. Yet, the world rejects this, too. Sinful hearts readjust the Living Word to self-glory and idol worship. Mankind turns God’s commands and promises into mere suggestions of convenience. Truth defines who we are: sinners. Truth defines who rescues us from sin: Jesus. How can we not receive such truth: Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5) Who would want to embrace anything else?
   Third, Jesus is “the life”. A true and lasting spiritual life is available only through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. His perfect life provided the only permanent and enduring sacrifice for our sin against God’s justice. Those who accept his life and sacrifice, receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Christ.
   Thomas was confused because he thought Jesus was going to another location in Judea or perhaps Galilee as was his custom. But Jesus wanted his disciples then and all of us now to know the first place we go is to him: “Where are you going, Jesus? Teach me to follow you well, so I’ll be where you want me to be.”
   Seek each day to know Jesus. He will show you the true way to live with him.
 

John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
 
THIS is certainly and end-time prophecy, isn’t it? Jesus began this Upper Room Discourse assuring the disciples of their ultimate destination. As he prepared to leave them, Jesus wanted his anointed messengers to trust his plan for their earthly lives and their heavenly lives. He confirmed God’s great eternal salvation plan. With their eyes on Heaven’s room awaiting them, they would endure all trials and challenges. And so it must be for us.
   Do you trust Jesus’ loving, comforting assurance? His words create memories of my parents’ care. When very young, I would leave my bedroom each morning with my bed unmade and clothes on the floor. But when I returned at night, I would find a clean room, my clothes folded, and my bed prepared for me. All I had to do was put on my pajamas and climb into bed for a good night’s sleep. My mother and father had built a safe home and prepared a room for me, my brother and my sisters. (I did have to clean the room and make the bed when I got older.) How good and comforting it was to come into a room prepared for me. I felt loved. I felt secure in our home. I didn’t consciously think of it until a few years ago. But still this secure feeling is part of me.
   As a result, I can connect to my Savior’s promise to prepare a place for me. It is easy to grasp what this means because my parents demonstrated the image of God’s care for me. Even as my parents are in their heavenly home, this comfort remains an essential connection to my trust in God.
   Yes, we are all born into a spiritually cluttered room with a need to know God. As we come to faith, we still easily cause messes in our lives. Our minds will be wrinkled with sin and sadness. Our hearts are often filled with piles of doubt and worry. But as we grow in the Lord’s teachings, we will come to know in our heart that Jesus’ truth orders our lives. He picks up the clutter, so he can comfort our heart, mind and soul. With this and many other teachings, our Lord has assured us he is coming to take us home to be with him. What joy to know Jesus wants to be with us!
   May you feel this wonder of God’s desire for you. But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (Hebrews 3:6)

John 13:31-36 When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”  
 
TO date this year, we have considered the New Testament end-time prophecies that are not in Revelation. One reason is to help us all know Jesus and the New Testament writers had much to say about the end of time. Revelation is only one of many sources for these prophecies and descriptions.
   This study has taught God’s plan and timetable to establish his Kingdom on earth. Jesus revealed the Kingdom power through his teaching, preaching and healing – and ultimately his resurrection and ascension. We focused on Jesus’ teachings in the synoptic gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke. They are so called because they describe Jesus’ ministry from a similar point of view, using many of the same events and teachings. In contrast John’s gospel centers on Jesus’ deity. The majority of the gospel covers the last six months of Jesus’ ministry.
   That’s why we’ve saved John’s writings for the last portion of the non Revelation end-time scriptures we’ll review. John also wrote after Paul and Peter. So his gospel and epistles are some of the last written in the New Testament timeline.
   That brings us to John 13:31. It had already been a busy evening. As they ate the Passover meal, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. He prophesied Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial. Other gospels tell us he establish the New Covenant of grace through his blood and body. We can imagine a great deal of uncertainty, grief and wonder in the disciples’ minds.
   As we examined Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25, we’ll now learn from his Upper Room Discourse. John 13:31 to John 18 is Jesus’ discourse regarding Heaven, his own identity, the Holy Spirit and his love for his disciples. He admonishes all disciples’ to form a deeply rooted relationship with the Son, Father and Spirit. John has given us some wonderful details of Jesus’ teachings and prophecies as the cross loomed before him. John’s record allows us a deeper look into our Savior’s love for his disciples. We more acutely feel, too, the disciples’ uncertainty and grief over their Lord’s words of departure. We see, too, the hope Jesus gives to all who would be his disciples.
   Jesus’ new command to love one another was designed to unite his disciples into a common purpose for their upcoming mission. Their work would be ineffective if they did love each other as Jesus loved them. Love is the foundation of discipleship. Let’s be sure we pay close attention to our relationships in the church, so we can be effective ministers for God, who is Love. 

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.    
 
FROM Genesis 4 when God chose Abel’s sacrifice over Cain’s, our LORD God has decided who will be his people. Unfortunately, too many of God’s chosen people have minimized God’s great gift to draw them into a holy, joyful and loving relationship with him. Peter preaches to the church that we must understand the singular wonder that we are the object of God’s eternal gift. Our hearts must receive God’s choosing with enormous gratitude, faith and obedience.
   Understanding this we are to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Note this is a forceful action, not a whisper or even quiet statement. But we must declare – pronounce, affirm, announce publicly – what God has done. Before we became Jesus’ church, we were singular strangers in a world that wants to destroy us. But now in Jesus we are the people of God! The mercy of God’s salvation has poured over us. We are healed from sin’s darkness into God’s light, so we will know God.
   Peter than teaches us how we must respond: 1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. 13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
   This is the life God has chosen to give to you. He has sacrificially proven his love for you. Are you accepting, proclaiming and living  his gift?  

1 Peter 2:4-8 As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.
 
THE Bible has very many ways to encourage us to live a holy life as we prepare for Heaven. Peter shares one here with images from Isaiah of Jesus as living Stone, cornerstone and capstone.
   To begin, Peter uses Isaiah’s prophecy in verse 6 to teach us God is building his church on Jesus Christ, the living Stone, chosen and rejected in Zion – in Jerusalem. As we consider Jesus’ enormous suffering, we must consider even more that the Father chose him and loves him. Jesus, rejected by men is precious to the Father.
   The good news – the gospel message – is that you who believe in Jesus are also living stones just as precious to the Father. The church is built into a spiritual house alive with the Spirit of the living Stone. We are to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
   This is your purpose. A Christian represents God on earth as Jesus, our high Priest, did. As Jesus intercedes for us, we mut intercede in prayer for others in the church and for the world. A royal priest in Jesus’ name is humble to strive, to serve and to sacrifice toward a holy life for God’s glory. God uses believers to build his church so the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)
   In contrast, the unbelievers stumble and fall over Jesus’ truth. Peter labels all unbelievers as misguided builders. The try to build lives with unholy ideas. Instead of building with Jesus as the capstone of their lives, they reject and stumble over his authority. He will reign at the crown of creation. And all deceived will stumble to destruction.
          Peter had learned to live faithfully with the living Stone. He watched Jerusalem reject the Capstone. Peter also knows the Cornerstone is alive and anchors his life. In response, Peter is a living stone, a royal priest for the LORD God, interceding for the church. This is to be your life, too.

1 Peter 1:23-25 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
 
IN our previous lesson, Peter taught that one reason to love one another deeply from the heart (v. 19) is God’s eternal plan of salvation through Jesus. He could have said, “Do this because it is the second of Jesus’ Great Commandments.” (Matthew 22:39) Certainly that should be all we need to know. But Peter raised our level of commitment to the command. He reminded us of God’s great love demonstrated in his eternal plan of salvation through Jesus, so our love for one another would be as God’s love is for us. Now Peter gives a second reason. This is a supernatural second step – a result of the plan: For you have been born again.
   We must pause to know these are not empty or short-lived promises. But they can be if we forget what the words mean. About 30 years ago, “born again Christian” was a very common phrase to describe a “true” believer. This was one who was not a cultural Christian but one committed to follow Jesus through repentance and confession. But the phrase became meaningless as it became overused. And too many did not live as if their repentance and confession were empty words.
   But Jesus spoke it. John 3:3 “I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Peter taught it. Paul taught it. God’s eternal plan of salvation is to re-birth his chosen people into a New Covenant of eternal life. “Born again” is not a label but a vital, living phrase. We must use it in proper context to declare our joy in God’s miraculous majesty, love and grace. After all, Jesus also said, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. (John 3:5-6)
   This rebirth is from the imperishable seed of Jesus’ resurrection. We are born again through the living and enduring word of God. All other things are temporary. Mankind’s powerful and ingenious mind cannot compare to the LORD God Almighty. Peter emphasized his point with Isaiah 40:6-8 “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”
   This is God’s love gift to you. He has delivered the Savior and the Spirit to re-birth your life through his eternal plan of salvation. From eternity past to eternity future, the Word of God will never diminish or fade.
   As you have received this gift, remember to live each day with a purpose to praise God. Glorify his name with your love for others. Pray the Spirit uses you to unwrap God’s gift to those who must be born again. And this is the word that was preached to you.