John 14 is the beginning of Jesus' farewell words to His disciples at the Last Supper, the night before He was crucified. It opens, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1), and promises a place in the Father's house with many mansions. Jesus calls Himself "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), promises the Holy Spirit as another Comforter, and gives His disciples His own peace: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you" (John 14:27). It is one of the most read chapters at Christian funerals.
John 13-17 is often called the Upper Room Discourse: the long conversation and prayer of Jesus with His disciples on the night of the Last Supper. Judas had just gone out into the night. Jesus had told Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed (John 13:38). The disciples were confused and afraid. John 14 is Jesus' answer to their fear. In it, three disciples interrupt with questions, Thomas, Philip and the other Judas, and each question draws out one of the chapter's great promises. This page gives all 31 verses of John 14 in the King James Version, in 12 readings with a short explanation of each. For the meal itself, see The Last Supper in the Bible; for the whole week, see the Holy Week timeline.
Let not your heart be troubled (John 14:1-11)
1. John 14:1-3
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Jesus begins with a command and a reason: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Their hearts had good reason to be troubled, but Jesus gives them a better reason not to be. In my Father's house are many mansions. Mansions in the King James Version means dwelling places, rooms, not grand houses. There is room for all of them. Then the promise: I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Heaven's best feature is not the rooms. It is being with Jesus.
2. John 14:4-6
"And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Jesus says they know the way to where He is going, and Thomas, honest as always, objects: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus answers with one of His great I am sayings: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. The way to God is not a set of directions but a Person. Jesus does not just show the way, teach the truth and give life; He is all three. This is why Christians speak of Jesus as the only way to the Father. See Bible verses about truth.
3. John 14:7-9
"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 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 Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?"
Now Philip asks: Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. It is a heartfelt request: one look at God would be enough. Jesus' answer is gentle and astonishing: Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. For three years they had been looking at God without fully realizing it. Every act of compassion, every word of truth, every rebuke and every miracle was a picture of the Father. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.
4. John 14:10-11
"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake."
Jesus explains how this can be: I am in the Father, and the Father in me. His words and works do not come from Himself alone: the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Christians use the word Trinity for this mystery of one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and John 14 is one of the chapters that shows all three. Jesus then makes room for weak faith: if you cannot yet believe My words, believe me for the very works' sake. Evidence is allowed to lead to trust. See Bible verses about the Trinity.
Another Comforter (John 14:12-21)
5. John 14:12-14
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."
Two big promises follow. First: He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. Greater most likely means greater in reach, not in power: after Pentecost, the gospel spread to thousands, then to the nations. Second: whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Asking in Jesus' name is not a magic formula. It means asking as His followers, for what honors Him, and the purpose is the Father's glory.
6. John 14:15-17
"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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."
If ye love me, keep my commandments. Love for Jesus shows itself in obedience, and obedience is not left to our own strength. I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Comforter translates the Greek parakletos, one called alongside to help: an advocate, counselor or helper. Another means another of the same kind as Jesus. He is the Spirit of truth, and Jesus promises: he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Jesus was leaving, but God would be closer than ever. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.
7. John 14:18-20
"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. The word comfortless is literally orphans. The disciples were about to feel abandoned, like children whose parent had died, and Jesus promises they will not be. Because I live, ye shall live also. Within three days they would see Him alive, and His resurrection would guarantee their own. Then they would understand the bond He had been describing: I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. Believers are drawn into the life that Father and Son share. See Bible verses about loneliness.
8. John 14:21
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
Jesus repeats and deepens His teaching on love: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Having His commands means knowing them; keeping them means doing them. Those who love Him in this way are promised something more than information: Jesus Himself will show Himself to them. The Christian life is not only rules but a growing, personal friendship with the One who gave them.
Peace I leave with you (John 14:22-31)
9. John 14:22-24
"Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 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."
A third disciple speaks up. John is careful to say who: Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot. This is probably the apostle also called Thaddaeus (Mark 3:18). He asks why Jesus will show Himself to them and not unto the world. Jesus answers that He will make His home with those who love Him: my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Abode is the same root as mansions in verse 2. Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, and the Father and Son make their home in us now.
10. John 14:25-26
"These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
Jesus knew the disciples would not remember or understand everything that night, so He promised help: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. This promise is one reason Christians trust the Gospels. The apostles did not write from memory alone. The Spirit reminded them of Jesus' words. The same Spirit still teaches believers today as they read what those apostles wrote.
11. John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
This may be the most comforting verse in the chapter: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. People in Jesus' day said shalom, peace, as a greeting and farewell. Jesus gives real peace as His farewell gift. The world's peace depends on circumstances; His peace holds steady in the middle of them. And He ends the way the chapter began: Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. He said it the night before the cross. See Bible verses about peace.
12. John 14:28-31
"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 go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."
Jesus tells them that His going is good news: If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. In His human life and mission, the Son had taken the place of a servant; returning to the Father meant glory. He warns that the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me: Satan was about to do his worst, but had no hold on the sinless Son. Jesus goes to the cross freely, that the world may know that I love the Father. Then: Arise, let us go hence.
A short prayer
Lord Jesus, You said, let not your heart be troubled. I bring You my troubled heart. Thank You for preparing a place for me in Your Father's house, and for promising to come again. You are the way, the truth and the life. Thank You for the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who dwells with me. Teach me and remind me of Your words. Help me to love You by keeping Your commandments. Give me Your peace, not as the world gives, and take away my fear. Amen.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the main message of John 14?
The main message of John 14 is comfort for troubled hearts. On the night before His death, Jesus told His disciples not to be afraid because He was going to prepare a place for them, He is the only way to the Father, He would send the Holy Spirit to be with them, and He would leave them His own peace. It is a chapter about Jesus' presence even in His absence.
What does John 14:6 mean?
In John 14:6 Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. It means that Jesus Himself is the path to God, the full revelation of God's truth and the source of eternal life. Christians understand it to mean that salvation and a relationship with God the Father come through Jesus alone. See the Romans Road.
Why is John 14 read at funerals?
John 14:1-3 is one of the most common funeral readings because it speaks directly to grief and to life after death. Jesus tells His friends not to let their hearts be troubled, promises many mansions in His Father's house, and says He will come again and receive them so that where He is, they may be also. See Bible verses for funerals.
What does John 14:27 mean?
In John 14:27 Jesus gives His disciples His own peace as a parting gift. It is not the world's peace, which depends on calm circumstances, but an inner peace that comes from trusting Him and from the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke it the night before His crucifixion, which shows that His peace is meant for the hardest days. See Bible verses about peace.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: The Last Supper · Holy Week timeline · Peace · The Holy Spirit · Heaven · Funerals · The Trinity · John 3:16 meaning
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