Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

John 14:5 "Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way?" "How can we know the way?" Jesus seemed to assume the disciples understood His destination and the path there, based on His prior teaching. Though His statement in verse 4 appears contradictory, it's a masterful setup—like a teacher posing a problem the students think unsolvable, only to reveal the answer was standing right in front of them. Jesus isn't evading; He's drawing out their confusion to lead them to deeper understanding. In today's verse, doubting Thomas perfectly sets up Jesus' lesson. Speaking for all the disciples, he voices their shared confusion and limited earthly perspective. Jesus emphasized "the way," but Thomas fixated on "the where," underscoring their need for something tangible. Do we today have a better grasp? We benefit from centuries of Christian teaching. Yet, like Thomas and the disciples, we remai...

John 14:4 "And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." Jesus lovingly prepares His disciples for His departure. He knows they will see it as final, yet He assures them it is not the end, but the beginning of God’s plan to bring His followers into eternal glory. In this week’s verses we see three key truths: Hope: Death and separation are temporary. Promise: His return is certain, not speculative. Presence: The ultimate goal is unbroken relationship with Christ, not merely a destination. In today’s verse, Jesus assumes the disciples understand His destination and the way there, based on His prior teaching. Yet the statement appears contradictory: The disciples clearly do not know where He is going (to the cross, resurrection, and ascension to the Father), nor do they fully grasp “the way” to the Father’s presence. This is a masterful setup—like a teacher posing a problem the students believe they cannot solve, only to reveal the answer was already before them. Jesus is not...

John 14:3 "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." We seek to deeply understand the Holy Scriptures—the clearest record of God’s presence with us. In this passage, Jesus speaks at the Last Supper, shortly after predicting His betrayal and Peter’s denial. The disciples are anxious and confused; despite Jesus’ efforts to prepare them, they cannot fully grasp this history-shattering moment. Knowing His crucifixion is imminent and the disciples distressed by His departure, Jesus promises a future reunion and an eternal home. He appeals to His integrity: “if it were not so, I would have told you” (John 14:2). “If I go and prepare a place for you” refers to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. His departure is not abandonment but a necessary step to secure eternal life for believers. “I will come again” points to Christ’s Second Coming—a future, visible return to earth. “Receive you unto ...

John 14:2 "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." We continue exploring God’s presence with us. At the Last Supper, shortly after predicting His betrayal and Peter’s denial, Jesus reassured His anxious, confused disciples: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). He specializes in calming our fears, and we rightly turn to Him in times of worry. Knowing His crucifixion was imminent and the disciples distressed by His coming departure, Jesus promised future reunion and an eternal home. “Many rooms” (Greek: monai, often “mansions” in older translations) means dwelling places or abodes—plenty of space for all who follow Christ; no one is excluded. “I go to prepare a place for you” points to His death, resurrection, and ascension as the means to secure this eternal home. The added assurance—“if it were not so, I would have told you”—highlights Jesus’ honesty...

John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me." We continue exploring God’s presence with us. Last week, we examined Holy Communion, remembering the bread and cup as symbols of Christ’s sacrificial death—His body given and blood shed—and viewing the church as the body of Christ. The Lord’s Supper is a profound act of remembrance, gratitude, unity, and gospel proclamation, not merely a social event or routine ritual. Paul urges us to approach it with due reverence. This week, we study “Calming Troubled Hearts.” Jesus specializes in calming our fears and worries, and we rightly turn to Him in times of anxiety. Today’s verse opens Jesus’ profound discourse at the Last Supper, shortly after He predicted His betrayal and Peter’s denial. The disciples were anxious, confused, and deeply shaken—prompting Jesus’ reassuring command: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.” This phrase directly addresses deep emotional a...

1 Corinthians 11:28&29 "28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body." The goal is not sinless perfection (which is impossible), but honest repentance, faith in Christ’s sacrifice, and love for the church. After self-examination, the person should then eat and drink. Verse 29: “without discerning the body” The key warning is against partaking without discerning the body. This is understood in two related senses, both reflected in commentaries: • Failing to recognize the bread and cup as symbols of Christ’s sacrificial death (His body given and blood shed). Treating them as ordinary food trivializes the atonement. • Failing to recognize the church as the body of Christ. The Corinthians’ divisions and selfishness showed they were not honoring their unity in Him—a point Paul had already rebuked. Both meaning...