The Discourse on the Spirit - Week 18

John 14

Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Unless otherwise noted, on scriptural references are from the Revised Standard Version (RSV). Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

Read John 13:1-31

1. In verse 1, Jesus is reassuring His Apostles. Why does Jesus feel the need to console and counsel His Apostles not to fear?
(a) Because He wants them to understand that He will not leave them alone and that their ultimate goal, Heaven, is indeed attainable.
2. As stated in the Introduction of this study, John's gospel has multiple layers and often statements have more than one meaning. Therefore, when Jesus states in verse 2 that His Father's house has many rooms what possible meaning(s) might he have? (See Points to Ponder and also read Ephesians 2:19-22 and Hebrews 3:2-7).
(a) From St. Paul's Letter to the Ephisians:

19: So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20: built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21: in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22: in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Eph 2:19-22)

From the Letter to the Hebrews:

2: He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in God's house. 3: Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. 4: (For every house is built by some one, but the builder of all things is God.) 5: Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6: but Christ was faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope. 7: Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, when you hear his voice, 8: do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9: where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. (Heb 3:2-9)

House can refer either to a structure or to a lineage. In one sense, John is referring to the Apostles place, and our place, in the Heavenly Kingdom. In another sense, John is referring to our place in the Church which is also the House of God.

3. What does Jesus mean when He says "I go to prepare a place for you" in verse 2? When He states "I will come again and take you to myself" is He speaking only of the end of time? What else might He also mean?
(a) It means that Jesus goes to sacrifice Himself. (b) No. (c) He could mean in His Resurrection or, in a more general sense, at the end of each of our lives.

4. Read verse 6. In what respect does "the way, the truth and the life" correspond to the ministry of Christ ? Jesus states that no one comes to the Father but by Him. Does this mean that one has to believe in Jesus to go to heaven or does it suffice to just be a good person?
(a) This corresponds to the ministry of Christ as King, Prophet and Priest. From the Points to Ponder:

In the Old Testament, there are three offices given to Israel: King, Prophet, and Priest. The task of the King was to show the way of God by rightly ordering the life of Israel. The task of Prophet was to proclaim the truth of God. And the task of the Priest was to administer the life of God to the people.

Of course, due to the sinfulness of human beings, none of these offices were ever fully lived out. King, prophet and priest were all subject to sin. But they remain signs pointing toward the fulfillment of the imperfect Old Covenant by Jesus Christ, the perfect embodiment of the New Covenant.

Significantly, the Church has always believed that our baptism confers on us Christ's office of King, Prophet, and Priest. Thus, the teaching of John 14 may be seen to be further instruction on the meaning and power of Baptism.

One must believe in and accept the grace made available by Christ's sacrifice. Being a "good person" but denying Christ's grace will not suffice for salvation.

5. In verse seven Jesus says "if you had known Me, you would have known My Father also". Read Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3. How does one see the Father in Jesus? Why did Philip ask Jesus to show him the Father in verse 9?
(a) From St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians:

He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; (Col 1:15)

From the Letter to the Hebrews:

He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Heb 1:3)

By realizing that Jesus and the Father are One. (b) Philip had not yet made this realization.

6. What "greater works" in verse 12 is Jesus referring to that the Apostles will perform?
(a) First and foremost, the Sacrifice of the Mass.

7. In verse 13, Jesus promises to do anything that is asked in His Name. Does this mean that if we pray to win a lottery using Jesus' Name that we will win? How about if we pray for healing in the name of Jesus? What does this statement mean?
(a) Probably not. (b) Only if it is God's will. (c) Jesus is reminding us from "whom all blessings come". We should always pray in Jesus' name in the hopes of aligning our will with His.

8. What significant mystery is Jesus revealing in His promise to send the Spirit of Truth to the Apostles? In our lesson taken from the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition of the Bible, the word Counselor is used for the Holy Spirit. What does this title imply about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
(a) That a connection between Heaven and Earth will be made. The Holy Spirit guides us in our walk, either personally or through the Holy Catholic Church.

9. What day is Jesus referring to when He says "On that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you"?
(a) On the day of His Resurrection.

10. Judas (not the betrayer) asks, in verse 22, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" How does Jesus do this?
(a) Jesus does this by responding to the love we show for Him by coming and making His "home" with us.

11. Read verses 25-31. What things will the Holy Spirit teach the Apostles and bring to their remembrance? How does the peace of Christ differ from the peace of the world? Who is the "ruler of this world"?
(a) The Holy Spirit will "teach all things" and bring to remembrance all that Christ as said to them. (b) As the great St. Augustine states:

there can be no true peace where there is no real harmony, because their hearts are at variance" ("Lectures on the Gospel of John", St. Augustine)

In other words, peace is not merely an absence of conflict (wordly peace) but a communion of spirit (Christ's Peace). Until all men are one with Christ, the world can never truly offer peace.

12. According to paragraph 661 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, who holds the "key" to entering the Father's House?
(a) From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

This final stage stays closely linked to the first, that is, to his descent from heaven in the Incarnation. Only the one who "came from the Father" can return to the Father: Christ Jesus. "No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man." Left to its own natural powers humanity does not have access to the "Father's house", to God's life and happiness. Only Christ can open to man such access that we, his members, might have confidence that we too shall go where he, our Head and our Source, has preceded us. (CCC, 661)

Christ is the key to entering the Father's House.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

San Jose Bible Study
Alfredo Nevarez
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