Introduction: Is prayer just a one-way communication? We talk and
then we talk some more? If you say, “No,” prayer is both speaking to
God and listening for His answer, then you will want to jump into
this lesson with us. Last week, we discussed how Daniel prayed to God
to be able to go home. This week our study is John 14 where we find
Jesus answering the “how to go home” prayers of His disciples before
they even feel the need. These words are part of God’s message to
His disciples in all ages when we face confusing and trying
situations.

  1. The Last Supper: Advance Comfort


    1. You remember that Jesus celebrated Passover with His
      disciples the night before He was crucified? This dinner
      is called the “Last Supper.” Turn with me to John 14 where
      we pick up Jesus’ conversation with His disciples at the
      Last Supper.


    2. Read John 14:1. What was about to happen to Jesus? What
      was about to happen to the disciples? (If you don’t know,
      read John chapters 18-19)


      1. What do the words of verse 1 teach us about God’s
        concern about problems in our lives? (Jesus had such
        compassion for His disciples that He gave them
        comfort them before they even knew they had a
        problem!)


      2. Do we have to worry about our problems and
        difficulties?


      3. If we don’t worry, won’t we face disaster? (Jesus is
        not suggesting laziness. He is saying “trust Me.”
        “Leave those burdens with Me.”


      4. Why did Jesus make a distinction between God and Him
        (“trust in God; trust also in me”) when it cames to
        trust? (The disciples were about to enter a time when
        their preconceived ideas about Jesus as the Messiah
        would be tested. Jesus would not be “doing the right
        thing” and neither would God in the confused minds of
        the disciples.)


      5. Stop a minute to analyze why you worry? What, at
        bottom, are you worried about? (I find that most of
        my worries arise from a concern about personal
        embarrassment. I’m going to look bad – be put in a
        bad light. A blow to my pride.)


      6. Are the disciples worried about “looking like fools”
        if their Master, who they claim is the Messiah, is
        put to death by the Romans? (This is probably one of
        the emotions they faced. They would struggle with the
        issue of whether they were wrong about Jesus being
        the Messiah. Jesus is trying to help them with this
        coming problem.)


        1. How does trusting in God answer our concerns
          about being embarrassed? (I am worried about me
          – a matter of pride. If I understand that the
          solutions to life’s problems do not turn on my
          importance, if my pride is not an important
          matter, then I can more easily trust God for
          solutions.)


      7. When you pray, does God give the answer to “trust
        Him?” Is that good enough for you?


    3. Read John 14:2-3. Given what you know about the immediate
      future for the disciples, why do you think Jesus is
      talking about housing and bringing the disciples home? (He
      was about to be ripped from them and leave this life. They
      were going to be emotionally and physically set adrift in
      this world.)


      1. What is the relevance to your worries that Jesus has
        a room for you in His heavenly house? (We obviously
        know the “end of the story” for Jesus and the
        disciples. But, we still have worries about the
        future. If we are not worried about our pride, we are
        probably worried about our stuff. “Stuff-worry,” is
        really the same pride problem. Jesus says He will
        ultimately provide for our “stuff worries.” Quite
        worrying!)


        1. How much of your present prayers are directed to
          protecting your stuff?


          1. Should you now consider those prayers
            answered and move on to something else?


      2. What else does Jesus promise of housing say about our
        worries? (A couple of things: 1) He wants us to keep
        our eye on the future. That is a backdrop for all we
        do. 2) We are so important to Jesus that He invited
        us to live with Him. This is not just a casual
        invitation like you might get from a friend. Jesus
        tells us that He is going to come looking for us to
        take us to His mansion. He loves us that much!)


  2. The Last Supper: Answered Questions


    1. Read John 14:4-5. The pastor once invited me to his house.
      I was lost for an hour. It turns out that, like me,
      Thomas had the practical concern about learning the
      directions to get to Jesus’ house.


      1. Did the disciples even know Jesus was going away?
        (They could have known, but they did not want to come
        to grips with it. See Matthew 16:21-23.)


      2. How would you feel if you did not know the when,
        where or how of an important event?


        1. What does this text teach us about Jesus’
          willingness to give us comfort on those
          questions?


      3. Do you know the way to Jesus’ house?


      4. How would you answer Thomas?


    2. Let’s read on. Read John 14:6-7. What answer does Jesus
      give to this directions question?


      1. What does Jesus mean when He says He is “the way?”
        Would this make any sense to you if you were one of
        the disciples?


        1. Should we be discouraged if sometimes God’s
          answers to our problems do not seem to make
          sense?(There is a great truth in Jesus’ answer.
          The way home is a relationship, not a direction.
          It is an attitude, not an action. Only through
          Jesus can we come to the Father in heaven.)


      2. What does Jesus mean when He says He is “the truth?”
        Would the disciples soon be confused about what was
        the truth? (They would be very confused. Verse 7 is
        the key. If we know Jesus, we know the Father. If
        they would just focus on what He had told them, they
        would understand the truth.)


        1. How about you? How much time do you spend
          studying to find the truth in the life of Jesus?


        2. Do you make a distinction in your mind between
          the God of the Old Testament and Jesus?


        3. What does Jesus say about such distinctions? (He
          says we need to understand that the picture He
          gave us in His life is the appropriate framework
          for understanding God’s actions in the Old
          Testament.)


      3. What does Jesus mean when He says He is “the life?”
        We know He was about to be killed! How does this make
        any sense? (He not only gives direction to this life,
        He not only reveals the nature of God, He is the only
        means to eternal life at His house!)


        1. In the context of living in Jesus’ house, read
          John 14:23. How long do we have to wait to live
          with Jesus? (This is a promise that can be
          spiritually filled now!)


    3. In John 14:7 Jesus tells us that we have now seen God. How
      does that differ from the Old Testament experience? (In
      Exodus 33:20 God tells Moses that he cannot see God’s face
      or he will die.)


      1. Why is it different with Jesus? (Jesus came to
        reconcile us to God. That is why He is the way to
        eternal life. See Ephesians 2:13-16 and Colossians
        1:19-22.)


    4. Let’s continue on with reading John. Read John 14:8. What
      does Philip’s question teach us about our prayers? (No
      question is too dumb for God!)


      1. Let’s read Jesus’ answer to this question in John
        14:9-11. How would you characterize Jesus’ answer to
        Philip?


        1. Is He patient?


        2. Is He kind?


        3. Is He pleading?


        4. How would you have answered Philip’s question?


  3. The Last Supper: Promises of Power


    1. Re-read John 14:11. What do you think about believing in
      someone based on miracles? Compare Revelation 13:11-13. Is
      Jesus arguing that the miracles show that He is God? (When
      we get in tough times we look for “evidence” we are on the
      right road. Jesus says His miracles are “evidence.” He
      does not say they are conclusive.)


    2. Read John 14:12. What further proof does Jesus suggest we
      can we have of His divinity? (We can have the power to do
      miracles! Christ’s power in us is evidence of who He is!
      He is not going to be dead. Jesus is going to be opening a
      new era of power for those who follow Him because He is
      going to the Father.)


    3. Should we expect miracles in answer to our prayers to God?
      If you say, “yes,” why is it that we don’t see many
      miracles? Why is it that more often people die instead
      of being healed when we pray?


      1. My wife periodically points out that everyone who
        asked me to “anoint” them (see James 5:14) while they
        were dying, still died. She recently suggested it
        might be better not to have me anoint anyone! What is
        the problem?


    4. Read John 14:13-15. Is this a blanket promise that we can
      heal people if we ask Jesus? (Verse 12 says that we need
      faith. Verse 15 suggests that we need love and obedience.
      I think the problem with a lack of healing potentially
      points to failures on our part, and not on the part of
      God. We need to trust that God is doing the best thing in
      the circumstances and remember that His greatest miracle
      is the miracle that He was about to ensure through the
      cross– that He will be taking us home with Him where
      there will be no more sickness.)


    5. Read John 14:16-17. What else does Jesus promise us in
      answer to prayer? (The Holy Spirit!)


      1. Read John 14:26. What role does the Holy Spirit play
        in our life? (He will teach us and help us to
        understand Jesus’ words. This was the critical need
        that His disciples were about to have. Before they
        even knew they had a problem, Jesus told them how to
        find the solution!)


      2. How important to your prayer life is understanding
        God’s will for you?


      3. Have you asked Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit?
        The gift of understanding?


    6. Read John 14:27. What gift does God give us when we pray?
      (He give us peace.)


      1. How important a gift is peace?


      2. How many of you have prayed to God and as a result
        been given peace about a problem in your life?


    7. Friend, God cares about our troubles. John 14 shows us
      that even before the disciples knew they had a problem,
      even before they prayed for help and understanding, Jesus
      gave it to them. He is just as anxious to answer our
      prayers and give us peace. The question is, will you turn
      to Him?


  4. Next Week: The High Priestly Prayer: Jesus