Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of John Chapter 14
Metaphysically Interpreting John 14:1-14
14:1Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me. 14:2In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 14:4And whither I go, ye know the way. 14:5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way? 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. 14:7If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
14:8Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 14:9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? 14:10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. 14:11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.14:12Verily, 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 the Father. 14:13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14:14If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do.
March 20, 1927: John 14:1-3
Where and what is the “Father's house”? According to Jesus the Father's house is not a place in the skies, but it is the temple of man's body. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. But he spake of the temple of his body.” Paul said, “Know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God?” “God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
What is the meaning of the Scripture text, “In my Father's house are many mansions; ... I go to prepare a place for you”? “Many mansions” may be translated as “many abodes.” There is a universal mind essence which science names “the ether.” Mind identifies itself with the ether and first builds thoughts; out of these thoughts it builds things. Jesus was the great builder. He built a mansion, or state of consciousness, into which may enter all people who can identify themselves with him. First this etheric substance enters our body consciousness and then we gradually merge into that state (place) which he has prepared.
March 31, 1928: John 14-1-6
What is the meaning of the Scripture text, “In my Father's house are many mansions; ... I go to prepare a place for you”? “Many mansions” may be translated as “many abodes.” There is a universal mind essence which science names “the ether.” Mind identifies itself with the ether and first builds thoughts; out of these thoughts it builds things. Jesus was the great builder. He built a mansion, or state of consciousness, into which may enter all people who can identify themselves with him. First this etheric substance enters our body consciousness and then we gradually merge into that state (place) which he has prepared for us.
Define Jesus' words, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Jesus talked from the I AM standpoint. The I AM in man is the center of attention and is the open door into the kingdom of God. When man in the silence centers his attention on his spiritual I AM, realizing that he is pure being, he finds his way to the Father's house.
November 9, 1930: John 14:5-8
What is the meaning of “Thomas”? Thomas means “twins.” Spiritually considered, Thomas is understanding, whose twin is Matthew, the will. Intellectual understanding assures us of the truth of our sense impressions. It says, “Seeing is believing.” The Christ says, “Lazarus is dead. ... nevertheless let us go unto him.” In other words, there is no absence of omnipresent life anywhere. The resurrecting power is a principle that can be called into action here and now; it is not a state to be attained after physical death.
Philip said unto Jesus: “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” Explain. Philip represents the power of the Word. The I AM in man is the open door into the kingdom of God. The power faculty must, by acknowledgement that the word of the I AM spoken through it is not of the mortal but of God, be raised to realization of the omnipresence of Spirit. “The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.”
Sunday, March 13, 1932: John 14:1-18
What and where is the “place” that Christ prepares for those who believe in Him? Webster says that a place is “a portion of space reserved for actual occupancy.” This definition describes the place in the ether, surrounding and interpenetrating the earth, where Jesus is establishing a new locality, forming the nucleus of the kingdom of the heavens which will in due season appear in the earth.
What did Jesus mean when He said “In my Father's house are many mansions”? A better translation of this passage of Scripture is given by Fenton: “In the home of my Father there are many abodes.” The Father is Spirit, and therefore His home must be spiritual in its essence. The “abodes” represent states of spiritual consciousness. Jesus was describing in symbols the infinite resources of the universal Spirit.
How does man enter into the consciousness of Spirit substance, Spirit life, Spirit place? Man's I AM, or central identity, is Spirit. Jesus realized His I AM as spiritual consciousness. In order to enter into this consciousness and dwell with Him, we must know and feel the inner realms of Spirit.
Jesus said: “And whither I go, ye know the way.” What did He mean? Jesus meant that those who find the inner spiritual kingdom know Him, and that they also know the way to reach Him wherever they may be.
Why did Thomas protest: “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?” Thomas represents the intellectual consciousness. It has not yet the understanding of the realm of the Absolute. The intellectual consciousness, although it has been taught Truth, still protests that it has no evidence of spiritual things.
What is the meaning of Jesus' response: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me”? Here again the I AM is spiritually identified as Truth, as life, and as the only way through which to get in touch with the Father.
Why was Jesus so emphatic in affirming spiritual understanding for His disciples? Jesus was functioning in the spiritual or I AM realm, and He saw everything spiritually. He appealed to the innate spiritual attributes of His disciples, and affirmed that they did know spiritually, regardless of their appeals for proofs in the outer or material realm.
In this lesson what is the greatest promise to all people who have faith in the spiritual man? “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 the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
What is “the Spirit of truth,” which Jesus said would be with us forever? The “Spirit of truth” is the universal world teacher who comes to every disciple of Jesus as a guide, director, comforter, and executive power. When we call upon Christ to be with us in our hours of trial, or to help us make some demonstration, it is “the Spirit of truth” that responds; in other words, “the Spirit of truth” is the executive of the Christ. In the early stages of our work this “Spirit of truth” seems to be external to us, but as we continue our unfoldment in the Christ consciousness we become more and more aware of spiritual Truth as an indwelling presence: “he abideth with you, and shall be in you.”
April 21, 1935: John 14:1-6
Define the “many mansions” that Jesus said were in His Father's “house.” These are many degrees of realization of the Truth of being.
What is the “place” that Jesus went to prepare? Jesus meant by this a definite state of realization of Truth into which all might enter who made the same denials and affirmations that He made. It is a condition of harmony and peace.
What follows when one is “renewed in the spirit” of one's mind? Renewal of the spirit of the mind brings a new consciousness of life to the one experiencing it, and convinces him that death is not necessary to entering into eternal life.
Give the Christ affirmation of oneness with God. “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one” (John 17:23). Through this union comes power to do the greater works that Jesus foretold.
December 28, 1941: John 14:1-6
What does the commandment “Let not your heart be troubled” imply? That through faith and trust in God man is able to control himself under stress.
What are the “many mansions” in the Father's house? They are varying degrees of realization of the Truth of Being.
Is the “place” to which Jesus went to prepare for His disciples a location in space? It has nothing to do with space. It is a state of mind into which all enter who attain the realization of sonship that Jesus attained.
Can anyone establish a place for himself in mind or consciousness? Yes. Each one does by his own thinking establish for himself the state of mind or consciousness in which he finds himself.
What was the “way” that Jesus went? His way was to realize through the I AM His complete oneness with God. He taught His disciples to do the same.
March 14, 1943: John 14:1-6
How can the heart be kept untroubled? Through faith. “Believe in God, believe also in me.”
What is the “place” that the Christ prepares for us? It is the state of consciousness in which we are quickened by the mind of Christ.
January 11, 1948: John 14:8-14
How can anyone “show us the Father”? By revealing the animating spirit of divine love, wisdom, judgment, faith, will, and understanding, the spirit that animates all good, the Christ. “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.”
How can we make our recognition and remembrance of the animating Spirit of God instinctive? Through habitual prayer and by maintaining ourselves in the consciousness of God. While constantly ministering to people, healing and teaching them, Jesus remained conscious of the Father by observing regular seasons of prayer and communion with Him.
Why should we do more than merely watch the inner self? The inner self is most important as a starting point for action, for “the Father abiding in me doeth his works,” but the right state of mind and heart must issue in right action in order to make the perfectly rounded life.
How can we insure ourselves against permitting the personal self to govern us? By trusting the divine Spirit within us and giving credit to it alone for all the good that we accomplish. “The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.”
What are some of the ways by which we most easily identify ourselves with God? By our words and also by our works. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” Our work is our faithful expression of the animating Spirit of God.
In identifying ourselves with God, what part does the I AM play? It is the medium through which we make conscious connection with Divine Mind. The I AM is the focal point of consciousness, the open door to the kingdom of God. We all use it constantly, and as we learn to use it aright, we identify ourselves with our true being.
April 13, 1952: John 14:1-6
What is the “place” that Jesus went to prepare for those who believed in Him? It is a consciousness of eternal life, divine love, and peace. The Christ has shown us the way, and prepares a “place” for each of us.
How do we express our belief in eternal life as ours inherently? By knowing that the Christ life is in us also and that we can develop an abiding consciousness of it.
Can life be divided into two categories, present life and eternal life? No, for life is one and indivisible. By means of the I AM we may enter into the cosmic consciousness and know eternal life here and now.
Can the universe be adequately explained without reference to its First Cause? No. We must go back to beginnings to understand principles or eternal truths. To believe in God as infinite and omnipresent is to believe that He dwells in us, since we are included in the Cosmos.
Jesus said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” To what did He refer? To the many degrees of realization of the Truth of Being (many mansions in the Father's house). In an external sense, in the universe there are many worlds. In mass, at least, our earth is a relatively insignificant member of the Cosmos.
Metaphysically Interpreting John 14:15-31
14:15If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. 14:16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, 14:17even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.
14:18I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you. 14:19Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. 14:20In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 14:21He 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 unto him. 14:22Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto him, Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 14:23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 14:24He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.
14:25These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you. 14:26But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. 14:27Peace 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 fearful. 14:28Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I. 14:29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. 14:30I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me; 14:31but 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.
April 7, 1935: John 14:8-24
How does one identify oneself with God? Identification with God is made through the right use of the I AM.
Is identification with God complete when it is established in the inner life? No, the outer life and the inner must become one if the truth we realize is to be brought into expression.
Name one outer method of claiming our identity with God. Our words form one way of realizing our oneness with God. To be perfect as the Father is perfect, we must make our words express our true thought.
Can we make of our work a means of identifying us with God? By seeking consciously to express the divine in all that we do, we can make our work a direct means of establishing our identity with God. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (John 5:17 A.V.).
Why did Jesus stress the importance of faith in the Christ power? Jesus knew that faith in the Christ is essential to the accomplishing of good work. “Believe me for the very works' sake.”
Explain why Jesus said that one who believed in Him should do greater works than He Himself had done. The Christ principle is one with the universal life principle, and we broaden the scope of our powers as we enter into the universal consciousness.
Give an outstanding example of the use of the I AM by Jesus. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Define the I AM. The I AM in man is his spiritual essence, his divine self, the focal point of contact with the kingdom of God which is in him.
Is love a help to us in identifying ourselves with God? Love is a decided help, because the law of love is attraction and through love we are lifted up into the Christ consciousness, where we make contact with God, who is divine love.
Name a sure test of love of the Christ. Keeping the commandments of the Christ Spirit is a sure test of love of the Christ. “If a man love me, he will keep my word.”
February 15, 1948: John 14:25-26
How does the Holy Spirit act as “comforter”? Its presence within us convinces us of the omnipresence of the Christ, so that there is no longer room in our heart for a sense of personal loss or grief.
What power do we derive from the Holy Spirit? The power to meet crises and emergencies courageously. As we dedicate ourselves to the task of expressing Truth, we invite the Holy Spirit to become active in us.
What is our first foretaste of the larger, universal life? The joy we feel when, through the dawning consciousness of the Holy Spirit in our mind and heart, we realize that we have a part in the development and uplifting of the common life of the race.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-09
