#john 14

[zenosanalytic]

When Christians Kill God

I was watching a Big Joel video essay on Nebula this morning(sorry, can't link it rn: he hasn't put it on youtube yet) about the God's Not Dead series of christian-nationalist movies, and it crystalized something for me:

When Nietzsche said "God is Dead"(and I have my Issues with Nietzsche this is not a "Nietzsche is Great" post), he didn't mean god had ltrl had a heart attack or something, nor did he mean ppl didn't BELIEVE in god anymore. He meant "God", as a concept, had lost the explanatory and organizational meaning he felt it had in the past: that "God" was no longer a transcendent and otherworldly point for social cohesion, which provided structure and meaning to society and life, and The Church no longer an institution everyone deferred to and interacted with by dint of its divine-connection, but rather that both had become subordinate to gross political power. He meant that God-as-concept was now a mere rhetorical means to achieve inescapably worldly, political ends(one could fairly argue if "God" had ever been anything BUT that).

There's a moment in one of the latest of these movies subtitled In God We Trust[1](we'll get back to this) that is VERY telling. The hero of the film, a conservative pastor running for congress, is debating a strawman liberal and the liberal says something like "Isn't do unto others the main message of Christianity? Isn't Love Thy Neighbor central to the teachings of Jesus?" to which the hero says "No." both times and then responds "central to the teachings of Jesus, IS Jesus." and follows it up with "the only reason the teachings of Jesus resonate is because he was the son of god" meaning that christianity isn't about following Joshua's teachings or example, but just baldly about worshiping him, as a deity and like:

First off Josh Says(Im going to have to quote the Gospel of John quite extensively here to make a point, so plz excuse that) pretty clearly

I am the way the truth and the life

That how he lived is The Life dedicated to god, and his example the WAY to god, and his life's teachings AND example the TRUTH of god, and reiterates it later when asked by Phillip to show them god by saying

have I been with you all this time, Phillip, and you still do not know me?

in other words 'WHAT HAVE I BEEN TEACHING YOU That you don't know god yet? Haven't you been paying attention to my words and actions?' and later

The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works

in other words 'The Words of my Teachings are the Work of God. I. HAVE. BEEN. TEACHING YOU. GOD' and then, still, following from that

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

and later still

Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words, and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me

It Could-Not-Be-Fucking-Clearer: Joshua is saying DIRECTLY 'If you believe in me you will live by my example and my teachings, and if you do not live The Way and The Truth I have brought to you FROM GOD, then you DO.NOT. believe in me' His message could not be clearer.

The people who made God's Not Dead: In God We Trust made it's culminating moment a DIRECT RENUNCIATION of Joshua's teachings, and John 14 specifically, in favor of worshiping divinity in-and-of-itself. They reject his life, his teachings, his works --Everything the Gospels equate directly to Joshua and through him to God-- to merely worship a god for being a god, and in doing so mark themselves out as not christian at all. They DO NOT keep his words, and so they do not love him, and they are PROUD OF THIS!

So, No, God's Not Dead: In God We Trust(which you CLEARLY DONT DO, Actually): Christ is NOT "the central message of christianity", his WORDS are his BODY and those who KEEP them in their Hearts make themselves a HOME FOR GOD. When you reject his Words, you reject his Way, you reject his Life, you reject God, You. Reject. Christ.

I am no christian, but by the standards of the professed beliefs of the people who made this work, of the VERY TEXT they claim is their inspiration and truth, bowing down to divinity is NOT Enough. You HAVE to Walk the Way; you MUST Accept his Words.

But more to my point: What better proof that "God Is Dead", no longer a pillar to build your life around and bring ppl together by, now nothing more than a tool for unscrupulous power-seekers, than a gang of wealthy liars calling themselves ~Christians~ proudly celebrating their Rejection of "The Way The Truth The Life" in favor of scraping at divinity's feet, as a tawdry tactic to drum up votes for an election.

They Spit on their God and call it "Faith".

[1]That they'd name it this is particularly galling, given everything else, because of course that Wasn't The Original Motto of the US, E Pluribus Unum(Out of Many, One) is, but rather one adopted in 1956 after a long campaign of political christians campaigning for it. In other words: That "In God We Trust" is the official US motto is yet another example of God being reduced from something holy to a political football. ↩︎

[biblequotesdaily]

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.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

John 14:15-18

[mariefollowerofjesuschrist]

[sealmonger]

John 14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

"If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

“Come now; let us leave.

footnotes

a. Or Believe in God

b. Some manuscripts If you really knew me, you would know

c. Some early manuscripts and is

[rightshewrites]

[jasongedwards]

Monday Morning Devotional

Here’ s first attempt at offering a Monday morning devotional based Sunday’s sermon. John 14:18 – “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” Devotional ReflectionThere are some things you can only say when the light is low and the room is quiet. Jesus speaks this promise at just such a moment. The table still smells of bread and wine. The dust of the road is still on their feet. And…

[re4med]

Devotional: Day Forty-Two (Gen. 42, John 14, Psa. 42)

Devotional for February 27, 2025 Reading: Genesis 42 | John 14 | Psalm 42 Genesis 42 There are two scenes in this chapter. The first scene describes the events that take place in Canaan. We note that description in 42:1-5 and 42:29-38. The middle scene describes the events that occur when Jacob’s sons go to Egypt to buy grain because the famine was great in the land (42:5). The first scene…

[pastordin]

Godly Character Building Bible Reading Plan: Week 10

Godly Character Building Bible Reading Plan | Aamir and Carissa Din Home Bible Reading Plan Contact Godly Character Building Bible Reading Plan: Week 10 A Journey of Discipleship and Transformation Week 10: Obedience Welcome to Week 10 of our Godly Character Building Bible Reading Plan! This week, we will explore the vital virtue of obedience, an essential aspect of discipleship that…

[fardell24b]

Church notes - 22nd December 2024

22nd Love Matthew 22:34 - 40 Luke 4:14 - 21

Selfless peace Luke 2:13, 14 Shepherds were low status people.

John 14:27

Glory to God in the highest.

Judges 6:24 Gideon recognised that God is peace.

Goodwill to men.

Luke 6:32 - 36

All of us have fallen short of God. We are all sinners.

Peace will set us free.

Luke 4:14 - 21 Isaiah 9:6

Jesus is more interested in our character, than our comfort.

Jesus hears your cry for help.

[culturevulturette]

[adventurechristianity]

Why Bother Praying?

Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.Jeremiah 29:12 Up in heaven, there is a mighty legion of angels, sitting at switchboards, answering prayers. The angels hear a prayer, evaluate its intensity, and respond accordingly. The really BIG prayers go up to the ladder for God to handle. Hmm. Is that how prayer works? Not sure about that. Here’s another thought: God is…

[pastored123]

Summarizing Divine Truth in a Deeply Personal Way

By: Ed Schneider, MPTh Below you will discover the three essentials of my personal commitment of exploring life in an engaging and positive way. Even life hasn’t always been easy, I am grateful God has allowed me to live and serve long enough to arrive at these building-blocks of my expressions of purpose and sustainable joy. Beloved, I pray that I could tell you I came to this awareness early…

[michaelbreznau]

Christ our Compass

Celebrating my 40th birthday at USAF Officer Training School was rather underwhelming. However, I did happen to procure an MRE with M&M’s on the big day last May, which brightened my afternoon of field training. But upon our return to the base that weekend, I received a gift shipment from my incredible wife and kiddos. Inside was a beautiful cherrywood box with a handsome compass nestled in the…

[nature-godsgardenofeden]

❣️💛❤️

Verse of the Day - John 14:27

[reedreadsgreek]

John 14, Reed's Version

“You are worried; calm your hearts. Trust in God, and trust in me. There’s plenty of room for you in my Father’s mansion. What did you think I meant when I told you that I’m going to prepare a home for you? So after I go and prepare your home, then I’ll return to bring you back with me, and then we’ll be together again. Don’t worry; you know the way to get where I’m going.” 

But Thomas objected, “Lord, we don’t even know where it is you’re going! How could we know the way there?” Jesus told him, “Thomas, it’s me; I AM the way. I am truth, I am life itself. It’s only through me that anybody can come to the Father. If you know me, you know my Father also. Even now, you are starting to know Him and see Him.” 

Then Philip told him, “Lord, just show us the Father, and that’ll be good enough.” But Jesus replied, “Really, Philip? After all this time, you still don’t recognize me? To see me is to see the Father. How can you, of all people, say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? It’s not my own words I’ve been speaking all this time. The Father has been accomplishing His will through me as He lives within me. You all must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Everything you’ve seen the Father do through me should convince you of that. 

“But I assure you, anyone who believes in me will do similar and even more amazing feats than those while I’m gone to be with the Father. That’s because whatever you ask me for the sake of my kingdom I will grant, in order to bring honor to the Father through the Son. I will do anything that you ask me for my sake. 

“If you love me, you will do what I’ve told you. Soon I’ll ask the Father to give you another helper and friend, the Spirit of truth, who will be with you always. Worldly people can’t have him, because they don’t understand Him. But you understand Him, because He’s right here with you and will soon live inside of you. So I’m not leaving you abandoned; I’m coming back to you. Soon I’ll be gone from this world, but you’ll still be aware of me. I have life within me and so you will have life through me. But after I’m gone, you’ll finally understand my unity with the Father and your unity with me. If you embrace and obey my teaching, that shows that you love me. And those who love me, my Father will love them and I will love them and show myself to them.” Then the other Judas asked him, “Lord, why don’t you intend to present yourself to the whole world? Why only to us?” Jesus replied, “Because its only you and those who love me who obey my teaching. Those are the ones the Father loves, and we will come to such ones and make ourselves at home with them. But the world has rejected me and my teaching. And it’s not even my own teaching; it came from the Father who sent me. 

“I’ve told you all this while I’m still with you in the flesh. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father is about to send to continue my work, He will teach you everything you need and help you remember all I’ve taught you. So I’m leaving you peace. It’s my very own peace I’m giving you, a peace which the world can’t give. So don’t be worried or afraid. You were sad when you heard me say, ‘I’m going away, but I will return.’ But if you loved me, you’d be happy for me! It’s great for me to go and be in the Father’s incomparable majesty. I’m telling you all this now beforehand, so that when everything happens just like I said, you’ll believe. I don’t have time to say much more to you; the ruler of this world is preparing his assault, even though he has no power to kill me. But so the world can see that I love the Father, I will be obedient and go to my death as He has told me to do. Come on, get up. Let’s head out.”

[versebyverse]

John 14

“Do not let your heart be troubled; fnbelieve in God, believe also in Me.

2“In My Father’s house are many fnrooms; if that were not so, fnI would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.

3“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.

4“And you know the way where I am going.”

5Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?”

6Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Oneness with the Father

7“If you fnhad known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

8¶

Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

9Jesus *said to him, “Have I been with fnyou for so long a time, and yet fnyou have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works.

11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

12“Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father.

13“And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

15¶

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

The Holy Spirit

16“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another fnHelper, so that He may be with you forever;

17the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.

18¶

“I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

19“fnAfter a little while, the world no longer is going to see Me, but you are going to see Me; because I live, you also will live.

20“On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I in you.

21“The one who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”

22Judas (not Iscariot) *said to Him, “Lord, what has happened that You are going to reveal Yourself to us and not to the world?”

23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will follow My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.

24“The one who does not love Me does not follow My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

25¶

“These things I have spoken to you while remaining with you.

26“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and remind you of all that I said to you.

27“Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. fnDo not let your hearts be troubled, nor fnfearful.

28“You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced fnbecause I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

29“And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.

30“I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has fnnothing in regard to Me,

31but so that the world may know that I love the Father, fnI do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let’s go from here.