John 14:1-21 KJV
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
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.
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.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 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 my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 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.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He 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 to him.

This chapter in John takes place before the garden prayer, this chapter and the next two chapters are cover at the end of the Bible study I did on John. It was my first study. Some of the pages got messed up. However one day hopefully it be repaired. I know God is good and sometimes we need to look after the cross all the things Christ attended for us to know before his cross. His love letter is the Bible, but these three chapters in John is the love letter to our heart. Several things to know God has a homes in glory land. What in glory land(heaven), many mansions that have been prepared for the believer. What is God talking about is he is preparing our incorruptible shell of a home, for our spirit to live in. To be alive in his kingdom in a body by his design not designed as corruption no more. Then Jesus says you know the way to these mansions, and you know how to get there. And Thomas says, "unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" Thomas is puzzled by the words of Jesus. He thinks Jesus is going somewhere and he does not know the direction. He does not understand the spirtual meaning of the discourse.

Jesus is speaking probably as more spiritual in these 3 chapters then he speaks anywhere in John, though the whole book of John has spiritual truth through out and must be rationalized like the discourse with Nicodemus and the woman at the well. Yet not all discourses with Jesus was spiritual. Even with it being spiritual Thomas should of known because he was talking of heavenly things, but because there a slight change in the conversation, Thomas thinks they are going on a trip and will come later following Jesus. Thomas is needing direction though he already has the map of faith or does he.

When we study John 21. We see doubting Thomas in full light of his character, of doubting of the resurrection, for he was not with the disciples the first time Jesus came into the upper room after the resurrection. Because of this he said he had to put his fingers in the hands of Jesus and his side to believe. Yet on seeing Jesus he bows down and worships Jesus. Jesus tells him he sees by faith, but there be those coming to faith without seeing the things in which he had and these people were blessed.

Thomas a doubter, a person that question things, and even a good listener, but fail to grasp the spiritual understanding fo what was to come. A doubter, a person that wanted to see not just hear it. People of faith and unbelief are often this way without understanding what it means to see and to know. Instead of questioning learning to wait for the understanding with the evidence to come. Evidence to know the reality of all Christ spoke for himself to bring things to light. Because of doubts we desire to see now and not wait. Has a child could you wait to open your shopping bag before you got home from the store to see and make sense of what you bought. As an adult we learn not to get into things until we get it home most of the time. Yet it is the general need to check something out has one openning the package in the parking lot. If one is not able to wait for the parking lot things get open in stores that should be kept shut. It is life and when it easy to access people look.

Thomas is hearing but he thinks Jesus going somewhere he needs to follow later, and in truth maybe Thomas words are more clear because we feel the need to know all we can about Jesus and yet only able to take a little at a time by his stories and the actions of faith in our own journey, waiting to see the open sky of heaven to call us home. Yet in the journey we need to undestand when we open our heart in faith his Spirit comes and lives in our heart to guide and to direct our pathway. He is our comforter and guide. However we must love God and Jesus for him to manifest in our life.

There are many people angry with God that believe in God but never fully grasping the hope of God. They never understand the need to love God. To return the love back to God he gives us. That is a hard pill to swallow sometimes. It like having a relationship with someone and when they make a mistake they are forgiven until that one time you do not feel you can mustard that much love. I use the term Cain here, Cain knew what God said not to sin, but he sinned anyway. He had no regard for the ways of God, but had enough fear of God to know God had the power to kill him or have him killed. Cain knowing this never understood the grace or the love of God only knew God's revengeful nature. Do you know God's grace in the storm of life, in one's mistakes to the point we know God will forgive if we ask. Can we love God back even in disagreement to his ways. Sounds crazy, but when we accept it God's way we learn God's way is for our protection on life's journey. Thomas words idle to the reality of Jesus was alive, but Jesus still came and presented himself to Thomas for his love for him.

Dear Heavenly Father, help us to follow the pathway you designed for us to follow. Help us to walk by your word. To study and to know you love for us and your desire to forgive us when we confess our sins, that you are faithful to forgive. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: John 20:24-31 KJV
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.