” 35. The Koran plainly and openly instructs men to physically beat their “insubordinate” wives. (Koran 4:34)”
Stop The Oppression of Muslim Women
Quoted from: http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-encyclopedia-westerners-need-to-know-list.htm
Tag Archive: koran
” 32. It is the formal stated policy of the Koran and modern Muslim leaders to take over the world and replace the constitution of the USA with Shariah law and install loudspeakers throughout the land forcing everyone to endure the “howling of the demons” 5 times a day and bow to the Moon God in prayer. They certainly would abolish our public noise bylaws to say the least!”
Quoted from: http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-encyclopedia-westerners-need-to-know-list.htm
Jesus predicted Islam (emphases mine):
“All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue;
in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.
I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.” (from John 16: 1-4)
I was sent a link, as part of a comment to a previous post. In that link, passages from the Bible and the Koran are twisted together to make a case for the opinion that Jesus foretold the coming of Muhammad–that Muhammad was the one referred to as ‘The Counselor’ or ‘The Holy Spirit’. One of the passages quoted from is John 14, another is from John 16.
I recently wrote posts on John 14, John 15, and John 16, giving correct interpretations. In this post I will summarize the passages from those chapters that speak about The Counselor aka The Holy Spirit. Hopefully it will be apparent to you that these passages do not foretell the coming of Muhammad–or of any man.
Here are the passages in John 14, 15 and 16 that speak of The Comforter/The Holy Spirit:
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to 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 in you.” (John 14: 14-16)
“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, 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.” (John 14: 25-26)
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15: 26-27)
“. . . It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” (John 16: 6-15)
According to the article (that puts forth the twisted assumption that Muhammad is The Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would come):
“This prophecy clearly lays down that:
1. The Comforter will come after the departure of Jesus.
2. When the Comforter comes, he will reprove the world of sin, truth and justice.
3. He will guide the world into all truth.
4. The book revealed to him will contain no human word.
5. He will foretell things to come.
6. He will glorify Jesus and clear him of all charges.
Now when we take this prophecy point by point, it is unmistakably proven that it applies to none else but the Holy Prophet Muhammad. He came after Jesus. The Comforter was supposed to reprove the followers of Jesus. Obviously, he could not be a Christian or a Jew .The prophecy must relate to one who would belong to another people but should respect Jesus and promote reverence for him. The Holy Prophet was neither Jew nor a Christian. He was an Ishmaelite. But he defended the honor of Jesus.”
Let me restate these points, with my own comments added:
1. The Comforter will come after the departure of Jesus.
2. When the Comforter comes, he will reprove the world of sin, truth and justice.
A subtle twisting of words, but what the Scripture says is that
“When he comes, he will convict* the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment”
*convict: expose; show one his fault; cause to feel shame
3. He will guide the world into all truth.
4. The book revealed to him will contain no human word.
No such thing is stated. What IS said is that the Holy Spirit will not speak His own thoughts, but only what He hears from the Father, and what He has heard from Jesus–and He will teach the meaning of Jesus’ parables.
5. He will foretell things to come.
6. He will glorify Jesus and clear him of all charges.
Clear Him of all charges? No mention of that here. He will glorify Jesus by opening the eyes of His (Jesus’) followers to the meaning of His words.
All it takes is a little twist to give words a completely different meaning. Words are necessary to convey thoughts, but if thoughts can be conveyed directly, words are secondary.
When a Christian reads Gods Word (the Bible), the Holy Spirit conveys its meaning to his heart. When nonChristians read the Bible, all they have are the words–hence the many disputes over the meaning of words and passages, and the habit of taking things out of context.
When someone uses Bible passages to convey a meaning different than God intended, the Holy Spirit alerts the believer, bringing to mind both God’s intended meaning and other relevant Scriptures.
Here are some other passages that speak about the Holy Spirit:
“I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
. . . But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1: 1-9
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God‑fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine. ”
“Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
” ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Acts 2: 1-21)
“Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” (Acts 2: 22-24)
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. (Acts 2: 32-33)
“”Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” (Acts 2: 36-39)
Speaking of the passage in John 16 the article says:
“Now when we take this prophecy point by point, it is unmistakably proven that it applies to none else but the Holy Prophet Muhammad.”
How so? And “unmistakably proven” by whom? Here the author uses an authoritative tone and words to convince the reader that the matter has already been settled. This conclusion has been drawn by taking one passage out of context, twisting its words and excluding other relevant Scriptures.
“He came after Jesus. The Comforter was supposed to reprove the followers of Jesus.”
Whoa! Didn’t you just say
“2. When the Comforter comes, he will reprove the world of sin, truth and justice.”
So, in the end, the author has twisted the Scripture which says
“He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
to
“The Comforter was supposed to reprove the followers of Jesus”.
Either from this misunderstanding, or out of thin air, the author draws the conclusion that
“Obviously, he could not be a Christian or a Jew .”
Not only is it not ‘obvious’, there is nothing to support this conclusion. But all that is beside the point, because the Holy Spirit is not a human being!!
“The prophecy must relate to one who would belong to another people but should respect Jesus and promote reverence for him. The Holy Prophet was neither Jew nor a Christian. He was an Ishmaelite. But he defended the honor of Jesus.”
Jesus warned us about false prophets, saying that many would even say He was the messiah, yet would deceive many. So, simply ‘defending the honor of Jesus’ does not qualify one as a true prophet of Jehovah. Especially when one goes on to say:
“Here the Holy Quran specifically says that Jesus was saved from that accursed death designed for him by his enemies. However, they only suspected that they had succeeded in crucifying him. But Allah had not only saved him but admitted him to the circle of His favored ones.”
Yes, you read it right–Islam denies that Jesus actually died on the cross. Therefore Islam denies Jesus’ resurrection, and invalidates the Bible’s promise that His death served as a substitute and payment for our sins. It also denies the truth of God’s Word, saying that Jesus’ death was a hoax.
None of this should come as a surprise to most people yet, undoubtedly, there are still some people who are mired in the lies told in defense of Islam–and who still believe that Christianity and Islam are compatible and that we serve the same God/god.
Muhammad was neither holy, nor a prophet of God. The article goes on to say, about Muhammad:
“He led an ideal life, a perfect example to be followed throughout the future.”
By today’s standards, Muhammad was a pedophile, a wife beater, a liar, and a murderer, among other things. If one is to pronounce him a ‘perfect example’ and say he led an ‘ideal life’, I have to ask: by whose standards was he judged? How does he fare when judged by the standards of Jehovah?
Jesus lived a perfect life. No sin was found in Him–ever. He alone can be judged by the standards of Jehovah and pronounced ‘perfect’ and ‘without spot or blemish’.
Again, from the article:
“The prophecy had said: “He will guide you unto all truth”. Again Muhammad was the only prophet who claimed to have brought a universal and perfect law.”
And because he claims something, it is so?! At any rate, Muhammad’s claim to have brought a universal and perfect law would have nothing to do with a Scripture verse foretelling that the Holy Spirit would guide believers “into all truth” (convey the true meaning of God’s Word to us as we study it).
Furthermore, God is the lawgiver–not Moses, not Muhammad. Jesus lived according to all of God’s laws, thus fulfilling them. He brought us a greater law–a law that fulfills all the others, if we live it: the law of love.
He who loves his brother does not steal from him, sleep with his wife, give false testimony about him, murder him, or covet what he has. He who loves his wife does not beat her or break her heart by sleeping with another. He who loves his children is not harsh with them, nor does he spoil them. He who loves his parents respects and honors them.
He who loves God (Jehovah) will have no gods beside Him (nor make or worship idols). He who loves God (Jehovah) will not use God’s (Jehovah’s) name in vain, nor use it in ways that would bring dishonor to Him. He who loves God (Jehovah) will observe the Sabbath and keep it holy.
I defy any Muslim to convince me that Muhammad’s ‘perfect’ Sharia law is superior to Jesus’ law of love!
Sharia, as with any other man-made law, is a twisted web of regulations. But, unlike western law, Sharia is enforced by draconian punishments such as amputations, hanging and beheading!
God (Jehovah) gave us His laws, not because they had the power to make us obedient, but in order that we would see that we are unable to fulfill them! His Holy Spirit works with His laws, to convince men of their sinfulness, and their inability to live a life of perfection–to lead them to repent and seek mercy from God, in order to save their souls.
Without the power of God’s Holy Spirit within us, none of us is able to keep the law. We are all sinners and none of us is truly able to reflect the character and likeness of God by our own efforts. Nevertheless, Jehovah is a God of mercy, and of free will. Every single person is valuable to him.
Sharia is a system of regulations, based on fear of punishment, that seeks to dominate and control every human being on the face of the earth . . . a system that would cause a man to beat his wife into submission. . . or to murder his daughter to save his own honor . . . or to kill innocents for the ‘glory’ (and blood lust) of his god. The god ‘Allah’ is the author of this cruel system of domination.
Contrast Allah with Jehovah, The One who grants us each free will, yet freely pardons those who turn from their wicked ways . . . Jehovah, the God who sent His own son to live a sinless life and die on our behalf–so that we can have peace, abundance, love, joy, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness and self control. Jehovah, whose law is fair and just, and based in love.
No, Sharia law can’t hold a candle to that! And that is why Allah must resort to deception, fear, intimidation and punishment. Contrary to what Islam claims, NO ONE is born a Muslim. Every child is born free, and each person has the right, and the obligation, to choose which God/god he will serve.
I was sent a link, as part of a comment to a previous post. In that link, passages from the Bible and the Koran are twisted together to make a case for the opinion that Jesus foretold the coming of Muhammad. One of the passages quoted from is John 14, another is John 16.
(When Jesus spoke of ‘The Counselor’, He was referring to the Holy Spirit of God that He promised would indwell Christians. He was not referring to Muhammad, or to any other human being.)
In previous posts, I explained the interpretations of John 14 and John 15. To continue with the teaching, here is John 16, in its entirety, along with its interpretation:
1 “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
16 “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy
17 Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 “You believe at last!” Jesus answered. 32 “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In this chapter, Jesus is simultaneously teaching truths about five basic subjects. The subjects are braided together, as a cord. Let us tease the strands (subjects) apart by color coding them. Passages speaking of the same thing are coded the same color. The subjects will be explained at the end of the chapter.
Now that you have read the chapter as it was written (above), read one color-coded section at a time, and compare it with the explanation at the end of the chapter.
1 “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
16 “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
The Disciples’ Grief Will Turn to Joy
17 Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29 Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
31 “You believe at last!” Jesus answered. 32 “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Color code and subjects
Jesus speaks of His impending death and resurrection, and comforts His disciples.
Jesus explains that He and the Father and the Holy Spirit are one.
Jesus explains that:
- after He goes to The Father, He will send the Counselor (The Holy Spirit)
- The Holy Spirit will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment
- The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth
- The Holy Spirit will teach us the meaning of the parables that Jesus spoke
- The Holy Spirit will tell us of things that are to come
- Because the disciples love and believe Jesus, The Father loves them
Jesus warns the disciples that they will face persecution in this life, but eternal joy. He encourages them to keep their faith in Him.
Jesus teaches the disciples what will be the nature of their/our relationship with God after Jesus’ resurrection:
- They/we will pray directly to The Father, in Jesus’ name
- The Father will answer their/our prayers, because He loves those who love and trust in Jesus
- After His resurrection He will teach the disciples, in plain language, about The Father
If you go back, and reread the entire chapter as it was written, it should make more sense to you now.
I was sent a link, as part of a comment to a previous post. In that link, passages from the Bible and the Koran are twisted together to make a case for the opinion that Jesus foretold the coming of Muhammad. One of the passages quoted from is John 14.
(When Jesus spoke of ‘The Counselor’, He was referring to the Holy Spirit of God that He promised would indwell Christians. He was not referring to Muhammad, or to any other human being.)
In a previous post, I explain the interpretation of John 14. To continue with the teaching, here is John 15, in its entirety, along with its interpretation:
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
In this chapter, Jesus is simultaneously teaching truths about six basic subjects. The subjects are braided together, as a cord. Let us tease the strands (subjects) apart by color coding them. Passages speaking of the same thing are coded the same color. The subjects will be explained at the end of the chapter.
Now that you have read the chapter as it was written (above), read one color-coded section at a time, and compare it with the explanation at the end of the chapter.
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean [pruned] because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Color code and subjects
Jesus:
- Explains that we can do nothing (spiritually) on our own, but that we must allow Him to work through us
- Teaches that through being united with Him, we will bear spiritual fruit
- Reveals that we were chosen, to be fruitful
- Tells us that The Father prunes us
- Explains that it pleases The Father when we are fruitful, and The Father will give us what we ask for, in order that we may be even more fruitful
- Teaches that our fruitfulness brings glory to God
Jesus explains that:
- If we obey Him, He will love us
- Because He obeyed the Father, The Father loves Him
- If we continue to obey Him, He will remain in us
Jesus explains that:
- To love Him is to obey Him
- His command is that we love each other, even going so far as to lay down our life for each other
Jesus shows that :
- The world hated Him without reason
- The world, by extension, hates The Father–because Jesus and The Father are one
- The world will treat His followers as it treated Him–because Jesus and His followers are one
Jesus explains that:
- He loves The Father and does exactly what The Father has commanded Him. Therefore, when people hate Jesus, they hate The Father.
- If we love Jesus, we will obey Him. Then those who seek Him will accept our teaching
- When Jesus sends The Counselor/The Spirit of Truth from The Father, The Counselor will testify of Him (Jesus)
- The disciples were witnesses and must tell others what they witnessed when they were with Jesus
- We must testify about what we know of Jesus, from His presence being with us
God, the Father:
- will cut off Christians that don’t bear fruit
- will cast them into the fire
- will judge those who reject Jesus
- will judge those who reject the witnesses’ testimony about Jesus
If you go back, and reread the entire chapter as it was written, it should make more sense to you now.
I was sent a link, as part of a comment to a previous post. In that link, passages from the Bible and the Koran are twisted together to make a case for the opinion that Jesus foretold the coming of Muhammad. One of the passages quoted from is John 14.
(When Jesus spoke of ‘The Counselor’, He was referring to the Holy Spirit of God that He promised would indwell Christians. He was not referring to Muhammad, or to any other human being.)
Here is John 14, in its entirety, along with the interpretation:
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 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’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 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 miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– 17 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 in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He 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.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, 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. 27 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.
28 “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. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
In this chapter, Jesus is simultaneously teaching truths about five basic subjects. The subjects are braided together, as a cord. Let us tease the strands (subjects) apart by color coding them. Passages speaking of the same thing are coded the same color. The subjects will be explained at the end of the chapter.
Now that you have read the chapter as it was written (above), read one color-coded section at a time, and compare it with the explanation at the end of the chapter.
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 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’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 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 miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– 17 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 in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He 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.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, 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. 27 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.
28 “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. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.
“Come now; let us leave.
Color code and subjects
Jesus:
- Speaks of His impending death, resurrection, and ascension to His disciples
- Comforts them
- Explains that we cannot reach The Father directly ourselves, but that we must go through Him (Jesus)
- Teaches that through faith in Him, they/we can do works even greater than He did, because He will be with the Father*
- Implies that He will be able to pass their/our prayers along to the Father (because only He can ask things of the Father)*
- Tells them that He will take them/us to be with Him, after this life
*Now, instead of Jesus walking the Earth and the disciples being able to ask things of Him (Jesus), the disciples will ask Jesus, and Jesus will ask The Father on their/our behalf.
Because The Father is greater (more powerful) than Jesus, they/we will be able to do even greater things than the disciples could do while they were with Jesus (because they were enabled by Jesus’ power when He was with them, but now The Father’s [greater] power will enable them/us).
Jesus explains that:
- He loves The Father and does exactly what The Father has commanded Him. Therefore, when people saw Him, they saw The Father.
- If we love Him, we will obey Him. Then He, The Father and The Holy Spirit will live in us, and those who see us will see Him (Them).
Jesus explains that to love Him is to obey His teaching.
Jesus explains that:
- Those of us who love Him obey Him
- He and The Father will love those who obey Him (Them)
- They will come to those of us who love Them, in the form of the Counselor (The Holy Spirit)
- They (The Holy Spirit) will teach us all things and remind us of what Jesus taught
Jesus shows that He, The Father and The Holy Spirit:
- Are not known by ‘the world’ (people who are not His, and spirits that have authority in this world)
- Are not accepted by the world
- Are not subject to the (spiritual) powers of this world
Jesus teaches that those who do not love Him do not obey Him (and vice-versa)
If you go back now, and reread the entire chapter as it was written, it should make more sense to you.
” 27. “Nasikh” is the concept that newer revelation cancels older revelation. Today Muslims, who understand the principle of “Nasikh” deceptively quote the Koran to trick the media into thinking Islam is peaceful and tolerant of non-Muslims.
The Koran, like the Bible, has an “old testament”, that is abolished and not used as law and a “new testament”, that is used by Muslims today.
The abolished sections of the Koran were written in Medina when Muhammad faced his disciples to pray towards Jerusalem in an effort to sway the Jews to convert to Islam. It was during this time Muhammad taught toleration towards non-Muslims. When the Jews rightly told Muhammad to take a hike, he killed them and as a “snubbed and jilted lover” suddenly instructed his followers to forget praying towards Jerusalem and start praying towards Mecca.
During the Medina phase, Muhammad taught toleration towards non-Muslims. During the Meccan phase, Muhammad started teaching “death to non-Muslims”.
Muslim leaders (Imams) deliberately quote from the abolished “Medina” sections of the Koran when, for a short time, Muhammad preached tolerance, in a manipulative ploy to convert the Jews. These Imams know that the later sections of the Koran when Muhammad was at Mecca, preach death to non-Muslims.”
Quoted from: http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-encyclopedia-westerners-need-to-know-list.htm
” 25. The Koran borrows heavily from the Bible and is a random collection of literature that includes confirmed fairy tales and myths.
Reading the Koran is a toilsome and confused jumble of nonsense. Large portions of the Koran are impossible to accurately translate because the text is incomprehensible.
McClintock and Strong say of the Koran: “It is humiliating to the human intellect to think that this mediocre literature has been the subject of innumerable commentaries and that millions of men are still wasting time in absorbing it.”
In other words, reading the Koran is a confusing waste of time, whereas the Bible is beautiful, coherent with a simple and powerful message.”
Quoted from: http://www.bible.ca/islam/islam-encyclopedia-westerners-need-to-know-list.htm
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