I once saw a saying that really struck out to me about the liberties that we have in the United States " Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you: Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom. It is the soldier, not the reporter who gives us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet who gives us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer who gives us freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin in draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag. ~ Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC " Freedom always has a price. In America, weave liberties that are granted us as citizens of the nation (not going to get political, that's not the point of this post), and it is paid for by those who protect and serve our nation, whether soldiers, or first responders, all who continually give up their lives and risk them ultimately. As such, we owe it to those who have died to live the best we can because a price was paid. Ultimately, the same thing applies to the Christian. Jesus Christ not only gave His life for us, but He also lived for us, and in giving His life so that we may be free of Sin and Death, we owe Him more than simply "a good life." Freedom is costly, and it is paid for in blood. Jesus said, in no uncertain terms, "If you love me, you'll keep my commandments." We need to bear this in mind: Even with our liberties, we owe a debt of our very lives so that we might live fully according to the one who gave it.
I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life
1“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;a believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?b 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4And you know the way to where I am going.”c 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can 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. 7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.d From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do 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 authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
12“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask mee anything in my name, I will do it.
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper,f to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will beg in you.
18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
25“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
Footnotes: a 1 Or You believe in God b 2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you c 4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know d 7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also e 14 Some manuscripts omit me f 16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 g 17 Some manuscripts and is
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