John 14:28
What does John 14:28 mean?
A plain-English look at John 14:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 14:28 means
Jesus reminds them He has said He is going and coming again. He adds that if they loved Him rightly, they would rejoice that He goes to the Father, for the Father is greater than He. This does not deny His divine nature but speaks of His incarnate mission and the Father’s primacy in sending. Returning to the Father means completion, exaltation, and the outpouring of promised blessings. Their love should align with God’s plan, celebrating His return, not clinging to His earthly presence. This perspective turns sorrow into worship, trusting that His going advances the Father’s glory and their good.
John 14:28 in context
John 14 — I Am the Way
On the night before his crucifixion Jesus comforts his disciples. He is going to prepare a place for them; he is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by him. He promises another Comforter — the Holy Spirit — who will dwell in them and bring his words to remembrance. The peace he gives is not as the world gives. Even with the cross hours away, he turns from his own sorrow to steady theirs.
- Heaven
- Exclusivity of Christ
- Holy Spirit promised
- Christ's peace
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Ye 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Ye 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Keep in mind how I said to you, I go away and come to you again. If you had love for me you would be glad, because I am going to the Father: for the Father is greater than I.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862ye heard that I said to you--I go away, and I come unto you; if ye did love me, ye would have rejoiced that I said--I go on to the Father, because my Father is greater than I.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Ye have heard that I have said unto you, I go away and I am coming to you. If ye loved me ye would rejoice that I go to the Father, for [my] Father is greater than I.
Context
After promising peace, Jesus reframes His departure as cause for joy, grounded in His relationship to the Father. This helps the disciples reinterpret the crisis about to unfold. The next verse reveals another purpose of His foretelling: to bolster their faith when events occur. The flow moves from peace to perspective to preparedness, equipping them to stand firm as the passion accelerates and the powers of darkness press in.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 1:8
whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
- Hebrews 1:2
hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;
- Psalms 47:5
God is gone up with a shout, Jehovah with the sound of a trumpet.
- Luke 24:51
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.
- Matthew 12:18
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.
- Hebrews 2:9
But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every man.
Sermon ideas from John 14:28
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 14:28 teaches us about heaven
What John 14:28 teaches us about exclusivity of christ
What John 14:28 teaches us about holy spirit promised
What John 14:28 teaches us about christ's peace
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