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Dismay was the natural reaction of the disciples upon hearing Jesus predict his departure (cf. 13:36-37) and Peter’s denial. But that is because their perspective was limited (cf. 16:6-7), unnecessarily so in light of Jesus' consistent teaching. And so Jesus comforted them by putting their perspective right. Trust, not dismay, was the order of the day (v.1). There is ample space in the Father’s house, and the purpose of Jesus' journey was to establish a place there for them and to return to take them to be with him (vv.2-3). Even death and its aftermath had a place in the plan. In the words of Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, as translated by John Wesley:
When from the dust of death I rise
To claim my mansion in the skies,
Even then, this shall be all my plea,
“Jesus hath lived, hath died for me.”
(“Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness”)
That much they endured in silence, but when Jesus insisted that they knew the way to the place where he was going, Thomas protested that they knew neither destination nor route (vv.4-5). Jesus' rejoinder put his teaching about himself in a nutshell (v.6): the way to the Father was through him, just as he was also the avenue into the world for the truth and life of the Father. To know him was to know the Father (cf. 1:18).
Philip’s request to be shown the Father (v.8) revealed persistent misunderstanding and led Jesus to declare himself once again (vv.9-11). Not even his works and words were his own; they came from the Father, who was living and working in him. If his saying so had been insufficient to engender belief, then observation of his miraculous works ought to have done it.
Jesus' next words were astounding (vv.12-14). First, on the basis of Jesus' return to the Father, the believer would do not only the kind of works Jesus did but also greater ones. This did not mean more sensational miracles but works more revealing of the purposes of God; on this see the commentaries. Second, and this was new, Jesus would grant the requests of the believer.