Peace in Jesus' Exclusive Claims

We are talking about peace. It’s something we all want. Something we should have as a fruit of the Spirit. Something Jesus wants to give us:

Were looking at John 14-16 commonly called the Upper Room Discourse. And we have honed in on two verses – both the remind us of one of the themes of this talk – peace.

John 14:27 (NIV)

“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.”

John 16:33 (NIV)

“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.”

What are “these things” that will give us peace? Last week we talked about heaven. Today in John 14:5-11 we will find another thing that brings us peace.

John 14:5–11 (NIV) — 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 know me, you will 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 I do not speak on my own authority. 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 works themselves.

There seems to be some doubt among the apostles expressed in the questions of Thomas and Philip. In response Jesus makes these bold claims:

I am going the Father

I am the way, the truth and the life

No one comes to the Father except through me

You have seen me, you have seen the Father

These are indeed very bold claims and it is these claims that bring a lot of criticism. Christianity makes the claim that Jesus is the exclusive source of truth and the only path to God. Jesus makes this claim to uniquely revealing and representing the Father. So, we are accused of being exclusive. Because we are. And it’s not because we say so, Jesus says so.

John is circling back on a theme he introduced in the prologue and has been repeating throughout the Gospel:

John 1:1 (NIV) — 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:18 (NIV)— 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John 8:19 (NIV)— 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

John 10:30 (NIV) — 30 I and the Father are one.”

John 10:38 (NIV) — 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

John 12:44–45 (NIV) — 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.”

This claim is repeated by the apostles:

Acts 4:12 (NIV)— 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

The identity of Jesus is repeated is the letters:

Hebrews 1:1–3 (NIV) — 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Colossians 1:15–19 (NIV) — 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.

Is Jesus saying all of this out of pride? Is he overestimating his identity? Why is he saying this about himself, especially now? Why the lesson on the trinity?

Jesus wants them, and us, to have confidence in our choice of him. You have made the right choice.

Now I encourage you to examine the claim and see for yourself. No one else makes this claim and if this is not true Jesus is the most egotistical or even worse most insane man who ever lived. But he is not egotistical nor is he insane. He makes these claims because they are true. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He and the father are one and he tells his followers in that upper room so they will never have to doubt the decision they have made and thereby they can find peace in that. And if you have made that decision to believe that Jesus is who he says he is you too can have confidence and peace that you have made the right decision.