I AM…the way truth and life

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JOHN 14:1-6

INTRODUCTION

This is the third week in our series I am. And we were responding to what Jesus said about himself. This is a very gospel centered series that we are teaching. It's focused on bringing people to Christ. You can't talk about the resurrection of Jesus Christ or the life of Jesus Christ and not talk about the gospel. Because it's good news!

Hope that you're listening to this message and reflecting on your own life to see if you truly need Christ in your life.

Jesus is setting the stage for the disciples. He's getting ready to go to the cross he knows that he's about to be crucified at the hands of the Romans and the Jews. And so he has a little family gathering with his disciples and he says in John chapter 14 verse one

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. “And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:1–6

1. Jesus starts by addressing the troubled hearts of His disciples. He knows they are distressed about His talks of leaving them. Jesus encourages them to trust in God and in Him, highlighting the importance of faith in the face of uncertainty and fear.

2. Jesus speaks of going to prepare a place for them in His Father's house, which is interpreted as heaven. This promise of a prepared place assures the disciples (and believers) of their eternal home with God, emphasizing the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

3. When Thomas, one of the disciples, expresses confusion about where Jesus is going and how they can follow Him, Jesus delivers one of the most profound statements of His ministry: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

This declaration establishes Jesus not only as the mediator between God and man but also as the embodiment of truth and the source of eternal life.

When we can understand this, it challenges us to live by faith, hold on to the hope of eternal life, and recognize Jesus as the central figure in their relationship with God.

I. There are many pathways in life but only one leads to true freedom.

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” Matthew 24:4–5

Today people are easily led astray…

Are you easily LED astray? By being that astray I mean you let whatever wind of doctrine turns your head based on whatever you feel or going through at that moment.

A. We must be careful of what appears to be God thing.

1. Satan is crafty at making something appear godly and spiritual.

B. In order to walk in that freedom we must choose life.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,” Deuteronomy 30:19

II. Jesus is the only way to life in God.

V6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

A. I am the way.

“for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” Ephesians 2:18

1. The word way is the word (Hodos) it means – pathway or way of living.

2. When Jesus said, “I am the way” he was saying, “I am the only PATHWAY to the father and your way of life reflects that.

3. Is your life reflecting that Jesus is your path?

4. The early church made the center of their life Jesus. They talked about His teachings. They applied his teaching to their way of life. They lived by his principles. Not because they were religious, but because they wanted to see God.

APPLICATION – If you want to get to God you’re going to have to go through Jesus Christ. He is the way to God. You have to make His principles a way of life. You’re going to have to apply his teachings and practice being Jesus…

B. I am the Truth.

1. Truth is not what you believe to be right.

Today, people say, “That’s your truth.” Its what they believe to be right, even if it is wrong.

We cancel those who speak truth to our deception because we don’t want to hear what is fact.

2. Truth is what is in accordance with fact or reality.

a) When Jesus came he spoke truth to what others had perverted and corrupted as truth.

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17

3. The law was given as a mirror to show us the ugly reality of our sin and our need for a Savior.

4. God wants us to be right. In other words God wants us to be in line with what is true.

a) We will be judged by what is true, not by our own truth.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

b) Society says, we don’t have sin. Society says, sin is a concept.

c) Truth is that we are deceiving ourselves to think that we have not sinned.

d) Sin is disobedience to the truth and principles of God. That sin leads us into immoral behavior that is reflected in our actions.

We deceive ourselves because we don’t want to face the truth that we are dirty and sinful.

Jesus said, if you know the truth, that truth will set you free. If you know Jesus and follow His way of life you will experience true freedom.

C. I am the life.

1. Life is: that which makes us happy, content, satisfied and fulfilled.

a) We try and find life outside of Christ. Other things only bring temporary happiness.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMP

2. When you have no life in Christ you WORK to find what only faith can bring.

a) You waste your resources to find that fulfillment.

b) You waste your energy.

c) You never find fulfillment and are always looking for the next big thing.

3. Jesus said I am the life.

4. He is the fulfillment of everything that you need and want and never knew you wanted before.

III. What path are you choosing?

“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14

A. Are you choosing the path that leads to destruction?

1. The Israelites had to choose between the past sinful patterns that left their fathers dead in the desert and God who was leading them to a place of blessing and abundance.

2. The past life of the Israelites was one that left them nearly destroyed.

3. You are standing at the doorway of life and death, blessing and curse. If you choose death you will experience the destructive force of your choices.

B. Are you choosing the path that leads to life?

C. Choose life!

1. Choose Life

a) In the face of death

b) In the face of addiction

c) In the face of compromise

d) In the face of fear

2. Choose hope

a) In the face of worry

b) In the face of depression

c) In the face of desperation

d) In the face of stress

3. Choose truth

a) In the face of self-deception

b) In the face of the lies of the devil.

c) In the face of hate

d) In the face of unforgiveness

e) In the face of false religion

4. Choose Christ!

CONCLUSION