Revealing the Way
Notes
Transcript
BI: Be comforted because we will go home to be with our Lord. But only Jesus can take us there.
Introduction
Morning everyone. welcome to Church.
Well i wonder if you have heard of Australian journalist Cheng Lei. she was a business reporter for China’s state-run English language TV station CGTN. she worked there for nearly a decade. but on 13 August 2020, Cheng Lei was arrested by the chinese government. it caused a huge stir here. news all over it. Why? Apparently, she broke an embargo for a few minutes. she was a journo so she was not allowed to share certain information. they took her in on suspicion of illegally supplying state secrets. of course, this was at the time of higher stress between China and Australia. she says ‘what seems innocuous to us here, and its not limited to embargoes but many other things, are not in China.’ she was they wanted to drive it home that it was a big big sin. Cheng Lei was viewed as a security threat.
she was in jail for almost 3 years. and as i was reading the news. you could see, feel, that all she wanted to do was go home. come home to Australia.
all she wanted to do was go home to be with her family, her 2 little children.
in my cell, she says, the sunlight shines through the window but i can stand in it for only 10 hours a year. all she wanted to do was go home.
She was watched 24 hours a day by 2 guards, one sitting next to her, one in front. she was not allowed to speak to them. she just wanted to go home.
and incredibly, on 11 October 2023, probably in large part due to the Government’s persistence, Cheng Lei returned home. she was freed.
she says, ‘tight hugs, teary screams, holding my kids in the spring sunshine. Trees shimmy from the breeze. I can see the entirety of the sky now! Thank you Aussies.’ She did come home.
it was a moment of great joy and relief.
coming home.
Jesus talks about going home in this passage. a better home. unlike our homes here, he’s talking about our real eternal home. He talks about entering into God’s Kingdom, eternal life. Into heaven. He tells us about how to get there.
And really this is the biggest question for us all. and as big as this is for Cheng Lei to be set free, this remains the biggest question for her. How do we really go home? What is it we need to do to get into heaven? To go to the place after this earth? To go home? because our homes here are so temporary. our lives so fragile. But Jesus – the God of the Bible tells us clearly how to get there.
Jesus wants us to know with certainly that we can be accepted by God in this life and the next. Be comforted because we will go home to be with our Lord. But only Jesus can take us home.
1. Context
We’re in John 13. it’s a really intimate but intense scene. because we’re just back in John, i wanted to give a bit of context. Jesus and his closest disciples are in an upstairs room, having dinner together just hours before he is going to die. In fact did you know this our whole series in term 3 from chapters 13-17 is focused in on this one night? John the author has completely slowed down to focus in this conversation. And Jesus has just dropped a bombshell. He says “The one I give this morsel of bread will betray me. He gives some bread to Judas Iscariot. what an intense scene. and Judas has just left the dinner. He’s probably gone to prepare for Jesus’ arrest. But Simon Peter focuses in on another bombshell that he has just heard. Jesus has just said he going away in chapter 13 verse 33. he says
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
This really troubles Peter.
So Simon Peter asks in verse 36
Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”
Now Peter is trouble and confused. He blurts out “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” he’s thinking, you going to take over Israel? I’m ready to follow you. I’m ready to die for you. I’m ready. Let’s go. But Peter is confused. He thinks Jesus is a military king who has come to rule like King David. That’s his thinking. So he’s ready to die in battle. But Jesus is not that kind of King. He is the humble, lowly, servant King. He’s going to die. He’s thinking about going to the cross. You can’t follow me because I’m going to die, but you will follow afterward. That’s his point. but at this point, Peter does not get it.
2. Jesus will bring you home (13:36-14:4)
actually, Jesus is preparing to bring him home. he is preparing to bring you home. But first, he comforts his disciples
Now I don’t know about you, but when I expect something bad to happen the next day I need encouragement. I’m a bit on edge. Bit stressed. Bit anxious. Like at the moment I’m taking some swimming lessons, day before I’m practising bubble bubble breathe. I need that encouragement from Joy, come on you got this. You’ll be fine. It’s hard, for me. Or I’m about to have a hard conversation, I need that encouragement from Nello, pray about it but you can do it. I know you know what to do. I trust you. But here, Jesus is about to go to the cross, he himself is troubled, it’s perfectly understandable, but what’s his priority? Self-comfort? No. I need encouragement guys. No. Jesus encourages and comforts his disciples. He thinks about them. Listen to what he says
John 14:1
John 14:1 (ESV)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
What’s he saying? I know you are worried. I know you are concerned. But you don’t need to be. Why?
John 14:1 (ESV)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
He encourages them. he’s so other person centered. he will bring them home to be with him. Don’t be troubled. But believe.
Now that word believe is interesting. It does not mean just believe that Jesus exists. The Devil believes that God exists and shudders. It’s more than just believing he exists. It’s means this; trust him. put all your eggs in this basket, trust him with your life. What is Jesus saying? He’s saying, don’t let your hearts be troubled, yes I’m about to die. But don’t worry, trust God, trust me.
Why trust? He gives two reasons. First, I will bring you home. He’s preparing a home for them. Look at verse 2
In 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?
Jesus is not going away to abandon them. He is going to prepare a place for them.
And second reason, he says don’t worry I will be back. can’t help but have Terminator 2 in my mind. i’ll be back.
And 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.
I’m going away to prepare a room for you. Don’t fret, there’s plenty of room for everyone, and I will come back, and get you, and bring you back to my father’s house with me.
Now, what on earth is Jesus talking about? The key to this is to understand Father’s house. Jesus means heaven. it’s about heaven. Don’t miss this. Jesus says don’t worry about when I die. Why? Because I will be going to heaven. But then he says don’t worry about when you die. Why? Because you will be going to heaven too. I will bring you there. He is promising that when he dies and when they die they will go to heaven. They will be together.
Do you see what Jesus is saying? He is guaranteeing eternal life for those who trust him. it’s certain. Not if, not maybe, see how you go if you do enough good. It’s certain. Even Simon Peter, Jesus says mate you will deny me 3 times in chapter 13 verse 38, even he will be there. Peter you will be there. He’s guaranteeing it. Jesus will bring you home.
It’s hard to think about heaven. I reckon. We can think clouds, harps, wings just a boring place. We can find it hard to believe. And the fact is, we live in Australia. It’s like heaven on earth here. We don’t want to leave. Maybe you’re like me. You’ve got everything here. It seems. Got good family, great friends, delicious food. We don’t want to leave. This world is consumed with the thinking that this world is all there is. What matters most in life is what happens now.
When you go to a funeral of an unbeliever you get eulogies about all the intricate details of that persons life. What they did, what they accomplished, how they were hopefully a good person. But you never really hear a word of the future. And if you don’t talk about eternity, its nothing more than a vague dream. Just guest work put to some nice music. words to the effect of we’ll see you again.
My dear friends, here what Jesus is saying? Jesus is saying he will bring us home. it’s not wishy washy. we know the future. and this world is not it. it’s not your home. It’s not your home. it’s not your home. This world, this life is not your destination. That house you’ve got it very temporary. Heaven is our home.
So the key question is where will I be? How will I get there? Am i sure i will be there? That’s exactly what Jesus talks about next. He’s finished calming the disciples. He comforts them. he tells them I’ll bring you home. You know the way to where I am going. Only Jesus can bring you home.
3. Only Jesus can bring you home (14:5-7)
Now Thomas pipes up. he makes it very clear that he is confused. He reminds me of the bloke in class, there’s always someone, who’s zoned out. Puts his hand up, sorry I zoned out can you repeat everything again for me? And usually I’m the one in the class thinking I’m glad he asked, I was thinking the same thing.
Look at what Thomas asks. verse John 14:5
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
I have no idea where you are going Jesus. and I have no idea how to get there.
Jesus’ response is very simple. It’s very straight forward. it’s very direct. Now, this next verse has transformed the world as much as any in the history of the world. Jesus gives the perfect summary of his identity and his mission. only I can bring you home.
Come to verse 6 these famous words
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Here’s what I want you to notice. He says the same thing in two ways. He says it positively and then he says it negatively.
What’s the positive way? He says I am the way and the truth and the life.
John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
It’s positive. This is who I am. He says I AM the way. I’m not just here to tell you how to get to heaven. I am the way to get there. I am the truth – the only truth not one truth among many so believe what I say, And I am the life – if you want to have eternal life you need me. To trust me. Have faith in me. I’m the way the truth and the life.
This is mind blowing. You can’t accuse Jesus of being unclear. He is very direct. Very clear. And He is a nut if he is lying. He is a lunatic if this is not true. But he is the Lord if he is right. Just to make sure there’s no confusion, he says it negatively.
John 14:6 (ESV)
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
No one comes to the Father except through me
Do you hear that? No one. comes to the Father except through me. What he is offering is the only way to heaven. Only Jesus can bring you home. Only he can give you eternal life. There’s only one way to the Father.
There is a right and wrong way to come to God. he is giving us the only right way. Every other way is wrong. None of them can get you to God. This is huge. This is so arrogant isn’t it? It’s so offensive. Why? He shuts the door on over 4000 religions in the world. 4000! You’re all wrong.
Now, Jesus is not saying people in other religions are not sincere. You can sincere but sincerely wrong, right. I have some good mates who are so sincere who are Muslims. they try so hard. rammadan comes along and they follow it to the tee. no food until sunset. it’s sincere. i think i’ve said to you before one of really good friends, Muslim guy. i love that guy. praying for him to know Jesus. but it’s wrong, Jesus says. And actually, Jesus is not even saying there’s no truth to other religions. Most other religions do say be kind, love others. Christians say something similar. There are elements of truth to other religions. But Jesus makes it very clear that not all religions are basically the same. Like all roads lead to Rome. No. There’s right and there’s wrong. Only Jesus can bring you home. Only Jesus can make you right with God.
And it feels so arrogant doesn’t it? so narrow? It’s the kind of thinking people in our world hate.
Now many find it so hard to believe. How can you say yours in the right one? Its arrogance. unless it’s true. And actually, the fact is, God is very kind. He could’ve said, I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father.
That’s it. left it there. He’s perfectly right to do that. Except through me – changes everything.
Because here’s the thing, pretty much 99.999% of religions say this. Do good, be a good person get to heaven. The logic is solid. We get it. if you want good, do good things. That’s how the world works, generally speaking. When it comes to heaven, surely it’s the same.
But Jesus says no. he does not apologise for it. he says it without reservation. No.
Why? He say you can’t do enough to get right with God. why not? The problem we have is we think sin is skin deep. It’s just breaking a few rules. No. God is holy. It’s about breaking, fracturing of a relationship. It’s turning our backs on God and saying go away. What’s that mean? It means trying to do good enough to get to heaven will never work. It can’t make you right with God. you cannot do it. the damage is so severe. The wages of sin is death.
Let me illustrate it for you. it’s a longer one but it’s so important you get this.
About 6 years ago there were 12 boys and a 25 year old coach trapped in a cave in Thailand. Do you remember that? It was a soccer team. And they were exploring the caves underground. And the tunnels flooded. It was a hopeless situation. They were in serious serious trouble. They had no food. No light except these little torches. And there was no sign that anyone in had any idea of what had happened to them. imagine the feeling of being there. No food. No idea that anyone knew where you were.
So what did they do? it a dire situation. The coach tried to tie a rope around himself and scuba dive. He nearly in the process. It was 3 hour swim underwater. No way he could do that. It was hopeless. They tried to dig their way out with their hands. Made it 4 metres high. But the problem was there was 800 metres of rock above them. they tried so hard. But they were stuck. The situation was hopeless. They helpless.
But the world got to work. People around the world trying to find a solution – a rescue plan. One man. An aussie. Richard Harris was his name. he was a cave diver and anaesthetist. He was uniquely qualified the only scuba diving anaesthetist in the world. Crazy hey. To get the boys out, he knocked them out entirely. you dont want them flailing if they woke up and take off their masks. Then the scuba divers would strap themselves to them and swim through the tunnel. With him, they could do it. and so 9 days later in the midst of pitch darkness, a scuba diver emerged in the pit. And all of them were saved.
Oh friends, please understand you can’t be good to get to heaven. We are sinners. Only Jesus can get us home, to be right with God. doing good does not address the big big problem – like trying to scuba dive for 3km with no gear. It’s hopeless. you’re going no where.
We are in the darkness. But a light has shone. Jesus, the one John the baptists says in 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus came on a mission. A rescue mission. He came to take away our sins. He went to die on the cross. That was his mission. And he took our punishment we deserve in our place. Why? There’s no other way. only he was uniquely qualified. Only he can bring us home to the Father.
So be comforted because Jesus will bring you home. only Jesus can do it. so trust him. that’s my first implication.
4. Implications
Trust in Jesus to bring you home.
So friends, if you do not know Jesus today. there’s the command there, believe. believe in God, believe also in me. That’s the command. If you are on the outside, if you are in the dark don’t live by trying to do good. don’t risk it. you know the saddest thing i have heard is this; door knocked a bloke asked to share Jesus, inviting him to an event. he looked downcast. he said to me, why would i believe that crap? ive spent my life doing what i want. i’ll risk it. Friends, you will face Jesus one day and he is saying to you, I am the way the truth and life no one comes to the father except through me. Trust in Jesus today, be right with God. have your sins forgiven. only Jesus can make you right with him. only he can bring you home.
and if you are a believer, you do trust in Jesus.
Be comforted because he will bring you home.
look he says let your hearts not be troubled. That’s the other command. But believe. trust in Jesus. be comforted because he will bring you home. You see I know many of us are in pain. We’re struggling here. We’re struggling with our failing bodies. And it is hard. It is. But Jesus says to you, you who are weary. You who are downcast. I will bring you home. Trust me. Trust. i have prepared a place for you. keep trusting me. never give up trusting me. never given in from trusting me. and Jesus speaks to you personally; hey Steve I will bring you home. Hey Paul I will bring you home. I will bring you home. God so loves you that you can be with him to share in his glory forever and ever. So be comforted because Jesus will bring you home. only Jesus can do it.
