I AM Bible Study (Part 5)
Notes
Transcript
I Am The Way, The Truth, and The Life
I Am The Way, The Truth, and The Life
Last week, we looked at Jesus’ “I AM the Resurrection and the Life statement.” (John 11:25) The setting of this claim was the raising of Lazarus from the dead. We are entering a dramatic shift of pace in John’s gospel. John 1-12 accounts for years of Jesus’ ministry, it is a broad picture of His work and teaching. By contrast, John 13-17 is measured in hours. Jesus is very close to His crucifixion (and subsequent resurrection).
Skim the following passages and broadly outline the things that have happened since the raising of Lazarus (feel free to use passage headings to help you):
John 12:1-8 ____________
John 12:15-19 __________
John 12:20-50___________
John 13:1-20 ___________
John 13:21-38 __________
With chapter 14, the narrative now moves into one of the most important passages in all of scripture, the Upper Room Discourse in John 14-17. In these four chapters Jesus speaks His final words to His disciples before going to the cross. There are few parts of scripture as powerful and rich as the Upper Room Discourse.
Read John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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? 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.
Discuss:
Why is Jesus telling his disciples not to be troubled?
Where is Jesus going and what does He promise?
There are times in our lives when we face great loss and hardship. How can Jesus’ words in John 14:1-3 help us when our hearts are troubled?
Read: John 14:4-7
And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Discuss:
Jesus says that the disciples “know the way to where I am going,” in verse 4. What is the way to where He is going?
In verse 5 how does Thomas respond to Jesus’ statement that the disciples know the way to where He is going? Look back at John 11:16. What is ironic about Thomas’ confusion?
How does Jesus’ answer to Thomas’ question show that the disciples did know the way?
Jesus makes three claims about Himself in verse 6. What do you think He means by each of them?
The Way ________________________
The Truth _______________________
The Life _________________________
Many people find John 14:6 to be offensive because of what Jesus says after the I AM statement. How do you react to Jesus’ claim that “no one comes to the Father except through me?”
Jesus’ claim is that He is the God who is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life is deeply connected with Hebrew thought and worship in the Psalms. Let’s examine a few of these passages from the Psalms to help make the connections.
Read: Psalm 25:4-5
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Psalm 86:10-13.
Psalm 119:153-160.
Discuss:
In Psalm 25 and 86 do you notice any progression from Way to Truth to Life? What connection is the Psalmist making between the three ideas?
How might Psalm 27:10 connect to John 14:1-3?
Psalm 27 and 119 both speak of salvation from adversaries, but Jesus was about to be handed over to His enemies. How can we make sense of the conflict between what happened to Jesus and the hope of deliverance these Psalms proclaim? Why didn’t the Father save Jesus from His adversaries?
Return to John 14:1-7 -
Look at verse 4, What is the way to where Jesus is going? How do we find that way?
Jesus is the Way to the Father and the Way to Life. A way is something that we follow – or in this case someone. How do we follow the Way? What does that look like on a daily basis?
Next Week: I Am the Vine (John 15:1,5)
Credit to resources.lifepointchurch.us
