I Am The Way The Truth And The Life

Intro

One thing about men… Is we always know where we’re going even if we don’t really know where we’re going.

My dad did it - and now I do the same…

You know, you have an idea of how to get somewhere, but you don’t really know the way. Or there really is only one way to get there.

There are some remote places that you literally cannot drive to, the only way you can get to them is by plane…

Just like getting to destinations… We often think there is more than one way, when really there is one way.

Jesus says that he is the only way to get to the Father.

Turn in your bibles to John 14

And we will look at the context of what’s happening. And why Jesus would call himself the way the truth and the life.

Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled

John 14:1 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Jesus starts with let not your hearts be troubled… Why would Jesus say this?

Look at the verses before these…

John 13:31–36 ESV

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 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.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 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.”

Jesus has just informed his discipels that he is going to be leaving them.

Consider how you would feel if a person who you loved deeply and who you thought was going to be your new leader and rescuer said that he is going away and that they can’t go with him.

It makes sense that there hearts are troubled.

In response Jesus says don’t let your hearts be troubled and here is why…

Jesus says - if you beleve in God and in him - there will be a place from them in his Father’s house.

Jesus is speaking about heaven here, and likely not saying there are literal rooms in heaven. Rather, that those who believe in him are welcomed into the place where Jesus is going.. That being to be with the Father again.

Jesus eplxains that he is going to take them, but they ask the way… How do we get there.

Look at what Thomas says in John 14:5

How Can We Know The Way?

John 14:5 ESV

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

This is a reasonalbe request from Thomas isnt it? Jesus is going away to prepare a place for them.. And so the natural question is how do we get there…

The same would be true today… If someone get’s a place ready for you and invites you there - you’re going to ask how you get there…

Do you think Thomas understands what Jesus is referring to?

It still has not registered with the disciples… They don’t understand that Jesus is going to die for them.

I Am The Way The Truth And The Life

We look not at how Jesus responded to Thomas. Jesus said - I am the way, the truth, and the life.

Like a map, Jesus intructs them that in order to get to the Father they must go through him, because he is the way.

The Way

When we think about the way - we need to understand that the way to heaven is not one that has many different paths… There is only one way to get to the Father.

Peter says this in the book of Acts when he says in Acts 4:12

Acts 4:12 ESV

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

We live in a world where many believe that there is more than one way to heaven.

What are some of the way people say they can be saved?

Some might say that being a good person is enough…

Some might say God will just let everyone into heaven regardless of what they believe or do.

Some also say that you can get to heaven by being a spiritual person…

Still others might say that there is another religion with the answer…

All of these “ways” won’t get us to the Father… Jesus, who is God incarnate - has the authority to call himself the only way to the Father.

The Truth

When it comes to the truth… There are not too many places that you can find it today…

The world is full of lies, but Jesus is the the truth.

This means that he reveals what is true - and if he reveals what is true, the proper response would be to follow him.

Why would anyone want to follow a lie? Following Jesus is the only way to find what is true.

The Life

Not only is Jesus the way and the truth, but he is also the life…

Meaning, if we want to find true eternal life we must come to Jesus Christ alone.

Conclusion

Over these past few weeks, we have been confronted with the fact of who Jesus is - and what the response should be is the same everytime.

We need to ask ourselves if we are going to choose to follow Jesus and trust in him… If Jesus is who he says he is - then the only correct response is to follow him.

Also, think about the fact that Jesus understands a troubled mind and heart. Maybe that is where you are this morning.

The reason that the disciples didn’t need to be troubled was because Jesus has was going to prepare a place for his followers…

Therefore, the same is true for us - if our hearts are troubled we can be comforted knowing that a place has been made for us in heaven.

We can’t to this place any other way. Which then means you’re troubled heart/soul can’t find relief any other way.

This is not to say that there will never be trials - but for those who believe in Jesus, there is hope, because the one who has defeated sin and death has preparred a place for us to be with him for all eternity.