Jesus is the Way to the Father (John 14:1-7)

Good morning, Trinity. Good afternoon.

Afternoon as I was writing the sermon, I have to put afternoon. Make sure I put afternoon everywhere and I just do it. So what do you want? I'm thankful for the friendship that I have with the rippy's that my family and I have with the repeated, and I see familiar faces and I'll get to work with the with Zack. And I have a relative's at our church that attended this church with a, what a joy it is to be with you all have anticipated this date for the father, one more time, before we jump into the word and then, and then we'll go ahead and preach the word. That's right.

Bother your people. Are here again.

We Stand. Sit here, unified one card. Hoping waiting, anticipating your word. Your word gives new birth to the very foundations of the world. And the Gibbs, hope. Your people. It gave birth to the church. Lord. I get hope in the surance to your people. I pray, Lord that as I expound on your word that I sit under it God, but Lord, that you would do, what Only You Can Do, Lord that you Lord, Woods position of heart in such a way Lord. That if we say that, Lord, we are willing to hear Lord to do a thing. God that you would do that your word never returns to you, voided, always accomplishes. What you have sent it out to do. And Laura, were asking right now, that you would do a thing Deep In Our Roots. Lord gurd Lord us. God, strengthen us Lord encourage our hearts today. Got deep in our Fates Lourdes. Lourdes deepen, our capacity Lorton no more. Why was to be in all of the beatific vision of Jesus, Lord of the beautiful Vision that you are. Those sinful eyes Cloud. You The veil comes up at times, Lord may we see clearly this morning for your word. I let me step out of the way. May you do a thing? I pray this name of Christ, amen? In Super Bowl Sunday. I should have you out here by the second quarter or are will be ready to see the Kansas City Missouri. So, I'm a little bit rooting for them, just a bit. All right, all right, that's the last thing. Let's go through our greater things. All right. Well, I titled this sermon. Jesus is the way to the father, and specifically, I want to talk about this idea of exclusivity for our joy, and a secular age, exclusivity for our joy and our techs. For this morning coming from John, 14 verses 1 through 7. here, with the Lord's word says,

Jesus says, do not let your hearts, be troubled. You believe in God believe. Also in me, my father's house has many rooms if they're if that were not. So what I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also me be where I am, you know, the way to the place where I'm going, said to him. Lord, we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way? Jesus answered. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father, except through me if you really know me you will know my father as well. From now on, you did not know him. You do just me, know him. And I've seen them this, the word of the Lord direct connection to our joy. Let me Define exclusivity for us. This morning, exclusivity is defined as the tendency to resist. Including those who are different are, do not meet a narrow set of criteria. If you research this word in this idea of religious Expo 17th and the Encyclopedia of world problems. Yes, they have an encyclopedia that's been published since 1907 that records, all the issues of problems in this world. The causes of those problems listen to what they say. Since my team 07 exclusive religious claims are one of the many Global threats to humanity with a strong bias against Christianity. Is one of the problems in our world is a global warming political divisiveness.

This is the cardinal sin of the West in its exclusivity. The idea of making a religious who's the queen seems unfriendly and unloved narrow-minded and maybe even hateful to argue for you this morning that it's not as big of a problem in the west as we make it out to to be at think that's her some stuff contradictory going on. If you were to just open up the cultural room for Somas for moment, just imagine what people hear everything. In our culture encourages exclusivity through brand loyalty, doesn't it? Think about it for a moment.

Another word for think about the business room. When is the last time you heard Target or Target executive say don't stop living in the red expect. More pay less, right? There's nothing, but, but, but don't worry about that go shopping Walmart. Instead of what we've been to hostile to be, I want you to go and eat more Burgers. No, no, no, no. You even have the cows out their markings of the billboard eat more chicken. Consumers, we swear by it by Brands and brand loyalty these brands are always making exclusive claims are they a Marvel or DC. I don't know if we have any more of a fence. I'm more of a God maybe you would see personification. I don't know about the later marble but then we'll talk over T-Mobile. That's always a competition as they say they do. Even in the socio-political rim, you ever see opposing candidates to be. So bipartisan that they encourage you to both of the other candidate that definitely didn't happen. This go around People unapologetically make exclusive claims about their party all the time without a second thoughts as a, how this may be denying the philosophical underpinnings of another party.

Our culture doesn't have as big of a problem with exclusive claims. It's only when it becomes to only the most important things of our life. Are very ontology are our existence. What happens after death only, the biggest questions of the world, the universe that that's when this becomes a problem. Let me tell you where we're headed this morning. As a tourist fighter, this is something that is commonplace for me as I go out and us as a person that part of the ministry as a doctor of the church. If they would say as we go and we proclaim the gospel, we preaching this, we are getting very no Clinton and we go and we spend the week with vaginal eyes. I feel the tension of an exclusive claim in today's world, specially in the Bay Area. This is not the Bible Belt. If you hadn't noticed.

And maybe you feel it on your jobs or in the classrooms are in your home or your community's, maybe you feel it as well. Some of us this morning may be feeling great tension around living in a culture, that despises a Jesus that makes School Supremes in our passages afternoon. The disciples are at the brink of emotional and metaphysical collapse. After Jesus Sheriff's would seem to be this hard being words. In Jesus offers exclusivity as a means of joy for them, the offer sexual activity, as a means for them to do this afternoon, if there is a direct correlation between the particularity of Jesus in the occasion of our joy, and hope in the world, because of Jesus, that's when we're going this morning or this afternoon. Everybody that into two ways, why we should add in the fact that Jesus is the way church. Let me read that for us again this morning. Just, as you do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God believe. Also in me my father's house has many rooms if that were not. So what I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also maybe where I am, you know, the way to the place where I am going Thomas said again to him more we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way Jesus answered? I am the way the truth and the life allow me to set the context of our passage this afternoon. The hour of darkness and passion is our brother refer to early, I had to sit upon Jesus. Now, the hour of his passion is it in just moments earlier Jesus in Chapter 13 Verse 33, my children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me and just as I told the Jews so I tell you now where I am going unit, cannot come, Suppose you just said this repeatedly that I'm about to leave this place and where I'm going. You cannot follow, but I'm going to go for a little while. This is the hour of its betrayal, the song where the Judas is going to betray him for thirty silver pieces of coins, 30 pieces of silver fidgets that time. That eventually also his disciples are going to be freaking denying that they even know him. This time is upon him until I can return back to chapter 14, the content of Jesus taking the words but I am the way and the truth and the life with against the emotional backdrop of the disciples being in agony over were that Jesus was getting ready to order yet again. Those words I am going there to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me. That you also may be where I am. One person it is obvious here and maybe you can relate to this. That there is Agony and absence but there is comfort and knowledge. There's Agony in absence but there is comfort and knowledge. Let me give you an illustration if you don't believe me. But my toddler is at the age. Now that every time Mom leaves around the corner and disappears, she is in agony cuz she wants to know, have you a metaphysical breakdown? Where is my mother? And nothing else. You say that? Jesus your father. I don't care about my father is your brother. My brother is your sister. You can give me something better than that says she wants her. And only the knowledge that her mother is nearby will bring Solace to her soul. There is a Galena absence But there's comfort and knowledge. The agony that the disciples or filling is in direct connection to their fear and confusion Around Jesus stating that he's going to be leaving them soon. The man who is preparing his mind and body and heart for the agony that awaits him at the cross at the one who offers comfort in this moment. How beautiful that is? He's always on and always ready to give of himself in to serve his people. He says, do not let your hearts be troubled. And in other words, I'm getting ready to go, but don't let your hearts be disturbed by this reality. Why not Jesus. Why shouldn't they be disturbed by this reality? What reason does Jesus use here for the 11th. Disciples remaining since Judas betray, Lisa betray Jesus, the comfort that she offers is don't be troubled in your hearts, because a a place is being prepared for you. A place is being prepared. Now, forgive my historical curiosity for a moment, he says it up places being prepared. However, he did now, she's about a place. Yeah, she's about a person. Yeah, she's about himself and Jesus by telling him about a place. What? Jesus is describing Jersey place with Minnie drawing rooms with meeting drawing rooms. This is a big place, but significant Place search. Some of the name, it claim it, people say that they are. You going to get your own mansion? That's not what this says, actually. It's a place of many of one, place of many rooms. He says the point here is not the lavishness of the place know whether is the abundance of the space, where God's people will be gathered. Which is to say there's room for you.

Ponder for Monett. The Jesus and getting giving Comfort to. This question, am asking on behalf of all the other disciples that there is room for you? What a beautiful gospel that we have this afternoon, there's room for you in the father's house. There may be, there may come a day when you feel that all of the important spaces of the world, have no more room for you. All of the spaces in the world in which you, you live in, in sports, your job and your school, maybe they have pushed you out. Maybe said there's no room for you. Maybe your community, they get together and they know that you to be the Christian and maybe there's no room for you.

You're in good company. After all, Jesus had nowhere to lay his head. When Jesus says that listen to listen, listen, I'm going to give you comfort this morning. There's a room for you in my father's house. There is plenty of room for you. Is it to convey the heart of the father in the big does? He has for his people but even the place is not the Pinnacle of comfort. The place is not the Pinnacle of comfort in and of itself. It's not the Pinnacle of the joy and of itself. Don't miss what Jesus says brothers or sisters. He says that a place has been prepared for the people of God wear, what? I'll be 43. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me. That you also may be where I am now. I know I have some comfort Lord. In Christianity is a pinnacle of the place. It's not the place. It's the person I could care less about living on. An eternity of Jesus is not there. Take me where my Lord is. And they're, my comfort will be. It's not about dying and going to heaven, it's about Jesus, rescuing. Our bodies are sold and taking us where she will be what you want to be, where Jesus is, I would love to hear these words. These words are not just for that night. It's for us for this morning. The place with enough capacity to host all of the billions of God's people, there's our joy beloved there's our joy. When Jesus says he is the way it is a true statement that deals with our greatest fear of divine abandonment.

Won't believe us if we not sing that this morning and worshiping God, that he has not forgotten us. If we not read that this morning and Isaiah 49, that's that he would not forget us. What mother would forget her Nation Nursing babes, he would not forget us. We are his people, we are not alone. Let me tell you this this morning. I just asked what I came to tell us this morning. Encourages through the word that we're not alone in our struggles. We are not forgotten in this world. Nor are we alone in our pain or alone and our doubts are alone in our trust. We are not alone. Living in a pluralistic society will often leave. You feeling? Like it's just you in the few. It is not. You have a whole host of witnesses, whole host of people here, 11th tells us, that's that you have those that are waiting for you to reach them into her. After she got Believers with you but most of all you have a lord has not. Forsaken you he's provided the way also. He's brought it away. It's quite clear that Jesus wants his disciples to know that God has not forgotten them and God has not forgotten you. And we know that because he's provided a way you just said that, He says that the other Thursday way, you know, the way, you know, the way this is Jesus and his Mastery of teaching, you know, the way the Lord's, I wouldn't be asking this question. If I do the way Lord, come on. Don't mess with me. Or tell me the way. Cuz you already know the way you don't realize you know the way but you actually already on the way if I'm not been with you for the last three years you know the way cuz you know the way to the place where I am going this is interested in knowing the way it's important didn't it knowing where the person is going through about to leave. That is so important. If you had a loved one that is going to go somewhere with the one number one thing that you want to know. Where are you going? That's very important. You know, one of my worst fears is going somewhere and not having a GPS and I'm having my phone died not knowing where to where I am. That happened to me on the Mountain. Rest recently, I won't talk about that. But apparently, that's a very important to my wife as well. Yes, it's important for my wife. Let me tell you a quick story for a second. When I was in, Kentucky Lebanon, Kentucky, I went out, I can't ever just doesn't like to be surprised. I like to surprise her, but she don't, she want to know what's going on. It's all I got to do no food or a little bit, so I can surprise her and I have to cut and mislead a little bit. I'm not lying, I'm a pastor, don't worry. It's something else. I tell my wife, I'm going to go to the mall and going to go and get a present for you. I'll be right back. I wouldn't go to the mall to get presents for her while sitting the mall I look around and I see this talk going around. Recruiting people. That's right. They were two people just called and I said, okay, I want to go to this place with you. You're recruiting? You're misleading people. So I want to go to wherever you're taking them and so, can I go with us to this place? I told them that I was looking for answers, so maybe you can give me answers what I really wanted to do was I want to be where the people are, so I can help to rescue them. Whoever else is there until the gospel Presley. I didn't go and get the car and I went to the address where they were in the middle, Kentucky, a remote place in the middle of Kentucky, that I mentioned Interstate, it was in the middle of Kentucky. A remote place. No houses around at this place, like a form and it's my time. The mall is closing. I go over there, I go to this place. Call me foolish will call me Bray. If I prefer the latter, my wife did not like that, so much. I told her where I was going to go, but she said, she did not know where I was going. She was calling me, I end up in this, in this place. In this compound, I go to the place, they put in the back of the room with a whiteboard. I'm there. I'm sitting down there with other speakers and that's we're sitting there. They begin to teach. They had a white were there, and so I did what any other secret would do. I got up and I began to teach They what they got there at their leader and he came back and it said it. Why are you here? You could teach if they thought that they didn't know that they got a pastor, they didn't realize that. I'll deny her knock on the door and then someone said his missing Westbrook here, I looked over and it was fully as officers. How do I say, yes? I'm here. I'm leaving officer. I'm going out to admit Westbrook. Go ahead and call your wife. Please are you safe? I'm saying sir. Okay, I said I'm going home. It's okay. I knew a lot of these policemen. They were Christians in the area and say we're going to stay here. We're going to stick around the leader said that he already told you that he was saying there was nothing wrong and it says why are you still here? It says we're going to have a ready smile today quotes. Is my point. How did the day they find me? They found me because my wife because she didn't know where I was. She was just hard when she tracked me on what it was the weirdest thing called, find me whatever call to track my phone. If I'm in the middle of a remote place in Kentucky,

I was found.

Imagine her anxiety. When she sees me in this remote place, my car is not moving and I'm not at the mall anymore. I never do that again. I'll sleep on the couch that night.

Imagine the anxiety of losing contact with a loved one. And multiply three times over to get closer to the human fear of losing your hope in the world because you're hopelessly. This is the place where the disciples are in this afternoon is when we are feeling our way through this world and wanting to connect visible problems with an invisible, God or Hearts can be settled because Jesus already provided away and place for God to be found now and forgot to be seen in the future. he's already found provided the app on the phone, doesn't In other words, trouble hearts are settled by knowledge of the way. While weird feeling, you know, why we are doing life in this world in the Monday, he loved life and sometimes we feel like, Lord, are you there? Do you hear me? Let us be reminded that the Lord has provided Joy comfortable knowing that he's provided you through Jesus. He's knowledgeable way. Jesus, it's a truth. There's a Agony and absence of Jesus's physical presence in the world, but it is neutralized by a knowledge of how to find him. Jesus saying, this led Thomas to ask the obvious question again. This is when we start, we stopped at stores and putting Thomas down like Thomas. I understand, I get it. But it's time to say again, he said, Lord, You Know, the Way to the place where I'm going, this would Christ edinburgh's for a 5, said to him. Lord, we don't know where you are going. So how can we know the way he's not going to let Jesus up on this one more? Do you have to give me more detail? And what did you just say? Jesus says that I am the way the truth and the life. If you wants to be where God is, which is the point of having to unveil uninterrupted Dwelling Place of God, didn't you do in fact know, the way Thomas you do in fact Know, the Way Trinity you do in fact know the way James, you know the way what does the text mean, when Jesus says, I am the way the truth and life, it has to be understood in light of Thomas's questions asking about an unambiguous way to finding this place where Jesus is going. It's a response to the question which means that the way statement has a greater emphasis, what's the point then? You want to know how to get to the place. I'm going the place where God dwells place, where I'll be It says, listen to these, don't listen to these three things to do says that I am the way the truth, the life you're not free independent thing. However, they are three unified yet, distinct realities, they're unified yet distinct realities. They don't stand on their only stand together cuz all three of them are stating who Jesus is he does. And I am the way to God not the the person that reports to the route. Turn up a difference of every other person, a king prior to Jesus teach not the one that simply points to the route, he himself. It's the route. He says, I am the truth of God. I am the truth, the way is connected to the context of a question yet again one has access to a more final ultimate and supremely, for Philly reality, but not by not only knowing where to locate the Gate of the place that by having the proper means of authentication to be allowed into the place. It is truth. It's a Dreadful thing to do before the Living God. Apart from Christ. Price says that I'm the way but I'm also the truth, the means by which you are allowed in the Second Crusade and has to do with a particular knowing that it's equivalent to a person. Instead of merely a body of content is not just a body of content is probably not less than about your content, but it's so much more than a body contouring. And that is to say that's is the point to a person. The word of Christ. The word of God, what is the point to a living person? I am the truth. The very word of God. Incarnate walked the Earth. Two thousand years ago. I am the truth. He says, I'm the truth.

Know whether to claim can can, or should compete for Faith. Cuz Jesus is the truth. I love with you, as Lewis says to the gym. He says, if we insist on keeping hell, Are you even Earth? We should not see. Heaven is if an if we accept heaven we should not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate Souvenirs of hell. The truth statement to say that it is Jesus the lousiest abandon all other truth claims in this world. False claims that true Joy comes through money to status through accolades, through Success, Through through Academia. Whatever the case may be no thing, nothing in this world will bring you Joy. Port. From would God himself has provided apart from Jesus himself. Is this with an? I am the way I am the truth and also I am the life.

Well, Jesus is pointing to a future reality, the iamness of the statement. If I will

The iamness of his statement is true of his Untold you right now. He's not just simply talking about just the future to come. He's talking about reality is true of what and who he is right now in that moment. And right now, if he sits on the right hand of the father, amen, he says that I am life. right now to see the father, Or to be with Christ is life guaranteed. As it was, always meant to be when one follows the way and truth of that course, at least life Jesus himself. The way to get there is Sheezus. The truth Embrace free entry is Jesus in the promise of eternal life experience overtime. This reality, there is through Jesus. Are you getting the pattern? Here it is. Jesus Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Thomas, you know, the way. beloved, you know, the way

Rhapsody summarize best who Thomas campuses in Marshall Christie. He says follow. Now I am the way and the truth and the life without the way there is no going without the truth. There is no knowing wealth in life. There is no Lippy find the way which thou must follow the truth. Which thou must believe the life for which thou must hope. I am the inviolable way. The infallible truth, the never-ending life. I am the straightest way to The Sovereign truth Life. True Life blessed life on created. Wow, nothing else will do. Nothing else will do. This is not a cruel. Listen listen, listen. When I remembered preaching, proclaiming the gospel to a man on in Oakland around Lake Merritt. He began to talk about the exclusive claims and how it feels. So now, it seems cruel When you see the Beautiful Life in what they call the Bishop vision and you see the beauty of what Jesus has vision and what he's beholding and who he is. What you see here. If nothing is cruel. Nothing cruel to periodic superiority complex. This is a gracious, a sense of how to find God in a loss and busy and pain full full. Signal Grace. Kindness. Love love.

Does, this is true? Because this is true. Let me conclude with my our, our time, with this point, the shorter point, no one gets to God except through Jesus.

He says starting for 6, no one comes to the father, except through me. If you really know me you will know my father as well from now on, you do know him and have seen him. If Jesus is the truth of God, he is. So because he embodies the Supreme revelation of God, he himself, narrates God, I love those worth by the aquarium. He himself, narrates. Got to us. Nowhere else to look. You just he's insisting here that no one comes to a golf. Reality are a Heavenly reality, apart from Jesus himself in this, exclusive plane is an absolute necessary one. Because apart from it, there is no hope for you. And I

Do you see why we need to trust and depend upon and celebrate the exclusive claims of Jesus? If we are going to be anchored by Divine hope and joy and peace. In this world, we have to celebrate, this never be ashamed. Of the fact that Jesus makes exclusive claims it is for our joy and anchors us. And it is the only way by which we will come to the father, but did you also know that the whole point of Christianity and this faith that the Lord gives us to the gospel in the hope of the Gospel been spread in this world? The point of it is not to push out, but it's actually to invite in This is our posture in the world as those that dwell in our place faces of influence, are the places that we spend most of our time. It is to tell people about the Jesus who loves them in to invite them in. And if you are not in here, the invitation to come in today. Will you look all over scripture? Luke 14. Chapter, 28, Revelation, Chevy. Those are just place. This is just the tip of the iceberg in.

Need to seize those that are worried the world in Luke 11 and Luke 14. Jesus notices, who's not at the banquet, who's not their ring them in, go to the bar, we go collect them. Bring them in. Matthew 28, go out and go get them. Bring them in the Revelation. 7 behold the multitude standing Before the Throne of God made up of people from old tongue stripes in Mission bring them any features one. Here's a shocker and if he says one that goes to his enemies and says come in While we were yet. Sinners G God. Shed and shirt. Showed his love for us, shed his blood for us.

The price is. Eminem Me Love Exclusive claim is its exclusive claim they are for you this afternoon there for you this week in there for you, for Timeless reality there for you. And today for me for you. But supposed to Plains of Jesus's for the inclusive Joy of his people.

I don't know what you're struggling with when you leave this place. I don't know what you brought with you this morning. I don't know what, you have to go back to, but take the joy of the Lord back with you. The reality is there and he's already there. That's the truth. Mi'jos us leave at 10. Exclusive claims of Jesus, as for the inclusive Joy of his people. And it's also for the world. Through faith, through faith, through faith, through faith, there's room for you as well. Let me give us these two less points of application and I'll pray for us. Exclusive claims listen. Sometimes you can say a thing in this culture and it's so heavy. You can see the word should go, I'll see you tomorrow. You can hear yourself saying it to them. Listen, exclusive claims with a majority is a choir of affirmation, sure. However, exclusive claims as a minority. Can feel like a lonely solo.

But less voices singing doesn't make the song any less true love it. It just make it less popular on the Billboard charts. Don't ever be ashamed of holding on to the exclusive claims of Jesus Logic for Hideaway. You've not abandon me. I'm not alone.

And lastly, the exclusive claims, this is specifically of Jesus. Help the concentrates the focus of our hope. When everything around us is spreading hope, thinner seems to spread hope then. You know, the point of a nozzle on a water faucet. I'm about to get real competitive, cheer, your engineer. You'll get this.

He don't know. There was a water faucet that concentrate. The pressure goes pretty deep.

Sure. Y'all waiting for them today. I was at that, was it, it concentrates, the pressure of the other with water. Allow the exclusivity in the concentration of Jesus claims to concentrate your attention, the attention of your hope this week. no matter what you're hearing in the world, no matter what you're doing in there in the new, so matter what you're seeing or your phone, perhaps, it's a good invitation to cut off the phone's cut, off the screens, call the screens Hello, his exclusive claims this afternoon and this week the concentrate, your hope.

I'm the way the sweetest sound that I could hear the sweetest sound that could be other than this world cuz he just provided a way. He's the way the truth and the life. Do you see the object of your face? There. Yes.

Father. Thank you for providing the way to be with you through your son.

Thank you, spirit for keeping and preserving your people, keeping our eyes fixed on the Sun. Thank you, Lord, for your obedience.

To death. Suffering and dying a death. That we could not die, paint a debts that we could not pay that we may have life Everlasting with the father. And that we may be accepted on the marriage of you, an alien righteousness, given to us. Hallelujah. Thank you. Oh, we know the way. You are the way and I pray to God, that whenever we Face discouragement, whenever our hearts and mind whenever it they betray us.

Whatever Temptations our enemy lays before us to take our eyes away. May we not

Maybe look to you. The author and Perfecter of our faith. We know the way while we love you, we pray all the same of Christ. Amen.