Preparing a Place for You
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MapQuest directions story. “I’m old enough to have had a computer (the technology to map out directions) but also needed to print those directions. In the box you would type where and it would show you the way. Except this technology wasn’t so great because if you missed a turn, you were off the map.
I’m old enough to have held a map and given directions to my parent while they missed turns. It is a frightful moment in life to realize you don’t know where to go or how to get there.”
Today’s story is in response to two questions for Jesus. 1. Peter in John 13:36 “36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” and by that he also means “why are you going”? … and an additional one from Thomas in our chapter today “what is the way to where you are going?”
Here is what I hope we can learn today:
Why is it good for me to be where I am, and for Jesus to be where He is? Really. Why is it good for you to be where you are in life right now. Why is it good that He has gone to the Father’s house and He has not yet returned?
What is the Way to God? If I’m here, and I plug in “the Father’s Home”, what is the way I should follow? Believers and unbelievers alike need the answer to this question.
Today in Jesus’ teaching, He will give us both answers.
Pray
1. Where (why) are you going?
1. Where (why) are you going?
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.”
Transition from last text. In John 13:38 “38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” Peter is going to be troubled hearing this.
1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
v1 Notice Jesus in John 13:21 “21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”” Then look at v1- they should not be troubled.
John 1:51 “51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.””
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? 3 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.
v2 This week I opened up my bible on Monday night at my favorite spot in the house and asked the question to my wife “why does Jesus mention many rooms”. Teach that a crucial part of the sermon writing method is to read the verses yourself multiple times. Then ask questions. Then read again. Then after you’ve set in a direction you can pick up a commentary and make sure you’re not on the wrong path.
Give background for rooms or “manses” in old English. That word used to mean room, but we associate that KJV word “manse” with palatial mansions on their own estates.
The question stands- what does He mean by many rooms, and why would God’s house have so many? Explain
“The simplest explanation is best: my Father’s house refers to heaven, and in heaven are many rooms, many dwelling-places. The point is not the lavishness of each apartment, but the fact that such ample provision has been made that there is more than enough space for every one of Jesus’ disciples to join him in his Father’s home.” D.A. Carson
The second question was from a friend of mine, Spenser. What is Jesus preparing if the rooms are already there, for us?
It is not that he arrives on the scene and then begins to prepare the place; rather, in the context of Johannine theology, it is the going itself, via the cross and resurrection, that prepares the place for Jesus’ disciples.
Question to answer: Why is it good for me to be where I am, and for Jesus to be where He is? Really. Why is it good for you to be where you are in life right now. Why is it good for Him to “go” to the Father’s house and He has not yet returned?
2. What is the Way?
2. What is the Way?
4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
Thomas is about to say “no we don’t”, but this isn’t an error on Jesus’ part. Thomas knows “the way”.
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The Way is the principal theme. He is the way because He is the truth of God and the life of God. In believing in Jesus, you believe in the true God.
Truth: Jesus is the image of God, the Word of God. If you’ve had a question about God- He is the truth of God.
Life: Jesus is who all creation was made through. Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and according to 1 John 5:20 He is the true God and eternal life.”
Thomas a’Kempis:
Slide: “Follow thou me. I am the way and the truth and the life. Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou must follow; the truth which thou must believe; the life for which thou must hope.”
7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
v7 Or “If you know me, you will know the Father also. Or If you have known me, you will know my Father also.
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Thomas reflects Moses’ request in Exodus 33:18 “18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”” but with confusion.
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.
This mutual indwelling (cf. notes on 10:38) is ‘a linguistic way of describing … the complete unity between Jesus and the Father’ (Schnackenburg, 3. 69),
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Musicians, please come to the platform at this time.
Musicians, please come to the platform at this time.
anyone who has faith in Jesus (ho pisteuōn eis eme—an expression that embraces all believers, not just the apostles)
Summarizing two
Why is it good for me to be where I am, and for Jesus to be where He is? Really. Why is it good for you to be where you are in life right now. Why is it good that He has gone to the Father’s house and He has not yet returned?
What is the Way to God? If I’m here, and I plug in “the Father’s Home”, what is the way I should follow? Believers and unbelievers alike need the answer to this question.
Gospel Summary
Acts 16:30–33
[30] Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” [31] And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” [32] And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. [33] And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (ESV)
