Untitled Sermon (4)

If there was a fire in your house, and all of your family were safe, and you only had time to save one thing from the house--what would you grab?

If you’re stuck in a canoe with no paddle, careening towards a hundred-foot-high waterfall deep in Piranha infested waters in South America, would you jump in the water to try to swim to shore, or would you take your chances going down the waterfall?

A third question to follow these two: why do we as humans have such a fascination with dire hypothetical situations?

It’s because we realize there is a difference between how people present themselves, and who they really are. And if you ask someone a simple question of preference, if they feel like there is a right answer--a socially expected answer, then they will give that, rather than their own actual preference.

The reason we bring in a life and death situation is that we recognize the reality that the higher the stakes are, the more likely people are to actually show their true colors.

I found out this reality about myself the hard way my last class of my college career. I had actually already walked in my college graduation, because my school allowed you to participate in graduation as long as you only needed 1 or 2 classes to finish.

All I had to finish was one more online Spanish class. One of the things we had to do when we took a test was get one of the college’s professors or library employees to proctor our tests for us--you had to have someone watching you while you took the test, to ensure people didn’t just cheat on their tests then mail them in.

So I got my test in the mail, set up an appointment for our school librarian to proctor my test. On the day of the test I opened up the information packet, only to discover that I was supposed to use a book that I had ordered with the class as a required text, but had not opened a single time in the course of the class.

The book was a collection of short stories in pretty simple Spanish. Supposedly for the test I would have to answer questions about one of the stories, to test my reading comprehension.

I opened the book only to be overwhelmed by all the words I had never heard of before. This wasn’t in my vocabulary guide!

I only figured this out about twenty minutes before I was supposed to take the test. So what I should have done was move my appointment, study the text for the test, and then take the test.

But I didn’t.

See I had already pushed my deadlines for finishing the class up to the last minute, and it had been inconvenient to get a test appointment scheduled.My professors and bosses were bugging me to finish up my degree.

So I typed the spanish into an online translator and read the story in English. Then I took the test. And passed.

See I don’t believe it is right to cheat on tests. Ever. In any situation. But here I was, with my back against the wall. I didn’t want to lose face in front of the Librarian (who knew all of us students). I didn’t want to reschedule my appointment.

So I cheated.

Why? Because even though I hypothetically believed it was wrong and beneath me to cheat, the things that were most important to me--my convenience, and especially people’s opinions of me, overruled my belief against cheating. So I cheated.

See adversity puts us in situations where we reveal who we are, and what we really believe.

As one writer once said, “Adversity introduces a man to himself.” A difficult or trying situation may reveal something about ourselves that we could never have guessed. It shows what we value, and ultimately what is the most important to us.

There is probably no better example of this principle than Peter the disciple during the days leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion. Let’s pick up the story in , starting in verse 36.

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.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 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 the king of big talk. Throughout the disciples’ time with Jesus, Peter’s always the first to pipe up, and most of the time this results in him needing to be corrected by Jesus. Jesus has just told his disciples that He is going to be betrayed, and that he’s going to die. Peter pipes up, “I’ll die for you Jesus!” And Jesus looks at him and says “Peter, you aren’t going to die for me. Not yet. In fact you’re going to deny me before tomorrow morning.”

See if you listen to Peter, he’s a big, bad, Jesus-following machine. Nothing scares him. Not even hypothetical pain, hypothetical torture, or hypothetical death. But later that night, in the face of actual danger, Peter folds.

The cool thing about this whole scene? Jesus knows Peter and his frailties. He knows his disciples, and the anguish and testing they are about to walk through. And He knows where their hearts are at. What they really believe. And He takes this opportunity to prepare them for this coming testing.

See at this point, Jesus’s disciples believed Him, but they didn’t believe in Him. Not yet. Not fully. They are convinced that He’s “of God,” but they haven’t fully comprehend the crazy reality of who He is: that He IS God. And they haven’t figured out yet just how central in God’s plan he is. But they’re about to.

Let’s keep reading, starting in chapter 14, verse 1:

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 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. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 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.

Jesus says “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.”

He’s comforting them in advance, knowing that His death will be a devastating blow to them. His death. This is something that I’ve been marveling at for the last few weeks. Jesus is about to experience the height of physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish. And He’s the one comforting the disciples. What an amazing heart He has for His disciples, even though He’s going to suffer far more than they will over the next 72 hours.

He tells them “just like you believe in God, I want you to believe in me.

He goes on: “I’m going to make a place for you in God’s house. And you know how to get there.”

Thomas pipes up, “Um, Jesus? You keep saying you’re leaving and all this stuff, and that we know how to get there. But we don’t. We don’t know where you are going--so of course we don’t know the way there.”

This makes sense. Jesus, in His death and resurrection, is going to make a place for them with the Father--open the way for all who believe in Him to return to God’s presence in Heaven.

And we don’t know how to find heaven on a map. Uhhhhh…. Second star on the right, straight on til morning?”

Jesus looks at him, and says “No, you do know the way Thomas. I’m the way.”

I’m the way. I’m the truth. I’m the life.

Nobody comes to the Father but by me.”

He goes on, “if you really had known me all along, you would have known my Father also.” From now on you do know him, and have seen him.”

The disciples are starting to get a faint picture--their faith is about to be tested, and it’s going to be hard for them to hold on to the truth. So He has a brilliant solution: “Jesus, we’ll be able to weather this test of faith if you’ll only just give us a peek at God. Then we’ll know you’re serious. That’ll be enough proof for us.”

Jesus says “Phillip, have I been with you for three years and you still don’t know me? You’ve already seen the Father. Every day. Anybody who has seen me has seen the Father. I’m in Him, He’s in me. Everything I say--not my words--they come straight from the Father.”

I love this interaction--because this is 100% us. Phillip’s sitting there quietly, hearing that this brutal disappointment is going to come. That Jesus will be betrayed and that the disciples will scatter, and that at least Peter will deny Jesus.

And he thinks, man. That’s gonna be rough. But I know what could help!

Hey Jesus, if you’d only give us this one thing, that would be enough.

Have you ever prayed that prayer? God if you’d just give me a miracle here, then I could do what You’ve told me to do.

God, if you’d just give me more money, a better job, then I could handle these challenges.

Like we pray “Look God, I’d love to be faithful in the face of this adversity, but You’re the hold up… You haven’t given me what I need.”

Jesus gets where they’re at. He gets where we’re at. Cause just like them, we struggle. We don’t always get it. We get distracted and deceived, and let ourselves get pulled away from a life that centers on Him.

This is what I love about God’s word guys: He knows what we’re going to face and He’s given us His truths that we’re going to need to face the storms.

And one of those challenges are the lies that the enemy, that our world wants us to believe.

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

But that’s not always what our experience tells us. And Jesus is boldly contradicting three lies that the enemy tries to tell us every day.

See the enemy will do everything he can to keep us away from Jesus. To keep us from coming to Him at all. But once we do, the enemy changes strategies. If He can’t keep us from knowing that Jesus exists, maybe he can get us to accept a lesser version of Him. So he tries to sell us these three lies:

Lie #1: Jesus is A way to God.

says that “All things were created through Jesus, and for Jesus.” He’s intended to be the center of the universe. It’s all about Him. And the enemy knows this, and he doesn’t want us to live this truth out.

So he puts people in our life and voices in our head that say “Hey look, Jesus is great and all, but look how nice your Buddhist neighbor is. Check out this wise thing that a famous atheist said. See these guys have a piece of the pie too. Go ahead and believe in Jesus, but don’t tell anybody about Him. You’ll look like a freak. It’s rude. People will feel uncomfortable. They’ll think you’re judgmental!

It’s fine to say that Jesus is A way to God...just don’t go all crazy and say He’s the only way. Don’t tell other people that. Certainly don’t live your life like that’s true!

Have you ever heard people say something along those lines? Have you ever felt drawn that way? To classify yourself as “someone who happens to believe in Jesus.” As if that isn’t supposed to be a game changer.

We tone it down to avoid embarrassment or being labeled a “jesus freak.” We keep our faith silent so people won’t treat us different, or hold us to a higher standard.

Have you ever had the experience of knowing somebody for a long time before you find out they go to church?

I have a friend that I play sports with. He’s the nicest guy. One of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He pretty much never loses his temper. Great guy. I’ve seen him wearing those “In Jesus Name I play” bracelets that STeph Curry wears. I’ve known him for over a year. Still not sure if he’s a believer. He’s certainly never told me whether or not he is.

Look, if Jesus is who He says he is, we can’t keep him a secret. He’s the only way. Not A way. THE way.

Lie #2: Jesus was a great teacher.

This one you have probably heard in a number of different forms. It usually comes up once Jesus has been brought into the conversation. See say what you will about Jesus, you can’t deny that His life is a historical fact. There are multiple secular historians who talk about this guy named Jesus of Nazareth who lived in first century Judea, and was put to death by the Romans.

You can’t deny that he existed. But He wasn’t just an important moral teacher who taught us the golden rule and stuff.

He didn’t just say some good stuff that we should listen to.

See a lot of people try to avoid Jesus by trying to make the conversation like the Android vs. Iphone debate.

They say “well yeah, Jesus and Christianity have some great features...but Android had a festival that used green fir trees long before Christanity did!”

See here’s the thing about that debate. You know what you can do with an Iphone? Communicate instantaneously with people across the globe. So can Android. You know what Android can do? Look up any book or song or movie by connecting to a tower that goes to space! So can an Iphone.

The debate between Iphones and Androids? It’s about features. It’s about user experience.

See Christ didn’t claim to be somebody who had something to say that we should listen to. He claimed to be THE truth. Jesus didn’t claim to be the phone with the best features. He claimed to be electricity. If you don’t have it, doesn’t matter which piece of highly engineered plastic metal and glass you’re holding in your hand.

So the enemy tries to get us to shut up. “Hey, people are having a great user-experience on the Islam 6.0. Shut about your Christianity thing.”

And he tries to distract us. “Oh Jesus died for us huh? Did you know Dinosoars probably had feathers?”

This isn’t to say that there isn’t other stuff you should be learning. But ultimately Jesus is the only truth that matters. When we stand before God at the end of our lives, it won’t matter how much we knew about string theory, or computer programming, or accounting. It won’t matter how much stuff we had. It wont matter how smart we were. What will matter will be if we are found righteous because of what Christ did on the cross.

Jesus isn’t a purveyor of some truths. He’s THE truth.

Lie # 3: Jesus is an important part of life.

This is probably the trickiest lie the enemy likes to tell us. Because you can have a life that’s full of religiousy stuff and still buy into this one. Maybe you go to church every week. You have a christian bumper sticker on your car. You wear the t-shirts. Etc. But as life goes on, you get really focused on your career. Like really focused. All you can think about is the accomplishments you’ve had and the ones you want to complete. You get focused on the money you’re making. Or you get focused on what people think about you. All you can think about is the clothes you should be wearing, that killer instagram post that will catch all your friends attention.

But hey, you’re still going to church! You still tell people you’re a christian. You’re just really busy right now. Other stuff to focus on.

Remember that prayer we talked about earlier? “Jesus, if you just give me this one thing, it’d be enough.” If you always find yourself praying that kind of prayer, it’s a pretty good indication that you’re buying into lie #3 in some way. Distraction is one of the devil’s best tactics for Christians. He’s not strong enough to loosen Christ’s grip on our life, but He can sure distract us from the things that matter! And man some bad things can come from that.

I’ve seen this happen too. Someone’s cruising along in life, doing their thing. They believe in Jesus, they have a relationship with him. But man. They just really want this one thing. Maybe it’s a specific career. Maybe it’s a relationship. And if things don’t go the way they wanted them to, they decide maybe God’s not who he says He is. Cause if He was, I would have gone pro instead of blowing out my knee.

Or, as can happen with relationships, people are going along. Then they meet somebody. Only problem? They aren’t a believer. This person knows what the bible says about that, but they push through with the relationship. So if you ask them, they’ll tell you “Oh, she knows Jesus is really important to me.”

It is really easy for us to let these other things in our life grow until they start displacing Jesus. And we figure, Hey, Jesus is still in my life. I still fit Him in now and then.

See but that’s not who Jesus is. He’s not an important part of life.

He’s life itself. If you don’t have him, you don’t have life. Whatever else you spend your time trying to gain, you’re going to lose it if you don’t have life in Jesus.

So when we’re following Jesus, sometimes it seems like we come to a crossroads, and the path Jesus is taking us on veers away from something that we really wanted.

So we stand at the crossroads. We look at Jesus, we look over at the thing we want. We’re torn.

And what we need to know in that moment is that Jesus IS Life. You can’t have it any other way. If you leave him to go get that thing you want, you’ll enjoy it at first--I guarantee it. But that happiness is going to fade. But if you hold on to Jesus. If you make him the centerpiece of everything in your life--you’re going to have Joy that won’t fade no matter what circumstances happen.

See we were talking about our lives, but this brings us right back to the upper room with Jesus and his disciples.

They were about to encounter intense trials. Crushing disappointment. And Jesus knew waht they needed: they needed to fully put their trust in Him. Not see him as a really important prophet. But Emmanuel: God with us. Walking among them. See him for who He is: The Way, The Truth, The Life.

And it’s a process. That’s what so cool about how God set all this up. Because we need eachother. Because we get to reflect different parts of Jesus’s character to one another. Encourage one another when the road gets tough. We need His word to show us who He is--because the world is going to be constantly trying to pull us the other way. Trying to get us to buy the lie that Jesus is a way to heaven, that he’s just a great teacher, or that he’s just an important aspect of your life.

Just like the disciples, we’re not alone on our journey with Jesus. He’s with us. His Spirit lives in us, and we have brothers and sisters around us to help us when we fall.

And on the road we’ll get distracted at times, we’ll get discouraged. We’ll be tempted to give up. So we’ve gotta hold on to Him, because He really is all we need. He is the way, the truth, the life. That’s the truth that Jesus’s disciples needed to weather the storms they were about to enter. And that’s the truth we need to weather our own personal storms.

Let’s pray.