Sermon Tone Analysis

The Way 06-03-2018

Intro - Welcome

Last we talked about the truth

If you will remember that Truth is a person not a lofty idea we can sit around and talk about

Rather Truth is a person and His name is Jesus Christ

Last week we looked at the truth and how encouraging it is for a believer in Jesus

The truth Jesus set us free from the sin you and I were entangled with the sin you and I were slaves to, we are free indeed

This week I wanted us to use that same verse and look at Jesus as the way

Before we do that I want us to understand something from the beginning

Jesus was and is always the only Way

I do not believe that there was every another Way and I do not believe that there is any other way to God but through Jesus and to think so or to believe so is wrong

God is laying out the curse to the serpent for his part in the first sin, and in doing so I believe he lays out His plan

He proceeds to tell the serpent that there will be constant stiff between my people and your people, however I will win and It will be through my son

See plainly God is already saying that Jesus is the way

Maybe you knew that and maybe you already believed that but I wanted us to be sure that Jesus died on the cross was not something that God or Jesus came up with after creation, or because they were surprised or shocked by our behavior

Jesus was always going to be the way and will always be the Way

So lets get to this mornings text

Jesus is talking with his disciples during the last supper on the night he is going to be betrayed

Jesus goes on to explain to them that he is going to be betrayed, can you image how awkward that would be during the dinner

Jesus also explains that he is going to be arrested and crucified

I mean they are in town because they are doing the good jewish thing celebrating the pass over and Jesus starts to bring up some awkward stuff

which brings us to the beginning of

they have an understanding of God and would have had some sort of trust in God, Jesus though makes it real in front of their eyes, that when He says trust in the God also trust in Him,

Jesus is referring to the fact that God and Jesus are one and the same, that Jesus was there before time, Jesus was there in the garden discussing how things should look and so on

How many of us know in our mind that God will take care of everything but still for some reason struggle to trust that Jesus is at work, much of what we talked about last week

Then he drops the bomb on them, not only will he be arrested and crucified and betrayed by someone at the table, but He is leaving them

Jesus goes on to explain to the disciples that he is leaving them for a very special assignment, to prepare rooms for them in Gods house

So maybe not so much of the bomb because he does say that he will prepare a room for them and when he is finished he will come back and pick them up

Then Thomas’s questions how do they know the way and how do they know where Jesus is going

at some point I have to envision God just shaking his head saying don't you get it

Then Jesus shares with them that He is the way, that He is the truth and that He is the life

Let me explain this

Last week we explained that Jesus himself is truth, it is not an idea that we talk about rather a person we can know personally

you and I can know truth

When Thomas asks where Jesus is going

Thomas was expecting a physically place that he could go and visit

you and I expect God who is not of this world to be defined by the things of this world

Like Thomas I believe that you and I would hear that Jesus is leaving and begin to worry and then begin to plan visits, but if we do not know where He is going then how would we get there

What Jesus says to Thomas

I am the only way to where I am going

I am the way to where I am going

Jesus was saying I am going to the cross to die so you can come to God

I will take you sin and nail it to the cross with him so you can come with me

Jesus was saying that I am the roadway the pathway to get to Me God

Jesus is the only way that you and I will ever get to Heaven

Some people believe that it is by works that we get into heaven that is for some way my good deeds out weigh by bad I am golden and can spend eternity in heaven

that is absolutely false

You good deeds and my good deeds are filthy wages the bible says

From before day one Jesus was the only way you and I were every going to have a personal relationship with Jesus

The way was through Bethlehem when Mary a virgin gave birth to Gods son Jesus made a pit stop in Jerusalem by way of a grave, when Jesus took your sin and my sin to the cross and died

Jesus is the way to God, precisely because he is the truth of God (cf.

notes on 1:14) and the life of God (cf.

notes on 1:4; 3:15; 11:25).

Jesus as truth

Jesus as life

Because he is both truth and life that is what makes Jesus the way not a way

Only because he is the truth and the life can Jesus be the way for others to come to God, the way for his disciples to attain the many dwelling-places in the Father’s house

blood was shed, in the way to God blood had to be shed and Jesus shed his blood for you so that you may have life

Closing

I want to ask the musicians to come forward

as they begin to play we will move into a time of invitation

the invitation is simple as always, if you are here and do not know Jesus as your personal lord and savior I would invite you to the front and we will have people down front to talk with you

if you have another decision to make maybe it is to join this local this local church this would be the time to come forward

maybe you have struggled with Jesus as the way and you have made Jesus more of a way instead of the only way and you need to spend sometime in prayer the altar is open