(John 14:1-6) Comfort: Only By Following Jesus

Nathan Sehi

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We as people were created to fear death. Death reminds us of the reality that something is wrong with this world and that one day we will face life after death. Jesus address’s this fear with his disciples by teaching the wonderful truth about the path to Heaven. It is by the death of Christ for our sins that he becomes the way, the truth, and the life that leads us to Heaven.

Notes

Transcript

INTRODUCTION:

In the 1850s,

Alfred Krupp was known as the "Cannon King".

He was the premier maker and seller of military cannons throughout the world.

Ironically, this German manufacturer of death, was dreadfully afraid of death.

He was so afraid of death that he chose to never forgive anyone who talk about death.

Every employee of his company was forbidden to talk about that.

Once the relative of his wife visited and died in his home.

So afraid was he that he ran from the house

and refused to ever speak to his wife again.

When he sensed his age was taking a toll, he offered $1 million to any doctor who could prolong his life for 10 years -

Which would valued today at $28807563.81 (2019)

>>>>but no doctor was ever found.

>>>>And he died in 1887

It is ironic that the manufacturer of death was so afraid of dying.

But virtually every one of us fears death.

We are afraid to die.

But not everyone.

CAVEAT:

And I don’t mean the fool who pretends he will never die.

But people who truly have reason not to fear death.

I am talking about -

The Christian who often has no fear of death.

In fact, often the suffering Christian looks for the day when his life is over.

Death is our hope.

Why?

While Alfred Krupp ran from death,

Jesus's disciples embraced death.

Jesus just before this section has told his disciples -

He was going away

he would die

one of the 12 disciples would betray him

that all the disciples would fall away

and atan would be working against them.

The cumulative weight of these revelations would have depressed them.

They just found out their master,

which would be like a dad to them,

is going to die.

And so Jesus – in gave them some words of comfort.

Some words that would carry them through

- even as 10 of these men would be facing death by persecutors - for following Christ.

History tells us that Peter - will die by being crucified upside down.

What does Jesus offer,

that would turn a normal person's fear of death >>>>>>>>>>> into hope?

That is what we are considering today.

John 14:1–7 ESV

1 “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.”

So consider the question from -

What comfort does Jesus offer us?

This text will give us two truths of how Jesus offers us comfort.

And

This text will give us two truths of how Jesus offers us comfort.

The First Truth-

1) Comfort from Suffering and Death is Found in Following Jesus. ()

There is a long history of near death experiences

- people waking people up to the reality of death.

Sometimes we get so busy with life and youthfulness ... We forget that there is a day we will die.

Sometimes were woken up from this reality - we face a near-death experience.

Sometimes were woken up from this reality - when we face a near-death experience.

The reasons vary -

Maybe it's a car accident

or cancer

or relative suddenly passes away.

But because it possible for us to forget about death.

But because it possible for you to forget about death.

It's smacks you up in the face… And you start wondering what happens when I die.

ILLUSTRATION:

I remember reading a long time ago a book by a Vietnam veteran who came to believe in Christ.

He found himself serving in the U.S. Army.

And for the first time in his life… He's afraid to go to sleep.

He's afraid that one of the enemies might climb in there

or sniper might take his life

or mortars might come through his tent.

For the first time

– this 18-year-old soldier is thinking about death.

For the First time,

every day he is afraid of what might happen when he dies.

It becomes like this haunting dream … that he can’t get rid of.

Jesus gives us some words of comfort.

Some words that are meant to calm our fears when faced with death.

John 14:1 ESV

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

Jesus tells his disciples,

do not to be afraid.

Yes, suffering and death is coming.

But don’t be worried.

Why?

What are the words that comforted the disciples,

and give the Christian hope.

John 14:1–4 ESV

“Believe in God, Believe in me” is a call to trust in Jesus.

The word believe is a word that could be translated believe, trust, or have faith.

In other words, Jesus is saying -

I spent nearly 3 years with you and I know you trust God to take care of you.

I spent nearly 3 years with you I know you trust God to take care of you.

If you trusting God, and also trust in me.

Why is Jesus someone we can trust?

What does Jesus offer that gives us comfort?

And so Jesus jumps into talking about the hope you find - when you follow Jesus.

John 14:2–4 ESV

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.”

John 41:

What is the hope that Jesus offers?

a) There are many rooms in Heaven.

"In my father's house" is a reference to where God dwells.

> In other words were talking about heaven.

> The Dwelling place of God.

> And in heaven there are many rooms.

And then Jesus gives them the hope.

b) Jesus will die to prepare us a dwelling place in Heaven.

> And in heaven there are many rooms.

And then Jesus gives them the hope.

c) Jesus makes a place for those who follow him.

Jesus tells us that if we follow him,

he will make us a place in heaven where we can be safe from sin and death.

"In my father's house" is a reference to where God dwells.

In other words were talking about heaven.

Dwelling place of God.

That he goes to prepare one of those rooms for each one of us

And in heaven there are many rooms.

who have trusted in him.

And then he tells us – that he goes to prepare one of those rooms for each one of us.

Believe in God, Believe also in me.

This passage has often been translated as mansion,

but has more of the idea of a house.

In heaven there are many homes for the followers of Jesus,

and Jesus is going to go and prepare those homes for us.

When Jesus said, ‘I am going to prepare a place for you,’ we should not think of him returning to heaven, and having arrived there, setting about the construction of ‘rooms’ for his disciples to occupy—a task he has now been occupied with for some two thousand years! Rather, we should recognize that it was by his very going, by his betrayal, crucifixion and exaltation, that he made it possible for us to dwell in the presence of God. The imminent departure of Jesus, which so troubled the hearts of his disciples, was in fact for their benefit.

(TNTC, Kruse)

In other words … Yes disciples, Yes Christian

You are going to face Satanic attack, persecution, and ultimately death.

But don’t be troubled - Jesus has a place in Heaven for each one of us.

A place in heaven represents the blessing and protection of God.

It means no more worries for the rest of our days.

Revelation 21:4 ESV

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21 ESV

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” 9 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 16 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. 17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. 18 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25 and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. 26 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Rev 12:4

To become a follower of Jesus is to be in inheritor of the wonderful blessings from God.

But Thomas asks a great question for us.

One that has helped millions of Christians understand how to get

Yes …

a hold of the wonderful blessings found in Christ.

John 14:5 ESV

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

2) The Question: How can we follow Jesus to Heaven? ()

Let me paraphrase Thomas here.

Great .... I just follow Jesus to heaven.

But how do I do that?

How do I get to the pearly gates?

Where is the stairway to heaven?

And we benefit from that question.

Because Jesus answers Thomas’s questions.

3) We obtain the comfort of Christ by trusting that he is the only way to Heaven. ()

Jesus has just said that if you follow him to heaven,

he will prepare you a house in heaven.

And then Thomas shows some honesty here.

I've no idea how to follow you to heaven.

I don't know the way to heaven.

Perhaps you can relate?

Perhaps you are saying - I don’t know the way to Heaven either.

And so Jesus tells him the way you get to heaven.

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

We live in a world that says - anyone can get to heaven.

You want to be a Buddhist.

You want to be a Muslim.

You want to be a Jew.

You want to be a Catholic.

You want to be a Baptist.

Great ... Because all roads lead to heaven.

But Thomas give us an honest question.

How can we follow Jesus to heaven?

Reality is none of us know how to get to heaven... Except by the words of Jesus.

And so Jesus gives us that answer.

He says I am the answer.

He says >>>>>> I am the answer.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Remember .

John 14:1 ESV

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

Jesus is saying -

a) Trust that I am the path to having a place in heaven.

When Jesus says I'm the way,

he's connecting us to what he said before.

He promises he will come again and take us to heaven.

> Thomas is I don't know the way.

> Jesus says - you're looking at it.

Jesus says - you're looking at it.

Jesus is the path to heaven.

“I am the way”

But he always says -

b) Trust that I am the truth that leads you to a place in heaven.

In other words... There is nothing else that will get you there.

There is no other god ...by which you can go to Heaven.

If someone tells you anything besides what Jesus teaches ... Is not the truth.

Jesus is the truth.

Jesus is the reality.

Jesus words are the words that are true.

Jesus words or the words that are true.

EXHORTATION:

We live in a day when we are skeptic of those who see I have the only way.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>I'm the only one who has the truth.

In fact we get nervous and want to leave quickly

because we think those kind of people are weird cults or something.

But none of the others that claim to be true

are said by someone who died and was raised from the dead.

If you don't know what I'm talking about ... Write down John chapter 20.

Because it will describe how Jesus was killed upon a cross, and then arose from the dead.

Because it will describe how Jesus was killed upon a cross, and then rose from the dead.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ teaches us that we can be sure that he is the truth.

But further - he says:

c) Trust that I am the one who offers you - unending (eternal) life in Heaven.

When there are so many religions the say how to get to heaven ... How do we know that Jesus is the one who actually gives us unending life in heaven?

Again I point you to the resurrection.

Jesus didn't simply say I am the life.

In just a few days,

he will die and be resurrected.

How many people have you know to die... And then be made alive again?

ANALOGY:

We look to billionaires to get advice about our investments.

Why do we look to these people?

It is because there a proven track record.

Whatever they did, they must do got it right because now they are rich.

Tell me... Who should we take advice from on how to have an unending life in heaven?

How about the only ones ever been resurrected. Jesus Christ.

He is life.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

But just so you know I'm not twisting Jesus's words

... Jesus tells us that he is the only way.

John 14:6 ESV

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

d) Trust that Jesus is the only way to have a place in heaven.

I realize the saying Jesus is the only way…

Might seem

harsh,

arrogant,

and intolerant.

But I believe Jesus is the only way because he says

(not I, he says)

>>>> no one comes to the father except by me.

If you think you can earn your way to heaven ... You can't because you need Jesus.

If you think the some other religion is going to get you to heaven ... You can't because you need Jesus.

I don't say that because I'm in competition

or because I hate others.

Because I believe Jesus is the way the truth and the life.

Because this passage teaches us he's the only way to get to heaven.

My passion to tell people he's the only way ...

Is because he is the only name under heaven by which we can be saved from sin and death.

I can't say enough – because

Jesus is the way, truth, life ...

Then there is no other way we can find on ending life in heaven.

CONCLUSION:

So this morning –

Would you consider two questions:

What happens when I die?

And what does Jesus offer?

Alfred Krupp -

- tried to pretend death would never happen.

- He tried to use his millions to avoid death.

But at the end of the day ... Every one of us is appointed once to die.

We can live in fear death.

We can try to pretend not will never happen.

Or we can trust in Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life that gets me to heaven.

Those who trust and follow Jesus…

unending life in heaven.

He offers hope after death >>>> unending life in heaven.

*******************************

Understanding what Jesus offers is only one part of understanding who Jesus is.

Here at Bethel,

it is our desire for every person to understand who Jesus is.

If you don't understand who Jesus is -

we would love to sit down to a Bible study with you and talk about who Jesus is.

For the Christian Jesus represents the greatest love and hope we can ever know ...