The Road of Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Is anybody growing stir-crazy yet? We live in troubled times. People are troubled by this virus whether they want to be or not. Either they are troubled by the big deal everyone is making or they are troubled not everyone is making a big deal of it.
We live in troubled times. People are troubled by this virus whether they want to be or not. Either they are troubled by the big deal everyone is making or they are troubled not everyone is making a big deal of it.
People are troubled by the empty shelves, or they were so troubled that they emptied the shelves. Some of us are rationing toilet paper like air on a submarine, and others have stockpiled it to sell it off to the highest bidder. I read of one man who is stuck with 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer to sell, only to be stuck with it because Amazon and Ebay won’t let him sell because of his markups.
People are troubled by the future. Our economy, which was booming just a few weeks ago, has been on a steep nose dive as businesses that were bustling find a lack of customers or are forced to close their doors as part of containment efforts. The stock market has dropped like a rock, and some people won’t have a job to go back to when this is all over with.
Others are in full-on panic mode. They have caused a nation-wide shortage of toilet paper and other goods that they will never need to buy again for the rest of their lives, which they are convinced won’t be that long because we’re probably all going to die.
Still others are troubled by would be conspiracy theories. Though the reasoning behind them varies and some of them seem more credible than others, these folks are upset and are sounding the alarm because they are convinced that the “OUTBREAK” is an intentional release of a weapon or an economic or political tool meant to somehow reshape the world into what the people in power want it to be.
Speaking of political tools, some are troubled by politicians trying to use emergency aid packages to pass partisan legislation. And let’s not forget the entertainment companies. Hollywood has bent over backwards to bring In-Theater Movies to your living room now. Amazon, Netflix, Sling, Hulu, and more services are offering “free trials” and “special services” because “they’re here for you” while your stuck inside.
Finally, you’ve got the rest of us. We are trying to socially isolate. We’re doing church online because we know it keeps others safe. We’re stressed about our businesses and our jobs. We wonder about our kids and the school situation unfolding before us. We don’t know how this is all going to unfold, but we’ll do our part and pray that everyone that we love and care about makes it through this okay, with some semblance of normal coming back in the near future.
Amazon, Netflix, Sling, Hulu, and more services are offering “discounted rates” because “they’re here for you” while your stuck inside.
Undoubtedly, your schedule has changed. Now EVERYONE home schools! Anybody that can is working from home. You are probably together more with your family than you have been in a long time, beating against the glass crying “let me out of this place!!” Things that you are used to doing you can’t do. Sports, parties, movies, nights out, social gatherings, meetings, conferences, proms, and even Sunday School have been cleared from your schedule.
And all of this is good, and it is necessary for the time being. Right now, there are few to no cases in our area, and it is largely due to the fact that we are doing these things. And so, right now you have this unusually light schedule. And for the first time in a long time, many people have found they have a bit of free time and you are limited in how you can spend it so what we’ve turned to is worry.
Turn with me, if you will, to the Gospel of John, chapter 14. That’s the Gospel of John, chapter 14. And while you’re finding your spot, let me just remind you that the last time we were together in John, Jesus told His disciples, the ones that had just spent 3 years with Him night and day, that He was going somewhere they couldn’t follow now, but that they would follow later.
And we were talking about how this section of Scripture covers the last hours that Jesus had with His followers before His arrest, death, burial, and resurrection. The things that Jesus shares with them here are the last things, the most important things, that Jesus wanted to share with them. And what we find over and again is that it all ties back to the Gospel.
So as we return to the Gospel of John this morning, we’re beginning in . And as is our custom here, we’re going to stand for the reading of the Gospel. So, I invite you, wherever you are this morning, to stand with me in honor of the reading of God’s Word as we read together from John 14:1
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
“And you know the way where I am going.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Pray: Lord, Jesus, We thank you for this day and for the time that we have together this morning to study your Word. And while there is still breath in our lungs, while this day is still called today, Lord we want to know more about You. We want to be changed by You. We want You to be glorified in us. We want to be like You, Jesus. Holy Spirit, would You come and be our teacher this morning? Would you show us things that we did not know? By your Spirit, would You mold and shape us from the inside out to be better reflections of Christ. It is in His holy and precious Name we pray, Amen.
Thank you, you may be seated. As we start off this morning, the very first thing that we read in our text is Jesus saying
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
Judas has gone out into the darkness to betray Jesus. Jesus has just told them that the man that they have given their whole lives over to following is leaving, that He is going where they can’t follow.
That is troubling news. It sounds like something that would have troubled me. This could have gone right into the troubling categories from our introduction. And yet, what is the message of Christ in the midst of it? “Do not let your heart be troubled.” Don’t be worried. Don’t be worried about this. Don’t be worried about anything.
Well, goodness. That’s easy! Why didn’t I think of that. We simply shouldn’t worry. Thanks! What were we thinking!
I’m being sarcastic, of course, because it isn’t easy. I’m being sarcastic because we do worry. We worry all the time. We’re troubled by so many things. And Jesus knew this. He knows this about us. If it weren’t true about us, Jesus wouldn’t have wasted the words to tell us not to do it. But guess what.
This wasn’t the first time they had heard this from Jesus. Jesus said in
“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
And Jesus explains that God takes care of birds and flowers, and yet He loves us much more than these things. And then in , Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. He says
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’
“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
You see, Jesus tells them not to worry, but that’s not all. He doesn’t just tell them not to worry. He tells them something else they should do instead. He tells them “don’t worry. Instead of worrying do this.” And what is that?
He says “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In other word, seek God’s Kingdom. Seek God’s Kingdom above everything else, and all these things you are worried about will get taken care of.”
Later in the Gospel of John, in , Jesus says:
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Don’t worry, friends. Don’t be worried about the things you are facing. Heed them. Take notice of them. But don’t be troubled by them. Instead, put your trust in God. Put your faith in God. Seek Christ’s Kingdom first.
Why are we so worried about all the things swirlingly around us? It’s because we’re focused on the wrong road. We are fixed on the road through this life. That road is dangerous. That road is full of worry and strife, and it ends in death. And all of us are on it, but what we need to be doing is looking for a different road.
And all of us are on it, but what we need to be doing is looking for a different road.
Do you know how you and I are going to get away from all of this worry and stress? I’ll tell you. We need to get onto the heavenly highway. We need to get on the Jesus road.
You can lay down your worries, friends. You can let go of it. You and I have been traveling on the wrong road, headed to the wrong destination.
See, Jesus says to His disciples in that instead of letting their hearts be troubled they need to “believe in God, believe also in me.” And if you’ve got your listening guide ready this morning, we’re going to see that Jesus is leading us to a different road. And what I want you to see first is that
Belief in Jesus is the On-Ramp to the Heavenly Highway
Belief in Jesus is the On-Ramp to the Heavenly Highway
The road that you have been on to this point in your life is entered by a different belief. It is this belief that your purpose in life is to be happy. Your happiness is your purpose on this earth-bound road towards death. And on this earth, there is no other destination.
Death is where all of us are going to end up. Really, truly, it’s why everyone is so freaked out right now. Because either we’re afraid that our death will come sooner because of this virus or because our happiness and comfort is threatened by all the commotion around the virus. And when happiness is your purpose and death is your destination, you’ve got a lot to be afraid of.
But those of us who are followers of Jesus, those of us who worship the risen Savior. Those of us who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, we are on a different road. We might face death on this earth, but we will taste life in eternity. Death is not our destination, and our purpose is to glorify God, and so for us, there is nothing to be afraid of. And Jesus is the on ramp to that highway.
says
that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
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and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we confess our sins before God, if we confess that He is our Lord, our King, our boss, the One who is calling the shots, and we truly believe God raised Him from the dead, there is salvation for us. There is eternity for us.
You don’t have to live in fear. You can get on a different road, and that road starts in your salvation. It starts with your belief In Jesus. Jesus is the on ramp to the Heavenly Highway. For, as says
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Jesus is the entrance to the Heavenly Highway, but that’s not all. Jesus gives us a thesis on why we shouldn’t worry in this passage, and as He continues it only gets better. Let’s look at verses 2 and 3:
“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Jesus is the very beginning of our faith, but He is so much more than that. Yes, Jesus is the only ramp to the Heavenly Highway. Yes, the salvation that He brings us is the very foundation of our relationship with God.
But Jesus is so much more than just the beginning. The salvation that we find in Christ is more than just a doorway. See, you walk through a door and you leave it behind and it us behind you. But though Jesus is your entrance into salvation, He is so much more. Because what we see here is that
Jesus is the our destination
Jesus is the our destination
Jesus has gone ahead of us to make a place for us. He made the earth and all of creation in 6 days. Can you imagine the wonders He has made in more than 2000 years since He spoke those words?
There is room for you in the house of God. There is a place for you in Christ’s Kingdom. And Jesus is the one that greets you there. And whether that is when your body dies and you are finally freed into that place where there is no death or sickness, or if it is when Christ returns, The Heavenly Highway, this life lived following Jesus ends with reaching Him.
The world around us is scary. It is a world of trouble and strife, and this virus has really brought this home to us, hasn’t it? I don’t want to die tomorrow. I’m not in a hurry to leave this world. But beloved, we need to remember that this life is not our destination. For those of us that are in Christ, Jesus is our destination.
When we finally leave this world, it will be to arrive in the presence of God. I want stay here for now, because I have work to do. You have work to do. I need to being doing all I can to know Jesus and to make Him known. You need to be growing deeper in your relationship with God and doing all you can to share His great love with the world around us.
Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me;
But when we feel scared because of this virus or because of threats in the world around us, whether they are political, or violent, or financial, or physical, or natural, regardless of their source, we need to take a deep breath and remember that staying here is not our end goal! Our goal is to be with Jesus.
I think that Paul best expressed this idea. In
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
Paul says that, really, to be with Jesus is better than being here. To get to the end goal is better than being here. That dying is not suffering, it is benefit because it means that you get to be with Jesus. He is saying that those followers of Jesus that are already with Him are the blessed ones! It is we that are living who are suffering.
But he also says that while he is alive, His life itself is Christ. See, Jesus is our destination. Being with Him is the end goal. And He wants us to be with Him. What did He say at the end of verse 3
“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Jesus wants us to be with Him. He is going to bring us to where He is. And that means that if you are still here, He has a purpose in that. Paul told the Philippians that he knew that because he was still here, that Jesus had work for Paul to do among them.
We are here on earth, friends, because God put us here for His purposes.
says
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
God has numbered your days. He created you. He set you here for a purpose. If you are alive, it is because Jesus still has work for you to do here or because you do not know Him and He wishes you to have the full measure of your days that you can have every opportunity.
And when this life is over, those of us that know Jesus have Jesus as our destination! Jesus is our on-ramp to the Kingdom of God, and He is our destination on the road before us, and these things should give us comfort as we look for a way forward in the midst of the chaos we’re living in. Look at verse 4 with me:
“And you know the way where I am going.”
Jesus is our on ramp to the Heavenly Highway. He is our salvation and He opens the door to our relationship with God. He is our destination, He is what we are seeking and where we are heading. But, also,
Jesus is the road map to where we are going
Jesus is the road map to where we are going
You know the way where Jesus is going because He has shown us. Jesus has shown us how to live. He has walked before us as the example of how you and I are to live. Jesus has walked the walk before us.
You’ll remember that last week Jesus was telling them they couldn’t follow where He was going, but that they would later. And here in our passage, He tells us that we know the way. That you and I know the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Because, as His followers, we know Jesus.
My wife knows me. She knows the places I go. She knows the things that I do. She knows how I think. She knows me. She even knows my usual route for my morning runs. And so, she knows how to get where I am.
As followers of Jesus, we are to know Him. We are to know His Word intimately. We are to talk to Him in prayer all day every day. We are to practice each day living our lives as closely to how Jesus lives as we can.
How are we to know what to do in times like these? How are we supposed to know at anytime? We know because we know Jesus and Jesus has shown us. He has given us a map of what to do and where to go.
We talk about this all the time, here, don’t we? That the reason that our vision at Friendship is to Know Jesus and Make Him Known is because that is the road map God has placed before us: Remember
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
When I get in my car, and my GPS tells me to turn left to get to my destination, I don’t turn right. When I am making a cake and the directions say to set the oven to 350 degrees, I don’t set it to 500 or 250. When I’m learning how to operate a piece of equipment, I don’t just turn it on and go to town. I read the instructions.
And God loves us so much, He gave us instructions! Jesus has given us a road map in His word. And as we know His word and we saturate our lives with His truth, and we then obey Him, we will be on the road He wants us to be on. And we don’t have to be afraid anymore.
You don’t have to be afraid, because God made you for a purpose, has set on the road towards, it, He will meet you at the end of it, and He has given you the road map for how to get there.
And I know that at times like this, it’s hard not to be like Thomas. In verse 5 today, Thomas looks at the road map, and he looks at the situation in front of him, and he says:
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
John 14:5
We feel like this, sometimes, don’t we? I admit, it would be nice to open up and find the “pandemic plan” listed in index. We want a clear plan, and a big blinking sign with an arrow pointing “this way” to tell us how we are supposed to go and which decision in life we should make. And I want you to know that’s natural.
We’re unsure, and maybe a little bit scared of getting lost along the way, or making the wrong decision we just can’t take back. But I want you to take a deep breath, and look at Jesus’ answer to Thomas in verse 6:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Jesus says He is the only way to the Father, the only truth that can lead us to the Father, the only source of Life that we have.
The word that we read as “way” here can also be translated “road.” In other words,
Jesus is the road that we are walking to get there
Jesus is the road that we are walking to get there
Can’t you see it, beloved. Here Thomas is saying, “Jesus, don’t leave us, because you’re saying we know the way, but we don’t know the way. We don’t know the road to take.”
And Jesus says, YES! Yes you do, Thomas, I- am The WAY! If you know me, you know the way. And I know this point can be a little confusing, so let me break it down for you.
Jesus is saying here, beloved, that not only is He the on ramp to the Heavenly Highway, not only is He the destination we are headed for, not only is He the road map we’re following, He is actually the One that is going to get us there. He is the highway to heaven.
Do you know why we have nothing to be afraid of? It’s because if you belong to Jesus and you are focusing your life on knowing Him and making Him known, nothing else is of consequence.
Do you know Jesus? Do you know Him? Do you know where He goes and what He is about? Are you following His leading and have you learned to know what that looks like? Do you know His Word? Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? I’m not asking if you have walked an aisle in a building like the one I’m in, I’m asking if you know Him. Do you KNOW Jesus. Because if you know Jesus, you know the way!
If you know Jesus as your closest friend and beloved King, it doesn’t matter if the road you are on takes you into a new career, or to new studies. It doesn’t matter where you live, or the circumstances you face. Disease and famine and war and persecution, and the troubles of this world may be stops along the route. But none of these things are the road.
You see, the only truly important thing is whether what you are doing fits in to how God is growing you to know Jesus and to make Him known. If these two things are your pursuit, you are on the heavenly highway, and Jesus will get you to where you will be with Him forever.
This morning, I’m giving you a chance to respond. If you’ve logged on this morning, and you are saying, Pastor, I don’t know the way. I don’t know Jesus. I have never taken that on ramp. If you don’t know Jesus, and you want to, would you just let me know that by clicking that decision in the poll that will pop up in just a few moments. That will give me an idea of how the Spirit is moving among us this morning.
Or maybe you are here today, and you have realized that while you profess to know Jesus, you need to go deeper. You need to begin to truly know Him, and to know His word, and you are ready to begin really following Him, would you let us know so that we can pray for you?
And maybe you’re at home this morning, and the weight of all of this has had you living in fear, but you’ve realized that we who are in Christ have nothing to be afraid of, that even death is nothing to fear. And if you are ready to give that fear to Jesus this morning, would you let us know so that we can rejoice with you?
I’m going to pray for us, and then, while our musicians lead us in a song, that poll is going to be on your screen. And no one will know how you answer but you and the Lord. If He is calling you this morning, Answer His call.
Let’s go to the Lord in prayer: Lord, Jesus, we have seen this morning that you are the way, the truth, and the life. You are the answer we are lacking, and in You, we have nothing to be afraid of. My Lord, Jesus, would you reach out and draw hearts to yourself this morning. Would you draw those here today that don’t know you to yourself so that they can begin a fearless journey towards our heavenly home. Would you pull those that need a real relationship with you to take that first step right now by confessing it to You right where they are. Lord, would you mercifully take away the fear of your dear children right now, and help us to stand on the truth that there is nothing that can be taken away from those who belong to You. Do not let our hearts be troubled. Let us find our strength in You. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.
If you have made a decision to know and follow Jesus this morning, while I can see how many made such a choice, I cannot see who you are. So, if you would send me a note on messenger, I would love the chance to pray with you and to help you start your journey with Christ. Please drop me a note so I can celebrate with you!
Friendship, I love you! I am here for you and will continue to be, even through this trial before us. We may not be able to get together in person, but I’m just a phone call or a message away. And even if I don’t hear from you, know that I am praying for you, and trust that by God’s grace, this too shall pass.
Thank you so much for worshipping with us this morning! It was such a blessing to have you. Don’t forget to get your life group material for your family and the Sunday school resources from our church website, flochurch.net.
You can give online anytime through the links listed in our thread, or by visiting our website! We’ll see you again at 6:30 on Wednesday night. Until then, may God give you a blessed week as you walk with Him.
