The "Way" is Found on the Cross
Notes
Transcript
The “Way” is Found on the Cross
The “Way” is Found on the Cross
Introduction:
Rescue of the Hostages
One of the most amazing rescue stories I know about occurred in July of 1976 when, in a swift display of military precision, courage, and sheer daring, Israeli commandos rescued 102 Jewish hostages from Uganda, in Central East Africa. Their plane had been hijacked by Palestinian terrorists and flown to that safe haven protected by the monstrous madman, dictator Idi Amin. The hostages were probably good as dead if something could not be done to save them. Something was done.
The dramatic series of events began shortly after noon, Sunday, June 27, when a white Air France Airbus lifted off the runway at the Athens International Airport. It banked west, then began the flight over the brilliant blue gulf of Corinth and on to the Aegean Sea. It was a beautiful day to fly, a sharp contrast to the events to follow.
The serenity of the early moments of the flight was shattered by a scream as a man and a woman jumped to their feet, brandishing hand grenades, quickly training pistols on the flight attendants. The man stepped toward the pilot’s cabin and ordered the plane taken to the airport at Entebbe, the capital of Uganda. The goal—to force Israel and four other nations to release fifty-three Palestinian or pro-Palestinian terrorists from jail. They made it clear that if the jailed terrorists were not freed, the 102 hostages would be slaughtered like diseased cattle.
Two days later, two thousand miles away, the leaders of Israel sat in the wood-paneled Cabinet Room of the Israeli Knesset. Weary and anxious, they had to face still another threat to their people. In addition to the safety of the Jewish people aboard the flight, they had to consider another issue: If the terrorists got away with this, more acts of violence and terrorism would follow. No Israeli would be safe unless the terrorists could be stopped.
Yitzhak Rabin, the prime minister, Lt. Gen. Mordechai Gur, the military chief of staff, and all the cabinet members decided they should explore the possibility of negotiating a release without bloodshed. But at the same time, they would make an all-out effort to come up with a military option. They had no reason to believe the terrorists would negotiate honorably.
Immediately, a strike force was assembled on a military base in the Israeli desert to begin planning the impossible: a raid on Entebbe to save the hostages. Staff members of El Al, the Israeli national airlines, gave information about possible flight routes, refueling opportunities, and communication facilities. Israel slipped secret agents into Uganda to analyze the situation. Information began pouring back.
On June 30 and July 1, the terrorists released all non-Jewish passengers. This was good news, because fewer hostages increased the chances of success. Israeli intelligence learned that the hostages were being kept in the central open area of the small airport terminal building in the capital city, and that the airport was not wired with explosives. It was another good sign that the terrorists and the Ugandans hadn’t considered the possibility of a rescue attempt. The United States gave Israel satellite photographs of the airport, and Kenya gave secret assurances that an Israeli strike force would be allowed to land at Nairobi to refuel and, on the return trip, care for any wounded.
The raiding party was selected and honed to a strike force specially trained in air-assault operations. They were among the finest military men in the world, led by thirty-year-old Col. Jonathan Netanyahu, who had moved to Israel from the United States when he was only two. Deep in the desert at the isolated military base, they practiced the raid again and again, shaving the ground rescue time down to fifty-five minutes.
The airplanes chosen to take the strike team to Entebbe were four U.S.-built Hercules C-130 cargo planes and two Boeing 707 jets. One jet was an airborne command-and-communications center and the other was a hospital plane. The six planes followed El Al’s usual route to South Africa: down the Red Sea and over Ethiopia and Kenya. The hospital plane landed in Nairobi. The five military aircraft left the Nairobi landing pattern and redirected toward Entebbe. No suspicion was aroused anywhere, because it was assumed that the radar reading of the planes, to this point, was the normal El Al flight to South Africa. The planes then dropped very low to escape radar and flew directly to the airport at Entebbe.
As one cargo plane rolled to a stop in the darkness—as yet undetected because the airport was not being used—its huge tail ramp dropped and out came a large, black Mercedes Benz limousine, closely followed by two Land Rovers filled with Israeli commandos dressed in Palestinian uniforms. In the back of the limousine was bulky Israeli officer dressed like dictator Idi Amin. The license plate on the limousine was identical to that of Amin’s official car. As the party drove up to the terminal building, the Ugandan guards snapped to attention, allowing the Israeli commandos to get within a few yards of the building before the first shots were fired.
Bullets were soon raining on the airport like hail in a thunderstorm. Within ten to twenty minutes, the shooting was over. The commandos ordered the hostages to the planes that were waiting in takeoff position, engines still running. As the hostages ran to the planes, great fireballs erupted in the distance as Israeli commandos blew up the eleven parked MIG jets that would have scrambled to intercept the escaping Israeli planes. As the hostages and commandos rushed onto the huge Hercules, the rear hatch slammed shut. Fifty-three minutes after the raid began, the planes began moving into position for takeoff. The hostages were saved!
The rescue was not letter perfect. Three hostages lost their lives. That was deeply saddening, but all of them may have died otherwise. Remarkably, only one Israeli commando lost his life—the assault-force commander, Col. Jonathan Netanyahu. A sniper in the control tower killed him with a bullet in the back. Netanyahu gave his life to save others.
Stories like this cause me to ask what will move one person to risk death in order that another person might live? Why would Col. Netanyahu risk his life to save someone else from death? If someone is going to die, isn’t it “better him than me?”
To me, this willingness to risk on behalf of others is part of the image of God in man. Something placed by God deep in the core of our being allows us to put ourselves in the helpless person’s shoes, imagine what a terror they are experiencing, and say, “If I were him, I would long for someone to rescue me; therefore, I’ll try to rescue him.” God’s image within us gives rise to this nobility, this courage, dignity, and honor.
As great as the mission at Entebbe was, it pales in comparison to the greatest rescue in history—the saving of mankind by God. Mankind found itself lost in life, held hostage by evil, helpless and hopeless. Jesus risked Himself—even gave His life—to rescue mankind. His is the greatest of all acts, marked with nobility, dignity, and honor. It was letter perfect and continues to save people even today.
Max Anders, Jesus, Knowing Our Savior, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publ., 1995), pp. 1
Pray
Jesus knew what was coming, but even though He tried to prepare the disciples, they still could not understand. However, they did understand that change was coming. There was a shift in Jesus teaching, there was increasing anger from the Pharisees that hit a peak when Jesus overturned the money changers desecrating the Temple, and there was a shift in Jesus Himself as He shared in .
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.
Being human, Jesus felt the wait of what was about to take place in His life and the life of His followers, yet His love for His followers prompted Him to speak comfort, words of guidance, and words of revelation in this moment in the upper room. He knew that in a few short hours, they would understand the ugly truth of what was about to take place and they would face the greatest test of their life. Look with me at our text this morning as we look into the sixth “I Am” statement give by Jesus just prior to His arrest.
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14:1-14
Jesus love for His disciples is so evident in this moment. He has shared so much with them and they still have such little comprehension of what He is saying. He is about to face His darkest hour yet in these final moments, it is His disciples He is concerned with. Here we see Jesus speaks...
Words of Comfort in the Face of Fear ()
Words of Comfort in the Face of Fear ()
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Believe in Me like you believed in God
Believe in Me like you believed in God
It is easy to understand why they were troubled. Things had seemed pretty good for a couple of years there. Oh there were conflicts, but Jesus was with them. He was performing wonderful miracles. They had seen and experienced incredible things. These things experienced were right out of scriptures foretold by the prophets and they were the ones experiencing them.
Not only were they experiencing them, but they were part of it. Jesus was teaching them and sending them out to do some of the same things He was doing. Centuries of waiting were at an end as they daily watched prophecies come alive.
But now things had taken a turn that was not what they anticipated. Not the least of which was Jesus clearing of the Temple. That was a game changer. Surely there would be repercussion for that. Oh they knew that the Pharisees were long laying in wait for Jesus. Even before arriving in Jerusalem, they had been warned that they should not come as the Pharisees had designs to see Jesus arrested or worse. But it seemed impossible that something would come of it.
However, now they were not so sure. Jesus kept talking about HIs impending death, about going somewhere where they could not follow. About being betrayed by one and even Peter denying Him. Why Peter was the bravest of them all. If he would not resist, how would they?
In the midst of all these thoughts Jesus says,
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
They were ready to follow Jesus when He came because they had a deep seated belief in God. They had not seen God with their eyes, but they believed He was there. They believed He would one day send a Messiah. Now Jesus says, “You have believed in Me and followed Me. That will not change. When I am gone, believe in me as you have believed in God.
Next Jesus assures them that He will be working on their behalf when He is gone.
Jesus assures them of His good intentions on their behalf
Jesus assures them of His good intentions on their behalf
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
Jesus has as much desire to be with them as they do to be with Him. Jesus wouldn’t mislead them. They can be assured that He is preparing a place for them but not just any place. This is a place in the home of Almighty God, Jesus’ Father. There are many rooms with a place for all. Jesus is preparing it to be ready for them when the time is right. When that time comes, Jesus will return to lead the way. If that isn’t enough, Jesus speaks to them with confidence.
Then Jesus...
You know the way!
You know the way!
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
The disciples are concerned. Where is this place that Jesus is talking about? How can they get to God’s house? Jesus assures them, “Do not worry. You know the way.”
I do not know about you, but I totally understand the disciples concern here. I am not very good with directions. There have been times when I have asked for directions somewhere and someone has said, “Oh you know the way. It is really easy and I know you know where this is.” They have then proceeded to give me directions with confidence I know what they are talking about and all the time my stress level is mounting. I begin to make the journey and suddenly something looks familiar and I realize they were right. I do know the way.
In this moment with His disciples, Jesus is trying to assure them not to worry. Jesus has given them the directions. They may not fully comprehend them at this moment in time, but in time it will all fall into place for them.
Application:
The disciples had been going through their life, living it in the way they always had. Oh, it was somewhat different with Jesus arrival but it was not too different in it followed what they had believed. A Messiah would come. They had certain expectations of that Messiah and it was true that not all had transpired as they had expected, but in time they felt sure things would turn around and Jesus would declare Himself king and they would be at His side. But now all the sudden, things seem to be going in completely the wrong direction. Jesus is not declaring Himself king, but is saying He will be crucified. Can you imagine the confusion they are feeling?
Many in the U.S. are feeling that same confusion today. On this Easter Sunday. How can we celebrate Easter when disaster seems to be all around us.
Jesus message is the same for us that it was for the disciples. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. The world is not predictable. Disasters will come since sin has control in this world. However, take your focus off of that and place it on what is to come. This world is temporary, but there is a better place to come. A mansion with many dwellings places where we can dwell with God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.
For those of us who know the Son, our mandate is the same as the disciples. We can be assured that this is not the end. We should also understanding that this world will always throw us curve balls. Just as we become comfortable something happens; the death of a spouse, the loss of a job, the betrayal by someone we love.
There are no assurances that things will go perfectly here on earth. In fact, Jesus was clear that there would be many problems. But He also promises that we need not fear when we put our trust in God.
However, the disciples are not there yet. They are confused by all this change from what they had expected. Then Jesus gives...
Words of Guidance in the Midst of Confusion ()
Words of Guidance in the Midst of Confusion ()
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Words of Guidance in the Midst of Confusion ()
We can understand Thomas and the disciples confusion at this point. Things are not going at all like they had anticipated. In response Jesus gives the message of Easter in two short sentences directing them to the answer.
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John
This is the sixth “I AM” statement given by Jesus. In recent weeks, we have talked about the first five:
I Am the Bread of Life
I Am the Light of the World
I Am the Gate
I Am the Good Shepherd
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
and now we have, “I Am the way, and the truth, and the life.”
Jesus says, “I AM!” Ego Eimi! The same name given to Moses by God Himself at the burning bush. This is the heart of my sermon and I want to break this down because this is what was accomplished on the cross with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Because of who Jesus is and because of His victory over death, He is our way to the Father. We can only find our way there through the salvation provided by the Son. Look with me a little closer at...
I AM...the way.
I AM...the way.
The word hodos (hoe-does) in Greek means, way, road, or path. What road is Jesus talking about? The way to the Father’s house where Jesus will be. After all, that should be our true desire.
The true believer is on a quest to God.
There are many in our world that call themselves Christian, but the truth is they are on a wrong path. They are not seeking God. They are seeking a means to fulfill their own desires. To them, God is a way to hopefully provide them the things they want, that being treasures on earth.
The Pharisees were just such as these. They had their own agenda. They sought God for the wrong reasons. That is why they refused to acknowledge the truth about Jesus.
However, Jesus says in .
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Elsa had her hands on the holy grail . Despite the warning not to cross the seal with it, she was determined to possess it, so she did cross the seal. When her life was in peril, she was still determined to possess the grail and her determination lead to her demise.
In the end, Professor Jones reveals her great mistake when he tells his son, “Elsa never really believed in the grail. She felt she had found a prize.” Elsa was focused on what the grail could do for her, not what it was.
Too many would-be Christians today are focused on the treasures they believe God provide for them not on the true treasure which is God Himself.
The true Christian is focused on the true prize. That being a relationship with Almighty God. Creator of the universe. Creator of ourselves. Better yet, not only does He desire to be our creator, but He desires to be “our Father.”
When we have our sights set on the right prize, it is not difficult to follow Jesus.
In the midst of this pandemic, we are not afraid, distraught, or confused for this reason. However, for the ones whose sight are on the wrong prize, this time may be very confusing to those who have had their sights on the wrong prize. They may feel God has failed them.
If you are confused or afraid during this pandemic, perhaps it is time to examine what your motive is? What is it you are seeking? Is it God or self?
describes a false way to God.
12 There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.
Other scriptures direct us in the right path.
30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.
is a parallel verse to Jesus declaration that “I am the way.”
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
The reason is because we are following “The way.” Jesus is the only way to the Father.
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
"Little faith will bring your soul to heaven; great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”
When heaven is already in our soul, the pandemics of this world do cannot destroy us.
Next but Jesus said,
Jesus is not only “the way,” but Jesus says,
I AM...the Truth
I AM...the Truth
The Truth
There is only one truth yet many proclaim they know the truth. Today’s world would have us to believe there are multiple truths, yet that goes against the very definition of truth. There can only be one truth. So how do we know the truth. There have been many that proclaim they come giving truth; Buddha, John Smith, Allah, and the list goes on and grows every day.
Jesus said, “I am the truth” and He is the only one that gives evidence to support it. Who else’s life has evidenced fulfilled prophecies from centuries before? Who else has spoken revealing the Father as Jesus did? Who else performed miracles that only God can do?
Jesus is the only one. His character, His words, and His works all revealed Him to be who He said He is. If He is truly the Son of God, who better to know the truth. Especially since He is God. Look at .
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
Why would God lie about Himself?
He is the creator and we the created. How can we ever expect to know truth without Him showing us. And that is exactly what Jesus did. He showed us the truth. Now it is up to us. We either choose to believe or to dismiss the truth.
The Bible is our key. says...
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament. Nothing Jesus said or did was contrary to the Old Testament. In fact, He helped us to understand the Old Testament. His very life brought light to the Old Testament revealing the truth of who He is.
We choose who to believe; Jesus eternal, all-knowing God, or men, created beings with limited perspective. The truth is found in God’s word and revealed through Jesus Christ.
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
And Jesus ended with...
I AM...the Life
I AM...the Life
Some weeks back I preached on Jesus fifth “I AM” statement. It was when He raised Lazarus from the dead. Upon Martha’s pronouncement that Lazarus was dead Jesus declares, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha, like any of us, assumed he meant at the resurrection of all the dead come judgement day. However that is not what He meant. Look at Jesus response to her in .
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Let me ask you, “Do you believe this?” If it were not enough that Jesus raised Lazarus, four days decayed in the grave, back to life. How much more proof than you need when Jesus was Himself raised from the dead. If Jesus is not God. If Jesus were not the Son of God. How could this have been accomplished. If Jesus can assure His own resurrection, and Lazarus’, why not yours?
Jesus gave this guidance to the disciples in the midst of their confusion. In a time of great distress. However, they are just as real and pertinent to the confusion and distress of our world here and now. All we need to do is accept His guidance and act on it. We follow Jesus and God’s word to find the way to God. We believe in the truth that Jesus delivered and that truth continues to be revealed in our life through the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit within us.
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
When we follow and believe, we will find true life! Not just this meager life but abundant life which will be eternal.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Finally we find that not only did Jesus give guidance during this time of confusion but he also gave...
Words of Revelation in Response to Confusion ()
Words of Revelation in Response to Confusion ()
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 14
Rev. Jesse Middendorf, a previous General Superintendent to the Church of the Nazarene, wrote a book called, I AM: The Startling Claim of Jesus. Let me quote from his book
“This is life with hope. It is life filled with the anticipation of what God has in store for us because, in Jesus, we have the very presence of the Father revealed to us. God is no longer removed, remote, or shrouded in mystery. He has taken on a face, it is the face of Jesus.”
God was evidenced through every part of Jesus; His character, His words, and His works.
God has been revealed to us and we can reveal God to others. That is what Jesus is referring to when He says, “they will do greater things than these” and “ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” He is talking about reaching others with the good news. Jesus made a huge impact on that area of the world in that moment in time. However, the believers of Jesus Christ have been all over the world carrying the gospel of good news to all peoples since that time. The good news is that “Jesus died for our sins so we could be cleansed and have a relationship with God for all eternity.” All we have to do is have a desire for that relationship, believe in what Jesus did, and follow Him being obedient to all He has taught us.
Even in this pandemic, I received a newsletter sharing all the incredible things God’s people are doing for others around the world during this time. They are feeding the hungry, providing education, bringing medicine to the sick, and sharing the truth of life in Jesus.
Conclusion
has a parallel found in . It says,
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
vs 1 - The way-Walk in the way, that being following Jesus Christ.
vs 2 - The Truth - Believe in the truth found in God’s word and revealed through Jesus Christ.
vs 3 - The Life - delivered through the roots of our relationship with Christ and God the Father.
The good news? We do not have to do anything to achieve this life. We could never achieve it. However, it is ours for the taking. It is a gift offered to us.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Once again I share the words of Charles Spurgeon...
“Little faith will bring your would to heaven; great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”
It is my prayer that even in the midst of this pandemic, you have heaven in your soul bringing you peace. However, if you have not found that peace, if you are afraid and confused that something like this could happen to your way of life, I would encourage you to look to Jesus in order to find your way to God, the truth about God and life and the gift of life that even the Corona virus cannot take from you.
Pray