Jesus the Way to the Father

HOOK

Yesterday right here at “The Message” we started chapter 14 of the Gospel of John with the account of events that took place when Jesus comforted (pinatahan) and assured (kasiguruhan) his disciples that though he’s leaving, he will come again

From that instance we learned the following:

I WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL, NOT FEARFUL

JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR US

I DON’T KNOW WHEN, BUT I KNOW HOW

Today let’s see what happened afterwards— how did the conversation continues?

Open your Bible to JOHN 14:5-14

CHARACTER, COMMAND, PROMISES, CONVICTIONS, EXAMPLES, CHALLENGES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Read JOHN 14:5-14

BOOK

John 14:5–14 NIV

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.

These conversations happened during the Last Supper [traditional Jewish passover meal]— after he predicted Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial— after he gave them comfort and assurance

In Jerusalem, with the Lord’s disciples, the night before he was betrayed

After Jesus told them in verse 4, “you know the way the place where I am going”— Thomas [the same Thomas who will doubt the resurrection of Jesus], reacted by asking…

LOOK

HOW CAN WE KNOW THE WAY?

Thomas said, they don’t have any idea where the Lord is going, hence this question— Jesus answered

I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

Since there were divergent Jewish traditions, it was difficult for the first century Jewish people to know which tradition was Yahweh’s will

Jesus farther said that, except through Him, no one comes to the Father

Salvation does not come through the law, sacrifices or religious practices— EPHESIANS 2:8-9

Jesus himself is the only channel through which people can have relationship with God the Father and spend eternity with Him

This was one of the 7 “I am” statements of Jesus— what are the other 6 if you remember? Type them in..

I am the Bread of Life

I am the Light of the World

I am the Door [or the Gate] of the Sheep

I am the Good Shepherd

I am the Resurrection and the Life

I am the True Vine

Philip weighed in to their conversation, he said— “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

ANYONE WHO HAS SEEN ME HAS SEEN THE FATHER

Very clearly Jesus said that He and the Father, and later you will see that including the Holy Spirit is One— Our God is three in one

WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME WILL DO THE WORKS I HAVE BEEN DOING

What works Jesus did while He was still here in earth?— Teaching, Healing, Prophesying, Miracle-performing— ACTS 2:43

He also showcased to us the 5 UNCHANGING PURPOSES of every Christian and every church:

Worshipping

Fellowshipping

Discipling

Ministering

Evangelizing

The Lord even said that they [the disciples, that includes us], will do even greater things— Why? Because He was going back to the Father

This does not mean that we will be greater than Jesus— The term “greater” here refers to the amount of miracles they the disciples will do—

Now, it depends if you are a CONTINUATIONIST / CESSATIONIST— if you believe that gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to happen, then by faith, as a believer you can perform healing, prophesying and miracle-performing

And the Jesus ended his discourse by saying…

I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK

He even emphasized what he said by saying..

YOU MAY ASK ME FOR ANYTHING IN MY NAME, AND I WILL DO IT

Wow! Is Jesus like a Genie?— That whatever we ask for, he will do it!

Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit, are not “Genies”— God answers our prayers with YES, NO or NOT YET

When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane he said— MATTHEW 26:39

God’s will is better than your own will upon yourself— ROMANS 8:28

Keywords here are: BELIEVE, DO and ASK

Our life application today will be based on those verbs [actions words]

TOOK

I BELIEVE THAT OUR GOD IS THREE IN ONE

I WILL DO THE WORKS THAT JESUS STARTED

I WILL ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT I WILL RELY ON HIS WILL