SF360 - GOD'S PATHWAY TO HEAVEN (John 14 1-6)

JOHN 14:1‑6

INTRODUCTION

Series Background

Message Of The Master

Ø Reveal Himself ‑ His nature

Ø John 6, the Bread of Life ‑ God's Perfect Provision;

Ø John 8, the Light of the World ‑ God's Personal Revelation

Ø John 10, the Door to Heaven ‑ God's Passage Way

Ø John 10, the Good Shepherd ‑ God's Perfect Sacrifice

Ø John 11, The Resurrection and the Life ‑ God's Promise Fulfilled

Ø John 14, The Way and the Truth and the Life ‑ God's Pathway To Heaven

Sermon Background

Chapter 13

Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to leave them. He tells Simon Peter that he will deny Him. They are in shock

Death Always Shocks Us

Ø Words like...Coma; Heart failure; Terminal cancer

Ø Events like...Fatal accidents; SIDS

Ø No matter how we try – we, like the disciples are never really ready for the initial shock of death.

Ø Maybe it is because death seems so final; mysterious; unfair

Jesus in John 14 sought to comfort, and prepare His friends for His death.

We would do well to listen also!

1A. He tells of A Wonderful Place

1B. It is a peaceful place (14:1)

Jesus declares the presence of peace

“Let not your heart be troubled”

Jesus defines the place of peace

“Troubled, (tarasso),” to stir or agitate

Ø Peace means a place with...No doubts

1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Ø Peace means a place with...No grief

Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Ø Peace means a place with...No fear

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Ø Peace means a place with...No confusion

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Jesus details the way to peace

Trust in God; trust also in me.

“Trust, (pisteuo),” to have faith ; to entrust

2B. It is a prepared place (14:2)

It is a place that He has prepared for His children.

Ø The important thing is not where heaven is or what it looks like, but that Jesus has prepared it for us.

This verse teaches two important truths about heaven.

Ø Heaven is a real place.

Ø Heaven is our eternal home.

3B. It is a promised place (14:2b, 3)

There is the promise of His coming (14:3a).

Ø Notice our Lord will not send for us; He will come for us Himself.

Ø Also, notice that He will not take us; He will receive us because we belong to Him.

Ø Paul describes this wonderful day in his letter to the Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

There is the promise of His presence (14:3b).

We will be with Him and we will be reunited with our saved loved ones who have proceeded in death.

2A. He tells of a Worthy Path

1B. It is a singular path (14:4‑6a)

Only One Way

A pioneer missionary in Africa tells how he was taking the gospel to a new tribe, far to the north. With his bearers, he arrived at a village, a point beyond which his guides refused to go. The missionary appealed to the local chief. Was there someone in his village who could act as his guide to the distant northern tribe? The chief summoned a man, tall, battle scarred, carrying a large axe. A bargain was made and the next morning the missionary set off through the bush, following his new guide.

The way became increasingly rough and the path has all but disappeared. There was an occasional mark blazed on a tree, occasionally a narrow path. Finally the missionary called a halt. He asked the guide if he was sure he knew the way. The man pulled himself up to his full height. "White man," he said, "you see this axe in my hand? You see these scars on my body? With this axe I blazed the trail to the tribal village to which we go. I came from there. These scars I received when I made the way. You ask me if I know the way. Before I came, there was no way. I am the way."

The Lord Jesus came from glory. Now He was on His way back to glory, by way of the cross. Before he came, there was no way. The scars of Calvary on his body attest to the price he paid to blaze that trail for us back to God. He points to his scars and says, "I am the way."

Must admit you are lost before you can be found.

There is only one way to get to heaven: by Him!

The Lord Jesus does not simply tell or the way or show the way, He is the Way! As the way He brings reconciliation between lost, sinful man and holy, righteous God.

2B. It is a sure path (14:6b)

He is the ultimate truth

He is the absolute truth

He is the exclusive truth

2 x 2 = 4. This will always be true. Never will 2 x 2 = 3. No room for tolerance here. Since Jesus is the truth, He excludes all error, no matter how popular, widespread, ancient, or convincing it may be.

3B. It is a satisfying path (14:6c)

Life is what we seek

Ecclesiastes 3:11 …He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Life is what He brings

Ø Without Christ there is no life (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Ø Because Jesus alone is life He is the source of life. He told us, in…

John 10:10 …I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Application

He is the Way ‑ Without Him there is No Going

He is the Truth ‑ Without Him there is No Knowing

He is the Life ‑ Without Him there is No Living

End of the Journey

Light after darkness, gain after loss;
Strength after weakness, crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears;
Home after wandering, praise after tears;
Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain;
Sight after mystery, peace after pain;
Joy after sorrow, calm after blast;
Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last;
Near after distant, gleam after gloom;
Love after loneliness, life after tomb;
After long agony, rapture of bliss;
Right was the pathway, leading to this.

John 14:1-6

1A. He tells them of A ______________________ Place

1B. It is a ____________________________ place (14:1)

Jesus declares the ________________________ of peace

Jesus defines the place of peace

Ø Peace means a place with...No ________________ (1 John 5:13)

Ø Peace means a place with...No ________________

Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Ø Peace means a place with...No ________________

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Ø Peace means a place with...No confusion

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Jesus details the _________________________ to peace

"Trust in God ; trust also in me."

2B. It is a ____________________________ place (14:2)

3B. It is a _________________________ place (14:2b, 3)

There is the promise of His coming (14:3a; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)