THE WAY, TRUTH & LIFE
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
How many of you are good at directions? Let’s imagine for a second that I am driving to your house, I have your address plugged into my navigation system on my phone but then all of a sudden I loose my GPS signal. I no longer have a voice in my ear telling me how to get to your house. But thankfully, I still have a cell phone signal, so I am able to call you for directions.
For some of our audience this morning the idea of giving verbal directions is a foreign concept because they have always had the luxury of google maps, right.
If I found myself parked at lets say Walmart without a GPS signal how would you get me from Walmart to your house? for some of you you would be able to tell me step by step how to get there. For others you might just want to meet me at Walmart and let me follow you home.
This morning in John 14 we are going to see that Jesus gives his Apostles directions to the place he is going and where he is today.
Background Information:
But before we learn about these directions let’s back up and remember what is taking place while Jesus gives these directions.
In John 13-17 Jesus and the Apostles are partaking of the last Supper. For the past 3 years the apostles had been following Jesus just waiting for the time when Jesus was going to establish his kingdom. They had placed their hopes in Him as the promised deliver. Yet they still didn’t understand how He was going to accomplish this deliverance.
I can only imagine how excited the Apostles must have been at the beginning of the Last Supper. I imagine they were wondering if this night was the night. The night when Jesus established his kingdom.
But unfortunately the excitement that they must have been feeling quickly left them when Jesus began washing the their feet and then proceeded to tell them that he was about to leave them (13:33). But, unfortunately the bad news for the Apostles didn’t stop there. He then tells them that were he is going that they cannot go with him.
I can just hear the Apostles saying, now Jesus you mean that we have been following you for three years and now you’re going to leave us?
Thankfully for the Apostles, Jesus, sensing their fear of him leaving comforts them with the words that Kerry read for us a few moments ago. Let not your heart be troubled.
Jesus says don’t let your heart be troubled because the reason why I am leaving you is so that I can go and prepare a place for you so that you can come and be with me and my Father.
Trying to take in all the information that Jesus is providing, Thomas, says to Jesus what I imagine all the other men were thinking. Verse 5 he says… John 14:5
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t stop by simply giving the Apostles the good news that He is going to prepare a place for them but he tells them how to get to this place.
In verses 6 and following Jesus gives the Apostles the directions to the place he is going. Not only does he give them directions but he helps them understand more about who he is when he says I Am the Way, the truth and the Life… John 14:6.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.