I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life...

Introduction

Let’s draw a picture of the scene of what leads up to John 14. It’s the time of the Passover, this is the time the Jews remembered how God had delivered them out of slavery.

By now we are well into what we call Passion Week. Jesus had washed His disciples feet and had broken bread and served the wine. He drops a bombshell to two of them: One of you are going to betray Me into the hands of sinners, and then He proceeds to tell one of His closest friends that he, Peter, would deny that he even knew Him.

Then chapter 14 begins.

John 14:1–14 (ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

And you know the way to where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Troubled Hearts

John 14:1 (ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Up until this point, even though Jesus had told them on several occasions that He was going to die, it really didn’t sink in, but once Jesus started to talk about some particulars about Judas and his betrayal, and Peter’s denial, the realization that Jesus wasn’t going to be with them for long, started to set in, so Jesus starts with a comparison of a troubled heart. The Greek word is tarasso.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (5015. ταράσσω)

ταράσσω tarassō, tar-as´-so; of uncert. affin.; to stir or agitate (roil water):—trouble.

Jesus wanted them to know that it was going to be ok. This isn’t it. Don’t let your heart become cloudy with grief. Don’t let it become all stirred up with the troubles of this life.

Believe in Me

Believe, have faith, continue to trust in God, believe also in Me. When we are in the middle of a struggle, when we are in the middle of weakness, when everything seems to be caving in around us, we can trust in God because this is not all there is.

Paul said in Romans 8:18

Romans 8:18 (NIV)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Jesus said in John 16:33

John 16:33 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Trouble and tribulation, if we allow it to take hold of us can cause much stress and in turn sickness. Jesus said, “Take Heart. I have overcome the world.” He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled, You believe in God, believe also in Me.” Because Jesus has overcome, we can overcome.

1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

My Father’s House