I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life (John 14:1-14)

Announcements

Seeking a new treasurer starting immediately. Must be a member in good standing with the ability to utilize a computer and must be willing to work on behalf of the church with the bank. Contact Pastor Daniel for more information.

Please be aware of the following dates:

No Wednesday evening Bible Study & Prayer on December 29th

· New Year’s Eve Celebration from 7pm-12am.

Quarterly Business Meeting on January 2nd after Sunday AM Worship.

Let me remind you to continue worshiping the LORD through your giving. To help you give, we have three ways for you to do so: (1) in-person giving can be done through the offering box at the entrance of the building. Checks should be written to Grace & Peace; and if you’d like a receipt for your cash gifts, please place it in an envelope with your name on it. If you’d prefer to give via debit, credit, or ACH transfers, you can do that either by (2) texting 84321 with your $[amount] and following the text prompts or by (3) visiting us online at gapb.church and selecting giving in the menu bar. Everything you give goes to the building up of our local church and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer of Repentance and Adoration

Call to Worship (Psalm 38:1-12)

Our call to worship this morning is Psalm 38:1-12. Psalm 38 is a Davidic psalm and because of its length, we’re dividing it between this week and next week. We all know that when we live in sin, God sometimes punishes his people in order to drive them to repentance; in psalm 38, David is reflecting one the chastening of the LORD when he committed sin. The first 12 verses reflect on that discipline with David crying out to the LORD in great sorrow. Please note, that this first section of the passage seems hopeless because it isn’t until the latter half of the passage that David reflects on his hope in the LORD, but even in the midst of expressly hopelessness, you’ll see bits and pieces of hope and trust in the LORD sort of sneaking through his words. Please stand and responsively read Psalm 38:1-12 with me; I’ll read the odd-numbered verses, please join me in reading the even-numbered verses.

Psalm 38:1–12 ESV

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! 2 For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. 4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, 6 I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. 7 For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. 9 O Lord, all my longing is before you; my sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart throbs; my strength fails me, and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me. 11 My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague, and my nearest kin stand far off. 12 Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long.

Congregational Singing

Come Praise and Glorify

O Great God

All I have is Christ

Scripture Reading (Hebrews 10:19-31)

I’ve asked Natalie to read our Scripture Reading this morning, which is from Hebrews 10:19-31. The book of Hebrews was written by an anonymous author, though some (like myself) believe that Apollos wrote it. It was written primarily to Jewish readers, thus its name, with the purpose of encouraging Christians in times of trials and tribulations. Our passage for this morning seeks to express confidence in God by reminding us of the ability that we have to enter into the presence of God as a result of our belief in Jesus Christ. Natalie please read Hebrews 10:19-31 for us:

Hebrews 10:19–31 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Sermon

Introduction

With Christmas behind us, we’re back to our regular Sunday morning series in the Gospel According to John. Because it’s been about a month since our last message in John, let me just refresh your mind and get you caught up to where we are in the text. We’re currently in John 14, which comes shortly after Jesus washes the disciples’ feet, and we’re to the point in Jesus’ life now where we’re really focusing on the last week of his earthly life. Now often, when churches look at the last week of Jesus’ life, they do it the week prior to Resurrection Sunday, which its sometimes referred to as Holy Week. We did something similar to this last year, but the issue with waiting until the last week before Resurrection Sunday is that you tend to rush through everything and you don’t actually get to learn all that God’s Word teaches leading up to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus—there’s really a lot to learn and grow from. And the benefit of working our way verse-by-verse, expositionally through entire books at one time, is that we get to spend more time working through the text and thus, we can learn from the whole counsel of God.

We’re in a unique position as we jump back into our series on the Gospel According to John, in that everything lines up in such a way that when we do get to Resurrection Sunday in 2022, we won’t have to pause our series this year to focus on the Resurrection and then go back to it the following week. In fact, everything is lined up in such a way that unless something unusual happens, over the next few months our series will lead us to celebrating the resurrection on Resurrection Sunday and then finishing up the whole book by summer; which I think is rather exciting.

Now, I’ve mentioned multiple times that knowing that this is Jesus’ last week of life elevates or emphasizes everything that he does—it’s almost like a “last words being meaningful words” type of ordeal. And with that in mind, we’ve already looked at a statement that Jesus has made in which he commands that they “love one another.” We spoke at length about how Jesus calls that a new command, but it isn’t the concept of loving one another that is new, it’s the concept of loving one another just like he loves them—he’s elevated the command from simply loving each other to loving each other like Jesus loves them. Chapter 13 ends with Simon Peter asking Jesus where he’s going, and Jesus making the statement that Peter can’t come with him, which causes Peter to make the statement that he would lay down his life for Jesus, but then Jesus prophesies something that Peter doesn’t see coming—Jesus makes it clear that before the rooster crows, Peter will have already denied him three times. That is the statement at hand when Jesus seems to entirely change gears in our text for this morning. Let’s read John 14 together.

John 14:1–14 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 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’? 10 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. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “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. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

As we study this passage together, we’re going to break it into two parts: (1) Vs. 1-7, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—this section starts with Jesus giving them comfort, that he’s leaving them, but they can still have hope because he’s going to prepare a place for them. In addition, we’ll take time to look at that phrase, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life” to determine what exactly that means and how it contrasts from our modern-day culture. (2) Vs. 8-14, Because Jesus is the Only Way, Believe in Him—the repercussion of vs. 1-7, is that we’re all called to believe in Jesus as the Christ; as the Messiah. The only way to see God is to believe in Jesus; and those that truly believe in Jesus, will do what Jesus commands him to do. This morning’s sermon will show us yet again, that Jesus is the only way for salvation, and thus, we ought to believe in him and put our whole faith and hope in him.

Prayer for Illumination

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (1-7)

John 14 starts with Jesus comforting his disciples. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

Of course, when you read, “Let not your hearts be troubled” you have to remind yourself of why Jesus would even make this statement. So, remember the context, Jesus had just told his disciples that he is about to leave them and where he goes, they cannot go.

And you have to remember just how big of a deal Jesus’ statement is for these people—the people that are around Jesus at this point in time, are people who very much gave all that they had to follow him. They gave up jobs, they left their families, and they followed Jesus.

The statement from Jesus, that he was about to leave them after they had already given up everything to follow him, would cause great distress and discomfort—I’d imagine it would be similar to the feeling that people have when they find out that they’ve lost their long-term job, or a family member says that they’re going to move great distances, or really anytime something drastic and disconcerting would occur.

Jesus tells his disciples, who left everything to follow him, that he’s about to leave them, but they don’t need to be worried; they don’t need to be troubled.

Instead, just like they believe in God, they also should believe in him.

Or put another way, their faith in God and their faith in Jesus should be enough to provide them comfort; and though this moment might seem distressing to them, the truth is that Jesus is worth having faith in.

It’s of note, that by telling them to believe in him just like they believe in God, he subtly reminds them of his divinity. No man in his right mind would ever tell someone to believe in him just like they believe in God, but Jesus isn’t just man, he’s also God, so thus, he can rightly tell his disciples to believe in him just like they believe in God.

Jesus substantiates this truth in vss. 2-3, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I got 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.”

I’ve often heard people read vs. 2 and get caught up on the idea of God’s house having many rooms or mansions as the KJV says. And I’ve actually heard many sermons that get caught up in this whole idea of God having a house with many rooms, but let me suggest that the point isn’t that believing in God and believing in Jesus provides you a place to go, it’s the fact that the place is with God and with Jesus that is the point of the passage.

Jesus is leaving the disciples on earth to go and prepare a place for his disciples with his Father—the point again, not that they have a new place to go, but that they have a place to dwell with Jesus and his Father.

And because Jesus is going to prepare a place for his people, they can have faith in him and believe in him; they can have hope in what is to come despite what they consider a great loss as Jesus tells them that he’s about to leave.

Jesus is going to prepare a place for them and “[he] will come again and will take [them] to [himself], that where [he is they] may be also.”

Believe in Jesus and believe in God; have faith in him not just because Jesus himself is truly God, but because Jesus is preparing a dwelling place or a home for God’s people.

And the fact that Jesus is preparing a home for God’s people ought to cause God’s people to have further hope and faith in him.

Now these statements by Jesus should cause the disciples to well up in praise and worship of God and Jesus. Knowing that Jesus is worth having faith in because he himself is God and that Jesus is preparing a home for them; but just like every other time that Jesus has made a statement concerning spiritual things, his disciples don’t quite understand it. Vss. 5-7, “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.”

Vs. 5, which is Thomas’ question concerning where Jesus is going, clues us into the fact that Thomas is thinking primarily in an earthly way.

Jesus is yet again, speaking of a spiritual place, but Thomas is thinking in terms of earthly places; and Thomas is thinking just like Peter was thinking in John 13, that if Jesus just told them where he’s going, they could go with him.

But Jesus has told them where he’s going and it isn’t an earthly place, it’s a spiritual place; and because its a spiritual place, they’re yet again, missing the point.

This is a common theme throughout John’s Gospel account—Jesus continues pointing them towards spiritual things, but his disciples simply aren’t ready to hear him.

Despite their clear misunderstanding, Jesus continues with the point that he’s driving at in vss. 6-7, “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.”

You’ve heard me mention numerous times that we currently live in a post-modern, religiously pluralistic society, which simply means that we live in a world in which people make the assertion that all truth is relative—believe whatever you want because whatever you think is true is truth for you.

You’ve heard me explain that logically, that mindset doesn’t make sense because certain belief systems are exclusive in their teachings; and if you make the argument that whatever you think is true is truth for you contradicts any teaching that says their way is the only way.

Unfortunately, that post-modern mindset as crept into the church, with churches becoming more and more ecumenical and even universalist in their beliefs.

But the truth is, that the mindset that whatever you believe to be true is truth to you, completely flies in the face of what Jesus says in vss. 6-7. Jesus is exclusivist in his statement here, he doesn’t say that he is a way and he is a truth and he is a life; he says that he is the way and the truth and the life.

The post-modern mindset logically contradicts what Jesus is saying in John 14:6-7 because Jesus himself makes the argument that the only way, the only truth, and the only life is found in him alone.

He’s so exclusive in this statement that he continues with “no one comes to the Father except through [him].”

Jesus is not “a way to salvation,” he isn’t just one path of many, he is the only way for salvation, he is the only way of truth, he is the only path to life.

Regardless of what our society teaches, regardless of what culture thinks, regardless of what your friends or family believe; according to Scripture, according to Jesus, he is the only way; which leads us to the remaining verses: vss 8-14, let’s re-read them together.

Because Jesus is the Only Way, Believe in Him wholly (8-14)

John 14:8–14 ESV

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 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’? 10 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. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12 “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. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Philip’s response to Jesus shows us that the disciples still aren’t quite understanding what Jesus is saying or what is about to happen.

Philip tells Jesus, “Show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Or put another way, if Jesus would just show them God, they would believe in Jesus because they already believe in God.

Which again, shows us the level of misunderstanding of the disciples—that they could live with him every day for three years and still not quite understand who they’re following is indicative of their lack of understanding.

And Jesus responds by not necessarily rebuking Philip and his question, but by expressing a certain amount of disappointment. Vs. 9, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father? How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’”

Jesus’ response to Philip is one of disappointment. Despite the fact that Jesus had lived amongst them for at least three years, they still don’t seem to know or understand who he is.

So, he explains even further, “anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” This is again, a statement of Jesus’ divinity; and its a statement that not only shows us that Jesus is divine, but rather that he himself is God. Jesus’ teaching that he himself is God, prompts Jesus to then say, “How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’”

Or in other words, if they truly understood who Jesus was, they would’ve realized that Jesus himself is God, thus, their request to see the Father himself isn’t just pointless, its foolish.

Jesus continues in Vs. 10, “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.”

Even though the disciples had come to acknowledge Jesus as the “holy One of God who had the words of eternal life” in John 6 and as their teacher and Lord in John 13, they still didn’t understand the unique union that Jesus had with the Father.

Again, they aren’t quite comprehending who Jesus is—they understand him to be the Messiah and they understand that he is their teacher and their Lord, but they don’t understand that Jesus and the Father are one.

They don’t comprehend that the Messiah, which was promised in the Old Testament was more than just a random person who just happened to fulfill these different prophecies, he’s God himself.

So, Jesus clarifies his relationship with the Father to them:

Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus.

Jesus’ authority is authority from the Father himself.

The works that Jesus performed are works done by the Father who dwells in him.

He again, repeats that he is in the Father and the Father is in him.

And he implores them again, to believe in him because he is one with the Father.

Colin Kruse, “[Jesus] wanted them to understand he was not just a prophet, not just a teacher, not just their [master], not only the Messiah; [but] he was the Word made flesh, God incarnate. To be in his presence was to be in the presence of the Father.”

The idea of believing in Jesus doesn’t just mean for them to simply trust him, but to believe all that what he just said as truth—Jesus is imploring them to have faith in him—that he and the Father are one, that he acts in the same authority that the Father has, that all that Jesus has done are works done by the Father who dwells within him.

It’s more than just claiming to trust Jesus or stating that they have faith—its the idea of putting all your eggs in one basket; and that basket is Jesus himself. There is no back up plan, there is no plan B; it’s Jesus, all or nothing. And that’s what Jesus is trying to get the disciples to do, to put all their trust, all their hope, and all their faith in him alone.

He tells them that if they don’t believe him based off his claim to divinity and oneness with God, then for the sake of the works that he’s done, they should believe in him. The works in question include the miraculous events that he’s performed, but it also includes the teachings, the proclamation of truth, and the love that he expresses to all people.

The passage then concludes with a statement that relies on their belief in Jesus. Vss. 12-14, “‘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.’”

This statement, in the face of Jesus’ departure, employs John’s use of the double “truly” statements. And like previous times, when we’ve seen this “truly, truly” phrase utilized, it clues us into something important—that what Jesus is about to say, is of utmost importance.

In this instance, its that “whoever believes in [him] will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

And we really have to stop here, because this passage is utilized by both prosperity preachers and those that teach that we can still perform miracles today as proof for their position—that Jesus here says that we will also do miracles, just like he did.

But let me remind you that when Jesus speaks of works here, he isn’t just talking about the miraculous events that he performed, he’s also talking about his teachings, his proclamation of truth, and his love for all people.

With that in mind, we have to do some digging into what exactly Jesus means when he says that “whoever believes in [him] will do greater works than these.”

I don’t think that it’s proper to assume that Jesus means greater works as quantitative or qualitative. He isn’t making the statement that they’re going to do better or more works than Jesus. Colin Kruse, “If the works of Jesus are his miracles, his teaching, his entire ministry, how can it be said that the works of his disciples will be greater than his?”

Since the life of Jesus, we know that no apostle, no true disciple, and no one who claimed to follow Jesus ever did more miraculous works than Jesus or higher qualitative works than Jesus.

So, what exactly does Jesus mean when he says that they will do “greater works than these?”

Let me suggest, that the answer is found in what qualifies the statement. It isn’t just that they will do greater works, it’s that they will do greater works than what Jesus has done, “because [he is] going to the Father.”

What qualifies this statement is that Jesus is going to the Father.

With this in mind, what this then shows us is that Jesus’ going to the Father is what makes their works greater than his.

Or in other words, they aren’t necessarily going to do more works or higher quality works—it isn’t quantitative and it isn’t qualitative in and of themselves.

Their works—their teaching, their proclamation of truth, their love for people is going to be better, not because of the amount or the quality, but rather because Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection makes their works greater.

Jesus’ teaching and his proclamation was only part of the message; what makes the disciples’ work greater is that when Jesus leaves, they can proclaim and teach the full message of the Gospel.

What makes the works that those that believe in Jesus greater than Jesus’ own works?

It’s the fact that those who have come after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection can now proclaim and teach the full Gospel.

The fact that believers can now proclaim the full counsel of God, that makes believers’ works greater than Jesus’ own works.

Now before we jump into application, there’s one other statement that Jesus says that we need to discuss: Vss. 13-14, “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.’”

Again, this is a statement that’s utilized by prosperity preachers and those that preach and teach that we can still perform miracles to prove their position, when that’s not actually the intent of what Jesus is saying.

Prosperity preachers and those that teach the performance of miracles utilize this statement to prove that God wants to give you your own heart’s desire.

That’s a very shallow and incorrect way to understand Jesus’ statement that “whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

In fact, to read these last two verses like that is to twist what Jesus actually said.

Take a closer look at the verses. “Whatever you ask in my name.”

What does it mean to ask for something in Jesus’ name? It’s answered in the context, “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

What Jesus is saying here in vss. 13-14, is that whatever you ask that is according to God’s will for the purpose of the glorification of the Father, will be accomplished.

Or in other words, Jesus isn’t promising to fulfill every wish or whim of prayer that you might have—he’s not promising to give you a brand new car or a new house or whatever you might want—he’s promising that whatever you pray in accordance to God’s will for the glorification of the Father, Jesus will do.

Another example of this is the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done.”

DA Carson, “Prayer in [Jesus’] name are prayers that are offered in thorough accord with all that his name stands for (i.e. his name is not used as a magical incantation), and in recognition that the only approach to God those who pray enjoy . . . is Jesus himself. . . [Jesus] enables his [people] to do ‘greater things’ in order that he may bring glory to the Father.”

So, in John 14:1-14, we see Jesus making a profound statement concerning him leaving earth; and he tells his disciples not to be troubled, because he is going to prepare a place for them where he is going. Thomas asks the question “how can we know the way?” Which prompts Jesus to tell them that he is the way, the truth, and the life. That no one comes to God except through him. Philip continues the conversation by asking Jesus to show them the Father so that they can believe, but Jesus disappointedly asks them “how can you say, ‘show us the Father?’ do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?” Jesus expresses disappointment in their lack of belief in him as God; and he exhorts them to believe, if not because of what he said, but on account of the works that he performed. He ends this section by telling them that those who truly believe will do greater works than him for the purpose of glorifying the Father through the Son. Now the question is, “how do we apply this passage to our lives today?”

Application

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (1-7)—In the first seven verses Jesus makes two statements that are profound and vitally important for all people. He tells believers not to be troubled because he’s going to prepare a place for them; and he tells all people that he is the only way, the only truth, and the only life—that no one comes to the Father except through him. There’s two application points that I want to show you from this section:

First, Jesus insists that there is only one way to the Father.

Again, we live in a pluralistic and post-modern society, which simply means that the current cultural climate is that all and every belief system is perfectly acceptable. What you believe to be true is truth for you—I pointed out a logical inconsistency with this earlier and that inconsistency is simple, many belief systems claim to be the only way—thus, if all belief systems are truth then none of the ones that claim to be exclusive can be true. The whole worldview of pluralism and post-modernism eventually collapses.

Those who claim to believe the Bible as God’s Word really can’t take this mindset or worldview anyways because the Christian worldview, which is predicated on God’s Word, is clear that there aren’t multiple ways to heaven, there aren’t multiple ways to be saved—there’s one way and his name is Jesus.

To reject this truth, isn’t to reject what I think or my opinion on the topic, it’s to reject Jesus’ very own words concerning this truth.

What Jesus says counters what our society teaches and goes against what most people today claim as truth, but the reality is that our society is perpetuating a lie and what Jesus says is truth.

Thus the first application for this passage is to believe in Jesus as the only way and to proclaim Jesus as the only way.

This means that you first need to check your own heart to determine whether you believe in Jesus as the only way for salvation or not.

Because true salvation comes through Jesus alone, you must believe in him for salvation—and this belief includes the necessity of repenting from sins, calling on him, and believing in your heart as according to Romans 10.

And let me clarify one issue, that belief in Jesus needs to be wholehearted—to claim to believe in Jesus, but to tell someone else that they don’t necessarily need to believe Jesus, they can believe whatever they want, isn’t wholehearted belief.

So, the first application for John 14:1-14 is to believe in Jesus as the only way and proclaim Jesus as the only way.

Second, Jesus encourages them to not be troubled because he is preparing a place for them.

Our world is a world filled with great trial and tribulation particularly for those that do truly believe in Jesus Christ—the disciples were genuinely concerned that Jesus’ statements about him leaving them meant that they would be completely alone.

And remember, these disciples knew what it meant to give up their friends, family, and even their jobs to follow Jesus. They had given their all to him and now he’s about to leave them.

You can understand why their hearts would be troubled at the idea of Jesus leaving them, but Jesus tells them not to be, instead he tells them to believe in him—trust that he is preparing a place for them and trust that they can rely on him.

Next week’s message builds on this as Jesus promises them the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell each and every one of them permanently.

As modern-day believers, we still have the benefit of receiving the Holy Spirit to guide us, to comfort us, and to seal us for the day of redemption; and we still live in a period of time in which we know that Jesus has prepared a place that’s better for us than the one we reside in now.

We live in a world that’s filled with great trial and tribulation, but Jesus says to not let our hearts be troubled, but to trust him.

So, our second application for this passage is, when life is difficult, believe in Jesus, rely on him, and trust him.

Because Jesus is the Only Way, Believe in Him wholly (8-14)—Tied in with Jesus’ statement that he is the only way is the idea of believing in him, but unlike our first application point in which I explained the necessity of believing in him from an initial standpoint, that idea of believing in Jesus is taken even further in vss. 8-14. There’s one application that I want to draw out of these verses, which will give us our third application point for this passage:

Third, Jesus insists on belief in him only with true belief resulting in the glorification of the Father through Jesus.

True belief in Jesus always results in the believer living in such a way that glorifies God through Jesus. If as a self-proclaimed believer, you’ve never glorified God in what you say and what you do, then let me be blunt with you, you aren’t actually a Christian.

In Americanized Christianity, the tendency is to think that God is all about us, that Christianity is all about us, and that the Bible is all about us, but the reality is that none of those things are about us—they’re all about God and what he chooses to do with his people.

In general, even unbelievers think this way, the common misunderstanding is that everyone thinks of themselves as the protagonist or the main character, but the truth is, if you’re looking for literary examples, God is the protagonist; we’re just supporting characters that are utilized in God’s historical account to bring about his plan and his will.

And until we understand our role as supporting characters in life, we will never live life in such a way that brings glory to the Father through Jesus because we’ll always be more concerned about what we want and what we desire, rather than what God wants and what he desires.

Our final application is built on this premise: you are not the main character, you’re a supporting character; Jesus is the main character, so do all you can to glorify Jesus and do all you can to bring glory to God.

You will not find any sort of lasting fulfillment in life until your purpose is to do God’s will and glorify him in all that you say, think, and do.

Bring glory to God by worshiping Him, honoring Him, and obeying Him with your life.

Put Simply: John 14:1-14, (1) affirms the truth that Jesus is the only way for salvation, (2) it exhorts all to believe in him and glorify God through him, and (3) it provides assurance to those that truly believe, because Jesus is preparing a place for his people.

Said another way, Jesus is the only way, he is the only truth, and he is the only life, so believe in him wholly and glorify God through him.

Pastoral Prayer

Congregational Singing

The Solid Rock