"I Am" the Way, the Truth, and the Life - The Savior's Promise
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Introduction
Introduction
JOKE - I sneezed really hard today and although no bones were broken I did get some tissue damage!
JOKE - How many of you will join me a two-day challenge? Here is the challenge. Drink no coffee on February 30 and 31. Can you do it?
Well, it is my turn to bring this month’s study on Wednesday evenings. We are right back to the “I AM” sayings of Christ. So far, we have studied these sayings:
“I AM” the Messiah - John 4:26
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
“I AM” the Bread of Life - John 6:35
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
“I AM” from the Light of the World - John 9:5
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
“I AM” the Door - John 10:7
7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
“I AM” the Good Shepherd - John 10:11, 14
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
“I AM” the Son of God - John 10:36
36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
“I AM” the Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
“I AM” Lord and Master - John 13:13
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
Now, we come to the next one found in John 14. Take your Bibles and turn to John 14. We will be reading the first six verses.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
This chapter, John 14, is the beginning of the Paschal Discourse. Or, as we might also say, it was Christ’s farewell speech to His disciples. A speech that spans three chapters, chapters 14-16, and is followed by Christ’s prayer for His disciples in chapter 17. Much of what is recorded in these chapters shows the tenderness of Christ for His own. The depth and comprehension of all that He says is unsurpassed in all the Scriptures. He gave this address to the eleven disciples. Judas Iscariot left before the address. Note what is recorded in John 13.
25 He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Now that Judas was no longer among them, the Lord Jesus Christ shared with his remaining disciples all that was about to take place. As you read these chapters, it is interesting that even though Christ spoke of Himself He did so that He might comfort His disciples. Even to the bitter end, Christ was always thinking of others and not Himself.
Christ begins this discourse by saying to them in chapter 13 the following:
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
It is in this moment, they being to understand that He would be leaving them. It is clear that they were troubled by all that He just said and done. Thus, He says to them:
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Christ knew they were troubled. They were troubled from hearing that someone in their close group would betray Him.
21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
They were troubled by the very fact that He, the Lord Jesus, was “troubled in spirit.”
They were troubled at the fact He said to them:
33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
Now, He seeks to comfort them. Even today He still seeks to comfort His own. Scripture is full of His promises to us about the future showing both the bad that is come as well as the good. It is our hope. And, there is no greater comfort than the comfort that comes from the God of all comfort.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Thus, He softly says to them:
John 14:1 (KJV 1900)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
“BE NOT TROUBLED”
“BE NOT TROUBLED”
The heart represents the seat of our emotions. It is from the heart, that we speak and react. The word “troubled” means to be agitated or trouble by all the moving parts. They were troubled by all I just mentioned. Hearing and seeing all that transpired agitated them greatly. They were trouble right down to their inner core.
How many of you have experiences such trouble in your hearts? I imagine we all have. In fact, it is something we experience quite often. Their is plenty in our world today that troubles us. It agitates us. However, we must remember these same words Christ gave to His disciples are words that apply to us even today. We, as believers, must not let the things of this world (all its moving pieces) to trouble us or agitate us. Instead, we must do what Christ told them to do. Look again at verse 1.
“BELIEVE IN ME”
“BELIEVE IN ME”
John 14:1 (KJV 1900)
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Here we find a double exhortation. Remember that these were men of Jewish birth. They were Israelites. They knew the Old Testament prophecies. Prophecies such as Isaiah 53 where it is recorded:
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.
And, it is very likely that His disciples had without any hesitation accepted all that God has said about the Messiah. They believed God. Now, they needed to believe the Lord Jesus Christ just as they believed God. He too was warning them what to expect. He was to suffer many things at the hands of the chief priests and scribes. He was to be put to death. All of this was necessary and would happen. Thus, they needed to believe Him and trust Him. They needed to hold fast to their confidence in Him unto the end. As they did, they were not to be “offended” by Him even though He would suffer a criminal’s death.
That same exhortation rings true of us today. We must remember that He is God. He is God who possesses infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. He knows all that is best for us. In fact, it is He who makes all things work together for our good. He reigns on high and there not a single person who can stay His hand.
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Our duty is to believe. Believe in Him. Believe in His sovereignty. Believe in His wisdom. Believe in His unchanging faithfulness. Believe in His wondrous love. We are to believe not just in God, but in the Lord Jesus Christ. For it is He who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. It is He who lives to make intercession for us. It is He who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Note the world “also.” Believe in God, believe ALSO in me. What did Christ mean when using that word? Christ want challenging their faith in Him as the Messiah, the Son of the living God. That was not the issue. The issue was this. For the past three years, He, the Lord Jesus Christ, walked with them, talked with them, and even ate with them. Now, He was leaving. All this time, they experienced what John later wrote in 1 John.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
All this time, He was visible to them. After this, He would be gone from their sight. Now His admonition to them was this. Just as you believed in the God, the invisible God, believe also in me. At that moment, Christ stood before them visibly and physically. However, there was a day coming when they would have to believe in Him just as they believed in God. It would take faith.
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
The word “also” brings out the fact of Christ’s deity. Christ testifies through this statement that He is equal with God Almighty. We are to believe in Him even as we believe in God.
Christ continues to give them and us encouragement.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
“BE AWARE OF FUTURE BLESSINGS”
“BE AWARE OF FUTURE BLESSINGS”
The Father’s house is where He dwells. The only person who ever uses the words “Father’s house” is the Lord Jesus Christ. He did so on two occasions.
He called the temple in Jerusalem His “Father’s house.” John 2:16 “16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”
And then our text where Christ mentions His “Father’s house” as our final abode as saints.
Heaven is represented in many different ways throughout the New Testament.
It is called a “country.” Luke 19:12 “12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.” Hebrews 11:16 “16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Using the word “country” speaks to the vastness of heaven.
It is called a “city.” Hebrews 11:10 “10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” See also Revelation 21. Using the word “city” speaks the large number of people who will be there.
It is called a “kingdom.” 2 Peter 1:11 “11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Using the word “kingdom” speaks of order and authority.
It is called a “paradise.” Luke 23:43 “43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Revelation 2:7 “7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Using the word “paradise” speaks of its many delights.
However, here Christ uses the word “house” which speaks of it as a permanent dwelling place.
Now, remember, He uses the words “Father’s house” on just two occasions. The first was in reference to the Jerusalem Temple. The temple which first began as a tabernacle has always stood as a symbol of God’s presence. It was the Temple where people came to worship and commune with God. However, before Christ ended His public ministry, He disowned the temple.
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Now, as He speaks only to His disciples, He transfers this term from the an earthly dwelling place to a Heavenly dwelling place. In doing so, Christ points to the future where His redeemed receive a more glorious revelation of Himself. A future dwelling place where we will worship Him in all the beauty of His holiness.
The words “Father’s house” is a favorite among believers. It speaks of Home! It is the home of God as well as the home of His people. Home has always represented the place where we are loved, welcomed, and can retire to enjoy rest and peace. That is Heaven. That is our “Father’s house.” It is not some strange country in a far away place. No, right now, we are living the strange country which is the enemy’s domain. Heaven is home. Heaven is where we will enjoy the love, rest, and peace.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Refrain:
O Lord, You know I have no friend like You,
If heaven’s not my home, then, Lord, what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Next week, we will consider the many mansions and the 3 promises Christ gives in our text as we lead up to:
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.