"I AM" the Way, the Truth, and the Life - The Savior's Promise
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
JOKE: As you get older you've got to stay positive.
For example, the other day I fell down the stairs.
Instead of getting upset, I just thought, " wow that's the fastest I've moved in years!"...
JOKE: What’s the best way to carve wood?
Whittle by whittle.
JOKE: So a policeman stops a chicken driving a car,
The chicken says: "What's the problem officer, was I speeding, was I driving dangerously?"
The officer said: "I've stopped you because I have never seen a chicken drive a car before, BUT I have to admit your driving was.......
"Impeckable"
We continue our study of Christ’s “I AM” saying found in John 14.
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
As move closer to this statement, we are looking at the full context in which it is found. Last week, we looked at verses 1 and 2.
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.
Christ encouraged His disciples, including us, to do these three things.
Be Not Discouraged - John 14:1 “1 Let not your heart be troubled...”
Believe in Him - John 14:1 “...ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
Be Aware of Future Blessings - John 14:2 “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.”
The last one is where we left off. We will pick it up there in just a few minutes.
However, before we do so, I want us to remember the events that led to this discourse by Christ.
Remember that He has just finished His last meal with them. He washed their feet demonstrating His love for them setting an example of how they are to love each other. Chapter 13 ends with Christ saying this.
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.
Christ revealed that He would soon be leaving them so that He might return to His Father. Something they did not fully comprehend. However, what they did understand was He would be leaving them.
As we know, Peter responded with this.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36 Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
Now, as you can imagine, their hearts were filled with concern, anxiety, and puzzlement. For this reason, Christ begins to explain many things to them seeking to ease their hearts and minds. Over the next 3 chapters, Christ teaches them about their new position before God the Father as well as their new place in this wicked world. Thus, chapter 14 begins with Christ comforting His disciples.
Part of that comforting process included His proposition or invitation to set worry aside and simply believe in Him. It is also included a promise of both future and current blessings. Let’s go back to verse 2 for a moment.
The Promise of a Heavenly Home
The Promise of a Heavenly Home
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.
We left off last week with the promise of “In my Father’s house are many mansions.”
The word “mansions” signifies “abiding-places.” However, I agree with Dr. Wirth that the word “mansions” is the right word in the English language. This world signifies a transition from the “tents” of our present journey to the permanent future homes of Heaven.
Note also the word “many” That is an important word. It states the fact that there is more than ample room for all the redeemed - past, present, and future as well as the all of God’s heavenly messengers known as angels.
Christ goes to say, “if it were not so, I would have told you.” The truth of the matter is this. There are many mansions and there is room for all who will believe in Him. There was no deception from Him for He is truth itself.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Christ spoke truth with is become our hope. Full provision (a home in Heaven) has been made for our future and eternal happiness. For that reason, we have every thing to look forward to in Heaven. Close intimacy with Christ is encouraged and such intimacy is ours forever.
Christ then adds, “I go to prepare a place for you.”
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Christ made all the necessary preparations for all who desire to enter Heaven. He made peace. How? He did so by shedding His own blood upon the cross. In doing so, He reconciled “all things unto himself.” His death procured every believer’s right to enter Heaven. He “prepared” a place for us. He entered Heaven as our Representative and took possession of it on our behalf. He marched into Heaven leading “captivity captive” and firmly planted His banner in glory. He “prepared” us a place by entering the “holy of holies” as our High Priest. He did all that was necessary to secure for us a welcoming and permanent place in Heaven. There is no doubt that Heaven is a place the far surpasses anything we have known or experienced down here.
Here is another interesting thought about Christ statement, “I go to prepare a place for you.”
A quick look at history confirms that God has always prepared places for His people. Never once do we God taking His people to place un-prepared by Him. For example, God prepared the earth, and, particularly, the garden of Eden before placing Adam in it. God had already prepared the land of Canaan for Israel long before they conquered the land. In fact, listen to God’s instruction to them before entering the promise land.
10 And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,
11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;
God so prepared the promise land that all the children of Israel needed was to simply move in and take over. All of which speaks to God’s wonderful grace. He does it all for us. We simply sit back and enjoy what He is done. None of us are deserving. However, God loves His own so much that He has prepared a place for us.
Look at verse 3.
John 14:3 (KJV 1900)
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.
Note the:
The Promise of a Heavenly Return
The Promise of a Heavenly Return
Christ says, “And if I go and prepare a place for YOU.” I emphasize the word “you” here. Christ is preparing a special place for His special people. What is interesting is that we are earthly people. God prepared the earth as our abode. Christ now speaks of something completely new.
Malachi Taylor, a Baptist pastor in the mid to late 1800s, stated, “Man was not made for Heaven, but for the earth, and so placed here to till the earth and live upon it. By sinning he lost the earth and the earth shared his ruin. But by sinning he brought down the Son of God from heaven, who by His descent opened Heaven as the normal place for those believing in Christ, and so in Him.”
As born again earthly people, we are bound for the promise land of Heaven. It is a special place prepared for a special people - God’s people.
Now, go back to verse 3 and note something further.
John 14:3 (KJV 1900)
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.
Let me ask you a simple question and it is not a trick question. Who is personally going to come again and receive us unto Himself? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. He will personally send for us.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Who will descend? The Lord Jesus Christ himself with descend. Who will shout? The Lord Jesus Christ himself will shout.
I remember as a kid running with my cousins all over my granddad’s farm. We love it. We often played from dawn to dusk. Sometime, we would wander a distance from my grandmother’s house. And, usually, around noon, as we were playing, we would hear a shout, “Come in and eat!.” As soon as we heard our grandmother’s voice, we scurried back to the house ready for one of the finest meals ever. In much the same way, there is coming a day when the Lord is walk out of Heaven’s door into earth’s sky and shout, “Come home and eat!” We then, in the twinkling of an eye, leave this world and step into Heaven to enjoy the splendors of Heaven. A place prepared for us by Christ Himself. His promise is not only will He return, but He will personally escort us through the door.
John 14:3 (KJV 1900)
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.
Note that He, Christ, will “receive” us. Christ did not use the word “take.” Instead, He uses the word “receive.” For the time being, we are under the watchful care of the Holy Spirit. However, there is coming a day when God will sound the final call and God’s people will be raptured out of this world. At that time, the Holy Spirit will hand us over to the One who died to save us. He will “receive” us “unto” Himself. A moment that He is anticipating with all of His heart.
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Now back to verse 3 again.
John 14:3 (KJV 1900)
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.
Here is an additional part of this promise. We will, by God’s grace, enjoy the same place where God’s Son resides. This statement is a follow up to John 13 where Christ stated this.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
His answer to Peter demonstrated the fact we need the daily washing of the Word so we may maintain our fellowship/communion with Him. However, in John 14:3, we will one day be with Him enjoying unbroken fellowship with forever.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Conclusion
Let me finish with this. I often use this passage at funerals. Just recently, I had the honor of doing so at Darlene’s funeral. The reason I use these verses is this. They are Divinely given for those whose hearts are “troubled.” There is much that often troubles us in this world of sin. These verse gives precious consolation. There are five things listed in these verses that give us comfort.
Faith - it is where comfort begins. We must “believe in Him.”
Assurance - Heaven is home to those who “believe in Him.”
Reality - Christ has done and continues to do all that is necessary to secure a home in Heaven “I go to prepare a place for you.”
Hope - He is coming personally again one day to “receive” us to Himself.
Promise - We will be with Him in His place for eternity - “where I am, there ye may be also.”