5.2.4e 9.4.2022 Question John 14.1-16

Start

Entice: I have thought a lot aboutJohn 14.6 in the last 12 months. I started a new book several months ago exegeting and applying this text. I've written nearly 11,000 words of introduction and orientation. Perhaps our discussions today will help me bring that project to a close.

Engage: Everyone would seem to agree that our world and our nation has some issues. Maybe that is true. Paul reminds us that as much as we wish it were not the case we don’t have a dog in the socio-cultural storms around us.

1 Corinthians 5:12 ESV

12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?

I certainly don’t have a dog in that fight. My glorious task is to apply scripture to the Church to help the body understand its role in bringing the kingdom of Christ to bear on the empires of this world. The issues seem complex. They only seem complex. They are actually quite simple. We are off course. We are too easily confused, compromised, and off message. The body of Christ too often behaves like a corpse. Jesus was working to fix these problems, before they were even problems--actually before they ever existed.

Expand: Jesus knew that the anxiety felt by His disciples that last week of His life would in many ways typify Christian living. Suspended between heaven and earth, now and then, here and there, seeking to serve Him in a complex world. This powerful passage is a call for us to be fully focused on Jesus.

John 14:1–16 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. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

Excite: The synoptics focus on the Kingdom message of Jesus' Gospel. In his gospel, John focuses on Jesus, the answer to our every question, the solution to our every problem, the amen to our every prayer. When we ask, what must I do? Where will I spend eternity? Why is there evil and death and despair? How can I please God? The answer always comes down to who? Who is Jesus?

Explore:

Only Jesus can answer the big questions.

Explain: We need to be in a relationship with Jesus because we are easily

Body of Sermon:

1. Distracted.

I am the way

Distraction is a focus issue, an attention issue, a faith issue. Without Jesus we are lost, wandering, and in distress. The word “way”, or “road”, or “path”, naturally puts us in mind of driving. The worst kind of driving is driving distracted unable to follow the path.

This happens because we go through life with Fear and hesitation. Let’s examine each of these and see how the impact our “drive” through life.

1.1 Fear

Internal fears

(shame)

External threats

(What if something bad happens?)

1.2 Hesitation.

We have all seen someone driving with the wiggles...”Do I turn here? I’ll put my blinker on, reduce speed, whoa! Did I miss my turn?” Jesus, the way helps us to live with clarity and confidence. When we follow Jesus, threats diminish and fears dissipate.

We need to be in a relationship with Jesus because we are too easily

2. Deceived

I am the truth

Deception is a truth issue. Belief. Fidelity. Accuracy. Truth is at the heart of faith because our fallen condition leaves us confused, stubborn, and arrogant. Let’s consider each of these in turn. First, we need the truth because we are too easily

2.1 Confused.

We must Learn to filter difficult challenges by serving like Jesus...

John 13:12–17 ESV

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Then, we must learn to filter difficult challenges by loving Like Jesus...

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Next, we need truth because we are

2.2 Stubborn.

Overcoming this stubborn refusal to learn requires us to filter out difficult choices.

Such as Peter refusing to have his feet washed...

John 13:8 ESV

8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

And sadly, we need Jesus–the truth because we are

2.3 Arrogant

We overcome arrogance through the difficult process of filtering out self.

John 13:37–38 ESV

37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

For Jesus truth is not just data, facts, and information; though He owns all the data, all the facts, and all the information. For Jesus truth means overcoming the cultural and social blindness which keeps us from understanding our spiritual condition. Once we understand that He is, Himself the measure of truth we can overcome all our confusion, stubbornness, and pride.

Last of all, but certainly not least—we need to be in a relationship with Jesus because we are

3. Dead.

I am the life

John 14:18–20 ESV

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Jesus states positively the truth that Paul states negatively when in Ephesians 2.1 he says...

Ephesians 2:1 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Once we understand that we do not have life within us we can learn to accept and celebrate the relationship between Jesus and His Father, which is the platform on which our eternal salvation rests. The basics of which comes down to three affirmations.

3.1 Jesus and the Father share eternality.

3.2 Jesus includes us in this relationship.

3.3 Apart from Jesus: There is no eternal life.

Shut Down:

We humans, being caught in the multi-dimensional experience of time, space, distance, relationship have a very concrete approach to making our way through the world. We envision life as a journey. We discuss destinations. We anticipate detours. We consider dangers. John’s gospel repeatedly reminds us that Jesus joined us in our historical contingency, at least in part, to get us out of it.

One of the intellectual tools humans use, formally and informally is the application of the basic interrogatories I mentioned earlier. These questions help us get our bearings. What, Why, When, Where, and How--these are the most common and obvious. Jesus collapses all of the interrogatories we associate with life: into one--who. Who you follow. Who you believe. Who gives you life. That is the heart and essence of the Christian faith. Not directions, not principles, not codes, not rules, not regulations.

Jesus.