John 14 - Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE!

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The next 4 chapters of John are some of the richest in the bible containing some of the most important aspects of Jesus we need to know. John 14:1-6 is often the gospel verses I use for funeral services. Again these verses highlight John's portrait of Jesus as being fully divine. As he is preparing his disciples for his departure, he tells them not to let their hearts be troubled. Why?

Because he has prepared a place for them in His Father's house, which is full of many rooms. He has prepared a place for them to be with him after they die and go to be with him in heaven. Jesus says that if he goes to that place, he will return (his second coming) and take them to be with him. I can only imagine that the disciples really did not fully understand what Jesus was saying at this point. 

We see this when Thomas says, "Lord we don't even know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Then Jesus shares a most famous verse, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Again this is Jesus clear claim to be fully God. If I were to say these same words in a sermon at my church on a Sunday morning, my hope would be that the people in my church would get out of church as fast as they could. 

Jesus is the way. He is the path to God. He provided a way by dying for us on the cross. Jesus is the truth. Everything he has said about himself, the Father, and us is true. If Jesus lied or was incorrect about anything he said, he would not be God. Finally, Jesus is the life. Jesus not only provides abundant life here on earth, but eternal life after we die. This is a great summary of who Jesus is and why we need him. 

Then Jesus says something even more startling. He says, "No one can come to the Father apart from me!" This sounds like a pretty exclusive claim to divinity. It is. Many people object to this claim Jesus makes about himself because it excludes people who don't believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. But another way to look at it is that in Jesus is the only way because he is the only One who could die for us on the cross and make us right with God. If there was another way for us to be reconciled to God, then Jesus would not have had to die. 

If all roads lead to God, it makes Jesus in effect a liar. Either Jesus is the only way or not. But the fact is that it is a "very wide way". In what respect? It is a way open to anyone regardless of their religious background or past lifestyle. Often we talk about prejudice and discrimination in our society today, but Jesus loved everyone the same. He was the least prejudiced most fair and accepting person who ever lived. It is didn't matter the color of your skin, your economic background, gender, or anything else about you Jesus invites you to come to him and find life now and forever. 

Then Jesus says something shocking that most people miss!

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 

How can we do "greater things that the works Jesus has done?' Obviously we don't do a greater work than the work he did on the cross. I think the greater work refers to the greater things we will do collectively together as the body of Christ in His name and in His power!

Here are some great explanations of this by commentators:

"Jesus did not mean greater in the sense of more sensational, but greater in magnitude. Jesus would leave behind a victorious, working family of followers who would spread His kingdom to more people and places than Jesus ever did in His life and ministry. This promise seems impossible; yet after Peter’s first sermon there were more converted than are recorded during Jesus’ entire ministry." Guzik

“The literal rendering of the word translated by av greater works is ‘greater things’; and probably this should be retained. The works of the apostles after the resurrection were not greater in kind than those of Jesus, but greater in the sphere of their influence.” (Tasker)

You have a unique sphere of influence where you work, play, and at home that only you can effect!

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

Another promise Jesus gives the disciples which should help them deal with his impending deparature of the promise of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. John's gospel more than the other gospels gives evidence for the theology of the Trinity. People who say the Trinity is not in the bible are not reading this gospel, nor Matthew's Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20)

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 

We see Jesus the Son, asking God the Father, to send God the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Importantly the Holy Spirit will have a personal relationship with them. They will "know him" and also He will "be in them". This is the Spirit of Jesus who lives on in them. They were and we are never alone. Then he talks about "obeying His commands". 

Although obeying Jesus' commands doesn't make us right with God, when we obey His commands we are living in step with the Holy Spirit. Jesus states, "My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

The same word for "to make our home with them" is "to tabernacle". When God formed the tabernacle it was a place where he dwelt in Israel's presence when they were in the wilderness. In the same way God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit dwells in us. This is the sense in which Paul says in Corinthians "You are the temple of the Holy Spirit." 

Finally, Jesus gives another important promise. He says,  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

A while ago there was a lot of talk about a state of "world peace". Or we are having "peace talks". Or, "the peace talks broke down". 

The world will always go after a peace it can never find, because it is not the peace of God. While world peace may exist temporarily it can be taken at any moment and is dependent on circumstances often out of our control. Jesus gives us "HIS" peace. A peace that passes understanding. Philippians 4:5-6

The prince of peace, Jesus, dwells in us through the Holy Spirit. Though we will encounter trials in this life, we will never be without His perfect peace!  

I pray God's peace on you today with whatever you are going through in Jesus' name, Amen.