Message
John 14:6
I Am The Way The Truth and The Life
Today the focus of our message is on Jesus who says, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” Let’s read this “I am” statement in it’s context. Read John 14:1-6
Jesus is specifically speaking about Himself as the One who can bring us from the here and now to the here-after. The focused is on heaven; life after death and eternity. That is important to remember. Jesus wants us to look forward to heaven and eternity and think about what that means for us today.
We are fixing our eyes on the reality that our Saviour died and rose again. He ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father where – even at this very moment – He is interceding for us. Jesus is there, at the right hand of the Father, waiting for the day and the hour …
… a moment that no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36).
Jesus is interceding – praying for us. Jesus is our High Priest who has sympathy for our weaknesses for He was tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Our High Priest who enables us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence and find mercy in our time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16). While Jesus does this He waits for that moment when He will return. Then that moment will come.
On Jesus’ return the sea will give up the dead that are in it, and death and Hades will give up the dead that were in them, and each person will be judged. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:13,15).
Then the New Heaven and the New Earth will be here. There is so much about this aspect of our spiritual journey that is hard to comprehend. So, in John 14, Jesus uses the analogy of a house to help us get a little understanding of what eternity will be like.
The Father’s house has many rooms.
A place for everyone where no-one who is invited misses out.
Home – with God the Father.
Home – with Jesus the Son.
Home – with the Holy Spirit.
Home – with a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb (Revelation 7:9).
That is where Jesus is pointing His disciples – pointing us. As Jesus points to that destination He says emphatically, “I am the Way.” Jesus is pointing to a destination.
Where are we going?
We are going to an eternity of being home. Home with the Creator who loved us and gave us everything. As Jesus points the direction Jesus says, “I am THE Way” … Not “I am A way.”
When it comes to making a journey there are often many ways we can go. Different transport – train, car, plane, motor-bike. If we get really fit and healthy we can ride a bike or walk. There can also be many different routes. The main highway. The backroads. Special short-cuts that save no time what-so-ever. There are plenty of ways.
However, when it comes to our spiritual journey, there are not multiple ways. No matter how many ways are suggested. Be a good person. Go to church. Follow a list’s of personal do’s and don’ts. Just accept everybody. Don’t set up religious exclusion zones. All roads lead to heaven.
Despite what people want there are not many ways – there is One way. Jesus is the Way.
If we don’t follow His way we end up at a different destination.
If we can’t accept His exclusive calling – we will be excluded.
If we want to arrive at the destination Jesus is describing – we need to obey the directions He gives.
Jesus makes the directions crystal clear. Why are they so clear?
I’m going to share a little secret – I hate getting lost. Even missing a turn and having to do a u-ey. That adds a whole minute to the trip. I too easily get frustrated in those situations.
And really getting lost …
… some people enjoy that sort of thing.
… apparently it is “an adventure”.
… that is not me.
Clear directions. A clear path for the journey. That is the road of least trouble. I feel much less troubled when I know exactly that I am on the road to the destination.
Now back to the text. Jesus says in verse 1 “Do not let your heart be troubled!” What enables our hearts not to be troubled? Knowing that Jesus is THE Way and He clearly brings us to the destination.
Jesus doesn’t want you second guessing – “With so many ways am I really on the right path?”
Jesus doesn’t want you to feel lost – “How can I be sure I will reach the destination?”
Advocating for many paths may sound … gentle and nice and non-judgemental … but the lack of certainty only causes our hearts to feel troubled. Jesus, who is The Way, takes away that troubled heart, because we have a clear direction on where we are going.
That brings us to the next question – what do we need to know? Jesus tells us what we need to know when He says, “I am THE Truth”.
Notice how Jesus describes Himself.
He doesn’t say, “I am making truthful statements” … even though He could say that.
He doesn’t say, “Listen to my truth, as opposed to others who claim to have truth” … which Jesus also has the right to say.
I am The Truth. In my own being I am the embodiment of the Truth. Truth here is not a concept … or a series of statements to compare … or an ethical discussion. Truth is a person.
I am Jesus. I am the Truth. That means we can never know the truth about our own circumstances and situation unless we first know the “I am who is Jesus.”
Without Jesus we don’t know the depth of our sin and separation from God. We just look at this world and think, “Hey, we are ok”. We pay our taxes. We help our neighbour. We give to the Salvos. We look after our family as best we can. We are obedient citizens.
That is our “truth”. A concept, a statement, an ethical discussion.
Then Jesus steps into our lives … suddenly truth looks very different. We are not OK, in fact we have huge problem. Our lives are actually pretty phony, and artificial. We have been caught up in a fad, or a movement or a whim. Without Jesus … the person … who is the truth our understanding of our circumstances are not genuine or real.
Knowing Jesus as The Truth opens our eyes to the reality of our situation.
Think about the disciples that time when they were crossing the lake by boat and a huge storm came down on the lake. To the disciples it seems that the boat was in great danger of being swamped and they were going to drown. They were troubled in their heart weren’t they.
Where is The Truth? Where is Jesus? Jesus is fast asleep on a pillow in the back of the boat. He is at peace, and the disciples shouldn’t fear or be troubled. These seasoned fisherman had allowed their circumstances to hide the truth. Only when Jesus is our Truth will we have a genuine and real understanding.
Jesus lets you know exactly the truth of your circumstances. Why does Jesus do this? Again, back to verse 1 “Do not let your heart be troubled!”.
Jesus doesn’t want you following the fake, and the empty, and the alternative, and the phoney.
Jesus doesn’t want you to misunderstand your circumstances, and allow those circumstances to dictate your feelings and your actions and your responses.
Advocating that Jesus is The Truth may seem arrogant and dismissive. But it is the lack of Truth which causes our hearts to feel troubled. Jesus, who is The Truth takes away that troubled heart because we have certainty and confidence in what we need to know.
So we have direction on where we are going.
We also understand what we need to know.
One last question. How do we now live?
Jesus gives us the answer when He says, “I am THE Life”. What sort of Life is this Life. I think by now you a fair idea of the answer. Back to verse 1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. That is The Life being promised by the “I am”.
Time for some Greek.
The verb translated, “do not be troubled” is a present, passive imperative.
The present means, “keep on not being troubled”.
The imperative is actually a “command” … there is an action you must do.
However a passive imperative is a command calling you to cooperate with, or receive the benefit, of someone else’s doing.
Maybe an example will help.
One of our members, Kylie, was an air hostess and cabin crew manager for 19 years. Imagine her giving the talk about wearing your seatbelt and how to put on a life jacket and all those safety things. At the end of the talk one of the other air hostess comes up and says, “The dear old lady in seat 15C is feeling a little troubled about the flight.” So Kylie walks down to her and says, “I hear you are a little troubled about the flight? Is that the case?”.
“Yes, yes I feeling troubled and anxious”.
“WELL STOP IT. STOP RIGHT NOW! Pull yourself together. You’re just being ridiculous”.
That is present imperative.
But, if Kylie … and I am sure this is how she would have said it … if Kylie says, “Australia has never had a major airline crash. This aircraft is very safe. Our captain has been flying for 26 years. I have flown with this crew many times over millions of kilometres in all sorts of weather. Everything is under control. You can stop being troubled.”
That is present imperative passive.
Do not let your hearts be troubled … present imperative passive.
Listen to what Jesus is saying … and doing. My Father’s house has many rooms. There is a place for you that has your name on it. I will personally make sure … I’m not going to delegate the task … I myself am going there to prepare that place. I won’t forget you. When all the preparation are made I will come back and take you to be with me. I won’t leave you behind. You won’t be forgotten, or overlooked, or passed-by or ignored. I am The Life. I’m going to give that Life. I’ve done it all – so do not let your heart be troubled.
A no-troubled-heart Life. What does that even look like?
My heart is troubled … when finding my career or transitioning to retirement.
My heart is troubled … as the chaos of this world causes to many feelings of frailness and fear.
My heart is troubled … being overlooked, being taken for granted, being let behind.
My heart is troubled … have I done enough, am I good enough, am I worthy enough?
My heart is troubled … because of guilt and shame and remorse and denial.
My heart is troubled … because my daughter is constantly sick and my grand-daughter is fighting for survival.
My heart is troubled. Our hearts are troubled. Maybe not today. Maybe not for these reasons. And over here Jesus the I am who is the Life is saying, “I’ve done it all.” “I’ve got this.” “I’ve got your troubled heart.”
Brothers and sisters.
Jesus is the Way who gives direction.
Jesus is the Truth who brings genuine knowledge to our circumstances.
Jesus is the Life who has done all that is necessary.
Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Prayer
