LOST OR TROUBLED? LET JESUS SHOW YOU THE WAY.

November 29, 2016

LOST OR TROUBLED? LET JESUS SHOW YOU THE WAY.

John 14:1–14

Jeff Fraser

Central Truth

It's easy to be overcome with doubts, but Christ reassures us of who He is through His miracles, His Word, and His resurrection so that we may believe. When we choose to abide in Christ (who abides with the Father), we find freedom from sin and death.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

1 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;^{1

14:1
Or You 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?^{2

14:2
Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for 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.”^{3

14:4
Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know} 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.^{4

14:7
Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know 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^{5

14:14
Some manuscripts omit me} anything in my name, I will do it.

Footnotes

[1] 14:1 Or You believe in God
[2] 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you
[3] 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know
[4] 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also
[5] 14:14 Some manuscripts omit me

This passage is full of direction, promise, hope, and answers. I love it.

Jumping straight into verse one, I immediately think of Romans 12:2, which states: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” It drives me to reflect on the times that my heart has been troubled. In those times, I was looking for A way, rather than THE way. I would seek to impose my will on the situation, rather than discerning what the will of God was. I didn’t find much success there.

In the first half of John 14, we are told that there is a place prepared for us in God’s house and that Jesus is the One who will take us there. This blows my mind. Christ tells us that He is THE way. I don’t know about you, but the thought of being forever with the perfect Lord who created all things sounds pretty good. I certainly would not be able to create that eternity for myself. My plans may sometimes be good (when informed by Scripture, wisdom, and discernment), but they are never perfect. I’ll take the perfect plan, thank you.

We also receive simple, yet full, directives from Christ in this passage that impact us from an eternal perspective and provide daily guidance to our lives:

• "Let not your hearts be troubled." (Verse 1);
• "No one comes to the Father except through me." (Verse 6);
• "Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves." (Verse 11); and
• "If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." (Verse 14)

I am so thankful for the way Jesus reveals not only the gospel in this small section of Scripture, but He answers so many questions with so few words. I wish I could do that, but I think I am just fine relying on Christ’s direction and promises instead!

1. In what ways do you frequently ask for direction in your own life? Has God given you a specific answer through His Scripture?

2. What does Jesus mean when He says in verse 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 . . . ."? What compels you to strive for excellence? Is it God's love or something else?

3. Do you trust God's Scripture in all circumstances, or do you use cultural relevance as an argument to discount the power and perfection of God's Word?