“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 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, but the Father, as He remains in Me, does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:1-14
This short passage of scripture has so many wonderful things that we could talk about and work through. Mainly, how Christ is indeed one with the Father. If we have seen and know Christ, we also see and know the Father. His character, His heart, His love, mercy and grace. We see His justice and strength and on and on. This is amazing and has profound implications. The more specific aspect of this passage I want to look at is when Jesus says to His disciples, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. Jesus is saying here that there is no other way to enter into the presence of the Father (namely Heaven and eternal life) than through Jesus, Himself. At face value, to some, this seems selfish and prideful. Maybe even offensive. Let me tell you that it is not and was never intended to be any of those things. But rather, the truth Jesus is speaking of here, when understood, is so wonderful and life-changing! It’s a story of amazing grace, a story of I can’t, but you can, Jesus. I’ve heard it said, it’s a story and reality of not bad people becoming good, but dead people coming to life.
See, our culture today says that fame, wealth, comfort, ease, is the way to go. If you can achieve that, you’re doing alright. Jesus says I am the way. Our culture says whatever is your truth. Truth is fluid and customizable. Jesus says I am the truth. Our culture says combine whatever makes you happy and your race to wealth, and that’s life! Jesus says, “I am the life”. Do you see?
As we continue to walk with and enjoy Jesus we will become more aware of His character, and this will naturally begin to make what our culture is saying pale in comparison to the value of knowing Christ and walking in Jesus. Like that song says “The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” Brothers and sisters, I can only say so much here on this now, it is going to be up to you to continue to search and know the life I am talking about here for yourselves, but you’re not alone. God is not playing hide and seek with you. He will open His door to a knocking guest (Matt 7:7). This is good news; this is one of the best things that could be true for us today. We can have all that Jesus is and has to offer today by His grace if we will trust He is who He says He is. The Way. The Truth. The Life. Eternal life, life to the full, can start today.
May this find you well.
Blessings,
By: Dawson Burdick
