J O H N 14 v 6.
Jsus said,I am the way, the truth, the life.
The passage I have chosen to speak to you about this morning is one of the best
known passages in the New Testament, even to non- Church people, and contains
words, which are so relevant to Christian living and belief.
Jesus was spending His last night with the Apostles in what is known as the
Upper Room for the Last Supper. Judas was about to betray Him, and when Judas
had left, Jesus told the remaining Apostles that the time for Him to be
glorified had come.
What Jesus meant by this was, this was the last time He would speak to them
before He was to die. His glory is, that He is on His way to the Cross, His
work on this earth is over and the crucifixion will also bring glory to the
Father.
Jesus then for the only time, called His Apostles, ‘little children’; this was
obviously an endearing term of affection, like a father who is about to go away
from his family. It is the end of a close relationship of three years, and time
to say goodbye.
Jesus was speaking to His disciples shortly before going to the Cross, teaching
and giving guidance, and that same teaching is passed down for the benefit of
all Christians throughout the ages.
Jesus had told them He was going to leave them, for He was going on a journey
He had to take alone. The Apostles were devastated at the thought. Perhaps you
can imagine their feelings if you reflect on how people feel when a Minister
they are happy with, suddenly tells them that he is moving to another Church.
This invariably causes sadness, unless there is a poor relationship. I have
experienced this on three occasions in ministry, and it is hard to disassociate
oneself completely.
Jesus said, ‘do not let your hearts be troubled’. The heart is the seat of all
our emotions, and when that is upset it affects thoughts and actions, and
causes personal disturbance. Jesus wanted to reassure them He was not forsaking
them.
He told them they were to believe in Him as well as God. Most people believe in
God, but have less thought for Jesus. He was putting Himself alongside God and,
wanted them to trust Him and maintain a personal relationship.
He said, there were many rooms in His Father’s house, meaning heaven, and He
was going to prepare a place for them. This meant there was the prospect of
living for ever with Him there.
When Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for them, this was referring to
the fact He was going to the Cross, to die for the forgiveness of sins for all
people, and by that death He was making it possible for them to go there.
If you desire to go to stay at a hotel in some foreign country, you invariably
go to a travel agent who arranges everything for you, and when you arrive at
the hotel, they have a reservation waiting. You cannot just turn up because you
think you are entitled to stay there without some preparation.
This passage is widely quoted in funeral services, when people assume that
everyone is automatically going to heaven. I have taken hundreds of funerals
over the years, and there has never been doubt in anyone’s mind, that the
deceased is going to heaven irrespective of the life led. Nowhere in the Bible
is this view upheld. Jesus was very clear in His teaching, that it certainly
was not so. In parable after parable, He spoke of two roads, of sheep and
goats, of tares and wheat, of heaven and hell.
Whilst it may be comforting, to believe that we can all get to heaven
regardless of one’s beliefs, and we like to please our fellow men and women, it
is quite cruel to mislead if it is not true. It is like telling a blind person
standing on the foot-walk of a major road it is safe for him to cross when
ready. If we say to someone who has no Church commitment, ,has only a tenuous
belief in Jesus Christ, never reads a Bible or prays, that they are going to
heaven, we are leading them astray.
Others say, if you just follow your conscience you’ll be fine, but consciences
become dulled and hardened. Taking the lead from politicians, people can look
you in the eye and lie without any qualm of conscience.
In this passage before us, He is talking to His followers, people who have made
a personal commitment to accept Him as Savior. This is why it is so important,
for each person to make his/her own decision, whether to follow Jesus in His
teaching, commands and demands He makes on us.
You see, the Bible is all about commitment. We are reminded of the
superficiality of commitment in our own time. Less than 10% of people think God
worthy of one hour per week to visit a Church. Yet, if you were to ask people
their religion, the vast majority would reply C of E, and seriously consider
they were Christians. They would be mortally offended if you suggested
otherwise. Very few people seem bothered to think of Jesus, even less to do
anything about it.
It is easy to say I am a Christian, easy to say I read the Bible. 95% of the
population today believe as long as you are honest, kind and helpful to others
and do no harm, you are a fully- fledged Christian.
Jesus speaks firmly and rather profoundly, when He says not all who think they
are to enter the Kingdom of heaven will in fact do so.
In every action of life we are confronted with a choice, where we must make a
decision to do one thing or another. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
confronted us with a hard or an easy way. He makes uncompromising and tough
demands of commitment, which many people cannot take, and are not prepared to
commit. Then as now, some are ready to listen and walk with Him, learning to
depend on Him, whilst others are just occasional supporters.
In its desire to be nice and friendly to all, with a craving to please society
in general, has not always given sound teaching on this and some misguidedly
preach that Jesus was giving a blank promise for everyone when He is clearly
addressing His followers, and if we do not follow Him, our end will not be in
the rooms of His Father’s house.
When Jesus said they knew the place where He was going, Thomas asked Him how
they could know when they didn’t know the way. This brought forth from Jesus
that profound immortal statement, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’
What exactly does Jesus mean when he says, we can only come to the Father
through Him alone. Some time ago I went to Birmingham, and had to find an
address. I asked a man passing if he could tell me the way, and he answered,
‘it is pretty difficult for you to get there on your own, but I am going that
way and could take you’. He got into my car and we went directly there. That is
what Jesus does for us. He says you can’t get there on your own, but I will
direct you, guide you, and take you myself. He is saying there is no other way.
This is an exclusive offer.
This is not generally liked as it is seen as being too restrictive, too bigoted
and intolerant, and to be judgmental is not liked. Consequently, some clergy
will not quote it, whilst others just will not accept it. Frankly, I think if
any man/woman does not accept this verse, then they should not be allowed to
preach, for they are betraying the Lord who said it, and the Church which they
serve.
It can be hard to be a Christian in this country at the present time, and many
find the going too hard and strenuous and the opposition oppressive. We have
come to a state in this country now, where a Christian person may not express a
personal view based on sincere religious belief if it might offend someone Any
open expression of our faith is likely to lead to suspension or dismissal from
work, and even the most innocuous adverse comment upon human behaviour, will
raise hysterical shouts of phobia or bigotry. There is so much harassment of
Christians, which is not reported here, and you have to listen to the American
news channels to discover what is going on in this country. This does not apply
apparently to other faith speakers.
I cannot understand how we can share in multi-faith worship and maintain
Biblical integrity. Whilst I believe we should respect other faiths, and try to
live amicably with them, in view of the unique teaching of our Lord (here set
out in verse 6 that He alone is the way to God) we cannot justify sharing in
multi faith services when our beliefs are so different, and it is matter of
recognising the unique authority of Jesus. Only Christianity, maintains that
Jesus Christ as divine, and salvation was earned by Jesus on the Cross. But we
have the words of our Lord Himself, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me’. Jesus is quite unequivocal.
It is widely claimed, erroneously, that we all worship the same God and all
religions have the same way to heaven. Islam worship ‘Allah’, and see Jesus as
a good man in the social sense, or a prophet at best. Indeed, the Islamic faith
states, ‘God has no son’, which is in direct contravention of Jesus’ nature. We
should each respect the right of the other in their belief, and try to live
peacefully together.
I do admire the devotion and loyalty of Islam. Muslims in Islamic countries are
Muslims in the full sense of the word, and they find difficulty in
understanding how people who live in Christian lands, reject their faith so
completely. Why, on the Lord’s birthday so many get drunk and engage in orgies.
They will fight and defend their faith, and the men will not feel embarrassed
or ashamed to be seen going to worship. Put many Englishmen in a Church and
they feel lost and disorientated.
It is a common perception these days, that religious thoughts should not be
expressed in public arena. Christians have gone along with this and divided
their lives into two spheres, spiritual and secular.
No other group would accept such a deal. Try telling a Socialist they should
keep their thoughts to themselves; or telling an LGBT activist he shouldn’t
call for same sex marriage, then wait for the howls of outrage. BUT, let a
Christian state he believes in marriage as only being between a man and a
woman. I was prevented from taking a funeral because a member of the deceased
family knew that was my belief, even though it had nothing at all to do with
the funeral. No one had the courage to support me.
We are accused of being narrow minded and improper, for bringing up our
children as believers, and if we should commit the ultimate crime of suggesting
our faith influences how and what we teach them, and object to them being asked
if they thinking they are of the right gender, we are of course a multiple of
phobias.We are allowed to visit the sick and care for the poor, as long as
don’t mention praying for them.
Jesus warns us that there must be a clear acceptance of His teaching, and total
obedience to it. Just to recite a creed and attend Church is not enough. We
honour Jesus by calling Him Lord, and sing hymns expressive of our devotion to
Him. The lips that sing His praise should never be the lips that challenge Holy
Scripture.
The temptation for us, as Christians, is to say what makes us popular. Too many
preachers have forgotten about being authentic; about being true to the Gospel
we have been entrusted with by our Lord; to be true to our values, and to
proclaim them withoutembarrassment and fear.
Jesus said He was the truth. If a person is to teach moral truth, that person
must have an impeccable reputation, and have no hidden misdoings. Only Jesus
can claim moral perfection, which is why He can say ‘I am the truth’.
Thirdly Jesus says ‘I am the life’, meaning the opposite of death. He is the
source of life, and gives life to His own. Just as death mean separation from
God, so life means being in communion with Jesus.
The Bible tells us we must contend for the faith, once given to Christians. The
faith once given, means the faith that which was given by the Apostles who had
been taught by Jesus, and which was blessed by God when the Church was first
established. Let this be the faith we adopt and believe, and not that now being
re-interpreted to suit modern culture.
May God bless His Word to us and may He be glorified
