Jesus starts off well. He gives them great encouragement as he tried to tell them he is soon going to die.
“Let not your hearts be troubled (John 14:1)
Their leader and best friend is going to die. But he tells them not to let their hearts be troubled.
It’s interesting how the Lord truly cares for our hearts. Whenever a scary angel came on the scene, the angels told them to not be afraid. And now Jesus is giving them a hard reality, that he won’t be with them anymore, and he says do not let your hearts be troubled.
What does he tell them to do instead?
To trust him.
Believe in God; believe also in me (John 14:1).
My translation says trust. But trust and belief are the same. Even though in English it is more nuanced.
Jesus then begins to talk to them about heaven. How he goes to prepare a place for them.
But they are still rooted in earthly matters. And wonder where he is going.
Thomas, the literalist, is so confused.
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
Then Jesus says this:
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 4:5).
If Jesus were here today and said that, he would get cancelled. His followers will sometimes get cancelled because of this.
What is Jesus saying? Not all paths lead to God. They don’t.
If you worship a pencil, it will not lead you to God. You are worship a false God of stone, it will not lead you to God. And you can worship anything, but it does not mean it will bring you to God. Falsity exists.
It’s a message that our day and time does not want to hear. There are nice people who worship false gods and we are friends with them. If we see that Jesus is the only way, it is labeled as “hate” and “phobia” and don’t try to change others.
But Jesus says he is the ONLY way to God. Why is that?
Because only Jesus died for our sins. Only Jesus can give us His righteousness. And only with perfect righteousness can we be in the Father’s presence. Nothing un holy can live in the presence of God. And only Jesus can make us holy.
Is Jesus the only way?
Yes.
Because only Jesus paid for your sins on the cross. And for those who trust in him, he clothes them with his righteousness, making a relationship with God possible.
.John 14:1-7
“Let not your hearts be troubled. 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? 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.” 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. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”