Jesus Is...
John 14:6
An image that has stuck with me for a long time took place in August of 1999. A group of us were in Jamaica on a mission trip. We were loading up in the bus to go back to the hotel. We would get up the next morning and fly back to the United States. We had spent only a week with the young people in Black River Jamaica, but we had built some relationships that would impact us for a lifetime.
It was a real experience to get back on that bus, look into the eyes of those children and realize that was it. We would probably never see them again. You had touched their lives, they had touched yours, and that was it. At least on this side of eternity. But because of what Christ has done for us, believers can take great joy in knowing that even if we don’t ever see each other again in this life, there is a reunion that awaits us in eternity.
In John 13, Jesus is preparing his disciples for the end. They share a final meal together. He has washed their feet, they have broken bread together. Then in John 14, Jesus says to them- “Do not let your hearts be troubled. In my father’s house are many rooms. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you- I will come back for you.”
Then comes the question- How can we know the way?
Jesus answered “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This is a truth that is so important in our world today. We live in a world of “multiculturalism.”
A world of so many different religions. The popular line of thought in our society is to accept all religions as equal and valid. Yet what Jesus said goes totally against that. Let’s take a look at what Jesus told his disciples and see why it is so important for us to understand today.
A. Jesus is the way to heaven.
Jesus did not say- I will show you the way to heaven.
Jesus did not say- find your own way to heaven.
Jesus did not say- trust your heart.
Jesus did not say- look inside yourself for the way.
Jesus did not say- the way is whatever you want it to be.
I remember going to a popular cave area. You could tour the caves and see all the beauty of the underground caves. They had a special tour called “The Wild Cave Tour.” This tour was not for the average tourist. Anyone going on this tour would wear a helmet with a light, knee and elbow pads, and would expect to crawl in very dark tight areas of the caves where normal tourists never went. The tour would be long, difficult, and maybe even frightening at times. Jesus said “I am the way.” Following him will be a long difficult task, most will not want to do it. But the places he will take you and the things you will experience with him are out of this world!
Jesus said “I am the way.” Again, our society would teach that God sits on top of a mountain, and all religions lead up to the same God they just take different paths.” Jesus is the way. The ONLY way to God . Jesus said “No man comes to the Father, but through me.” That is very clear.
B. Jesus is the Truth about Heaven
Think about some of the claims that Jesus made about himself.
I am God.
I am The Son.
I have power to forgive sins, heal sickness.
I will die and rise from the dead three days later.
I will come back and take Christians to heaven.
A bank in Binghampton, New York had some flowers sent to a competitor who had recently moved into a new building. There was a mix up at the flowers shop, and the card sent with the arrangement read, “With our deepest sympathy.” The florist, who was greatly embarrassed apologized. He was even more embarrassed when he realized that the card intended for the bank was attached to a floral arrangement sent to a funeral home in honor of a deceased person. That card read, “Congratulations on your new location.”
There is more untruth floating around about heaven then there is truth.
All men will go to heaven.
God won’t send anyone to hell.
You have to go to purgatory and be prayed into heaven.
St. Peter will stand at the gates of heaven and quiz you before you can enter.
If you are good enough of a person, you will go to heaven.
Only 144,000 will make it to heaven.
Heaven and hell are figurative not real.
Jesus is the truth about heaven. He embodies all truth about heaven. The truth that:
Heaven is a real place.
Heaven is a place created by God.
Heaven is a place for Christians when they die and/or when Jesus comes back.
Heaven is a place where there will be no pain, sadness, or death.
Heaven is a place of eternal joy, celebration, and worship.
C. Jesus is the Life in Heaven.
There was once a certain beverage commercial with macho men sitting around a camp site. They would always say- “Life doesn’t get any better than this.”
Well thankfully life does get better than this. Life gets better when we leave this world and enter eternity with God.
Jesus is the Life of heaven.
In Him was life. (John 1:4)
I am the bread of life. (John 6:35)
I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)
Jesus has been alive since the beginning.
Jesus will be alive for all of eternity.
The fact that Jesus is Life show us God’s view of life and what our view of life should be.
That changes how we view: abortion, suicide, euthanasia, and murder.
Jesus is the only one that can provide real life that will last forever.
You can live once and die twice OR
You can die once and live twice.
Jesus came as the way, the truth, and the life so that one day we could be with him forever, and live through all of eternity praising his name!
