¡§I am the way, and the truth and the life¡¨ Lunchtime experimental service 4 March 2003 1-1.30pm John 14:1-6
STAGES
Life brings its seasons!
- all sorted & settled- and then things change
o look back and think
„X ¡¥this is so different!¡¦
„X how did I get here?
- Chatting with my Mum (80) Saturday ¡§it¡¦s like a deck of cards¡¨
o All knocked down
o Have to find the foundation again
„X Tough at moment with A¡¦s marriage
These times of transition between stages can bring
- trouble
- anxiety
The disciple stand on the edge of a huge change/transition, here
- Jesus has been their constant companion, counsellor, comforter
- He explains that He¡¦s leaving them
They are anxious
- about getting by without His physical presence
- about heaven.
o What¡¦s the truth about that? What awaits us? Who awaits us¡K them?
Jesus gives them the remedy for this time of transition
- it¡¦s a message to us, too. He speaks of the HERE and the HEREAFTER
TRUST
Jesus says ¡§trust me¡¨
- you have always believed in God. You try and trust him- now, put your trust IN me
There aren¡¦t many things or people you can trust in life
- everybody¡¦s after something. Even our own family?
- Illustr: young lad yesterday. ¡¥what you smiling at?¡¦
Aren¡¦t many things you can trust- Illustr: Aunt Bessie¡¦s pudding
But Jesus says- YOU can trust ME. Put your trust in ME
- and He shows His trustworthiness by giving up His life for us
Roms 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
He¡¦s someone worthy to trust¡K for this life
Father, although I cannot see
The future you have planned
And though the path is sometimes dark
And hard to understand
Yet give me faith, through joy and pain,
To trace your loving hand
When I recall that in the past
Your promises have stood
Through each perplexing circumstance
And every changing mood
I rest content that all things work
Together for my good
Whatever then , the future brings
Of good or seeming ill
I ask for strength to follow you
And grace to trust you still
And I would look for no reward
Except to do your will
John Eddison (b 1916)
This is remedy for the changes of THIS life. But it goes beyond that
- Jesus talks about heaven, and what lies beyond this life
The disciples are concerned that THEY won¡¦t be accepted into heaven- or there won¡¦t be room for them, there
- in Jewish wedding, after betrothal, the bridegroom would go away to prepare a room for his bride (normally at his parent¡¦s house)
- then he¡¦d come back and take her to be with him
His disciples understand this. That Jesus is using ¡¥bridegroom language¡¦ in telling them that He¡¦ll come back
- and they are immediately troubled- ¡§but the bridegroom can only come back for one bride. Which one of us will it be?! I can¡¦t be without you, Jesus!¡¨
- Jesus clarifies: don¡¦t worry- I¡¦m preparing many rooms. A room for each of you.
- (so, the many rooms refers to ALL of us continuing our relationship with him in heaven. Nothing to do with different rooms for denominations or faiths or anything!)
There IS room. In fact- Jesus has gone ahead to prepare the room, heaven, specifically
Then Jesus explains the trustworthy way to get there. So that they will KNOW and have peace
WAY
It¡¦s Him!
- he is the way- to peace, now
- He is the way¡K to heaven¡K to the afterlife¡K to have LIFE
o He is the LIFE
„X Now
„X In heaven
o Eternal life is knowing Jesus NOW and so just knowing Him then¡K in eternity¡K eternally
„X In fact- the transition from here to there is not such a huge one as we think- because he will be constantly with us¡K there with us¡K through the transition.
HE is the way, the door, the gate, the path
- to journey on¡K to come to the Father, through
Little Billy, caught in mischief, was asked by his mother, "How do you expect to get into heaven?"
He thought for a moment and then said, "Well, I¡¦ll just run in and out and keep slamming the door until they say, ¡¦For heaven¡¦s sake, either come in or stay out.¡¦
Then I¡¦ll go in."
No banging of doors. Jesus is the door. Trust in Him and the door opens for you to eternity
And he tells them- He can be trusted because he¡¦s the truth
At his great time of transition from this life to the next, British preacher Charles Simeon smiled brightly and asked the people gathered in his room, "What do you think especially gives me comfort at this time?"
When they all remained silent, he exclaimed, "The creation!
"I ask myself, ’Did Jehovah create the world or did I?’ He did! Now if He made the world and all the rolling spheres of the universe, He certainly can take care of me. Into Jesus’ hands I can safely commit my spirit!"
The way. The trustworthy truth- no salesmanship, rather servanthood and loving sacrifice. The life
Let¡¦s pray.
