Jesus Is The Way To A Better Life
Text: John 14:1-7
Introduction: This passage is our Lord’s words of encouragement for our day. When you seem all alone; when you feel all left out; when you feel no one cares - this passage is an uplifter.
I want to direct your focus on verse 6 in particular. This particular statement from our Lord is what separates Jesus from all others. Now many have made similar statements concerning themselves in the past; the real setting apart comes through the physical proof. That proof being His physical resurrection from the dead.
As we focus on this verse, I want to focus particularly upon the idea that Jesus is the way to a better life. We hear people all around talking of the good life - talking of achieving the good life. We see many around us in hot pursuit of this good life that so many are talking about. It is kind of an innate desire within us to attain the very best we possibly can. In fact, many will walk on, step on or crawl over anyone or anything they have to in order to get it - they just want it. This is not some new desire. It has been the desire of every age and every walk of life.
History has been plagued by those out to get it in anyway possible. Nations have risen and nations have fallen as leaders, greedy for the good life, have sacrificed their own people to try to attain the good life for themselves. The truth of the matter is: they’ve never really found it. They have pursued after it. It has cost many a very high price. But the only real "good life" is that life found in Jesus Christ for Jesus is the only Way to the good life.
I. Jesus Corrects Our Misconceptions
A. At the mention of "THE GOOD LIFE," most people immediately begin thinking about things like:
1. Material prosperity
2. Pleasure
3. Popularity
B. So, why do people think this way?
1. Unfortunately, most people sum up "the good life" in two basic words: happiness and peace.
2. Most suppose material prosperity, pleasure and popularity will bring about these things.
3. But, if this is really true, why are most wealthy, high-living, famous people extremely unhappy and lacking inner peace?
C. Jesus answers this question for us.
1. He taught there is more to life than material possessions -
"Then he said to them, Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Lk 12:15)
2. He offers a peace which things of the world cannot give and a joy which is complete and full -
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (Jn 14:27)
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (Jn 15:11)
What the world cannot give, Jesus can. How does He do it?
II. Jesus Leads the Way to a Better Life
A. He identifies and removes the real problem.
1. What is the cause of so much unhappiness in our world? What deprives so many of inner peace?
a. Is it not things like immorality, theft, murder?
b. Is it not things like coveting, deceit, envy and pride?
2. So then what is the cause of these things?
a. Jesus declared the cause to be the sinful hearts of men -
"For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man unclean. " (Mk 7:21-23)
b. James, the Lord’s half-brother in the flesh, agreed with His diagnosis -
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God." (Ja 4:1-2)
3. What has Jesus done to remove this problem? -
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Ti 3:3-7)
a. Out of kindness, love, mercy and grace, God sent Jesus Christ to save us and made us righteous in His sight!
b. Jesus alone removes the problem of unhappiness and lack of inner peace by first removing the root cause of the problem: Sin! But there is more...
B. He teaches us to seek after new goals in life.
1. There is folly in seeking after riches -
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." (Mt 6:19)
a. Earthly riches eventually perish.
b. Earthly riches are eventually stolen away by greedier people.
2. Put your treasure in heaven -
"But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Mt 6:20)
a. Tresure stored up in heaven will not perish.
b. Treasure stored up in heaven will not be stolen away by greedier people. I Pe 1:3-5 tells us -
"In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you..."
3. How does one go about laying up treasure in heaven?
a. By living for Jesus -
"Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets." (Lk 6:22-23)
b. By following His teaching -
"love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." (Lk 6:35)
C. He gives us more than we could ever expect.
1. Once we learn that material things, pleasure, and fame are not our goals in life, we begin to follow after Jesus. His teachings become our main goal. He then provides us an unexpected portion of these very things!
a. He provides material things for those who put God first -
"do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Mt 6:31-33)
b. He provides pleasure that is full and inexpressible -
"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (Jn 15:11)
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (I Pe 1:8)
c. He gives fame that lasts forever -
"When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Co 3:4)
"On the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (II Th 1:10-12)
"He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Th 2:14)
2. When we live for Christ and follow His example, we find peace and happiness -
"When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you? he asked them. You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." (Jn 13:12-17)
Conclusion: The world sets goals which many people simply cannot achieve, and even if achieved, often do not satisfy. Solomon said it right when he made this statement in Ecc 5:10 -
"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless."
But Jesus places before us goals which can be achieved and that do satisfy... everyone can store up treasure in heaven and everyone can live for Jesus. If there is any doubt, just look at any individual you may know who is truly following Jesus...outwardly they may be suffering persecution, social ostracism, or physical illness, but even then they still have that joy that is full, that peace which is unspeakable.
If you are not happy, if you are not at peace in your heart, if you are looking for a better life, why not let Jesus be "The Way" for you? Let Him take care of your sin problem, which is the true cause of an unhappy life! Let Him be your guide. Let Him give you new direction in life! Let Him be your key to "the good life"! As Jesus Himself said:
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (Jn 10:10)
Jesus is the Way Series #2
