The Way Home

“The Way Home”

February 10TH, 2008

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so 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. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ’Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14”1-21

This is a fantastic piece of Scripture. In it Jesus reveals some tremendous things. He reveals the 1. The Place. 2. The People. 3. The Path. And The Power.

First, let’s talk about the place. In the previous chapter Jesus was talking about some melancholy things. He was talking a little negative. I imagine His followers were a little down; a little upset; a little scared. Jesus was talking about His own death and how His followers would all desert Him. Each one was probably feeling a little depressed. The future didn’t look too promising to them. Peter vowed to die for Jesus. Jesus looked straight through him and said,

“Really? Really Peter? Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth. You are gonna deny you know me three times – before morning.”

But then the 14th chapter starts. After saying that to Peter, Jesus next words are:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”

John 14:1a

Isn’t Jesus good? After scaring Peter, and the rest of the gang with a prophecy of the future, Jesus says,

“Don’t worry about it. Don’t get all freaked out about it. Don’t stress. Just trust God. Trust me, too.”

That’s good advice for us, as well. Are you all stressed out? Are you full of anxiety and fear? Are you worried about the future? Just trust God. Trust that Jesus will see you through. Paul’s advice is:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

We need to do that, don’t we? We need to present our request to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we give our burdens to Him – peace will come.