I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Good afternoon! We had prayer meeting for the preparation of 2024 Dallas International Conference at last Friday! the conference day is July 10th-13th. We discuss the main theme: be connected or why Jesus?” the program will be focused on young people. I believe it will be a reviving time for all attendees. I would like to invite all of you there.

Jesus would be crucified a day later after John 13-17. He knew it and told his disciples. He would leave them so he told “‘Where I am going you cannot come. but His disciples didn’t know about his death until the day before even though he told them several times. 37 “Lord, why can I not follow you now? John 13:36-37. So they were greatly troubled after they heard his departure. I think their feelings would be like an orphan, where their parents suddenly left them if Jesus left. Today’s passage, John 14, teaches how Jesus planted his disciples into faith in Him as well as faith in God. I prepare today’s passage based on John Piper and John MacArthur’s sermon. I pray that today’s passage may be great strength and encouragement for all of you!

Part one- Believe in God; believe also in me!

The Scripture says that full satisfaction and excellent contentment in our soul is in Christ. Human beings cannot have contentment at anywhere except in God because we were created like that way as God’s own image. When we have fellowship with God through Christ, our soul truly is satisfied, and our thirst is quenched. In that purpose, Jesus incarnated as human form into this world and died to restore reconnecting with our heavenly Father, God.

He would be crucified tomorrow. What he would give his disciples direction? Let’s read verse 1. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

What does John’s gospel tell us Gospel’s Goal?

John tells us in John 20:31 what his goal for us is: “These are written so that you may believe (trust, be assured, treasure the reality) that Jesus is the Christ (the promise-fulfilling Messiah), the Son of God (the presence of God himself — God the Son — among us), and that by believing you may have life in his name.” And when he says “life” he means the connection with God’s life, through connection with Christ through faith in Him. Their turmoil came due to their unbelief. So Jesus encourage them. “Stop letting your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me.”

John 14:1–11, shows us how he and the Father team up to overcome our turmoil of soul due to our unbelief, and give strength and peace to carry on. He encourages us to trust Jesus and the Father.

Jesus repeats it in Verse 11: 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

Belief. Faith. And this is the opposite of our hearts being troubled. Verse 1: Don’t be troubled: Trust me. Trust God. And twice in verse 11: “Believe me.” “Believe.” John 12:44: “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. The point is: Don’t be troubled. Trust me, and in trusting me, trust God.

The rest of this text (verses 2–10) is support for that exhortation. Reasons to Not Be Troubled, but Trust Jesus.

Firstly, My Father has many rooms in his house and each of you will have one. Look at verse 2-3. 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.

God’s house is large. It has many rooms. He won’t run out of space. And (see the end of verse 2) there is a place for you. “I go to prepare a place for you.” His children live with him in his house. it is very spacious so that he never runs out of room.

Jesus would depart them. He would know that They would be scattered this night but he helped them to trust in Him. “You believe in God whom you cannot see.” You believe in God whom you cannot see. God is invisible. No one can see God. God is a spirit; He is an invisible spirit. But they recognized that Jesus is the one who has comes from God. Then they have seen Him, and heard Him, and watched Him do His miracles and His works.

He also planted them with the hope of the kingdom of heaven at a critical time even though they couldn’t understand it. faith in Christ is essential to overcome their coming turmoil. It is so impressive to plant faith in God and in Him rather than comforting with pity word at that situation.

Are you troubled for your current big matters? “trust in God!”. believe in Christ!”. His presence, great comfort and assurance will come to you.

There is no such a powerful strength in this world rather than faith in God, faith in Jesus.

Through faith in Christ, does salvation come to us. Through faith in Christ, do we experience presence of God by the Holy Spirit. Through faith in Christ, can we overcome current all fears, worry and anxiety, even fear of death because Jesus prepared much better house in heaven. “faith in God and in Christ is the victory. It enables us to overcome the fear of failure, of mistakes, of future uncertainty. Because Our God is creator and sovereign ruler. if he is, why should we fear any circumstance? there is no reason to be afraid. “he is your God. Almighty God is with you!”

I experienced it when I came to Madison WI 1998 alone. My visa status was just left 3 months as a student visa. My English skill was so short. I am 36 years old. There was no security. I couldn’t see any hope even though I came here as a missionary. I couldn’t breathe due to too much stress. It seemed that the mountain Evest pressed me every moment. When I prayed during the Pine lake retreat, Hebrew 11:6 is rolling around my head. without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

I repent of my unbelief and held this verse with numerous times to trust in God. When the faith in God began to dwell in me through Hebrew 11:6, the fear of huge mountain became a small pebble and I could become brave. I believed God would do everything and hope with great expectation. God did more than I expected. Faith in almighty God derives away the worry and anxiety and the fear of death.

After I was chosen as the chair committee for invitation of young people, I was actually so stressful how to serve it. Even though I prayed a lot and slept a lot, I couldn’t remove this stress. However, when this word, “trust in God and trust in Christ” touched me, I could believe that God will richly bless the invitation of young people for the conference included coming 2024 international Conference and I could have rest in Him. “trust in God and trust in Christ!” it is such a powerful direction.

Part two- I am the way, the truth and the life.

We know Thomas is like the symbol of skeptical guy among 12 disciples. When risen Jesus firstly appeared disciples, he was not there. When disciples told him, “we have seen the Lord”, his response was, “unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” John 20:25. Later, risen Christ appeared him and told “put your finger here and see my hands, and put out your hand,,, do not disbelieve but believe” (Jon 20:27).

Thomas didn’t accept where Jesus was going even though Jesus told them that he would go to prepare the place they would come. How was his question? Look at verse 5!

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

How was Jesus’ answer? Verse 6 is very famous. Let’s read verse 6 altogether!

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

There are seven statements of “I am” to declare his deity in John’s gospel. “I am the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12), the door (10:7), the good shepherd (10:11, 14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way the truth and the life (14:6) and the true vine (15:1)”

The root of the declaration “I am” came from Exodus 3:13-14 when Moses asked for God’s name. Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

What does it mean, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”?

Firstly, Jesus is only the way to come to God. when God created Adam and Eve, they could directly come to God and have sweet fellowship with God. They could enjoy what God prepared and provided all. Mostly, they could fully enjoy God and satisfy all joy, pleasure, full satisfaction, comes from God. It must be incredible beyond we cannot fully taste in this world. However, after Adam and Eve disobeyed against God, The fellowship with God was broken. The life line which is God was broken. Moreover, we couldn’t directly come to holy God as a sinner. Even though our human beings have been tried to quench our soul with any worldly things, our soul couldn’t be satisfied with others because our life line was broken. Ephesians 2:1 describes “You were dead in the trespasses and sins”.

Many religions emphasize that you can come to God through your good deeds or charities or disciplines. But it doesn’t work that way. It is too short to be able to come to God. The matter of sin should be solved in order to come to holy God. The wage of sin is death. we should die as the penalty of our sins. However Jesus who is sinless and holy one, incarnated into this world to die and fully paid our wage of sin through his death. he proved that he didn’t die for His sins but died for our iniquity and transgression through his resurrection. No body die for our wage of sin and death except Jesus. No body was risen from the dead except Jesus. Acts 4: 11-12 testify us. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1Timothy 2:5-6 also teaches us about it. “5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all”

Only Jesus is the only way to come to God what the Scripture prophesies. He became our substitute as a sinner even though he doesn’t have sin at all to bear in our guilt and punishment on the Cross forever. So as a result of his death, sin has been blotted out by the power of his blood. (Isa 53:4,5, Col 2:13, Heb:10:17). The Scripture tells those who believe in Christ even as the righteous because he put on believers with the clothe of his righteousness.

The power of darkness convicts us and tries to oppress under guilt and worthless. How could you overcome it? Only Jesus’ precious blood can cleanse us from our sins and set free us from all guilt because he fully paid all our penalty of sins on the Cross and proclaimed “it is finished”. Do you believe it?

Secondly, Jesus is the truth. truth is unchangeable. Truth must be occurred according the truth. Truth is real. God’s word is truth. What he proclaimed was happened and will happen at his time. So Genesis chapter 1 is continuously repeated, “God said,… it was so.”

Isaiah 55:10,11 teach us about God’s words.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

John 1:1,14 teaches us that word of God is Jesus, himself who came into this world as flesh.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The word of God identifies God in John’s gospel. If you honor God, you shall honor the Scripture. Truth indicates God’s words. The word of God indicates Jesus, himself. Jesus, himself is the truth. John 1:4 testify us who Jesus is “3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made”. He is creator God who is the truth.

Thirdly, He is the life. ’The word of ‘Life’ comes out 41 times and the word of ‘light’ comes out 16 times and in John’s gospel. The theme of John’s gospel is “life” and “light”. Life is so mysterious. Even though the technology has been highly developed, man cannot create the life because the life comes from God.

When Jesus visited Mary and Martha, it was already passed four days from Lasarus’ death. Decayed smell came out from His dead body in the tomb. Life was gone. He was already completely dead.

However, when Jesus commanded the dead body, “Lazarus, come out!” the dead body received the life and came out from the tomb. How could it be happened?

Because Jesus is the master of our life. He is the resurrection and life.

John 5:25 testify us about it. “I am the resurrection and the life” John 1:4 teaches us as the source of life. “in him was life, and that life was the light of men.”

Colossians 1:16 tells us. “For by him all things were created; thing in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, weather thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him.”

Not only physical life but also spiritual life comes from Him. John 5:25 teaches us how we can have spiritual life.

25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

Whoever hears his voices, will be alive from the dead. Being born again means receiving a new life from God through faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ.

1John 5:11-12 tell us. “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

The true life is whether we know Christ or not. Jesus tells us about it few times in John’s gospel 14:7, 11. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? ….11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.”

Do you want to know God? Please study to know who Christ is! You can find who God is. Colossians 1:15-17 clearly testify who Christ is.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He is almighty God. Our life comes from him and goes back to him at his time. “I am the way, and the truth and the life”. Only God can declare it. Jesus is almighty God who incarnated into this world to prepare our eternal home. Do you believe it?

Verse 12-14 describes how we can live as powerful witness in our current world. Let’s read them!

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

It describes the work of the Holy Spirit after his earthly work had ceased. “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever” (John 14:16) After the Pentecost came, the Holy Spirit is mightily working for accomplishing God’s redemptive plan through believers’ outreach. In the world-wide extent of Christianity there is a work by the power of the Holy Spirit greater even than any which Christ Himself did in the flesh. He left His kingdom as one of the smallest of the influences on the earth; but it has grown up as a mighty power over all the kingdoms of the world through the mighty work of the Holy Spirit.

The believers will be then His representatives on earth by the help of the Holy Spirit. Therefore will they do His works, and the works shall be greater because He will be with them by the presence of the Holy Spirit even though Christ is at the Father’s right hand. He will do whatsoever they shall ask in His name by the helper of the Holy Spirit.

In conclusion,

“Stop letting your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me.” He will help you at any circumstance. He will give you hope. He will fundamentally give you the hope of Kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. Do you believe it?