THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE
John 14:5-7
INTRODUCTION
Life rarely behaves as we want it to behave or as we expect it to behave. The older we get the longer is the list of questions in our life as to why things have occurred the way they have. Sometimes we face frustration, even anger, as to why things have happened the way they have happened. Sometimes we are just afraid.
When the time comes in our life when we do not know the question to ask, as well as the answer, we have to do what the disciples did in John 14. First they had troubled hearts. Here is a law of life: even when we are close to Jesus, our hearts can be troubled from time to time. Get use to it.
The only answer for a troubled heart is for us to do what the disciples did: listen to Jesus teach. Today we do it by reading our Bible and by listening to Bible preaching. After a bit we are then able to begin to ask questions.
Questions are good. God does not mind our asking Him questions. Even dumb questions are good. Jesus used even dumb questions to teach eternal truth. When we ask Jesus questions, there are no dumb questions.
The question that is asked is not about heaven. Jesus told them about heaven in the previous verses. The question is, rather, how to get to heaven. And an even greater principle is included here. Even though we know we will eventually get to heaven, the way, or path, that we are to follow sometimes seems to lead us in directions that are not heavenward. Because of the pain, or loneliness, or frustrations, or a myriad of other emotions, we can begin to understand why the path He has chosen for us is to be so uncomfortable.
THEME: WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING:
I. WE CAN ASK HIM TO HELP US vs. 5
A. So Often We Don’t Know Why; We Just Don’t Know – Period!
1. Thomas’ question is the honest mark of a disciple
2. Thomas does not make any demand
3. He asks with a sense of humility
4. He admits his ignorance
NOTE: An astonishing thing to do in the midst of this bunch who were desirous to have the “chief seat”
5. Without such humility and honesty real discipleship is impossible
NOTE: The marks of someone who is not a disciple
a. They do not exhibit humility
b. They do not ask honest questions
B. We Need The Right Kind Of Knowledge
1. There are things to discover in our spiritual life
2. We must examine how God works in our lives
3. We must pay attention to God’s dealings with us
C. How Can We Know The Way?
1. How
a. By what means
b. In what way
2. Can
a. Greek – dunamai
b. Be able to do something
c. Have power
d. To be capable
3. Way
a. Course of conduct
b. Journey
c. A travelled road
T.S. WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING:
I. WE CAN ASK HIM TO HELP US
II. WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN JESUS vs. 6
A. Jesus Responds By Taking About Himself
NOTE: A rare occurrence. Normally He talked in the third person. The Son of man, etc.
1. I
a. Greek – ego
b. Emphatic
c. No question, I
2. In this one statement Jesus sums up His divine nature
NOTE: Jesus has called Himself
a. Bread
b. Door
c. Life
d. Light
e. Water
B. Jesus Is The Way
NOTE: Over 600 times the Bible talks about “way”
1. Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. John 8:21
2. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6
3. And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Acts 9:2
4. The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. Acts 16:17
5. And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. Acts 19:23
6. And the way of peace have they not known Romans 3:17
B. Jesus Is The Truth
1. Certainty
2. Free from pretense, falsehood, deceit
3. Reality
4. What is true in any matter under consideration
5. The utter dependability of Jesus
NOTE: When we go to the doctor, we want a prescription for exactly what we will need to get well. We would be quite startled if the doctor said, “These pills ought to cure you if you’re sincere. After all, we believe in health, don’t we?” Or would we trust ourselves to a surgeon who had received no specialized training but was simply a really good person who meant well? Of course not! We know that truth is narrow. We will trust our life only to someone who knows exactly what he or she is doing.
C. Jesus Is The Life
1. A contrast
a. Jesus is not a second Moses who wants to show the way
b. Jesus is not a second Elijah who wants to show the truth
c. Jesus is the life
NOTE: Living without God’s plan for our life is like sewing with a needle without thread, or writing one’s biography with a pen empty of ink
2. Life
a. Mere physical existence matters little
b. The only life worthy of the name is that which Jesus brings
NOTE: Jesus is the:
a. Way to God
b. Truth of God
c. Life of God
NOTE: In Greek there is a definite article before each word setting them off as absolutes
a. The Way
b. The Truth
c. The Life
NOTE: The opposites
a. The Way vs. broad way
b. The Truth vs. ignorance
c. Life vs. death
D. Jesus Is The Only Way For Us To Come To The Father
1. Come
a. Come from one place to another
NOTE: Truth is narrow. If we were hiking and came to a wide river, and we learned that there is one bridge, down the river a mile or two, we wouldn’t stomp in disgust and moan about how that was such a narrow way to think and that the bridge should be right there, where we were. Instead, thankful that there was a bridge, we would go to it and cross over.
b. Make one’s appearance
c. Become known
NOTE: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.Matthew 7:23
2. Unto
a. By
b. Near
c. To
d. With
3. By – Through
4. Me
a. If God has no avenue of communication with us apart from His Word (Incarnate and written), we have no avenue of approach to God apart from the One who became flesh for us
b. Some say, “How exclusive!”
1) No, “How inclusive!”
2) God has provided Himself a Lamb
NOTE: Follow thou me. I am the way and the truth and the life. Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which you must follow; the truth which thou must believe; the life for which thou must hope. I am the inviolable way; the infallible truth; the never – ending life. I am the straightest way; the sovereign truth; life true, life blessed, life uncreated. If thou remain in my way thou shalt know the truth, and the truth shall make thee free, and thou shalt lay hold on eternal life. Thomas a Kempis
T.S. WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING:
I. WE CAN ASK HIM TO HELP US
II. WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN JESUS
III. WE CAN KNOW THE GREATEST LOVER OF OUR SOUL vs. 7
A. Jesus Now Moves The Emphasis From Going To Knowing The Fathe
1. He moves from the future tense to the present tense
2. God’s presence here and now
B. If We Have Known Jesus (Salvation)
1. Become acquainted with
2. Come to know
3. Perceive
4. Understand
C. Henceforth
1. At this very time on
2. Just now beginning
3. This moment on
D. We Know And We See The Father
1. Two ways
a. Now by knowing Jesus
b. Now by seeing Jesus
NOTE: When someone properly explains something to us we say, “I see …”
2. We become acquainted with Him by experience
a. Know
b. Perceive
c. See with the mind
d. Take heed
e. To stare at
CONCLUSION
WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING:
I. WE CAN ASK HIM TO HELP US
II WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN JESUS
III. WE CAN KNOW THE GREATEST LOVER OF OUR SOUL
Sermon Outlines 