John 14:1-10 I AM: the Way, Truth, and Life

## I AM: the 
# Way, Truth and Life
## John 14:1-10
[Ricardo Rocha. Lagoa Comprida, Portugal](https://unsplash.com/photos/nj1bqRzClq8 "caption")

>>>

---

## Jesus is the I AM

+ **Bread** of Life [(Jn6)](# "ref")
+ **Light** of the World [(Jn8)](# "ref")
+ **Door** for the Sheep [(Jn10)](# "ref")
+ Good **Shepherd** [(Jn10)](# "ref")
+ Resurrection and the **Life** [(Jn11)](# "ref")
+ **Way**, the Truth, and the Life [(Jn14)](# "ref")
+ True **Vine** [(Jn15)](# "ref")

[pxhere](https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1094065 "caption")

>>>

---

## Way, Truth, and Life (Jn14)
1. The House [(v1-3)](# "ref")
1. The Way [(v4-6)](# "ref")
1. The Father [(v7-10)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Comfort 
+ Guidance 
+ Glory

---

Where I am going you **cannot follow** me now, 
but you will follow **afterward**.

Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will 
not crow till you have **denied me** three times.

[John 13:36,38 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Alex Jones](https://unsplash.com/photos/p0W9Q9gei4g "caption")

>>>
+ Jesus **leaving**, and
  + predicts Peter's **denial**
+ All **11** have given up everything
  + to **follow** Jesus 3yrs
+ Now: loss of **leadership**
  + loss of **confid** in own faith
+ Jesus notices this, **comforts**:

---

Let not your hearts be **troubled**. 
Believe in God; **believe** also in me.

[John 14:1 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Dozen](https://unsplash.com/photos/8wUVsR-w994 "caption")

>>>
+ "troubled": **shaken**, unsettled, confused
+ It's one thing to **follow** Jesus
  + when we **see** His guidance clearly
+ and feel **our** faith is strong
  + would **die** for Him
+ What about when He seems to **leave** us?
  + when my faith **fails**
  + **deny** in words + actions
+ **Strength** of our faith not as imp as
  + **Object** of our faith
+ **Mustard seed** is enough to move mtns
+ **Same** God when we felt His presence
  + same God when we **don't**
+ Absence only **temporary**:

---

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?

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.

[John 14:2-3 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Dan Edwards](https://unsplash.com/photos/cgPxN5Y27pA "caption")

>>>
+ house w/many rooms: **abundance**
  + future hope of **glory**
+ **Heart** of our Shepherd:
  + not **aloof**, watching us
  + **kicking** about in our sin
+ Speaks **life** into us: Live, live
  + desires to **bring** us to Himself
+ Have this **Hope** so won't lose **heart**
  + even if daily given over 
  + to **death** for Jesus' sake
+ **Peter**: did lay down his life

---

For this light **momentary affliction** 
is preparing for us an eternal 
**weight of glory** beyond all comparison,

as we look not to the things that are **seen** 
but to the things that are **unseen**.

[2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Ricardo Gomez Angel](https://unsplash.com/photos/-lYk9rDI2UU "caption")

>>>
+ **suffering** for sake of gospel
  + our own **weakness** in faith
+ though **overwhelming** + seemingly endless
  + hardly compares w/
+ God's **glory** that we will see + share

---

# Have I ever felt **abandoned** by Jesus?

>>>
+ Experienced same **confusion**, shaken
  + as disciples:
+ Not only Jesus' **leaving**
  + but loss of confid in own **faith**
+ **Where** is God when He is silent?

---

## Way, Truth, and Life (Jn14)
1. The House [(v1-3)](# "ref")
1. **The Way** [(v4-6)](# "ref")
1. The Father [(v7-10)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Where Jesus was going,
  + they couldn't follow **yet**
+ But would follow **later**
+ **How?** What's the **destination**?
  + What **steps** do we take?

---

"And you know the **way** to where I am going.”

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

[John 14:4-5 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Venray, Netherlands. Michael Coury](https://unsplash.com/photos/DiKkJKvDi64 "caption")

>>>
+ Thomas: **literal**-minded, no nonsense
  + ch11: Laz **dead**, we go to him
  + ch20: see/**touch** hands/side
+ GPS: input dest **addr**
  + let algo find best **route**
  + (I trust algo; wife trusts own exp)
+ "Tell me the **goal**;
  + let me choose the **means**"

---

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

[John 14:6 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Vietnam. Andreas Kind](https://unsplash.com/photos/bUhzlj3gGso "caption")

>>>
+ cannot **bypass** Jesus to obtain eternal life
+ 3 aspects to 1 message: **discipleship**
+ "way": **road**, highway, well-travelled path
  + manner of **living**: habits, conseq
  + Gr: usu. **destiny** more than **decision**
+ cf ch10:

---

I am the **door**. 
If anyone **enters** by me,

he will be **saved** 
and will go **in and out** 
and find **pasture**.

[John 10:9 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Daniel von Appen](https://unsplash.com/photos/NVnU0WIhC28 "caption")

>>>
+ goal is not **pasture**, nor sheepfold
  + just stay close to **Shepherd**
+ Discipleship is in **everyday** habits
  + going in+out
  + each **step** along road
+ **easier** w/practise
  + but also new **challenges**
+ **truth**:

---

If you **abide** in my word, 
you are truly my **disciples**,

and you will know the **truth**, 
and the truth will set you **free**.

[John 8:31-32 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Paul Morris](https://unsplash.com/photos/1Z2niiBPg5A "caption")

>>>
+ true **freedom**: not selfishness
  + but freedom from **sin**
+ only comes from **truth**:
  + obj **reality**
  + who **we** are, how **designed**
  + what is **right** behaviour
+ freedom of **speech**, opinion
  + "sovereign citizens"
  + "reject your reality, subst own"
+ Don't use freedom as **cover** for evil,
  + but live as **servant** of God (1Pet2)
+ freedom comes from **truth**,
  + truth from **discipleship**
  + discipleship from **Word**
+ **abide**: not just 1-time commit
  + remain in the **vine** (ch15)

---

I am the **resurrection** and the **life**.

Whoever **believes** in me, 
though he **die**, yet shall he **live**,

and everyone who **lives** and believes in me 
shall **never** die.

[John 11:25-26 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Alberto Restifo](https://unsplash.com/photos/Ni4NgA64TFQ "caption")

>>>
+ Eternal life is not only in **heaven**
  + resurr **body**, new heaven+earth
+ But **renewal** starts even in **this** life
  + When we **follow** Jesus

---

# How did I come to be on this **path** in life?

>>>
+ How much was by **decision** (mine or others')
  + How much was **random** chance
  + How much was God's **providence**
+ Review **past**, take heart for **future**
  + **progress**: cut trees
+ What **invitation** from Jesus?
  + **Way**, truth, life

---

## Way, Truth, and Life (Jn14)
1. The House [(v1-3)](# "ref")
1. The Way [(v4-6)](# "ref")
1. **The Father** [(v7-10)](# "ref")

---

If you had **known me**, 
you would have known **my Father** also.

From now on you do **know** him 
and have **seen** him.”

[John 14:7 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Montreal, CA. Marc-Olivier Jodoin](https://unsplash.com/photos/TStNU7H4UEE "caption")

>>>
+ 8:19 to disbelieving Jews:
  + You know neither me nor my Father. 
  + If you knew me, you would know my Father also.
+ But: now you do know Father

---

Philip said to him, 
“Lord, **show us** the Father, 
and it is **enough** for us.”

Jesus said to him, 
“Have I been with you so long, 
and you still do not **know me**, Philip?

[John 14:8-9 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Nancy, France. Rémi Walle](https://unsplash.com/photos/UOwvwZ9Dy6w "caption")

>>>
+ Philip:
 + ch1: to Nathanael: **come and see**
 + ch12: **brought** Gr to Jesus
 + Ac8: Samaria, **Ethiopian** eunuch
+ the "come and see" evangelist
  + messenger, go-between
+ Is Jesus only a **messenger** from God?
  + Jesus' role + **ID**

---

Whoever has seen **me** has seen the **Father**. 
How can you say, ‘**Show us** the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am **in the Father** 
and the Father is **in me**?

[John 14:9-10 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ discip knew **Jesus**, lived w/3yrs
  + but knew of **Father** only abstractly
  + stories in OT, far-off holiness
+ we talk of **God** often
  + prayer, morals, justice
  + but forget historicity of **Jesus**
+ Immanuel, Word made flesh

---

The words that I say to you 
I do not speak on my own **authority**,

but the **Father** who dwells in me 
does his works.

[John 14:10 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Anas Belmadani](https://unsplash.com/photos/6yZ5CWMnDNw "caption")

>>>
+ ch8 (light): 2 witnesses
  + own testimony true bc
  + knows where comes + goes
+ Father's testimony:
  + miracles of healing
  + resurrection
+ Works **continue** in us (v12)
  + not bc **strength** of faith
  + but **object** of faith
+ "in my name": not magic phrase
  + but acc his **truth**
+ (v16) Advocate: Spirit of truth

---

# Do I still **yearn** to see God?

>>>
+ Philip: "come and see" evangelist
+ truth+reality of Immanuel