Last week I shared some thoughts on John 14:6, a quote from Jesus where He states no one comes to God except through Him.
The Gospel of John, chapter 14, brings this beautiful message which I highly recommend and hope you can spend some time in – seeing, and feeling, for yourselves the aforementioned truth. People are leaving the church in droves these days. Ironically, according to recent studies, meditation is on the rise. People are drawn to the search for their “higher power.” I imagine the process can get confusing as people explore faith and connection to God. There are so many different schools of thoughts and wonderful teachers of enlightenment and spirituality to look to.
But the Word assures we need to look no further than Jesus. Notes in the NIV study Bible point out that this is one one the most basic and important passages in Scripture. It says ‘How can we know the way to God? Only through Jesus. Jesus is the way because He is both God and man. By uniting our lives with His, we are united with God. Trust Jesus to take you to the Father, and all the benefits of being God’s child will be yours.’
Being “God’s child” is a near incomprehensible concept. Just as it is within our human families, it implies that god-like traits are passed down to us, comprising us, just as Jesus was composed of “the stuff” of the Father – love, wisdom, faith, hope, trust, compassion, the ability to heal and make miracles happen to name just a few. It also implies the all comforting concept of home. Those of us that come from homes where we’ve been loved and appreciated know there’s nothing like the feeling of returning home. Where we get to feel the familiar embrace of those that love us most. Our heavenly home is where God wants to lead everyone to ultimately.
Jesus’ embrace was probably unparalleled and His disciples were very upset that He was going away as time moved their circle closer to His death. His answer to them was “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that 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 so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Remember Thomas responded: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know my Father as well. From now on you do know Him, and have seen Him.”
He means that “the way” exists in believing that God embodied Him. Believe that, then look to His life’s journey and how He handled each and every situation as the model for your own. Some may argue that this way is too narrow. Too confining. In reality, ours is a God of inclusion and expansion beyond our comprehension. His way is wide enough for the whole world if the world chooses to accept it. Instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one way, we should be saying Thank you God, for providing a sure way to get to You.
We’ll continue our study of John 14. There is so much to glean. But for today let us focus on the words of our Lord again, “I am the Way.” What a wonderful, wonderful thing to know. He has given Himself to each of us to show “THE WAY” to our Beautiful Father God of Love. Because it all begins there.
A note on Ukraine today says, “Food shortages stoked by the war in Ukraine could cause malnutrition, mass hunger, and famine in a crisis that could last for years around the world.” Let us continue to pray for Ukraine and the war impacting our precious world.
Love you all, my Brothers and Sisters in the Lord. Walk with our God of Love moment by moment.
Poppa B