Finding Hope and Purpose in Jesus' Truth
Summary
In today's gathering, we focused on the profound truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, as articulated in John 14. This passage is a source of immense comfort, especially in times of distress and uncertainty. Jesus reassures His disciples, and us, that despite the troubles we face, we can find solace in Him. He invites us to move beyond merely knowing about Him to truly knowing Him, which opens the door to a personal relationship with God. This relationship is not based on our merits or religious background but on trusting in Jesus as the sole path to God.
As we approach the Easter season, we are reminded of the significance of Jesus' resurrection, which is the cornerstone of our faith. It is a time to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made and the new life He offers. We are encouraged to prepare our hearts and minds for this season, not just through traditional practices like fasting, but by actively engaging in service and outreach, such as our upcoming "Do Good Friday" event. This initiative is a tangible way to model the sacrificial love of Jesus to our community, inviting others to experience the hope and transformation found in Him.
In John 14, Jesus comforts His disciples by assuring them of His return and the eternal home He is preparing for them. This promise extends to us, offering hope and assurance that our ultimate destination is with Him. Jesus' declaration that He is the way, the truth, and the life is not exclusive but inclusive, inviting all to come to God through Him. It challenges us to trust in His unchanging truth amidst a world of shifting beliefs and to find our purpose and life in Him.
As we reflect on these truths, we are called to respond by believing in Jesus, living in His power, and praying in His name. These actions are not just religious duties but pathways to experiencing the fullness of life that Jesus offers. Whether we are facing personal struggles or enjoying life's blessings, Jesus invites us to find our comfort and purpose in Him.
Key Takeaways:
1. Personal Relationship with Jesus: Moving from knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Him transforms our relationship with God. This shift allows us to experience the personal and intimate connection that Jesus offers, which is the essence of the gospel. [35:10]
2. Jesus as the Sole Path to God: Jesus' statement that He is the way, the truth, and the life emphasizes that He is the only path to God. This truth challenges us to trust in Him alone for our salvation and to share this message with others in love and humility. [50:01]
3. The Unchanging Truth of Jesus: In a world where truth is often subjective, Jesus stands as the unchanging truth. His words and life provide a solid foundation for our faith, offering stability and certainty in an ever-changing world. [52:32]
4. Living in Jesus' Power: Jesus promises that those who believe in Him will do greater works, not in terms of miraculous feats, but in spreading the gospel to all nations. This calls us to live empowered by His Spirit, participating in His mission to reach the world. [01:14:10]
5. Prayer as a Source of Comfort and Power: Jesus invites us to pray in His name, assuring us that our prayers will be answered. This promise encourages us to make prayer our first response, seeking His guidance and strength in all aspects of life. [01:17:32]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Opening Prayer
- [02:00] - Introduction and Announcements
- [05:45] - Preparing for Easter
- [10:15] - Do Good Friday Initiative
- [15:00] - Importance of Easter
- [20:30] - Comfort in John 14
- [25:00] - Jesus' I Am Statements
- [30:45] - Knowing Jesus Personally
- [35:10] - The Way, The Truth, The Life
- [40:00] - Jesus' Promise of Comfort
- [46:15] - Inclusivity of Jesus' Invitation
- [50:01] - Jesus as the Sole Path
- [52:32] - Unchanging Truth of Jesus
- [56:39] - Jesus as the Life
- [01:02:34] - Thomas Akempis Reflection
- [01:08:25] - Story of Refugee Conversion
- [01:14:10] - Living in Jesus' Power
- [01:17:32] - Prayer and Response
- [01:20:11] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 14:1-14
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Jesus promise His disciples in John 14:1-3, and how does this promise provide comfort? [01:02:34]
2. How does Jesus describe Himself in John 14:6, and what significance do these descriptions hold? [50:01]
3. In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the concept of comfort? [35:10]
4. How does the pastor describe the inclusivity of Jesus' invitation in John 14:2-3? [46:15]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to move from knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Him, and how does this transformation impact one's relationship with God? [35:10]
2. How does the pastor explain the significance of Jesus being the sole path to God, and what challenges might this present in sharing the gospel with others? [50:01]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that living in Jesus' power can lead to greater works, and how does this relate to the mission of spreading the gospel? [01:14:10]
4. How does the pastor interpret the promise of prayer in Jesus' name, and what implications does this have for a believer's prayer life? [01:17:32]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with Jesus. Are you moving from knowing about Him to truly knowing Him? What steps can you take this week to deepen this relationship? [35:10]
2. Jesus is described as the way, the truth, and the life. How does this understanding challenge your current beliefs or practices? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with this truth? [50:01]
3. The sermon encourages living in Jesus' power. Identify one area in your life where you feel powerless. How can you invite Jesus' power into that situation this week? [01:14:10]
4. Consider the role of prayer in your life. Is it your first response or a last resort? What practical steps can you take to make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine? [01:17:32]
5. As Easter approaches, how can you actively engage in service and outreach, such as participating in the "Do Good Friday" event? What specific actions will you take to model the sacrificial love of Jesus to your community? [01:08:25]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt lost, lied to, or without purpose. How can the truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life provide comfort and direction in similar situations? [01:11:42]
7. The pastor shared a story about a refugee's conversion. How can you use your own story or experiences to share the hope and transformation found in Jesus with others? [01:08:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Transforming Knowledge into Relationship
Knowing about Jesus is different from truly knowing Him. This transformation is the essence of a personal relationship with God, where one moves beyond mere facts to a deep, intimate connection. This relationship is not based on our achievements or religious background but on trusting Jesus as the sole path to God. By truly knowing Him, we open ourselves to the comfort and guidance He offers, especially in times of distress and uncertainty. This personal relationship is the heart of the gospel, inviting us to experience the fullness of life that Jesus promises. [35:10]
Ephesians 3:16-19 (ESV): "that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt you only knew about Jesus rather than truly knowing Him. What steps can you take today to deepen your relationship with Him?
Day 2: Trusting Jesus as the Sole Path
Jesus' declaration that He is the way, the truth, and the life emphasizes His unique role as the only path to God. This truth challenges us to place our trust solely in Him for our salvation, moving beyond reliance on our own efforts or understanding. In a world filled with diverse beliefs and paths, Jesus' invitation is inclusive, welcoming all to come to God through Him. This calls us to share this message with others, not with arrogance, but with love and humility, recognizing the transformative power of His truth. [50:01]
Acts 4:12 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Consider someone in your life who may not know Jesus as the sole path to God. How can you lovingly share this truth with them today?
Day 3: Embracing the Unchanging Truth
In a world where truth is often seen as subjective, Jesus stands as the unchanging truth. His words and life provide a solid foundation for our faith, offering stability and certainty amidst the shifting beliefs of our time. This unchanging truth challenges us to align our lives with His teachings, finding our purpose and direction in Him. By embracing His truth, we are equipped to navigate the complexities of life with confidence and hope, knowing that His promises are steadfast and reliable. [52:32]
Hebrews 13:8-9 (ESV): "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you struggle to accept Jesus' unchanging truth. What steps can you take to align this area with His teachings today?
Day 4: Living Empowered by Jesus' Spirit
Jesus promises that those who believe in Him will do greater works, not necessarily in terms of miraculous feats, but in spreading the gospel to all nations. This calls us to live empowered by His Spirit, participating in His mission to reach the world. By living in His power, we are equipped to make a meaningful impact in our communities, modeling the sacrificial love of Jesus through acts of service and outreach. This empowerment is not about personal glory but about advancing His kingdom and inviting others to experience the hope and transformation found in Him. [01:14:10]
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (ESV): "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Reflection: Identify a specific way you can participate in Jesus' mission in your community this week. How can you rely on His Spirit to empower you in this endeavor?
Day 5: The Power of Prayer
Jesus invites us to pray in His name, assuring us that our prayers will be answered. This promise encourages us to make prayer our first response, seeking His guidance and strength in all aspects of life. Prayer is not just a religious duty but a source of comfort and power, connecting us to the heart of God and aligning our desires with His will. By cultivating a life of prayer, we open ourselves to His transformative work, experiencing the peace and assurance that comes from trusting in His promises. [01:17:32]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: Think of a specific situation in your life where you need God's guidance. How can you make prayer your first response in this situation today?
Quotes
Heavenly Father, Lord, we do long for the day that one day, Lord, you shall return. Lord, you are going to make all things new. No more sickness, no more death, no more anxiety, no more depression, no more cancer. Lord, you are going to make all things brand new. And Lord, we long for that day. So until that day, Lord Jesus, would you come and would you be with us, Lord? We need you today. We cry out to you. We don't want to worship you, Lord, in fakeness. So Lord, just wherever we're at today, we come and we worship you and we praise you and we thank you, Lord. We love you, Lord, because Jesus, you have risen from the grave. And so you are where we put all of our hope and our confidence. Lord, we love you and it's in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen and amen. [00:24:01] (55 seconds)
When we move from knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Jesus, we begin to experience a personal relationship with God. Let me say that again. When we move from knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Jesus, we begin to experience a personal relationship with God. Guys, I would tell you that that is the good news of the gospel is that you get to have a personal relationship with God. But unfortunately, a lot of times we use our knowledge about Jesus. I know a lot about him. I've watched the chosen. I could tell you everything you need to know about Jesus, right? The problem is Jesus doesn't need you to know about him. Jesus wants you to actually know him. [00:35:10] (53 seconds)
Let not your hearts be troubled. Amen? Believe in God. Believe also in me. 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 to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself so that where I am, you may be also. [00:41:52] (24 seconds)
What a powerful I am statement, a way that Jesus brings massive comfort to the disciples. Here's what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying, all are welcome to come to God. In my Father's house are many rooms. There's going to be room for everybody, every nation, language, tribe, doesn't matter where you're from, doesn't matter your background, doesn't matter what, doesn't matter your past. Like, there is room for everybody. But there's only one way to get there. [00:48:50] (30 seconds)
Jesus is saying, all are welcome, but there's only one way. There's only one path. I want you to look at that statement where Jesus says, I am the way. Now, first, like, I want you to notice the word I. Jesus is pointing to himself. Jesus is saying the person of Jesus, I. That word I, it's a personal statement. Jesus doesn't say the Christian religion. He doesn't say following the law. He doesn't say, like, doing all the right things. Jesus doesn't say, like, having all the right theology and doctrine. Jesus just says he, I. [00:49:30] (43 seconds)
And I love this because it's kind of a, like we talked about last week, kind of a nod back to the Old Testament where God introduces himself to Moses. You guys know the story. Maybe you've seen the Prince of Egypt. The bush is on fire, but it's not burning. Ah! And Moses sees it and he's like, what is going on here? And, and God says, I want you to go tell Pharaoh, let my people go. Moses is like, you want a shepherd just to roll up to Pharaoh and say, hey, let my people go. And God's like, yeah. And Moses says, okay, who should I say? He's going to ask me on whose authority. What should I say? And God says, tell him I am sent you. [00:50:58] (35 seconds)
What Jesus, I think, is literally talking about is the Word of God, the Bible, where Jesus says, I am the fulfillment, I am the truth of everything that was written in this Bible. Isn't this amazing? Do you guys know this book is one book made up of 66 books written by over 40 different people over the span of 1,500 years, and it all connects to tell one story. Isn't that amazing? Like when people tell me, I don't know if we can trust the validity of the Bible, I'm like, you've never read it. [00:55:04] (36 seconds)
And yet God, in his grace and his mercy, didn't look at us and say, try to figure it out. Go ahead. Well, you better try to wet the cloth. Try to, have you tried vinegar? Have you tried putting it in a washing machine? Like Jesus doesn't just spout out ideas to make ourselves better. Jesus comes down to us. Shows us how to live the perfect life that you and I do not measure up to. And then, as the only one able to give up his perfect righteousness and life as a sacrifice acceptable to God, Jesus gave it up to die on the cross. [00:58:01] (43 seconds)
And this word life is what we would also see as eternal life, which also means abundant life. It doesn't mean like wealth, like, oh, he's the way, the truth, and the life, so I'm going to live the high life. I'm going to like live up. Like that's not what it means. It means that you can live forever. That the worst thing that could happen to you is that you would die, and then Jesus makes that literally the best thing that could ever happen to you. Like that's what it means when Jesus says he is the life. [01:01:29] (29 seconds)
There's an old guy, really old, dead now, Thomas Akempis, came from the 1400s, from Catholicism. Back then, they just had a way of putting things into words that was very poetic. Sometimes it can be hard to read, but I stumbled across this this week, and it was so beautiful, just another way to express this. I wanted to read it to you in hopes that it would stir up some affections in our hearts. Listen to what Thomas Akempis says, kind of rewrites this scripture. Follow thou me. I am the way and the truth and the life. [01:02:48] (43 seconds)
And Philip said to him, Lord, show us the father, and it is enough for us. Now, here's what's crazy, is that now Philip's getting in on the mix. Like, you know, the flex on Thomas wasn't enough. Now Philip is like, actually, I bring some questions to the table. Jesus, you're talking about the father. Show us the father, and that would be enough for us. What he's saying is, we want to see God. Like, we want to visibly, physically, with our eyes, see God. And that will be enough for us. So, just real quick, before you go to wherever you're going, show us God, and then we can call it a night. Just a small ask, really. [01:04:36] (42 seconds)
And Jesus said to him in verse 9, Have I been with you so long, and still you don't know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the father. How are you going to say, show us the father? Do you not believe that I am in the father, and the father is in me? The words that I say to you, I don't speak on my own authority, but the father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the father, and the father is in me. Or else believe on account of the works themselves. [01:05:23] (29 seconds)
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