Way, Truth, Life | John 14:1-14

Click here to read John 14:1-14

RAMP: READ / ANALYZE / MEDITATE / PRAY

R: Read the Passage

Read the passage. Again. And Again. This is a GOOD CHAPTER!

A: Analyze

Journal your response to these questions:

1. What does this say about God?

As we have come to learn and love, Jesus teaches about Himself as He teaches us about the Father. There’s a lot to learn about God the Father and God the Son in this passage.

2. What does this say about you?

Y’all know I love Thomas and I’m with him in this passage. Where do you see yourself at this point in the journey of getting to know Jesus? Are you taking Him at His word? Do you still have more questions? What are you learning about yourself from this passage?

3. Is there a command to follow?

There’s a pretty strong command here regarding the our love and obedience. What else do you find?

4. Is there a sin to repent of?

How is the Holy Spirit leading toward conviction from this passage?

5. Is there a promise to claim?

There may be more promises crammed into this one passage than any others we’ve read so far!

Nicole's Notes:

The actual printed Bible I use every day has a pretty special heading over John 14:1-4 — Jesus Comforts His Disciples. We have entered into the final 24 hours of Jesus’ life on earth. In John 13, He had led the disciples in what we know as the Last Supper. He had told them hard things and then washed their feet. In the last few verses of 14, Jesus revealed Peter’s coming denials. The moment was heavy. The disciples were confused. They were sad, scared and completely unsure of just about everything. 

What does Jesus do in response? He comforts them.

When everything you think you know and understand about how God works falls apart in front of you and you are left confused, sad, scared and completely unsure, Jesus comforts you. Ask me how I know this is true! I have LIVED IT. I am sure you have, too. And yet, the last place we want to look when we have questions or feel unsure about what God is doing is to God Himself. But when we do, He comforts us as He comforted His disciples.

What does this comfort look like for us? Exactly like it looked for the disciples in John 14 — Jesus says to trust God and Him. Trust. It’s as if Jesus said to the disciples, ‘you know me, you’ve seen me move and you know my style. You know if there’s something you need to know I will tell you. So think back on all you’ve heard me say and TRUST ME!’

Is He telling you to trust Him in this season of life? Is He reminding you that He is actually trustworthy? Look back on all God has done for you and think back on all God has said to you — and trust Him. He knows what He is doing, and it’s all for your good and His glory. 

As you read verses 5-14, you can hear Jesus teaching the same thing He has been teaching all along (and the same thing He will continue to teach us forever) — the answer is HIM. 

• How do we get to the place He is? It’s HIM

• How do we enjoy the fullness of life? It’s HIM

• How do we have assurance of Heaven? It’s HIM

• How can we be sure He gives us what we need? It’s HIM.

The answer is always Jesus.

Sweet Thomas needs it spelled out, and Jesus spells it out (He never makes Thomas feel silly or stupid for asking questions… and more questions. I love this so much about both of them). Jesus says “I AM the way, the truth and the life.”

The way to what?

• The way to salvation 

• The way Heaven, eternal life in the presence of God.

• The way to the Father

In Him is the Way. He IS the way.

The truth of what? The truth upon which all other things can be true. Nothing is true outside of Him. Remember John 1 — Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus is the Word clothed in skin walking around on earth. 

In Him is Truth. He IS Truth.

What kind of life?

• Abundant life here on earth

• Eternal life with Him in Heaven.

In Him is Life. He IS Life.

Let’s flip it and reverse it. Because the enemy likes to make us question what God says. So let’s play his game and end up with the same answer.

• How do I know which way is right? The way to Jesus is always right.

• How do I know which way to go? Go toward Jesus.

• Can’t there be more ways? Jesus is the only way to the Father.

• Which way leads to happiness and joy? The way of Jesus.

• Isn’t truth subjective? Jesus is the truth.

• What even is true in this world? Jesus is always true. 

• Where can I find true love? Jesus

• Where can I find true friendship? Jesus

• Where can I find true joy? Jesus

• What’s the point of life? It’s found in a relationship with Jesus.

• How can I enjoy this life I’ve been given? In fellowship with Jesus.

• Is there more than just what I have in this life? Yes, but only because of Jesus.

• Is there hope past this life? Yes, but only in Jesus.

• Is there eternal life, and if so, what’s the point? Yes, it’s because of Jesus and the point is eternal life with Jesus. We don’t accept Jesus just to get a free pass to Heaven. We accept Jesus to GET JESUS. He is the prize.

Don’t you just love all the promises in this passage? And the grace with which Jesus gives them to Phillip — aah, it just gets to me. 

Here’s what I know from this conversation between Jesus and His disciples:

• Jesus gets us. In case you haven’t picked up on that in these 14 chapters. I can’t help but hear His compassion when He said to Phillip ‘don’t you know me?!’ It’s like when our friend apologizes for asking us to do something with/for them. OF COURSE we’re going to do it and we don’t even think twice. Why? Because they are our person. Don’t they know that by now?!

• Jesus reminds them — again, and gently — by seeing Jesus they SEE the Father. The Father and the Son are One. Therefore, the words of the Son are the words of the Father. The words of the Father are the words of the Son. How? Verse 10 — it’s the Father living in Jesus who is doing all the work.

• When we can’t believe Jesus, we can always believe His miracles. Why? Again, because the work of Jesus is the work of the Father. 

• As followers of Jesus, we are PARTICIPANTS in the work of the Father. Whew. Jesus said we’ll do even more than He did. Wowzers. How? Because we are in the Son, who is the Father. We have work to do, my friends. Holy, righteous, eternal work. At this point in Jesus’ life and time on earth, He was the only one who carried the Light of the World. He was the only one carrying the Spirit of God. NOW, because we have the gift of the Holy Spirit (read on in verses 15-31), we are also carriers of the Gospel and carriers of the Light. By simple math, the followers of Jesus will multiply the work of Christ. What an honor we have. What a privilege it is to do His work in this world.

• Because we are in Christ and He is in the Father, we have the assurance of a holy response to our requests. It’s in red letters, straight from Jesus’ mouth — whatever we ask for in His name for His glory will be given to us.

So, what are you asking for in Jesus’ name and for His glory? 

What prayers are you praying that require God’s sovereignty?

What requests are you making known to God, which will bring Heaven to earth?

How big are your prayers? How eternity-focused are your prayers? How kingdom come desperate are your prayers? 

We have been given a promise. I don’t want it to fall short in my life, I want to tap into it. I want to live in the assurance of Heaven touching earth as a result of my requests. I want my belief to match my God’s sovereignty. I want my desires to match God’s desires. I want the answers to my prayers to bring glory to God — which means my requests must be in line with the heart of God. 

M: Meditate

• Think about how you see Jesus. Do you see Him as the only Way, the ultimate Truth and the Giver of Life? 

• How are you participating in the work of God around you? Are you praying toward that end? Are you leveraging your position as a follower of Jesus in a way which leads others to Him?

• Think about the state of your prayer life. Think about the depth of your prayer life. What do you want your prayer life to be? 

P: Pray

Pray your notes back to God.

• Praise God for being God

• Thank Him for making a way for us to know Him through the life and work of Jesus.

• Ask God to grow your belief and to stretch your prayers to match His sovereignty. Ask Him to teach you how your prayers can impact the world around you.