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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Disciples, Part XVIII, John 14:5,6 - Lesson 126
Read Verses John 14:1-4,for review: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Thomas still does not get the message from his Master.
But he does not hide his ignorance like many do.
He questions his teacher.
Thomas was earthly, Thomas was materialistic.
He did not understand heavenly messages.
He was bound by barriers of his own personality, culture and religion.
He had not yet been given the Spirit of Truth to show him things to come.
Was the mansion some grand house near Jerusalem?
What road would he take to get there?
He thought in terms of him figuring out the way to the mansion.
What did this all mean?
He wants to know so he ask a question.
Doesn't a teacher like his or her students to ask questions?
Otherwise a teacher assumes his students know what he is talking about.
Thomas' question gave opportunity to Jesus Christ to expound more on this subject for the disciples benefit and for our benefit.
John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I know the way to go to visit my Mother who lives with my sister and her husband in Montgomery Al.
The first time I went there I wrote down the instructions as given to me by my sister.
Proceed north on Highway 87 to Brewton Al then take 31 north to I-65, north on I-65 to I-85 in Montgomery, exit at East Blvd and turn right staying in the left lane in order to get into the left lane of East Blvd. so as to quickly turn left onto Carmichael Rd. which is the first stop light after getting on East Blvd.
Go three blocks and turn right on Woodmere to 4th house on left top of hill, 1371 Woodmere, beige house with white fence.
I know the way and if you follow these instructions you too can get there.
That is the way.
Getting there is accomplished by your believing my instructions and religiously following my instructions.
It is a religious exercise.
It is the believing and practicing of my word in order to arrive at the goal of getting to my sister's house.
And it is done by your works.
Just follow the directions and you will arrive at my sister's house.
But getting to the Father's house in not like that.
You cannot get there by your efforts.
The way to the Father's house is not a set of instructions, it is not a religion based upon your works.
The way to the Father's house is not accomplished by your abilities, by your wit, by your intellect at following instructions.
The way to the Father's house is only through a person.
It is as if I did not have a set of instructions to get to my Mother's.
I would have to admit I was lost as I attempted the many possible ways to get there on my own.
Someone comes along and says I will get you there.
Just follow me. I sit back and worry no longer how to get there.
I just follow the person and soon I arrive at my Mother's house.
That is what Jesus Christ is communicating to Thomas and the other disciples.
Sit back and trust in me, he says.
Follow me!
No man knows how to get to the Father because the Father only reveals himself through his Son.
He is the way to the Father and only he is the way.
There is no other way.
But you must quit trying to get there by your own works and admit that your own works are getting you nowhere.
Cease from your efforts and admit that you are lost.
Then simply put your problem in the hands of the one who is the way to the Father.
Jesus Christ does not stop there.
He also says: I am the truth! I am the truth of this way!
Note that he did not say that he speaks the truth.
Note that he did not say that he tells the truth.
Note that he did not say that he teaches the truth!
He simply said, I am the truth!
This means that anything, any dogma, any religion, any philosophy, every scientific, political or social theory that does not match up to Jesus Christ will ultimately prove itself false.
Jesus Christ is the standard that all must be measured against.
Man loves and desires to invent what he calls truth but whatever comes from the mind of man apart from Jesus Christ is a false and dark way.
Eccl 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
Man lives in darkness because he does not know truth himself.
Even the oath, Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is impossible for man to truly keep, for the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is only found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And you can only know truth by knowing Jesus Christ.
It is not discovered in a test tube or by social research or by experience. |