In this sermon Pastor Tom Ascol addresses John 14:1-31 and focuses on Jesus’ words in verse 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” This statement is the most profound of the many “I AM” statements of Jesus throughout John’s Gospel. These “I AM’s” are clear references to the ever-existent Yahweh in the Old Testament. They plainly point to Jesus’ deity.
Pastor Ascol discusses the context, content, and consequences of the passage. The context gives hope to disillusioned or discouraged Christians. In the passage the apostles are suffering from troubled hearts as a result of the impact of Jesus’ revelation of His coming betrayal, death, and absence. Yet Jesus offers them hope. He is preparing a future home in heaven for His followers and promising the coming Helper and Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
The content of the passage contains explicit doctrine. Jesus is the only way to the Father. He unmistakably and unambiguously makes that claim. Since He is the way Pastor Ascol challenges listeners to ask themselves what “way” they are counting on for eternity, particularly because of Jesus’ claim to be the only way to God. Jesus is also the truth revealing the brokenness of the world, the truth about human sinfulness and the truth about God and His love. That love made a provision for man’s sinfulness enabling a restored relationship with God. Jesus is the life, offering life to all who follow Him. Finally, Jesus equates Himself with God proving His deity. Verse 9, “he who has seen me has seen the Father,” is but one example of the proofs Jesus offers.
Pastor Ascol then deals with the consequences of Jesus’ teaching in this chapter. Jesus calls us to trust Him for eternal security as well as for earthly peace. Verses 15, 21, and 23 call us to love Him sincerely and in so doing follow His teaching. Jesus’ words on prayer, Verses 13 and 14, teach believers to pray expectantly. Throughout the chapter Jesus shows the value and necessity for God’s children to serve Him, especially since they are empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit (Verses 16-17).
The theme of the chapter remains: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, the only way, truth, and life. As we trust Him we come to know Him, receive peace from Him, and are enabled to serve and glorify Him.
