The Way, Truth and Life  

Sunday of Philip and James the Apostles

April 27, 2008
Rev. Steven D. Spencer – Pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church, Salem, OR

John 14:1-14

"Let not your hearts be troubled. 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 and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you 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 do not 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. "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (English Standard Version) 

Grace, peace and mercy from God the Father and our Lord and savior Jesus the Christ, amen!

     Coming home for the holidays is a wonderful tradition that many families enjoy.  The hosts often have a wonderful time with their children, grandchildren, maybe even great grandchildren.  On the other hand, the returning children enjoy a few days away from the frustrations of the rat race of job and other responsibilities.  Siblings who were often at each others throats in childhood now find friendship and brotherly love as adults.  It’s time to leave troubles behind. 

What is it like for those of you who host those reunions?  Are you busy cleaning up the spare bedroom – stocking up on food – preparing meals for two dozen instead of just two?  Do you find yourself cooking foods that your doctor doesn’t allow you to eat?  What do you do to prepare your house for family to come and visit?  Is there joy in the preparation due to the anticipation of the family reunion or anxiety?

In many ways, the joy and happiness and love of a family get together reminds me of the paradise that awaits all believers.  Yet, there are some major differences with heaven, some reminders that we are still in this sinful world.  The younger grandchildren fight over toys and get cranky at bedtime.  Sometimes people get sick and need to see the doctor.  Many times, things don’t exactly go according to plan.  Most of all, the family reunion is different from heaven because the clock still ticks and the time comes when the families must all say their good-byes and return to the tension and stress of living in this fallen world.

The clock also ticks in another way.  The time comes when the family gets together and someone is missing.  A long lingering illness takes one of the matriarchs or patriarchs of the clan.  Automobile accidents, injuries, or even, tragic, random acts of violence mean that even the younger members of the family go missing.

At those times, the words Jesus shared with His disciples in the upper room can be of great comfort.  Jesus said, “In my Father's house are many rooms.”  These words remind us that Heaven is the place where we experience the perfect love of God.  It’s the perfection of things that are far beyond even the best experiences of this earth.  It’s the place of perfect rest and peace.  The clock has no power in Heaven for heaven never ends.  There is no parting, no death.  Heaven is rightly called eternal life.

Now, at the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I have to say, “But wait, there’s more!  Not only does the Father have a room for you, not only has Christ prepared that room so that it is uniquely perfect for you, but you don’t have to wait until you die and go to heaven to receive the blessings of your special place in our Father’s house.  Christ is giving you the blessing of that special place right now!

Jesus said, “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.  From now on you do know him and have seen him.”  When the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts and gives us the knowledge of Jesus, we also receive knowledge of the Father.  We know that God is with us.  When the evil one of this world attacks our houses here on this earth, we know that God is with us, to sustain us in these times of trial.  When illnesses or injuries knock us down, God is with us to carry us.  When the clock ticks down to the end and death stands at our door, Christ is there to take us to Our Father’s house.  Because Jesus has prepared a room in our Father’s house, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will be with us through all time and through all eternity.  Not only shall we live in our Father’s house, but He will also be with us while we wait here on this earth.

Unfortunately, heaven is not the only possible destination for those who leave this world.  There is another destination where the clock has no power.  That place is the place of eternal separation from God, for Jesus Himself will say to those who go to this place, “…I never knew you; depart from me…”(Matthew 7:23). This place has no rest and no peace.  There is the pain, grief, sorrow, and suffering of death, but there is no final release or escape from this eternal process of dying.  As God said through His prophet Isaiah, “…  Their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24).  Many times Jesus Himself said, “In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”   Hell is the place of eternal death.

Billions of people on this planet believe that there is some sort of existence after death.  Most of them believe that there is some system of justice beyond this life.  While there are many different ideas about the nature of that justice, there is agreement on one thing.  The rewards of heaven are infinitely preferable to the punishments of hell.  The one really important question among all these people is, “How can I have the assurance that I will go to heaven when my time here is over?”

Now, you can come to the family reunion from many different directions – North, South, East, West, and all the points in between.  You can take back roads, State Highways, and Interstates.  Even if you get a little bit lost, you can still recover and find the family reunion safely.

Sin, Death, and Satan want us to believe that there are also many ways to get to heaven.  The world wants us to believe that our eternal destiny is like a great religious smorgasbord from which we get to pick and choose.  And one religion is just as good as another.

I noticed this attitude in the news coverage back when Pope John Paul II died.  There was a great deal of praise for his work to bring unity to the world.  The news commentators even suggested that he was a great man and a great pope because he led the Roman Catholic Church to acknowledge the religions of Islam and Judaism.  It quickly became obvious that these commentators didn’t really care if the pope was right or wrong.  Their only concern was that the pope had advanced the cause of tolerance in this world.  They were interested in lowering the standards of faith so that every religious philosophy stood on an equal footing with all the others.  In fact, as far as the world is concerned, the only wrong religion is the one that claims to be the exclusive way to salvation.

The world’s view is exactly the opposite of what Jesus told His disciples.  Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  The only one who can take us to the Father’s house is the Son who comes from that house and His name is Jesus.  He is the way to the Father.  He is the truth that keeps us on that way.  He is the life that is the destination of that way.   Without Jesus there is no way to the Father.  Without Jesus there is no saving truth.  Without Jesus there is no spiritual life.  Jesus is not just one of many ways to the Father.  He is the only way to the Father.  He is the beginning, middle, and destination of our faith.  Any religion that is not based on the person and work of Jesus Christ is false and leads to eternal damnation and suffering in hell.

It may seem that I am repeating myself, but that’s because it is so easy for us to forget this teaching.  We are so tempted to believe that a person’s salvation is based on that person’s works.  How often do we say or hear someone say something like this?

·        “Surely God has a special place for her, she gave so much to the hungry.”

·        “I know God has a special place for him because he was always ready to help out when there was a need.”

·        “She sure works so hard to raise those kids.  I know that God will give her a special reward.” – the list goes on and on.

God may indeed have a special place for these people, but it will be because of the work of Jesus Christ and not because of anything they have done.

At first, this may sound like it is all law and no gospel, but Christ’s teaching really is good news.  Jesus Christ did not say we are the way, the truth, and the life.  That would be pure law.  If it were true, we would all be doomed.  Instead, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”  It’s Jesus who makes it possible for us to call God our Father and have a room in His house.

How did Jesus do that?  He left His Father’s house and came to this earth to do the works of His Father.  While He was here He took on human flesh and lived a righteous life under the authority of the law.  He allowed the authorities to arrest Him, torture Him, and put Him on a cross.  By doing these things He satisfied His Father’s wrath against our sin.  That’s how He became the way for us to enter His Father’s house.  We have confidence that He is the way because He rose from the dead.  This is the reason He could say, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”  His resurrection assures us that we too shall rise from death and that He will take us to live with Him.

What gracious words Jesus shared with His disciples in that upper room on the evening before He went to the cross.  His words are full of comfort and reassurance.  How gracious it is of Christ to prepare a uniquely perfect room for each and every one of us in His Father’s house.  How comforting it is to know that Jesus will bring us to His Father’s house safely because He Himself is the way.  How reassuring it is to know that Jesus is the full presence of God with us.  Most of all, how wonderful it is to know that Jesus’ perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection mean that His Father is also our Father and in our Father’s House, Jesus has prepared a place for us, a place we can call home. In Jesus name, Amen and amen!

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, amen!