Wednesday’s Word
By Dorette Saunders
Jesus has a very interesting conversation with his disciples in the 14th chapter of John’s Gospel (John 14:1-14). As the time gets closer, Jesus begins to share that he will not be with them for too much longer, but that he will come back so they can join him.
The talk of him leaving them is not going over well. And the disciples wonder why Jesus is saying that they “know the way” to the place where he is going. Most Bible readers know Peter as the one who speaks up, often without thinking. This time, however, both Thomas and Phillip voice their concerns.
Thomas said, “Lord, we don't even know where you are going! How can we know the way?”
Do we have questions for Jesus which are left unspoken? Are there things we want to know about salvation, God’s kingdom, or heaven that we are afraid to ask because we don’t want to seem ignorant?
Jesus welcomes our questions. In fact, this little talk with the disciples was a way of preparing them for what was to come. It was a way of disarming the feelings of worry and fear that they might experience when Jesus left. Notice what Jesus addresses first:
“Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me” (John 14:1, CEV).
Most people cannot discuss deep, spiritual matters if fear stands in the way. The disciples were no different. Jesus knew they were fearful so he encourages them to hold fast to their faith, and then he goes on to explain the mystery of the trinity.
Does your faith fail when you hear crippling news? Can you hold to the hope that is yours when everything seems to be crashing around you? The antidote to such a reaction is this: Have faith in God. Put your trust in Jesus.
Sadly, many of us have been attending church since our youth, and our faith has not matured. Without a doubt we can quote Scripture, worship exuberantly, but we cannot say definitively that we know who God is.
Jesus tells Thomas:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life! …Without me, no one can go to the Father” (v. 6).
Still puzzled, Philip, one of the first disciples whom Jesus called, asks for a sign so he can recognize “the Father.”
It is to Philip, and to us, that Jesus says:
“I have been with you for a long time. Don't you know who I am?...Don't you believe that I am one with the Father and that the Father is one with me?...” (v.10).
Do we believe Jesus’ words?
If you are hesitant, circle back to the 1st chapter of John.
“In the beginning was the one
who is called the Word.
The Word was with God
and was truly God.”
…
“The Word became
a human being
and lived here with us.”
…
“No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like” (John 1:1; 14; 18, CEV).
These words were given to us so we can know and believe.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us the way to the Father. Thank you for being God. Thank you for giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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