The Way and Spirit
John 14
Entering into John 14, Jesus keeps the conversation going with His disciples regarding His leaving. Keep in mind, He is no longer debating the religious leaders or teaching a great crowd, but He is sitting with His closest friends. These moments would have been filled with emotions and questions.
Think about it. Jesus has just washed the disciples' feet (which blew their minds), called out His betrayer (Judas) and dropped a new command on them - “Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples - when they see the love you have for each other.” (13:34-35) The setting is very intimate. Jesus' death is just around the corner and He is pouring every ounce of Himself into the people that mean the most to Him.
When Jesus is talking, the disciples do not understand what He is talking about and where He is going. They want to follow Him and have a clear understanding of where He is going. Jesus responds by telling them that He is going to prepare a place for them with His father. (v 2) Jesus is on a mission to reunite us with God.
Thomas and Phillip both have questions about what Jesus is talking about. (v 5-10) These questions prompt Jesus to share two wonderful things: The first being another of the “I AM” statements. “I am the Road, the Truth, the Life.” (v 6) Secondly, Jesus goes on to tell His beloved friends of the coming Holy Spirit.
In answering these two questions, Jesus points out that He is the Way to God and He gives them a promise. Following Jesus is the Way to God and this pursuit leads to Truth and Life. The promise is that the disciples will not be left alone. Once He leaves, the Helper will come. This Helper, the Holy Spirit, will help them see and know the Father.
The Holy Spirit will fill them just as Jesus was filled. This infilling will enable the disciples, and us today, to live out the character of God on earth. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are reminded of Jesus’ teachings and empowered to keep God’s commands. The One who lived inside of Jesus now lives inside of us.
I get a great deal of encouragement when I remember that I too “am one of the people that mean the most to Him” and so are you. You see Jesus’ words from that night sitting around the dinner table with His friends did not die in that room. Praise God! They are alive today! And meant for you and me!
The beauty of God’s redemption plan is the FACT that it is for everyone! It begins in a dirty barn, surrounded by misfits and outcasts (folks like us!) and ends in triumph! What might have started out as confusing to Joseph and Mary ends with “the Way (or Road or Path), the Truth, and the Life''! In Jesus we have a direct line to God. Could a better gift ever be offered? The eternal gift of life in Jesus!