Bible Study: I Am The Way and The Truth and The Life (John 14)–By Meisha Johnson
It’s rare for me to jump on Psalm 91 and make a personal post, but I was so moved by a passage in the Bible this morning I felt compelled to.
For those of you who don’t know my testimony, I came to know the Lord after a knee-bending spiritual awakening (a divine encounter) over a decade ago. It happened in my living room in broad daylight. After that event, my life changed dramatically — even down to the minutia of my daily routine.
Most every morning, before cracking open the school books (currently working on my Master’s in Sacred Theology), I spend time in God’s Word. At least thirty minutes with Him, His instruction, and in prayer. Even on days I don’t feel like it, I do it because when I don’t my soul is “off” the entire day. A subtle heaviness (darkness) I can’t seem to shake. Ever happen to anyone else? I suppose it’s maybe not so strange considering the world we live in today. Our minds and hearts bombarded with a seemingly endless stream of negativity.
One thing is certain, we need something to balance the incessant infiltration of hopeless messaging. Thankfully, we have one. The infallible Word of God.
This morning before class, I was up to my usual routine. Coffee, feed the cats (two rescues from Philly) and the Bible. I was reading a passage in the Book of John that I’ve read several times before. But for whatever reason today, the words seemed to jump off of the page — burying themselves into my soul and pressing me to share with all of you. I’m not sure who specifically needs to read this today but someone does. And even more importantly, we all do.
As you read over this passage, allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Listen for that gentle whisper that desires to lead, strengthen, lift and encourage you — especially during times like these. And remember: The most important thing in life is faith. The door to eternal salvation. Other things are important, of course, but nothing is as important (or as urgent) as strengthening our relationship with Jesus Christ — our Savior.
May He bless you and lead you to all Truth – today and always.
Last Supper Discourse (Jesus to His disciples and to all of us): John 14:1-14
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in Me.
2 In my Father’s House there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you also may be. 4 Where [I] am going you know the way.
5 Thomas said to Him, “Master, we do not know where You are going; how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.
7 If you know Me, then you will also know My Father.
From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. [So] how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who dwells in Me is doing His works.
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. 12 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My Name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything of Me in My Name, I will do it.”
Bible Study: I Am The Way and The Truth and The Life–John 14
Christ offered the disciples hope and consolation in the face of their cowardice, fear, disloyalty and disillusionment. They did not fully grasp at the time what was about to happen (Christ’s arrest, trial and crucifixion), but Jesus was nonetheless abounding in grace, mercy, and encouragement.
Much like we don’t (fully) understand what’s happening in our world today, Jesus reminds us that through Him (and despite our fear, disloyalty, lack of faith and disillusionment), we too have hope.
(v 2): In this verse, Christ speaks of Heaven itself. A place where the faithful will surely dwell with God for all time. We cannot achieve eternal salvation through our own human efforts, however. Rather, we need Christ’s redeeming grace. He alone can lead us to our forever Home.
(v 5-6): In a reply to a question from Thomas, Christ reminded the disciples that the way to the Father is through Him. He, Christ, is the way–the only way; the very meaning (and purpose) of our human life and the way to the afterlife.
(Reference/Translation: NABRE)
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