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SERMON for MAY 10, 2020
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The Way, The Truth, The Life
Text: Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16; I Peter 2: 2-10; John 14: 1-14
Text: Psalm 31: 1-5, 15-16; I Peter 2: 2-10; John 14: 1-14
THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE
Text: John 14: 1-6
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I am the way, the truth, and the life.
Like a trailblazer in the wilderness, Jesus continues to clear the way for His disciples. He goes ahead of them to prepare a way that they cannot see – the way to eternal life. Jesus equips them for what is soon to come – His crucifixion and resurrection – with direction to guide them, truth to combat confusion, and the promise of eternal life to equip them for the dark days that lie ahead. Jesus offers the disciples the way, the truth, and the life – Himself, His very life – that Jesus is willing to sacrifice on the cross – so that we and the whole world might know the way, the truth, and the life – that God created for us.
Throughout time, people want direction, meaning, and purpose for their days here on this earth. Sometimes we can shove important spiritual questions out of our minds and press on without giving them much thought. More often than not, we exist in a state of constant distraction and pleasure seeking. Then, suddenly, uninvited, something happens – the death of a loved one, a serious illness, a national tragedy, a global pandemic – and then important questions and answer seeking come to the forefront. Are we not seeking the way forward? Are we not longing for honest answers to our questions? Are we not hoping for ways to survive this ordeal?
Survival, truth, and direction – are very important to me these days – as I imagine they are for you, too. To whom shall we turn? As Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” [John 6: 68-69 ] Nevertheless, let us note that Peter’s declaration of faith was made in response to a question that Jesus posed to the twelve disciples early in His ministry when many of His first followers turned back and no longer went about with Jesus. “So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?” [John 6: 67] which prompted Simon Peter’s response: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” [v. 68]
In the Gospel of John, before the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus delivers a lengthy teaching to prepare the disciples for what is to come for Him and for them. The disciples do not understand what Jesus is saying when He tells them that He is going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. When Jesus talks about eternal life, the disciples don’t pretend to understand; they ask questions: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus replies with profound words that many people still find difficult to understand, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
In many ways, all people are alike. In many ways, all people are different – one from the other. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, no one human being exactly like another. Given how similar and how different we are, it is natural and to be expected that people would interpret the words of Jesus in ways that are similar to and different from the interpretations of others. Believe it or not, there are an estimated 37,000 to 38,000 different Christian denominations in the world today, all of which believe that their interpretation of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus are correct. While we may agree and disagree about the beliefs and doctrine of different churches, the number of Christian denominations in the world suggests that there is a very deep, real, and universal longing among us for direction, truth, and love while we yet live on this earth. People continue to seek answers – and they will search and search for answers to eternal questions like, “what is the meaning of life? Is there life after death? How am I supposed to live? What does God want us to do in this world?” People need direction, truth, and love to thrive.
This pandemic is leading many individuals and institutions to reflect on their values, beliefs, priorities. Some realignments are happening – others are developing – both positive in nature and negative. In the face of global and national disruptions, everything is not returning to the way it was in pre-pandemic days. In our nation and metro area, there are private educational institutions, businesses small and large, and faith organizations that are beginning to make announcements about pending closure. Others have demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and resourcefulness, and they have adapted quickly to the unusual challenges we face. Some people have predicted that there will be renewed interest in matters of faith and increased participation in worship and the activities of religious organizations. If that is an outcome of the pandemic, that would be very good news indeed.
As one of tens of thousands of preachers and teachers of the Gospel in the world today, I believe that disciples of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ are called to demonstrate in their own lives that they are indeed followers of the One who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus teaches us to follow two basic commandments: the first) love God, with all your heart and soul, mind and strength; the second) love your neighbor as yourself. Easy words to say, yet putting both into practice yields many different outcomes. At this stage in my life and over thirty years of in ministry, here is how I see it.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to demonstrate, in word and deed, that we embrace the words of the One who identified Himself as the way, and the truth, and the life. Our identity is grounded in what the Lord taught us as we strive to teach by example:
THE WAY OF COMPASSION;
THE TRUTH OF GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WORLD – FOR EVERYONE;
THE LIFE THAT LEADS TO MORE LIFE: ETERNAL LIFE AND ABUNDANT LIFE.
THE WAY OF COMPASSION – Even a quick reading of the Gospels shows clearly that Jesus Christ had compassion for the most vulnerable in our world. The majority of the Lord’s miracles were directed toward healing the sick and wounded, embracing the outcasts and oppressed, and giving hope for new life to the marginalized and persecuted. As disciples who follow the Risen Lord, we are called to walk this road, too, the way of compassion. We may profess to follow Jesus, yet an absence of compassion for others indicates that we are on a very different path, one of our own making. The way of the Lord Jesus is guided by TRUTH
The TRUTH of GOD’S LOVE FOR EVERYONE - FOR EACH ONE OF US. We like to quote John 3: 16 – “For God so loved the world…” yet we often find it hard to accept the truth that God’s love is for the whole world. Thinking of ourselves as one world – and breaking down the walls of prejudice and injustice that divide us, one from another, is an on-going challenge for Christians, as well as for all of humanity.
The LIFE THAT LEADS TO MORE LIFE. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” [John 10: 10] From Bethlehem to the cross on Calvary, from the empty tomb to the heavens above, the Lord is all about giving us new life: redeeming and restoring us, creating us anew in God’s image, equipping and empowering us with gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used for God’s kingdom purposes. Alive to Christ, dead to sin – that is what we profess and how we are called to live our faith. Instead, if we act like emotional vampires – if we attack people and seek to drain their life, snuff out their light, and show hatred rather than love – to satisfy our own agendas or those of any other institution – be it religious, social, or political, then clearly our values and beliefs are not aligned with the One who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
We follow the Risen Lord who gave us this teaching. When people encounter us, it is as if we are living human documents who have a truth to share. As disciples, can others see and hear and discover the Lord’s way, truth, and life in us, with us, and through us? If we ask for such things in Jesus’ name, Jesus teaches that He will do it.
For the glory of God, let us pray so – as we keep on praying in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Text: John 14: 1-6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am the way, the truth, and the life.
Like a trailblazer in the wilderness, Jesus continues to clear the way for His disciples. He goes ahead of them to prepare a way that they cannot see – the way to eternal life. Jesus equips them for what is soon to come – His crucifixion and resurrection – with direction to guide them, truth to combat confusion, and the promise of eternal life to equip them for the dark days that lie ahead. Jesus offers the disciples the way, the truth, and the life – Himself, His very life – that Jesus is willing to sacrifice on the cross – so that we and the whole world might know the way, the truth, and the life – that God created for us.
Throughout time, people want direction, meaning, and purpose for their days here on this earth. Sometimes we can shove important spiritual questions out of our minds and press on without giving them much thought. More often than not, we exist in a state of constant distraction and pleasure seeking. Then, suddenly, uninvited, something happens – the death of a loved one, a serious illness, a national tragedy, a global pandemic – and then important questions and answer seeking come to the forefront. Are we not seeking the way forward? Are we not longing for honest answers to our questions? Are we not hoping for ways to survive this ordeal?
Survival, truth, and direction – are very important to me these days – as I imagine they are for you, too. To whom shall we turn? As Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” [John 6: 68-69 ] Nevertheless, let us note that Peter’s declaration of faith was made in response to a question that Jesus posed to the twelve disciples early in His ministry when many of His first followers turned back and no longer went about with Jesus. “So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?” [John 6: 67] which prompted Simon Peter’s response: “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” [v. 68]
In the Gospel of John, before the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus delivers a lengthy teaching to prepare the disciples for what is to come for Him and for them. The disciples do not understand what Jesus is saying when He tells them that He is going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. When Jesus talks about eternal life, the disciples don’t pretend to understand; they ask questions: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus replies with profound words that many people still find difficult to understand, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
In many ways, all people are alike. In many ways, all people are different – one from the other. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, no one human being exactly like another. Given how similar and how different we are, it is natural and to be expected that people would interpret the words of Jesus in ways that are similar to and different from the interpretations of others. Believe it or not, there are an estimated 37,000 to 38,000 different Christian denominations in the world today, all of which believe that their interpretation of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus are correct. While we may agree and disagree about the beliefs and doctrine of different churches, the number of Christian denominations in the world suggests that there is a very deep, real, and universal longing among us for direction, truth, and love while we yet live on this earth. People continue to seek answers – and they will search and search for answers to eternal questions like, “what is the meaning of life? Is there life after death? How am I supposed to live? What does God want us to do in this world?” People need direction, truth, and love to thrive.
This pandemic is leading many individuals and institutions to reflect on their values, beliefs, priorities. Some realignments are happening – others are developing – both positive in nature and negative. In the face of global and national disruptions, everything is not returning to the way it was in pre-pandemic days. In our nation and metro area, there are private educational institutions, businesses small and large, and faith organizations that are beginning to make announcements about pending closure. Others have demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and resourcefulness, and they have adapted quickly to the unusual challenges we face. Some people have predicted that there will be renewed interest in matters of faith and increased participation in worship and the activities of religious organizations. If that is an outcome of the pandemic, that would be very good news indeed.
As one of tens of thousands of preachers and teachers of the Gospel in the world today, I believe that disciples of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ are called to demonstrate in their own lives that they are indeed followers of the One who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus teaches us to follow two basic commandments: the first) love God, with all your heart and soul, mind and strength; the second) love your neighbor as yourself. Easy words to say, yet putting both into practice yields many different outcomes. At this stage in my life and over thirty years of in ministry, here is how I see it.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to demonstrate, in word and deed, that we embrace the words of the One who identified Himself as the way, and the truth, and the life. Our identity is grounded in what the Lord taught us as we strive to teach by example:
THE WAY OF COMPASSION;
THE TRUTH OF GOD’S LOVE FOR THE WORLD – FOR EVERYONE;
THE LIFE THAT LEADS TO MORE LIFE: ETERNAL LIFE AND ABUNDANT LIFE.
THE WAY OF COMPASSION – Even a quick reading of the Gospels shows clearly that Jesus Christ had compassion for the most vulnerable in our world. The majority of the Lord’s miracles were directed toward healing the sick and wounded, embracing the outcasts and oppressed, and giving hope for new life to the marginalized and persecuted. As disciples who follow the Risen Lord, we are called to walk this road, too, the way of compassion. We may profess to follow Jesus, yet an absence of compassion for others indicates that we are on a very different path, one of our own making. The way of the Lord Jesus is guided by TRUTH
The TRUTH of GOD’S LOVE FOR EVERYONE - FOR EACH ONE OF US. We like to quote John 3: 16 – “For God so loved the world…” yet we often find it hard to accept the truth that God’s love is for the whole world. Thinking of ourselves as one world – and breaking down the walls of prejudice and injustice that divide us, one from another, is an on-going challenge for Christians, as well as for all of humanity.
The LIFE THAT LEADS TO MORE LIFE. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” [John 10: 10] From Bethlehem to the cross on Calvary, from the empty tomb to the heavens above, the Lord is all about giving us new life: redeeming and restoring us, creating us anew in God’s image, equipping and empowering us with gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used for God’s kingdom purposes. Alive to Christ, dead to sin – that is what we profess and how we are called to live our faith. Instead, if we act like emotional vampires – if we attack people and seek to drain their life, snuff out their light, and show hatred rather than love – to satisfy our own agendas or those of any other institution – be it religious, social, or political, then clearly our values and beliefs are not aligned with the One who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
We follow the Risen Lord who gave us this teaching. When people encounter us, it is as if we are living human documents who have a truth to share. As disciples, can others see and hear and discover the Lord’s way, truth, and life in us, with us, and through us? If we ask for such things in Jesus’ name, Jesus teaches that He will do it.
For the glory of God, let us pray so – as we keep on praying in Jesus’ name. Amen.