#21 – Knowing God Better – John 13 continued
Today’s study will be about what it takes to get to heaven.
We’re going to start in verse 31. Judas is leaving. He’s going go betray Jesus to the Jewish authorities, to help them arrest Jesus.
At this point, Jesus brings up an uncomfortable topic.
Jesus is talking about leaving the disciples. But this time, the disciples cannot go with him.
31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will soon give glory to the Son.
33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.
This is one of those times when you need to keep reading to find out what Jesus is talking about.
The disciples were confused about this.
36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”
And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”
As John 14 starts, we begin to understand. Jesus says:
Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust
also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
Q – Where is Jesus preparing a place for them? (see above verses)
A –
Q – Often Jesus talked about being sent by the Father, who is in heaven. Jesus came from the Father. So where is Jesus going?
A –
If you’re still not sure what’s going on here, the disciples were confused also. Jesus said to the disciples:
3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Here is Jesus’ reply. It is a monumental comment! It’s one that you should consider writing down and memorizing. Here you go:
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
So now Jesus has clarified that he is going to the Father, and he is preparing a place for them to be with him, with the Father.
Q – When Thomas asked him how they could possibly know the way, how did Jesus answer him? What is the way to the Father in heaven?
A –
Jesus is not merely a way to the Father. He isn’t like a great teacher or a prophet that points people toward God. It isn’t like he’s just saying, “Listen to what I tell you, and it will tell you how to get to heaven.”
Jesus said that he is THE way, and in fact no one can get to the Father except through him. He is the truth. He is eternal life.
He’s why Jesus is not just A way to the Father. Here are verses 7 through 11, Jesus’ speaking:
7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
Jesus is reminding them of all they have seen…Lazarus being raised from the dead. A man born blind able to see. Feeding five thousand people, starting with five loaves of bread and two fish.
Q – Are there times when the current circumstances have you so confused, so focused on the problems, that you forget what you know about Jesus?
A –
I’m going to cheat a little and give you a statement that Jesus makes in John 16 (which we haven’t come to yet). But it lands the plane for you. Jesus tells his disciples:
27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”
Q – What is the main verse for you to know and believe about Jesus from today’s study of John 14?
A –
There may be several. Make sure you catch John 14:6.
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
And Jesus explains why this is true:
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! I am in the Father and the Father is in me.
For those who believe in him, he is preparing a place for us. And he will bring us there, to be with him forever!
Next study…some here-in-this-life help for us!
If you are looking for a way to tell friends or relatives about Jesus, I have an idea for you.
You could email or message them this link:
www.everystudent.com/features/is-jesus-god.html
Or you could post that link to your Facebook page or in Twitter.
Sincerely,
Marilyn Adamson
director of EveryStudent.com
and StartingwithGod.com