Open your Bibles, if you would,
to John Chapter 14. John Chapter 14. Name of the message is Words
of Comfort. Words of Comfort. John Chapter 14. We'll read verses
1 to 14. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also
in Me. In My Father's house are many
mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again. and receive you unto myself,
that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know in the
way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord,
we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father,
but by me. If ye had known me, ye should
have known my Father also. And from henceforth ye know him,
and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord,
show us the Father, and it suffices us. Jesus saith unto him, Have
I been so long with you? And yet hast thou not known me,
Philip? He that has seen me has seen
the Father. And how sayest thou then, show us the Father? Believest
thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words
that I speak unto you I speak not of myself, but the Father
that dwelleth in me. He doth the works. Believe me
that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, or else believe
me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, truly, truly,
I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall
he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because
I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in
my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in
the Son. If ye shall ask me anything in my name, I will do it. In our text here before us, Our
Lord is here comforting His disciples. He's here comforting His disciples.
He's preparing them for the time of His departure, for the time
of His death. And He, after this, as well as in this chapter, describes
the person and work of God the Holy Spirit. And I pray that
God, the Holy Spirit, will illuminate the scriptures for us today.
And that through the words that we look at, the words of our
Savior, that He'll comfort your souls. That He'll comfort your
souls. And that He'll teach us more
and more about our wonderful, merciful Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ, while we sit at His feet. Each time we hear a gospel message
or read the scriptures, we're sitting at the Lord's feet, beloved.
We're sitting at His feet. Oh, and we pray the Holy Spirit
will make the words comforting to us, don't we? Comforting. We look at these words, comforting
words to God's disciples. The Scriptures
declare over in John 6, 63, it says this, It is the Spirit that
quicketh, the flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak
unto you are spirit, and they are life. That's why we pray
all the time that God the Holy Spirit would illuminate the scriptures
and teach us. Because He is the guide. He guides
us into all truth, beloved. He teaches us through the word
of God. He's the great comforter. And we pray then that we who
are the people of God will be taught of God the Holy Spirit
today and be given comfort. to face the oncoming days, because
we don't know what's coming, do we? But oh, the Lord does. We know who holds tomorrow. Now again, the setting of this
discourse was that our Lord was close to the moment of His departure.
He was close to the moment of His death. And this, as one commentator
says, was one of the last quiet, uninterrupted meetings that he'd
have with his saints. He knew that he should ever enjoy
with his few faithful disciples before the sufferings and death.
This was a time when he could just be with them. And take note,
turn over one chapter to verse, or chapter 13, I'm sorry. Take
note that this discourse with his disciples happened after
Judas had left to betray him. After Judas had left to betray
him. That's important. Look at John 13, verses 26 to
30. Jesus answered, he, it is to
whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it. And when he
dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon,
verse 27. And after the sop, Satan entered
into him. then said Jesus unto him, that
thou doest do quickly. Now no man at the table knew
for what intent he spake this unto him, for some of them thought
because Judas had the bag that Jesus had said unto him, buy
these things that we have need of against the feast, or that
he should give something to the poor. He then receiving the sop
went immediately out, and it was night. So our Lord in this discourse
in John 14 is talking to His true disciples, to His sheep, to those who were
given to Him by the Father in eternity. And remember, He's standing on
the threshold of eternity, beloved. With His mind full of the glories
opening before Him, that He would return to the Father. that he
would return to the glory that he had before he came. And he's like a dying father
in the midst of his family, he speaks words of comfort and love
to his disciples. Look at how he addresses his
beloved ones. And remember, these are some
of his sheep that were given to him from before the foundation
of the world. And look at the tenderness in
which he addresses them. You know how comforting these
words are. He says to them, let not your heart be troubled. You
believe in God, believe also in me. The one speaking to them, the
one uttering these words, is God incarnate in the flesh. The one saying these words, let
not your heart be troubled. is the Ancient of Days incarnate
in the flesh. So what everlasting support we
as believers have, what everlasting support we as believers can find
right here, the Everlasting One, the Ancient of Days says to His
people, let not your hearts be troubled. Now we live in a world
where something seems like every day there's new trouble in there.
These words still ring true today. Let not your hearts be troubled. Think of this again, the one
who is equal with God, the Father, the one who is equal with God,
the Holy Spirit, the Son of God, God incarnate in the flesh, speaks
these comforting words to his people. The very one who is our
security, the very One who is our Redeemer, the very One who
is our defense, the very One who has promised to never leave
us nor forsake us, speaks these comforting words. And remember, He's our security,
He's our refuge during the hard times of life and during the
good times of life. And He speaks these words to
His disciples And they're spoken to us in that sense, too, aren't
they? Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also
in me. They're for our learning, aren't they? These words were
spoken for our learning to. All that we might take these
and hold on to these and what tenderness the Lord Jesus speaks
to his people with these words, what tenderness is spoken here? And how this can warm every born-again,
blood-washed saint's heart. Because we know He speaks with
this tenderness to all of us. To all of us. How? Through the
preaching of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Which we know is all about Him.
All about Him. In chapter 13, our Lord had washed
the disciples' feet, showing them in action His condescending
love. His love for them was manifested.
His condescending love was manifested in that deed. And here He brings
forth, in chapter 14, He brings forth that we will see the love
which He has for His people. And we will see it in glory one
day. And remember that this love that God has for His people,
this tenderness that God has for His people, is unchanging. It's eternal. Just like He is. Just like He is. And we see in this text the words
of affection. These are words of affection,
beloved. These are words of assurance. And we see that all through these
words. That He speaks to His true disciples. Remember again,
Judas Iscariot is left. He's talking to true believers. And when we see how he speaks
to them, oh, what wondrous love is this, oh my soul, my soul.
This love that Christ has for his people is so wondrous, so
absolutely wondrous. Note again in verse one, our
Lord tells his disciples not to be troubled. He brings forth
his equality with God. You believe in God, believe also
in me. He's bringing forth His equality with God, beloved, because
He's God incarnate in the flesh. Let not your hearts be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in Me, because He is God. Because He is God. And we know
that God's love for His people is an everlasting love, an unchanging
love, an unceasing love. People in this world say they
fall in and out of love all the time. God doesn't fall in and
out of love with His people, beloved. Isn't that wonderful? That's absolutely wonderful. His love for us is an absolute
unceasing love. It will never change. Never. It's an everlasting love. And He tells His people here,
and we know this is for all God's blood-bought people, let not
your heart be troubled. Oh, Lord, help my unbelief. Is
it so with you too? Oh, we cry with Peter, don't
we? Lord, help my unbelief. Let not your heart be troubled.
If you believe in God, believe also in me. He who is God is
the object of our faith, beloved. Because the Lord Jesus Christ
is God incarnate in the flesh. He who is God ever watches over
us. No matter what circumstance you
are in as a believer in this life, He's ever watching over
you. Even when times we feel like
He's withdrawn from us, He hasn't. He's ever watching over us, beloved.
He's ever watchful over us. He's the keeper of our souls.
As I mentioned this morning in Sunday School, what would happen
if we were left to ourselves? We'd be gone. But He's the keeper
of our souls, too. He'd have begun a good work in
us, so complete it, eh? It's amazing. Oh my. And he who is God, remember this,
he who is God has redeemed us. We are purchased by his blood.
Let not your heart be troubled. We're purchased by his blood.
We're redeemed by the blood of the God-man. And he who is God
is the author, he's the beginner, and he is the finisher of our
faith. And He who is God beloved will
take us to glory. When we breathe our last breath
here, we'll be in the presence of the Lord. Glorious. And what's His name? His name
is the Lord Jesus Christ. God incarnate in the flesh. And He says these words, let
not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also
in me." Note in the next two verses how the absolute assurance
the believer has to be with Christ when we die. And think of how
intimately the Lord regards our estate, beloved. He truly is
a shepherd who watches over his sheep. He's ever caring for his
sheep, ever watchful over them. taking them safely home after
they've been out in the pasture. And this world is like a pasture.
And then we're taken home to be with the Lord forever. Forever. Look at verses 2 and 3. In my
Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Brother Henry Mahan
says that in my Father's house are many mansions. That just
shows you how that there's room for all the
people of God. If it were not so, I would have
told you, I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself,
that where I am, there ye may be also. And then look at down to verse
19 of this chapter. Eternal life is bound up in Christ,
beloved. It's bound up in Him, so He tells
the disciples, My father's house are many mansions if it were
not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
receive you unto myself that where I am There ye may be also
and Then look at verse 19 We see eternal life is bound up
in Christ and because he lives we live Because he arose from
the grave will rise to glory and he's seated at the right
hand of the father and one day will be with him in glory Look
at verse 19, yet a little while and the world seeth me no more.
But you see me because I live. You shall also you shall live
also. Now, how do we see him with spiritual eyes? The eyes
of faith, which is a gift from God, we see him, don't we? We
look to him and then it says it says right there, you shall
live also. Oh, we live in Christ, don't
we? But we're breathe our last breath here. But we'll be in
eternity with the Lord forever. Because He lives, we shall live
also. Turn, if you would, to 1 John
3. In light of this wonderful topic here, turn to 1 John 3. We'll just look at the first
two verses here. Marvel at the words of these verses here. And remember, He's telling us
here, in chapter 14 he goes to prepare a place for us and that
where I am you may be also look at this in 1st John chapter 3
verses 1 and 2 behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed
upon us oh what what manner of love it's an everlasting love
it's an unchanging love it's an unceasing love that God the
father has for his people behold what manner of love Oh my, is
a love like no love in this world. Behold what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew
him not. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But we know
when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see
him as he is. Beloved, the moment we breathe
our last breath here on earth, Every single blood-bought, born-again
believer, the moment we breathe our last breath here on earth,
we see the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory. Oh, it's wonderful! And it's all because of His mercy
and His grace. Because it pleased God to save
us. Oh, it's wondrous. It's absolutely wondrous. Let's
go back to John chapter 14 with that in mind now. And take note
here in verses two and three that we go to a prepared place,
beloved. And the people of God we know
are a prepared people, aren't we? We're made fit. We're qualified
for heaven through Christ. I clothed in the righteousness
of Christ. And then we're conformed to the
image of Christ. So we're a prepared people going to a prepared place. And this is wondrous, comforting
truth. Now we know we're but sinners,
don't we? We struggle with sin all the time. We don't even see
our own growth in grace. Oh, but we're being conformed
to the image of Christ. Beloved, this is amazing. Look at this. In my Father's
house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. So there's a prepared
place for God's people. It's in glory. And it's to be
with Him forever. And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that
where I am there you may be also. Note also that it is Christ who
has prepared this place. He's God. And it's Christ who
will bring us there to be with Him for eternity. He doesn't
say well if you pray a prayer and you walk an aisle or you
do this and that or you join the church Or you get baptized
doesn't say that does it? Now being baptized a good thing
not saying that but it doesn't save us It's an outward It's
an it's an outward show of an inward conversion. We're professing
Christ But it's God who brings us there
It's God who brings us there. And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that
where I am there you may be also. So we can just glean from these
words, even here, salvations of the Lord. It's all His doing. He saves us. He's the author
of our salvation. While we're on this earth and
pilgrimaging through this world, He keeps us, beloved. And He
takes us home to glory, to be with Him. This is wondrous. This
is absolutely wondrous. And we know that it was for their
everlasting welfare and ours that the Lord must go to the
cross. So he's telling them these words before he's going to go
to the cross of Calvary. Before he's going to die for
the sins of his people. The sinless one. The spotless
one. The perfect spotless Lamb of
God. He's telling them these words. And He knows He must go
to the cross. He must go to the cross to redeem
His people from their sins. He must. Otherwise, none of us
would be saved. You ever think of that? If Christ
hadn't have went to the cross, not one of us who are saved would
be saved if He hadn't have done what He did for us. Praise God
for His everlasting plan and purpose, eh? And that He plans
salvation. God planned out salvation in
Christ. And that it was executed. by
God Himself. And that Christ, who is God,
came to this world to die upon the cross for us, for our sins. And He must go to the cross and
die that the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, would come also. Turn, if you would, to John chapter
16. John chapter 16. We'll read verses 4 to 15 here. But these things have I told
you that when the time shall come you may remember that I
told you of them. Verse 4. And these things I said
not unto you at the beginning because I was with you. But now
I go my way to him that sent me. He's going back to glory. He's going back to glory. And
none of you ask me whither thou goest, or whither goest thou?
But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath
filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the
truth. It is expedient for you that I go away." Oh, it's good
for you that I go away. He's going to go to the cross
and die for their sins. Do you see here our Lord is at
will in sacrifice? He's willing to go to the cross. For if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will send Him unto
you. See, God will never leave His people without Him. We have
God with us all the time. Remember, He promised to His
people, God don't lie. I'll never leave you nor forsake
you. And when He has come, He will
reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.
Of sin, because they believe not on Me. Of righteousness,
because I go to My Father, and ye shall see Me no more. Of judgment,
because the Prince of this world is judged. Now think of this. Think of how we used to think
before the Lord saved us. Sin didn't bother us. We didn't think about the judgment
of God on our sins, did we? No, we just plowed forward in
life. But oh now, now we see our sin for what it is. We've
sinned against God. And God's law and justice had
a rightful claim upon us. But praise be to God, the Lord
Jesus Christ died in the place of his people, satisfying the
justice and law of God. And we won't face the judgment
we who believe, because Christ faced the wrath and justice of
God in our place as our substitute. Again, oh what wondrous love
is this, oh my soul, oh my soul. He says, I have yet many things
to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Halibate when
he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.
For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak. And he will show you things to
come. He shall glorify me. For he shall receive of mine
and show it unto you all things that the father hath are mine.
Therefore said I that he shall take of mine and show it unto
you. Let's go back to our text in
John 14 and take note then of what our Lord declares in verse
three of how he must return to glory to prepare a place for
for his disciples. But he promises here come again.
It promises to come again. And whatever lasting love is
bought forth here, what love the son has for his bride. What
love he has for those he's purchased with his own precious blood.
He goes and prepares a place for her, for the church. Because
these disciples he's talking to is part of the bride of Christ. He goes and prepares a place
for his bride and then comes to receive her to himself forevermore. Look at verses 2 and 3 again.
In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so,
I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Now that's, every believer can take a hold of that. I go to
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself. That
where I am, there you may be also. Note he brings forth to
the disciples who had recently heard that one of them would
betray him and that they all would be offended because of
him. And they'd been told that he
would go where they could not come at that time. Peter had
been told that he would deny Christ. So all these things would
be lying heavily on their minds. How do we know that it's so? Well, our master even said in
verse 6 of chapter 16, which we looked at, but because I have
said these things unto you, so hath filled your hearts. They
were weighing heavy on them. They're sinners just like we
are. Just like we are. They get discouraged
about things just like we do. But note the Lord always brings
them back to looking upon him. That's why Paul says in Colossians,
set your mind on things above. Keep your mind and your eyes
on Christ, beloved. I know when I get in trouble
is when I start looking at circumstances and not looking to Christ. I'm
being honest. That's how it happens. I got
to keep my eyes on Christ, just like you all do, too. Oh, my. There are sinners just like we
are. But the Lord brings them back to look to themselves and
speaks these comforting words that we're looking at today to
them. And how they'd be encouraged to know that this separation
that they have from Christ is not a permanent separation. They
love the Master. They love Him. And He loved them. And how encouraging and how uplifting
it would be for them to know that this is not a permanent
separation, that they would have to be in His presence again one
day. And then He tells them to be with Him forever. What precious words these would
be to the disciples who are the bride of Christ. Now it was a
custom with the Jews in their marriages when all things were
prepared and made ready for the reception of the bride, that
the husband himself goes to his bride's house to fetch her. To
bring her home. To bring her home. He does not
trust her care to any other person to bring them bring her home. Jesus, therefore, our bridegroom.
Prepares a place for us. And then he takes us home. And
then he takes us home. And his love is manifested in
this way. Jesus our bridegroom will not
be outdone in the acts of love to his spouse, to his bride,
but in the marriage his father hath made for his son with his
church, he will himself come and bring her home to the marriage
supper of the Lamb. And the purpose of our Lord Jesus
Christ coming into this world, dying on the cross, and ascending
to the Father was to bring forth a perfect, permanent reunion
with all of his elect, with His bride in glory. That we may ever
be with Him forever. Turn if you would to Revelation
chapter 19. Revelation chapter 19. What a picture we have brought
forth here in Revelation 19. We'll read verse 6 to 9. What a picture. Revelation 19, verses 6 to 9. And I heard, as it were, a voice
of a great multitude, and a voice of many waters, and a voice of
mighty thunder, and saying, Alleluia, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
He reigns, beloved. He reigns. If anyone ever has
doubt that the Lord reigns, He reigns. Right there, look at
that. Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to Him, for the
marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself
ready. And to her was granted that she
should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. You know what
that is, beloved? That's the righteousness of Christ.
That's the righteousness of Christ. That's the wedding garment, beloved. Oh my. Clean and white. Why? We're undefiled and holy
and blameless in the sight of God, clothed in the righteousness
of Christ, beloved. But the fine linen is the righteousness
of saints. And we know that the only righteousness
that we have is in and through Christ. It's the righteousness
of Christ, beloved. And he saith unto me, write,
blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the
Lamb. Oh, think of that. Think of that, the things we
go through in this life as believers. Look at these marvelous words.
Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the
Lamb. And he saith unto me, these are the true sayings of God.
Oh, praise His name if He saved you. Give Him all the glory because
you're a blessed person. You're a blessed person. Let's
go back to our text in John 14. We'll read the first four verses
again. Let not your heart be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are
many mansions. If it were not so, I would have
told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare
a place for you, oh, this is wonderful, I will come again
and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may
be also. And whither I go you know, and
the way you know. Our Lord is bringing forth, that
even though He will be absent from them in the body for a short
time, He will ever be with them, because He's God. He's God. He's always defending again,
watching, caring and providing for His people. Always. Always. And remember what He speaks to
His disciples a little further down in this chapter. Look at
verses 16 to 18. And I will pray the Father, and
He shall give you another Comforter, that ye may abide with you forever.
even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because
it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he
dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you
comfortless. I will come to you." Now remember
who's speaking this. God incarnate in the flesh. He
says, I'll not leave you comfortless. And he hasn't, has he? He hasn't. Oh my. He hasn't, beloved. So we see that to the disciples'
outward appearance, He was gone from them, He'd be gone from
them going into heaven. And yet, He being God is ever
with them. Ever with them. Always with them. The Scriptures declare even unto
the end of the world. Do you know this truth? It's
spoken of both in the Old Testament and in the New. Turn, if you
would, to Isaiah chapter 40, verse 10. And then put your finger on Matthew
28. It's spoken of both in the Old Testament and the New that
God will ever be with us. Ever. And consider these verses in
light of what we're reading here. When the Lord said, let not your
hearts be troubled. If you believe in God, believe
also in me. Isaiah 41.10. Fear thou not,
for I am with thee. I am with thee. Be not dismayed,
for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea,
I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand
of my righteousness. Christ is our righteousness.
He's the one who upholds us, isn't he? Let's read that verse
again. This is just wondrous. Fear thou not, so remember, let
not your heart be troubled. Fear thou not, for I am with
thee. This is God saying this to His
people. Be not dismayed, for I, thy God, I will strengthen
thee. And we are weak, aren't we? We're
weak. Oh, we get shown we're weak all the time. All the time. But look what He says. I will
strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee. We're a needy people. And look, he says, I'll help
you. Yay, I love this. I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness. He's the one who keeps us and
holds us below. God himself does this. Now turn, if you would,
to Matthew chapter 28. Is it no wonder the Lord said,
let not your heart be troubled? You believe in me, believe also
in... Or you believe in God, believe also in me? You see, but... As I said earlier,
Lord help my unbelief. Oh my. Look at this in Matthew
chapter 28. We're reading verses 18 to 20. Jesus came and spake unto them
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Now that
means what it says. Christ is all power. He's God. God's Almighty, right? Christ
who's God in the flesh. He's Almighty He is all-powerful
That's our Savior saying this That's our Redeemer saying this
he says All power is given unto me in heaven and earth Go ye
therefore and teach all nations baptize them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost So we we preach
and proclaim the gospel it goes forth though, and it goes forth
with power by the power of God For his glory and honor and praise
and God does the same Go ye therefore and teach all
nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and the Holy Ghost Teaching them to deserve all things whatsoever.
I've commanded and lo look at this I am with you all way even
unto the end of the world Amen So if we ever have any doubt
the Lord's not where if we ever doubt that the Lord's with us
I Sometimes trials come and sometimes things pop up in our lives and
it's just, oh my, he's ever with us. He'll never leave his people. Never. And how comforting this
is. And remember what he's told the
disciples, let not your heart be troubled. Why? Because I'm
always going to be with you. Always. Forever. Watching over
you, taking care of you, guiding you, directing you. And He told them He's going to
the Father's house. He's returning to glory, beloved. Now He told
them this many times before. He's bringing this forth. Look
at verse 4. He brings this forth. And whither
I go, you know, in the way you know. He told them many times
before who He was. Though they heard Him speak often
of these things, And they knew him to speak the truth, yet their
knowledge was imperfect, beloved. Just like ours is. They were filled with anxiety
and questions and doubts, and we see Thomas right away speaking. We don't know if he's speaking
for himself or for them, but he says, Lord, we know not. Well, it looks
like he's speaking for all. He's took upon himself to speak
for all. Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know
the way? And look at verses, John 14,
verses 4 to 7 here. We'll see Thomas' comment, and
note our Lord's reply. The Lord says, and whither I
go you know, and the way you know. Thomas saith unto him,
Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the
way? And note the tenderness, and note the love. Let's pop
forth here. Jesus said then to him, I am
the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the father,
but by me. If you had known me, you should
have known my father also. And from henceforth, you know
him and have seen him. What comforting words we see
here in our Lord's response. Our Lord's response to Thomas. Our Lord here before us in verse
6 proclaims that salvation is in Himself. And He does this very plainly. He's not using multi-syllable
words, is He? Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. He speaks very plainly, doesn't
he? Very clear. So, according to this verse here,
all those other, and we know this to be true, all those other
supposed ways to God are false ways. And remember who's speaking
these words. Remember who's speaking these
words. It's God incarnate in the flesh. It's the only way to salvation.
It's the only way to the Father who's speaking these words, the
Lord Jesus Christ. And He says, I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by Me. Our Lord's response to Thomas
is one of the great I Am's. Do you know that? It's one of
the great I Am's of John's Gospel. In John 6.48, Christ proclaims,
I am the bread of life. In John 8.12, Christ proclaims,
I am the light of the world. In John 10.9, He says, I am the
door. In John 10.11, He says, I am
the good shepherd. In John 11.25 He proclaims, I
am the resurrection and the life. Here in John 14.6 He proclaims,
I am the way, the truth and the life. In John 15.1 He proclaims,
I am the true God. He is saying that salvation is
only in Him. Very plainly with those words.
And He uses things that we can understand. We eat bread to live. How many doors do we walk through
in a day to go to somewhere? Or to get somewhere? He's the way, the truth, and
the life. He says it here. Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. There's only one way to the Father.
There's only one way to glory. And that's Christ and Christ
alone. All other ways that men say are false ways. Buddha, Muhammad,
Mary. Salvation through a church or
baptism. Or by your works. All false ways. There's only one true way. Christ
and Christ alone. And the believer looks to him
by faith. Looks to the one who has completed
our salvation. Looks to the one who is the only
sacrifice that God will accept. And he says, I am the way. Singular. The truth. Singular. and the
life singular. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me. So what words of comfort these
would be to the disciples? What words of comfort they are
to you and I who believe? Even looking at them today. We who trust our eternal souls
to Him. How this is comforting. Oh God, God our Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ does not merely show us the way by example. He's
not merely a prophet to teach us the way, nor does He merely
guide us in the way. No, He is the way. He is the only way to the Father. He's God incarnate in the flesh.
And He was sent by the Father. He was sent by the Father. And
in Christ, all divine blessings flow to the people of God. He
alone is our acceptance with God. We have no acceptance with
God outside of Christ. None. None. He alone is our righteousness.
And the believer is clothed in the perfect, spotless righteousness
of Christ. He alone is our high priest.
He alone is our sin offering. And by His holy life, He honored
the law and justice of God in our place. That should make our
hearts sing. That should make our hearts sing.
By His death, He enabled God to be just and justify those
who believe on Him. And then He says He's the truth.
Beloved, He's truth incarnate. He's truth incarnate. He's the
God-man. He's fully God and fully man.
He's the sum and substance of all truth, beloved. The law and the gospels, or the
law and the scriptures, they all testify of Him, don't they?
The gospels testify of Him. The scriptures testify of Him. And all the Old Testament types
and shadows pictured Him. Pictured Him. Pilate asked, what
is truth? Our Lord answers here, I am the
truth. He's the way, the truth, and
the law. So again, what comfort this brings
the disciples, and brings God's people today. Knowing that our
Lord is the way, the truth, and the life. And it says here, Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man
cometh unto the Father but by me. He's life, beloved. He's
eternal life for his people. His life is in himself. He's
the source and giver of eternal life for his people. And he's the source and giver
of life for all things visible and invisible. He's the light of the world.
He became a man, came to this world, a world that He created,
a world that He created by the word of His power, that He might
redeem His chosen people, that He might redeem those who were
given to Him by the Father in eternity, and that they might
be one day with Him forever, forever. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
only way of access to God the Father. It's very clear in this
verse. He alone is the savior of sinners. He alone is the hope
of His people. Is He your hope? He's my only
hope. The scriptures declare this.
Neither is there salvation in any other. Remember, I am the way, the truth
and the life. No man cometh unto the Father
but by me." And the Scripture declares, neither is there salvation
in any other. There is no salvation outside
of Christ, no matter what people say. Neither is there salvation in
any other, for there is none of the name under heaven given
among men whereby we must be saved. Glory and honor and praise to
our great God Heavenly Father, we thank you for the time that
we've been able to have together, time that we've been able to
spend looking in thy word, O Lord, and what words of comfort we
see here. And oh, how you comfort your people, Lord Jesus. You
tell us, let not your heart be troubled. O Lord, help us. Help us just to rest and trust
in thee, O Lord. We know that one day, when we
breathe our last breath, we'll be with you in glory forever.
And oh, what a glorious day that'll be. Glory to your name. May we
think upon these things that we've heard this week, oh Lord.
I love you and praise you in Jesus' name, amen.