Well, turn with me to John's
Gospel and the 12th chapter. John, sorry, the 14th chapter. John, the 14th chapter. And I
want to look at the first few verses with you. Some very profound words. It
was 1973, I think, when a theologian by the name of Jim Packer published
a book called Knowing God, and it was very widely read at the
time. Very deep subject, I've still
got it, the pages are very yellowing and brown in its paperback edition
on my bookshelf. And it's a subject that many
aspire to speak about with authority in the religious world. All around
the world people want to speak about this subject of how do
you know God because the implication is that in knowing God is the
key to life, the true meaning of life. And yet we contrast
that all around us in the world with those who seek to reduce
everything to merely physical. They've taken the spiritual out
of everything. They talk of the God myth and
so on and so forth. But how are you as a thinking,
living, sensitive human being, how are you to reach your highest
experience of life? How are you to reach your highest
experience of life? the old catechisms I don't know
if you ever used to look at the old catechisms but there's the
Westminster catechism based on the confession of faith and this
one and others as well start with a basic question what is
the chief end of man what's the main you know ask yourself what's
the main objective of me this thing that's doing this thinking
and existing. What's the chief end of man?
And the answer that those catechisms prescribe is this, the chief
end of man What would it be today in our society? Oh, to be ambitious
and to get all sorts of money and all the most fantastic experiences
that are possible and you do this outrageous sport and then
you do the next one because nothing, nothing satisfies us. We've just
been singing, you know, they all become like broken cisterns.
What is the chief end of man? To do all of those things our
society would say but the old catechisms used to say this the
chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. You know, in most people's mind
the idea of God and enjoyment are completely contradictory.
How can anything to do with God be enjoyable? You know, it's
just about dusty old ancient buildings and weird liturgies
and all sorts of things like that in most people's mind. No,
to enjoy God forever is the highest thing to which you can attain
as a human being. But how is it possible? Because
as a sinful person you cannot, God cannot look upon iniquity. He's a purer eyes than to behold
iniquity. But John 14 gives us the answer.
What Jesus said and what is recorded for us by John in this 14th chapter
this tells us that the highest attainment of man to know God
and enjoy him forever in eternal life is to know himself. to know Jesus Christ, to know
himself. Do you remember we saw when we
listened to Chris Cunningham's message last week on this passage
at the end of chapter 13 and the beginning of chapter 14 Peter,
Simon Peter the disciple had pledged to die to defend his
Lord. He said in verse 37 of the previous
chapter, Peter said to him, Lord why cannot I follow thee now?
I will lay down my life for thy sake. I'll die to defend you. I'll die for your cause. And
Jesus said to him, no you won't. No you won't. Before the cock
crows you will deny me three times but don't let your hearts
be troubled. That's surely a troubling thought
but don't let your hearts be troubled. What is unfolding and
he's telling them about because this is the night before Christ
went to the cross. This is the night before he lay
down his life for his sheep. His hour has truly come. Here
he is, it's already night, by the next morning he will have
been tried in a jumped up court and convicted and sentenced to
death with criminals. And he says let not your heart
be troubled because this is no tragedy that's unfolding but
this is God's saving will unfolding. Turn back to the book of Zechariah,
it's the next to the last book of the Old Testament. The book
of Zechariah and uh... thirteenth chapter jesus is saying
to them this is no tragedy that's unfolding this is all in the
will and purpose of god these things that are unfolding let
not your hearts be troubled even though you say you'll die a martyr's
death for me and yet I know that you'll deny me three times before
the sun comes up before the cock crows don't let your hearts be
troubled because this is all in the purpose of God because
look at chapter 13 of Zechariah and look at the seventh verse
Awake O sword against my shepherd my shepherd is Christ this is
this is God speaking against my shepherd this is the Christ
and against the man that is my fellow He's very God of very
God, yet he's the shepherd of his sheep, but a sword must awake
against him, saith the Lord of hosts. Smite the shepherd. The shepherd is going to be killed.
An ignominious, shameful death, for cursed is everyone that hangs
on a tree, on a cross of wood, with criminals, cursed. And the
sheep shall be scattered. You won't stand there dying in
a ditch for me Peter. You'll be scattered, you and
all the disciples. And I will turn my hand upon
the little ones. It will seem for a while as if
they're scattered and it's all come to an end and it's all been
a disastrous mistake and everything that Christ taught and stood
for came to nothing. But it shall come to pass. that
in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut
off and die, but the third shall be left therein." Prophetic,
poetic language for the fact that even out of an apparent
situation of disaster, He will save a people. and I will bring
the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver
is refined, and I will try them as gold is tried, and they shall
call upon my name, and I will hear them. Despite the shepherd
being smitten, and the sheep being scattered, It's all for
this purpose, that there will be this people, this substantial
people who will call upon his name and he will hear them. And
I will say, it is my people. Here's God saying, it is my people. And they shall say, the Lord
is my God. This is what Jesus was saying
to them. Don't be troubled. Don't let your heart be troubled.
This is all in the plan and purpose of God. It's a preparation for
what was about to happen. He was going to be taken away
from them. In the next few hours he would be taken away from them.
He would never walk this earth with them in that same physical
form as in before his death because when he rose from the dead it
was a different body, nevertheless still a physical body but different.
This was the last time he would be with them. This was the last
time he would eat that supper with them. This was the last
time. and he's preparing them for what
would happen him being taken from them but then the end would
be glorious and he would come back for them for look he says
in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so verse
2 of chapter 14 I would have told you I go to prepare a place
for you it's this eternal hope that he gives his people and
if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive
you to myself. He won't send an angel to get
you he will come himself. You know it used to be said that
the bridegroom in old Israel culture the bridegroom wouldn't
send somebody for the bride he would go and get her himself
and bring her. the bridegroom would go and get
her and in the same way Christ says I will come I will come
and get you to take you where I am that there you may be also did they know what had to be
done to accomplish these things. Did they know the dreadful route
that he would have to take? Look at verse four, he says,
oh this is how it's recorded here, and whither I go, where
I go you know, and the way you know, though in actual fact it's
probable that the language here should be phrased more as a question. Do you know where I'm going?
And do you know the way I have to go to accomplish these things?
Because Thomas replies, verse 5, Thomas said to him, Lord,
we don't know where you're going. And how can we know the way?
He says, I'm too weak, I don't know. Along with the other disciples,
we don't know. Despite the fact that Jesus had
been with them for three and a half years, and had ministered
to them, yet the flesh was so weak, they didn't know. Despite
him telling them so many times about the shepherd needing to
be smitten and killed, for the sake of the sheep, despite him
telling them over and over again that destroy this temple and
in three days it will be raised up again. Yet they didn't know.
Do you know the way I have to go in order to accomplish these
things? Thomas says to him, Lord, we don't know where you're going.
And how can we know the way? How can we know the way to what
you're trying to accomplish, to what you've said you will
accomplish? And then in verse 6, Jesus says
this. This is one of the seven I am's of John's gospel. You
know, I am the bread of life, I am the good shepherd, I am
the door, I am the light of the world, I am the resurrection
and the life. And here he says, I am the way. We don't know the
way, said Thomas. Jesus said to them, I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but
by me. He himself This is what he said. He himself was the one and only
way to the Father. He himself was the one and only
way to the invisible unknowable God. And also he was the truth
of God and he was the life of God. Now the implication of this
is clear. It's that knowing God, this is
the title of this message, knowing God is the key to eternal life. What is the chief end of man?
To enjoy God forever. To glorify Him and enjoy Him
forever. How am I going to do that? I
must know God. I must know Him who is life. He is the key to eternal life.
Turn over just a page or so to chapter 17 and verse 3. where Jesus in his prayer just
a couple of hours later after this discourse the same evening
and he prays this prayer of chapter 17 and in verse 3 he said, and
this is eternal life, this is life eternal What is life eternal? What is it? What is life eternal?
That they might know Thee, the only true God. Life eternal is
knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. That's what it is to know God,
to have eternal life, to know Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Now turn over if you can to 1
John, his epistle, 1 John and chapter 5. So right down towards the back
of the Bible and verse 13, 1 John chapter 5 and verse 13 where John writes this to believers,
these things have I written unto you that believe on the name
of the Son of God. Is that you? Is that me? You
who believe on the name, on everything that that name stands for, who
trust in, who commit your souls for eternity to that name of
the Son of God, that saving name of the Son of God, that you may
know that you have eternal life. Enjoy God forever. Enjoy Him
forever that you may know that you have eternal life and that
you may believe on the name of the Son of God. Now jump down
to verse 20 of the same chapter. Verse 20 of the same chapter.
And we know that the Son of God is come and has given us an understanding
that we may know Him that is true And we are in Him that is
true, even in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the true God
and eternal life. Do you see what he's saying?
I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father
but by me. Knowing God is knowing Jesus
Christ and knowing God is having eternal life and reaching that
pinnacle, that pinnacle, that enjoy God forever pinnacle. Here
is a man standing before them, a good man, a man they'd seen
perform many miracles, astounding miracles, amazing miracles. They'd
heard him speak like never a mortal man spoke. They heard him speak
words which were the words of eternal life. They wouldn't go
anywhere else, for thou hast the words of eternal life, said
Peter. They'd heard his words all through
that three and a half years. and yet in a way they still did
not hear. Because Philip says in verse 8, show us the Father
and it will be enough for us. Show us the Father and that will
do for us. He's asking the same question
that Moses asked of God in Exodus 33 and verse 18. In Exodus 33
and verse 18 God is conversing with Moses
as a man speaks to his friend face to face. We read elsewhere
in the scriptures describing that. He spoke as a man speaks
to his friend face to face. And what Moses is asking in chapter
33 of Exodus and verse 18 is show me your glory. That's all
I ask, show me your glory. Show me your glory. In effect
he's saying if I can see the invisible essence of God the
one who is creator, the giver of life, the sustainer of all
things, the holy one of Israel, the one who is just, the one
who is sovereign, then I will have reached the pinnacle of
human existence and I will understand the deep mysteries of life. Show
me your glory, then I'll understand what this is really all about.
That's what Moses was asking and that's what Philip asked.
Show us the Father and it will suffice us, that will do. Knowing
God is the key to eternal life. It's the key to that state of
sinless eternal bliss and peace and acceptance with God. And
do you know in some measure, do you know what hell is in some
measure? It's the dawning realisation that you haven't got that. that
will be hell. I'm sure there's more to it than
that but that will be hell in itself to realise that what you
have missed because of your unbelief and rejection of the Saviour. It's the key to that, is knowing
God. But how is it possible to know
God? You know the question that we
keep on asking, the question that Job posed, how can a man
be just with God? Job 9 and verse 2. How can a
man be justified with God? How can a man be in the presence
of God to know God, to enjoy Him forever? Justice must be
established, sin debts must be paid, all must be done to accomplish
those things. Well Jesus said as we've read
in verse 6, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes
to the Father, no sinful man comes to the Father but by me.
Nobody can come to God but by me. Nobody can know God and in
knowing God have eternal life as John said in his epistle,
in knowing God have eternal life but by me. For it's not just
knowing God, you must know Jesus Christ whom he has sent. There's
no other way. Jesus didn't say, I will show
you the way. He's not just a teacher. He's
not just a prophet who will show you the way. He said, I am the
way. He is the way by virtue of his
glorious person and of his work of redemption. He is the way.
we read in John in 1 John 5 20 those who believe in him those
who believe him are in him did you notice that those who are
in him let me read the words again to you and we are in him
that is true even in his son Jesus Christ we are in him that
is true those who believe him are in
him and in that everything that he did
in establishing righteousness if you are in him it is your
righteousness and in his death everything that he did to pay
the debt of sin you did it's your death for sin as well in
him because we are in him is what John said in his epistle
he has established the righteousness of his people without which no
one can see the Lord he's paid the sin debt which must justify
his people which must the sin debt which separates
them from God he has paid that sin debt as Paul says to the
Corinthians as in Adam all die by virtue of what we are by nature
as sinful human beings as in Adam all die even so in Christ
all All, who's the all? We who are in him. All who are
in him shall be made alive in him because he's done all of
those things. He is the way, the truth and
the life. And so he's the way but he's
also the truth. He is the true revelation of
God. He is the true word of God. When
he speaks it is God who is speaking. He is the one who was in the
beginning with God who is the word of God. In Isaiah 6 we saw
when we were looking at that a few weeks ago when Isaiah saw
the Lord high and lifted up who was it he saw? He saw the glorified
Lord Jesus Christ because we know that because John chapter
12 and verse 41 do you know what I mean John chapter 12? Yes, John chapter 12 verse 41.
These things said Isaiah when he saw his glory and spoke of
him. When Isaiah saw the glory of
the Lord in Isaiah 6, it was Christ whom he saw. He saw that
glorious one and it was his voice that came to him. saying whom
shall I send and who shall go for us he is the truth this man
walking the earth he is the way to God he is the truth he always
speaks the word of God's truth and of eternal life and thus
he alone is true life I am the way the truth and the life he
is the only life which is eternal he is the only life which is
heavenly and he says in verse 7 if you had known me you should
have known my Father also. Ah, you must know God because
this is the gospel, knowing God and having eternal life thereby. But if you had known me, says
Jesus, you should have known my Father also. You don't need
to know anyone else. In knowing Him, you know the
Father. And from henceforth you know
Him. From this time forward because of what He was going to do the
next day, you not only know him but you have seen him and you
will know that you've seen him when you've seen me. So he says
if you'd known me automatically you would have known the father.
but from henceforth following his crucifixion and resurrection
they would know him and they would see him they would see
the one as he really is this man walking among them don't
forget what Isaiah said in chapter 9 and verse 6 about the child
who would be born and the son who would be given that his name
would be called Wonderful, Counselor Mighty God, everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. He's not the Father, he's the
Son. There are three distinct persons in the Godhead. This
is a mystery that we cannot understand. Three distinct persons in the
Godhead. The Son is not the Father yet, one of the names prophesied
would be everlasting father because in seeing him we would see the
father and in seeing him we would have eternal life but still Philip
and the others don't understand these things and so he asked
to see the father And we've already read it, but Philip said to him,
verse 8, Lord, show us the Father and it suffices us. That will
do, that will give us that knowledge of eternity and of true life
and true eternal life that we need in order to see the Father. Verse 9, Jesus said to him, have
I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known me,
Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father and how
sayest thou then show us the Father it's like he's holding
up something obvious before them and they're saying show us this
something obvious and he's saying here it is you've seen it already
it's right before your eyes you've seen me therefore you've seen
the Father how is it that you're asking to see the Father he that
has seen me has seen the Father do you realise does it dawn on
you and I'm talking to myself as well How awesome these words
are, this claim made by this man standing before them that
if you've seen him you've seen the Father, you've seen the essence
of God, the unknowable invisible God, the one who dwells in unapproachable
light whose name is holy, the one who the Old Testament saints
used to quake and fear the parents of Samson when they were told
the heavenly messenger came and it was Christ the pre-incarnate
Christ and they knew they had seen the Lord and they both said
we're going to die that's it it's all up for us for no man
shall see me said God to Moses and live in Exodus 33 let me
see your God no man shall see me and live but I'll put you
here beside me I'll put you in a cleft of the rock and there
you shall see me and all of that is speaking of Christ. How do
we who are sinners see God and not die? We see him in the Lord
Jesus Christ and here he was as a man of flesh and blood just
as we are flesh and blood yet he was without sin standing before
them and claiming that those who had seen him had seen the
Father. because he spoke words that were
full of grace and truth, the words of the Father. Have I been
so long with you and yet you have not known me. He says that
you've seen him, you've known him, if you've seen him, and
that knowing him you would have eternal life. Would you have
that eternal life this morning? Would you have that? Then you
must know Jesus Christ. There's no other way to have
eternal life than in Him. Outside of Him you cannot have
eternal life. those who claim that there are
other ways to God that are equally valid, those who claim that they're
Christians, leaders in the National Church of this country, and yet
they allow for other religions to say that they have a viable
way to God, they're not true ministers of Christ, they're
not true ministers of God, they're not true ministers of the Gospel
of His grace, for they tell a lie, for there is no other way. If
one verse of Scripture condemns all of those who stand to speak
the gospel in the name of Christ and yet they spout what they
do, it's this verse, they deny John 14 verse 6 because they
deny that no man can come to the Father but by Christ for
they say there are other ways to get to God that are equally
valid for different cultures and that's not what Christ said
and it's not what this word says. So God must reveal His Son in
you. If you're to know Him, you must
know Him personally. It's not just a question of knowing
about Him. You know when He said, if you've
seen Me, you've seen the Father, you must know Him. You must know
Him personally. You know you can know an awful
lot about somebody but not know that person. You must know him
personally. You must know Jesus Christ and
not just about him. God must reveal his son in you. That's what Paul said had happened.
If you look at Galatians chapter 1 and verse 15 when Paul is writing
to the Galatians he talks about how he came across the gospel
that he preached How did he find this gospel? How did he come
across this gospel? Well in verse 15 of Galatians
chapter 1 he says, when it pleased God who separated me from my
mother's womb and called me by his grace to reveal his son in
me that I might preach him among the heathen, immediately I conferred
not with flesh and blood. It was God who was pleased to
reveal his Son in Paul. And so it must be. God must be
pleased to reveal his Son in us. God must be pleased to do
that. He must come. What can you do
you say? Well in a sense you can do nothing
because it's all of God's sovereign grace. But if you look at the
back of the bulletin I've put a little piece on there four
firm steps for the pilgrim. It's on the back page. Have a
look at that. Read it. I think there's some good things
in there. Four firm steps for the pilgrim. You know, put yourself
in the way of the means of grace and listen to the preaching of
God and read the word of God. And in these things, ask him,
as you're calling on others, dear Lord, do not pass me by,
but reveal your truth to me. Reveal your son in me. Because
you see it's as the sun is revealed in a man's spirit so the essence
of God the Father is revealed. Look at some verses in John's
Gospel with me, turn back to chapter 5 let me just remind
you of a few places that we've looked in recent weeks. Chapter
5 and verse 17. Jesus answered them, this is
speaking to Pharisees my father worketh hitherto and I work in
other words what he's saying is The father does everything
that he does through him as he walked this earth Therefore the
Jews sought the more to kill him How do I know he said that
look at the next verse 18? Because he not only had broken
the Sabbath, but said also that God was his father making himself
equal with God and Then answered Jesus and said unto them, verily,
verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself but
what he seeth the Father do. For what things soever he doeth,
these also doeth the Son likewise. In other words, they're inseparably
intertwined in everything that they do. For the Father loveth
the Son and showeth him all things that he himself doeth. And he
will show him greater works than these that ye may marvel. Then
turn over to chapter six. and verse 41 we won't read these verses in
detail but verse 41 down to 62 all about the bread of life and
all about the union of the son with the father this vital union
of the son with the father and his people with him for the sake
of time we'll skip on from that to chapter 8 and verse 58 chapter
8 and verse 58 when they were talking the Pharisees
with him about Abraham and he said in verse 56 Jesus had said
to them that Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and
was glad and the Jews said you're not yet 50 years old and have
you seen Abraham and Jesus said unto them verily verily I say
unto you before Abraham was I am the words of God the name of
God he's God and then in chapter 10 turn over to chapter 10 and
verse 30 as blunt and as clear as you
can get I and my father are one then the Jews took up stones
again to stone him and Jesus answered them many good works
have I showed you from my father for which of those works do you
stone me The Jews answered him, saying, for a good work we stone
thee not, but for blasphemy, and because that thou being a
man makest thyself God. You see, the essence of the Father
is revealed in the Son. And then chapter 12, chapter
12 and verse 44. Jesus cried and said, he that
believeth on me believeth not on me in other words not just
on me but on him that sent me the father and he that seeth
me seeth him that sent me I am come a light into the world and
whosoever believeth on me that whosoever believeth on me should
not abide in darkness seeing the son is seeing the father
Knowing God is having eternal life. Knowing the Lord Jesus
Christ, the way, the truth and the life is having eternal life. It's glorifying God, it's enjoying
Him forever. Now turn to Philippians chapter
3. Philippians chapter 3 and verse 7 where Paul is writing about his
credentials about the true people of God and in verse 7 he says
but what things were gained to me the things that he used to
put his trust in and all his hopes in Philippians 3 and verse
7 what things were gained to me those I counted loss for Christ
yea doubtless I count all things but loss in other words I count
them worthless not worth hanging on to and what are you going
to put in its place Paul the excellency of the knowledge of
Jesus Christ my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things and do count them but done a heap of manure that I
may win Christ. You see how important to him
the knowledge of Christ is? And verse 9, and I want to be
found in him not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but that which is through faith of Christ, the works that
he accomplished, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that
I may know him, that I may know him. and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his
death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection
of the dead." What did Paul say? Everything in this life is worthless
done compared with the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord. And knowing Christ and being found in him was the basis
of justification before God. that believing in him, Galatians
3.26 says this, for you are all the children of God by faith
in Christ Jesus, it's your belief in him it's your belief in him
that brings you to that experience of knowing him and knowing that
you are the children of God believing in him and his work for me I
come into the experience of being a child of God and of enjoying
him forever Look what he says in verses 10 and 11. He said,
if you've seen me, you've seen the Father. Now in verses 10
and 11. Believest thou not that I am
in the Father and the Father in me? Do you believe? Do you believe? Do I really believe
these things? The words that I speak unto you,
I speak not of myself, but the Father dwelleth in me. He doeth
the works. Believe me that I am in the Father
and the Father in me. Or else believe me for the very
works sake. You've seen the works he's saying
to his disciples. Believe me that what I'm saying
to you about being the way, the truth and the life is true. That Place I'm going to prepare
for you. I'm going to prepare for you
and I will come and take you to be with me. And you will enjoy
God forever. You will glorify God and enjoy
Him forever in knowing Him and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
Do you believe this? He says. Well believe me for
the sake of the works because you've seen the works. You've
heard the glorious gracious words of grace that He spoke. Believe
me that I am in the Father and the Father in me or else believe
me for the very works sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
he that believeth on me, the works that I shall do, he will
do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I
go unto my Father." Remember, he's speaking to the apostles.
He's speaking to them who will be apostles, who will be anointed
with the Holy Spirit, who when he's returned to glory and the
Holy Spirit has come, will take the gospel in great power, and
they will indeed do greater works than he did. they will do greater
works because they will call sinners out of darkness into
the marvelous light of the gospel whatever they ask in his name
in the name of the gospel for the glory of the gospel for the
good of the kingdom of God he will do and he will use them
that's what he's saying that isn't an invitation to ask outlandish
things as so many say in our day no not at all but what he's
saying is this do you believe him do you believe him because
it's in believing him It's in believing him, by faith are you
the children of God, by faith in Christ Jesus. So do you believe
him? He's asked them, do you believe
me? He's asked them that question, do you believe me? Well I'm asking
you and I'm asking myself, do you believe him? Do you believe
Christ? Well look at the works that he
performed, recall the gracious words that he spoke, do you not
believe him? Perhaps you do believe to some
extent, but you're not quite sure. Perhaps there's some doubts. Do you know there was a man in
Mark's Gospel and Jesus was performing a miracle, I think it was his
daughter wasn't it? Perhaps anyway. And he said this, Jesus said,
do you believe these things? And he said, Lord I believe,
help thou mine unbelief. Or if that's you this morning,
Echo those words, Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief, reveal
your Son in me, reveal the Lord Jesus Christ to me, that I may
know God. By knowing the Lord Jesus Christ
I may know God and I may know eternal life and that promise
of those mansions that he's preparing in eternal glory for his people.
Amen.