John 14:1-7
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 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? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
I often read these verses during funeral services. Jesus’ words give us comfort in life and hope for eternity. What a beautiful picture our Lord gave us of his preparatory work in heaven on our behalf. Right now, Jesus is making everything ready for us. We will have a place in our Heavenly Father’s home to spend all eternity in peace and joy. That hope sustains us through trials, through times of waiting, through the hardship and happiness of this world. We believe that what Jesus is preparing for us in heaven will be better in every way than anything we experience in this world.
This passage also stands out as among the most important words Jesus ever said about himself. Thomas confessed his confusion about where Jesus was going and how the disciples could follow him, a statement that reminds us how blessed we are to know the whole story of Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. During that final meal and conversation with Jesus, the disciples didn’t yet understand why He had to die or that He would rise again, despite the fact that He had explained it all to them multiple times. It was a truth too big for them to accept until they had seen it for themselves. When all the dust had settled, the disciples looked back on these words and realized what Jesus had meant. He is the way to eternal life. In fact, Jesus said He offers the only way to an eternal, saving relationship with God the Father. That truth is at the heart of Christian theology and the church’s mission.
We believe what Jesus said. No one can find eternal life or have a saving relationship with God without faith in Jesus. He is the way and the only way. Some people outside the church hear this claim as divisive or exclusionary, but Jesus doesn’t close the door on anyone. He died to offer salvation to every single person on earth and sends his followers into all nations with the good news of eternal life. Jesus wants everyone to be saved. That is the heart of God and the very reason that Jesus went to the cross. It’s also why our mission matters so much. Jesus has opened the door to eternal life, and now it’s our job to share that message with the world, calling people to put their faith in the one and only Savior. Jesus said, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.” He wants to welcome everyone into heaven, and we can all get there through faith in his name.
Jesus, You are the way, the truth and the life. Thank You for showing me the way to salvation. Help me to share Your message with others so they can find the hope of eternal life in Your name. Amen.
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Pastor Mike Mirakian
