Jesus Answered and Said

John 14:20-22

 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the way to heaven. He does not merely show t...he way; He is the way. Salvation is in a Person. Accept that Person as your own, and you have salvation. Christianity is Christ. The Lord Jesus is not just one of many ways. He is the only Way. No one comes to the Father except through Him. The way to God is not by the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, ordinances, church membership-it is through Christ and Christ alone. Today many say that it does not matter what you believe as long as you are sincere. They say that all religions have some good in them and that they all lead to heaven at last. But Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through Me."


The Lord begins in John 14:1 a long discourse that continues through Chapter 17 and ends with His prayer for them. Jesus had repeatedly talked about His coming death and departure and He brings into a sharp focus the comments He had made. At this time the disciples did not seem to accept or understand, but obviously now this truth was beginning to sink in that the Lord was leaving them. In John 16:6 Jesus in the middle of this discourse mentions they were sorrowful because He had told them He would leave. His leaving was puzzling to them because they believed He was the Messiah. Their understanding was that He would be soon setting up His kingdom and ruling from Jerusalem as Israel's Deliverer. (See John 16:17-18)

The obvious question was if He is about to become the King of Israel, why was he saying He was going to be betrayed, that He would die, and leave them? How could this happen to the promised Messiah? His great power in preforming miracles demonstrated that He was the Messiah and they believed was the Son of God. (See Matt. 16:16, Luke 22:70; Joh. 3:18, 5:25, 6:69, 11:14) Jesus now begins to help them to understand and to prepare them for the coming events.

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)

Jesus' response was one of disappointment, but it must be understood that after Jesus' resurrection Philip and the disciples would understand. Philip had been a disciple longer than most of the other disciples and had seen innumerable signs. However, he had not believed. This seems to be the key to understanding his response. After the resurrection, even when the other disciples said they had seen the resurrected Lord, Thomas did not believe them. He wanted to touch the Lord's hands and side in order to believe. His nature was to doubt. What a lesson is here for the doubters. Jesus is to be accepted and believed because of who He is and upon His credibility as our God and Creator (See John 1:1-4).

How hard it seems to be for some, to simply believe God. The pastor and teacher who proclaim God's word can also feel the same disappointment and sadness as did the Lord. It is painful for the man of God to Sunday after Sunday proclaimed God's word, to love, care and sacrifice for his congregation, and yet stand at the back door as they leave the services, knowing that most go away unchanged, ignoring the principles that would bring such blessings to their lives. Jesus appeals to them to believe Him because of the marvelous works He had done. They had seen Him heal every disease, even lepers, the dumb, blind, lame, and even raised the dead. That should have been proof enough of who He was, but it was not.


"Verily, verily, 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 any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:12-15)


Modern critics have criticized the King James Bible translating the word "Parakletos" as "Comforter." The NIV translates the word "Counselor" whereas the NKJV uses the word "Helper." The Holy Spirit is certainly the believer's Counselor and Helper, but according to the context of Jesus' statement Jesus' intent was to reassure and comfort them in sending the Person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would be their Comforter or consoler in His absence. This is confirmed by Jesus' statement in verse 18.


"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:18-21)


Again the Lord qualifies what is saving faith. Those that believe unto salvation are those who keep His commandments. The one's whose faith produces action in their lives and who truly love the Lord Jesus, are those who are saved and loved by the Father. What more comforting statement could He make than tell them He loved them and would show Himself to them. God says to those who believe, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." (Hebrews 13:5-6)


"Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." (John 14:22-24)