The Upper Room Discourse - Heart Trouble

John 14:1-14

“A pioneer missionary in Africa tells how he was taking the gospel to a new tribe, far to the north. With his bearers, he arrived at a village, a point beyond which his porters refused to go. The missionary appealed to the local chief. Was there someone in his village who could act as his guide to the distant northern tribe? The chief summoned a man, tall, battle scarred, carrying a large axe. A bargain was made and the next morning the missionary set off through the bush, following his new guide. The way became increasingly rough, and the path had all but disappeared. There was an occasional mark blazed on a tree, occasionally a narrow path. Finally the missionary called a halt. He asked the guide if he was sure he knew the way. The man pulled himself up to his full height. ‘White man,’ he said, ‘you see this axe in my hand? You see these scars on my body? With this axe I blazed the trail to the tribal village to which we go. I came from there. These scars I received when I made the way. You ask me if I know the way? Before I came, there was no way. I am the way.’” (Recounted by John Phillips in his Exploring the Gospels John commentary.)

The Lord Jesus came from glory. Now he was on his way back to glory, by way of the cross. Before he came, there was no way. John Phillips writes,

“The scars of Calvary on his body attest to the price he paid to blaze that trail for us back to God. He points to his scars and says, “I am the way.” “The disciples would understand it better later on. But the fact was true. They knew where he was going because he had told them. They knew the way because they knew him and he was the way”

In our passage Jesus makes a triple claim that is staggering notes D. A. Carson, and the articles are not accidental: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (14:6). Carson then writes, “He is not some pleasant alternative, a way among others. Lest the point should be missed, the second part of the verse drives it home: ‘No one comes to the father except through me.’”

Jesus is the exclusive way, truth, and life. This is not popular in our modern age; but the same idea is taught repeatedly in the New Testament. “Salvation is found in no one else,” proclaims Peter, “for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Paul adds, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned” (Gal. 1:8).

I hope you can join us this Lord’s Day as we continue our study on The Upper Room from the Gospel of John. This Sunday we will look at John 14:1-14 on the matter of Heart Trouble.

Jesus urges his disciples, “do not be troubled” (14:1); indeed, he tells us that we do not need to be troubled because he was troubled for us and for our salvation.

Followers of the Way,

Pastor Wayne