You Know the Way

 

[Jesus said] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1-6 ESV)

 

Recently Mary and I spent a few days in the mountains just outside of Blue Ridge, Georgia. The cabin was located very near the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. One day David and I took the kids up to the nearest trailhead to hike a bit of it and cross a suspension bridge that had been built there. As you can see from the picture, we were all smiles at seeing the bridge. I must confess to a bit of unease as we actually walked across, and Maggie began to sway the bridge a bit. One of the things that was an interesting educational moment happened when we first began the trail. You may be familiar with the blazes placed along the way on trees marking the trail. Explaining that to the kids was fun. We have such a “blaze” marking our way to eternal life… He is Jesus!

 

In our reading today, Jesus is dealing with deeply troubled disciples. Knowing he would soon be arrested and condemned to die, he told them he would be with them “only a little longer.” And he added, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” For these devoted disciples, that was troubling! Jesus followed this with a new command to “love one another.” Still, Peter wanted to know more and claimed he would lay down his life for Jesus. Then Jesus predicted that Peter would betray him. Sensing their troubled hearts, Jesus comforted them. He was leaving to prepare places for them—rooms in his Father’s house. He said, “You know the way.” But Thomas objected, saying, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going, so how can we know the way?”

 

Jesus responded with an amazing “I am” statement, underscoring exactly who he was, in a way like God did for Moses many years earlier (cf. Exodus 3:14). Let there be no mistake: Jesus is Lord, one with the Father. And he’s the only way to the Father and to full, eternal life (cf. John 10:10). Jesus came to reveal God the Father’s love (John 3:16). And we find comfort in his words: “Believe in God; believe also in me.” He’s our only way to our heavenly Father. That’s why we read these comforting words at bedsides and gravesides. Hold on to them!