Wednesday, May 18,2005
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto 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, Shew us the Father?
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that 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. 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. (John 14:6-12)
Jesus concludes this declaration (14:6) with an emphatic negative statement. He declares "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Can it be any clearer? He's the only way and there is no other way to God! In Mt. 7:13 Jesus explained "for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threrat." There are many ways to hell, but only one way to heaven. Modern philosophy, sincerity, good works, and even religion itself will not lead you to God.
The disciples were still troubled by His words of His death, so again Jesus starts back at the basics of Who He was and His relationship with His Father. Jesus' message in the upper room was a summary of the truths He had shared since the beginning. (Earlier lessons about His relationship with His Father: John 5:17-47; 6:37; 6:44-46; 6:57; 6:65; 8:16-19; 8:28,29; 10:15-18; 10:30)
Then He pleads with them to remember His works and the miracles they had seen. The blind given sight, lepers cleansed, the lame walking again, demons cast out and even the dead raised to life! Now He challenges them (14:12) that their works in the future will be greater than His own! As the Lord Jesus spent only three and a half years in ministry and would soon be at the Father's side in heaven. His followers would be able to actually do more collectively as they would fan out in all directions with the power of God! "The one limitation is the measurement of our faith" declares Dr. Rice (p.279). He goes on to say that D.L. Moody preached to greater crowds and saw more saved then Jesus. Not to mention R.A. Torrey, Charles Spurgeon and George Whitfield. But look also at the apostles: Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost saw 3000 saved, then 5000 (4:4) then "multitudes" (5:14); Later we see Philip's revival in Samaria (Acts 8:5-8); followed by Paul reaching out to new nations (Asia Minor, Greece, Rome, Spain). Christ said "Ye are the light of the world." (Mt. 5:14)