April 24, 2012

DIRECTIONALLY CHALLENGED

John 14

Ben Alexander
Tuesday's Devo

April 24, 2012

Tuesday's Devo

April 24, 2012

Central Truth

Jesus patiently awaits our requests for direction, even if He's already shown us the way.

Key Verse | John 14:5–6

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:5-6)

John 14

I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; 1 14:1 Or You 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? 2 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for 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.” 3 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know 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. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. 4 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me 5 14:14 Some manuscripts omit me anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, 6 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7 to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be 7 14:17 Some manuscripts and is in you.

18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Footnotes

[1] 14:1 Or You believe in God
[2] 14:2 Or In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you
[3] 14:4 Some manuscripts Where I am going you know, and the way you know
[4] 14:7 Or If you know me, you will know my Father also, or If you have known me, you will know my Father also
[5] 14:14 Some manuscripts omit me
[6] 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7
[7] 14:17 Some manuscripts and is

Dive Deeper | John 14

This past summer, we embarked on our annual family road trip to Colorado. It's a place we love, and now, we don't even need directions or a map to get us there! After 15+ years of not asking for or listening to directions, I wised up, asked for directions, and used them. I finally know the way.

Leading up to John 14, Jesus has made it clear to His disciples that His death will have a great eternal result for all who believe in and follow His directions. The disciples had a hard time grasping that the only way to heaven was through Him.

Knowing that His disciples are scared, anxious, and looking for direction, Jesus reinforces His perfect plan in John 14:1-4.

Despite clearly defined directions, Thomas responds back with, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" (John 14:5)

After all that Jesus had just told them, did Thomas really ask that question?

I wish I could find fault in his question, but I would have asked the same thing. It reminds me of my Colorado directions. I had been given those directions and had even traveled to that exact place dozens of times. Yet, when I became responsible for getting there, I found myself lost and asking a question that I'd heard the answer to, but never really listened to.

So what kind of response does Thomas get to his question?

Showing great patience, Jesus answers Thomas and all who question about how to get to the Father with the clearest directions possible. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.''' (John 14:6)

Driving directions are insignificant compared to the directions to eternity in heaven with Jesus. If you know "The Way," then thank the Lord that you do and start being one of His guides. If you don't know where you are going and don't yet know "The Way," it's not too late. Find a guide, grab Jesus' guide book, and start asking questions!

Discussion Questions

1. Who do you take your directions from -- the world or the One who created the world?

2. If a "Thomas" came to you with questions, would you know what to say and where to point him?

3. Ever feel lost or tempted to go your own way instead of following His directions? What verses can you turn to that will set you straight? (e.g., Proverbs 3:5-6)

WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY

John 13-17 (April 23-27)

Read John 15:1-17.

• What did Jesus say He is?
• What did He say we are?
• What does it mean to prune something?
• Why do you think it helps to prune back a vine? (Check out Wikipedia's answer to this question.)
• What kind of pruning happens in our lives? And what it is the pruning for?
• Take time for each person to talk about a time when they experienced pruning (e.g., experienced the removal of something from your life that caused you to grow in your walk with Christ).
• Talk about how God used this in your life to draw you closer to Him and to bring Him glory (e.g., someone saw your response and wondered why you could respond well, or He took you to another team to share about Him).

Activity: Go outside and cut a branch off a tree or bush (it would be great if it was a flowering tree or bush that had the flower and leaves on it.) Put it in your house where everyone can see what happens to it. Do not put it in water.

Then, watch the branch over the next week and see what happens to it. Why is it dying? Where did it get what it needed to live from? Remember what Jesus said about Himself and us in John 15? What happens when we don't stay connected to Jesus? What are ways that you stay connected to Him?