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Message
John 14:1-6
Key Verse 14:6
My name is Andries Coetsee. I am from Cape Town, South Africa. Does anyone know where South Africa is? Let me show you on the map. {Show slide of map where South Africa is}
My daughter wanted to attend this conference with you but she is still too young. She is turning only 5, this year. However, she asked me to play you this message. Do you want to hear it? Let me play it for you. {Play video clip}
Let me ask you a question…how many of you would like to visit South Africa? Now, if you want to find out more about South Africa who do you think would be the best person to speak to? Would you speak to an American? You could but the best would be if you could speak to someone who actually comes from South Africa. Like Sara-Anne. She can tell you about South Africa, because she lives there. You can also speak to me. I know the way to South Africa because I came from there.
Today we don’t want to learn about South Africa, we want to learn about the Father’s house, God’s house: the kingdom of heaven.
Now here is an important question: who would you ask if you want to know about the Father’s house? Yes, you can Google it. But that is not really going to help you. It would be better if you could ask someone who comes from the Father’s house; someone who knows the way. That would be the best. Is there such a person? Thank God. There is God’s Son, Jesus Christ. That is really what our KV is all about today. Jesus knows the way to the Father’s house because he comes from the Father’s house. If we could ask Jesus, ‘Lord, what is the way to the Father’s house?’ what would Jesus say? Let’s say the KV together {show slide of KV}. This is an amazing statement. The way to the Father’s house is a person. Jesus says, ‘I am the way’
This world is full of troubles. One of the troubles we face as teenagers is just to fit in and be accepted. Certainly when I was a teenager I wore big glasses {show slide of photos} and I always wondered what people think, do they think I look strange? There are other troubles we face as well. Many people wonder, ‘What is the meaning of life? What will happen to me when I die? Is there life after this world?’
In today’s passage Jesus gives us clear answers. Jesus does not want us to feel confused or lost or troubled in heart. Jesus wants us to feel safe and secure. Jesus wants us to have peace in our hearts. How can that be possible in this troubled world?
First: My Father’s house has many rooms
It was the night before Jesus would be crucified. Jesus and his disciples were eating the Passover meal together in the Upper Room. {show slide of Jesus and disciples eating in the Upper Room}
Jesus had told his disciples that he was leaving them. This made the disciples’ heart troubled. So they were wondering where Jesus was going? Jesus told them he was going to his Father’s house. Jesus continued, ‘My Father’s house has many rooms’ {show slide of text} Let’s read verse 14:2a together, ‘My Father’s house has many rooms’
Immediately Peter wondered, ‘Is there a room for me?’ Jesus nodded with a smile, ‘Yes Peter there is a room for you’. Then Bartholomew got worried. He was always quiet. Sometimes you would wonder if he was there at all; one of those shy people hiding in the background. He was not as popular and such a strong character as Peter. So he was wondering, ‘Lord, what about a weak person like me is there a room for me?’ Jesus knew what Bartholomew was thinking… so Jesus said gently, ‘Yes, Bartholomew there is a room for you as well’ But Matthew looked distressed and deeply troubled. He remembered all the people he had cheated with their taxes so he thought there might not be a room for him. But Jesus forgave all Matthew’s sins and assured him with a smile, ‘Matthew there is a room even for you.’ The Father’s house has many rooms; a room for each of his children.
The Father’s house is amazing. I live in Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Let me show you a video clip. {play video clip of Cape Point and Table Mountain}
The scenery is magnificent. We are amazed how beautiful it is. However the wonders of this world do not come close to the riches and glory of the Father’s house. Apostle John wrote about the kingdom of heaven. He said ‘The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass’ (Rev. 21:11,21) Can we imagine that? A street of pure gold. Not only that, there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Rev 21:4). There will be no sin. Psalm 16 says God will fill us with joy and we will have eternal pleasures in God’s presence. (Ps 16:11) I can’t wait!
This world is not our real home. As children of God we are only passing through this world. We are on our way to the Father’s house – our true home. Let’s have this hope as God’s children: I have a room in the Father’s house waiting for me. Let’s say it together. Amen.
Second, Jesus is the way to the Father’s house
Thomas said to Jesus, ‘Lord we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ So what did Jesus tell Thomas? {Show slide of KV} Let’s read our KV, verse 6 together. Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
First, Jesus says ‘I am the way’. No one can go to the Father. We are sinners and the Father is holy. So the way to the Father was closed. However, Jesus came from heaven. He died on the cross. He shed his blood to forgive all our sins. On the third day he rose again and went back to the Father. Jesus opened the way to the Father through his death and resurrection. Now, all sinners can come to the Father by trusting in Jesus.
Let me tell you a story to illustrate how we should trust Jesus. Recently there was man who crossed the Grand Canyon walking a tightrope. Let’s watch a short video clip. {show video clip} Many years ago there was a Frenchman who did the same thing over the Niagara Falls. He pushed a wheelbarrow. When he came on the other side, he asked a man, ‘Do you believe I can do it again?’ The man said, ‘Yes I believe you can!’ So he said, ‘Well then get into the wheelbarrow’ The man refused, he did not want to get in. The point is Jesus had conquered death to open the way to the Father. Jesus had done it. We can never do it. Now Jesus wants us to trust him. He wants us to get into the wheelbarrow, believing he will safely take us to the Father’s house.
Furthermore Jesus says, ‘I am the truth’. Pilate asked, ‘What is truth?’ (John 18:38). The truth is God is the Creator of the world. This world belongs to God. He created everything. This truth is unchanging and absolute. Have you ever imagined what it would be like for the Creator to come to this world? We only have to look at Jesus. Jesus is Creator God. He is the truth of God. If we know Jesus we know God.
Let me tell you a story of one kid. This kid was bright. But he looked so sad and deeply troubled. Someone asked him, ‘Why do you look so sad?’ The kid said, ‘I don’t fit in anywhere. There are always these cliques. I feel very lonely because no one likes me.’ Then someone said to this troubled kid, ‘The problem is you don’t know the truth. Jesus created you and loves you just the way you are. He loves you so much he even died for you so you can go back to God.’ The kid thought for a moment, ‘You mean I am that precious to Jesus, even if I’m not the coolest person?’ The person said, ‘Even if you wear glasses or have braces or just feel awkward, Jesus still loves you just the way you are. Don’t doubt Jesus’ love.’ From that day on the kid walked around with a big smile. Everyone started to like him because he looked so happy.
Lastly Jesus says, ‘I am the life’. This means Jesus is the source of eternal life. No person can rise from the dead by themselves, but Jesus rose from the dead after 3 days. Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die’ (John 11:25)
Let me tell you another story. There once was a family. Unfortunately the mother passed away because of cancer. The children missed their mom so much. They cried every day. One day their father told them, ‘Mom is with Jesus in the Father’s house. One day we will also go to the Father’s house and be with Jesus forever. There we will meet mom again’. From that day on the children stopped crying for their mom because they believed Jesus is the life in him there is no death.
Finally, Jesus said, ‘No one comes to the Father except through me’
The world is confused about the way to God. The problem is there are so many different religions: Atheism, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Jehovah Witnesses, Scientology, Christianity and many more. No wonder people are confused about which is the right way to God. So the world made a compromise and say it does not matter how you come to God. However, the way does matter. There is only one way. All other ways are false. Why is Jesus the only way? Because he is the Father’s way. The Father accepts only those who come to him through his Son. No other way is acceptable. That is why Jesus said, ‘No one comes to the Father except through me’
Let me tell you my life story. I grew up in a church going home. Although I knew all the right answers from the Bible my life direction was wrong. I followed my own ways. For example I did not have a good relationship with my father. So I tried to solve our relationship by reading many psychology books. However that made me only more confused. Psychology was not the way. Also I could not see the meaning of life. So I tried to pursue a career that would make me great in the world. That did not work either. A career was not the way. I felt lost and confused. For the first time in my life I became desperate to know God’s way. You know what? God’s way was there all along. Jesus says, ‘Follow me!’ As I start to follow Jesus my life began to change. Through Bible study I could learn the truth about myself as a sinner before God. I could also learn the truth about Jesus’ cross and the love of God. I could get hope in the kingdom of God that there is also a room for me in the Father’s house. I was a church goer for more than 30 years and thought I knew all these things but I didn’t because my life never changed. I was a worldly Christian. My life only changed when I started following Jesus believing he is the only way to the Father’s house.
In conclusion, we cannot escape the problems of this world. However, we don’t have to feel confused, lost or troubled. We can have peace despite the troubles of this world. Why is that so? Because we know who Jesus is. Today we have learnt three important things about Jesus. First, Jesus is the way. Only Jesus can take us to the Father’s house. Secondly, Jesus is the truth. Through Jesus we know the truth of God who loves us. Lastly, Jesus is the life. Through Jesus we receive the life of God and we will never die. May God help us to know Jesus while we are young so that we can be comforted and strengthened while we live in this world. Amen. Let’s say our KV together. (Hymn 352 Victory in Jesus verses 1 and 3).