b) Especially at the thought of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ
THE QUESTION OF THOMAS
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
John 14:5
1. Lord, we do not know where You are going
a) The Lord Jesus had specifically said
i) I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:3a)
ii) Where I go you know (John 14:4a)
b) What did Thomas mean?
“We do not know where You are going”
i) Was he looking for a road map?
ii) Was he looking at physical specifics?
2. And how can we know the way?
a) He held on to his thought
b) How could they know what the Lord was saying?
THE ANSWER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6
1. I am the Way
a) There is no road map to heaven
b) The way to heaven is through the Lord Jesus
i) He will pave the way
ii) He will prepare whatever is needed
c) Some aspects that may be highlighted:
i) He is the Saviour
ii) He is the captain of our salvation
iii) He is the One who will bring us to heaven
2. The Truth
a) His teachings are not mere opinions
b) He is the Living Word of Truth
c) He embodies truth
3. The Life
a) He is the Giver of eternal life
b) He is the Sustainer of life
c) He is the Source of life
4. No one comes to the Father except through Me
a) Saviour
b) Mediator
c) High Priest
THE QUESTION OF PHILIP
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
John 14:8
1. His knowledge was not great
2. Nor was his understanding very significant
3. He wanted to be “shown” the Father
a) Appearances
b) Manifestations
c) Dreams
THE ANSWER OF THE LORD JESUS
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
John 14:9-11
1. Did Philip really know the Lord Jesus?
2. If he had truly known the Lord Jesus deeply he would not make this statement
a) To know the Lord Jesus was to know the Father
b) To see the Lord Jesus was to see the Father
3. The problem was identified
It was problem that involved “Faith”
a) Did Philip believe that the Father was in the Lord Jesus?’
b) And that the Lord Jesus was in the Father?
4. The words of the Lord Jesus
a) They were not of His own authority
b) They were from God the Father
5. The works of the Lord Jesus
a) It was the Father working in the Lord Jesus
b) This Faith was of vital significance
6. There must be Faith:
a) In the Lord Jesus
b) In the words of the Lord
c) In the works of the Lord
This Faith will help us find deep assurance even when we face death!
CONCLUSION
1. Check Faith in the Lord Jesus
2. Deepen Faith in the Saviour
3. Hold fast to this Faith
5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
The Father Revealed
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.