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The last week of the life of Jesus of Nazareth holds so many teachings. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem begins that week. This is the time (according to Matthew and Luke) when he went into the temple and cleared out all the money changers and those selling animals for sacrifices because “my Father’s house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13).
It is also the week when he taught several of the familiar parables like the parable of the wicked tenants, the wedding banquet, the ten virgins and the parable of the talents. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were trying to trap him every chance they got, with the one of the final tests being paying taxes to Caesar. He spoke of the signs of the end of the age and of judgment.
But it is also the time of the beautiful discourse recorded by the apostle John in the middle of this book. Jesus and the disciples celebrated the Passover Feast together. Jesus used this opportunity to teach the twelve some lessons about life, including what it means to be a servant with the foot washing he performed.
John is the book that gives us all the “I Am” statements that Jesus uses about himself. The one that gives the importance of Jesus is in the middle of this Passover discussion.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going”. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7
Jesus tells He is the only way to go to the Father. “I am THE way, THE truth, THE life,” not “a way, a truth, a life.” He promises to send the Holy Spirit to guide His children and keep them focused on the path leading to eternal life with Him. He concludes with a prayer for himself, his disciples and all believers, “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you know to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”(John 17:25-26) We, as the church, need to share that love, the knowledge that Jesus is the way, with the world today.
Prayer: Lord, through this Easter season, keep our focus on Jesus, His marvelous gift of salvation given at Calvary. Help us remember He is THE way, THE truth, THE life and help us share that with our world today. Amen.
Deanna Dyer
Camp Wyoba Chair
Douglas, WY |
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