Day 4
Jesus shows His disciples a future reality that
is greater than their current difficulty. He tells the
disciples they can trust Him because He is not going to
be defeated; He will be with the Father. Notice these
four realities Jesus told His disciples they can hold on
to, in the midst of their present circumstances:
1. The Father has an eternal dwelling place. The Greek
word translated “rooms” or “mansions” in the King
James comes from the verb that means “abide” or
“remain.” This is not a temporary shelter; it is an eternal
home.
2. Jesus is going there to get a place ready for them.
3. He is not giving up but truly desires to live eternally
with His followers.
4. Jesus reminds the disciples that they already know
the road that He is taking to His Fathers house.
But then Thomas says, what I think they were all
thinking, ‘no we don’t.’
Perhaps each of us is a little like Thomas. Although
Jesus speaks to our hearts telling us not to be
overwhelmed and troubled, we don’t always hear Him.
Although we know we can trust Jesus, we sometimes
lose sight of the eternal and focus on our problems; we
see our immediate surroundings and lose sight of the
eternal. That’s what Thomas did in verse 5; Thomas
missed what Jesus had just told him. In what ways are
you like Thomas? Repent of that and Trust the Truth!
Do you relate to people in a way that allows
you to tell them the truth and have them give you a
hearing? Is it possible that the way you say
something has as much impact as what you are
saying? Paul talks about “speaking the truth in love.”
How can you practice this concept?
In John chapter 14, no wonder the disciples
were troubled (vv. 1, 27): Jesus was going to leave
them, one of them would betray Him and Peter
would deny Him.
Jesus encouraged them by telling them about
Himself and the Father.
Jesus takes us to the Father. We have a home in
heaven when life is over, and we shall meet Jesus
and the Father. James M. Gray wrote, "Who could
mind the journey when the road leads home?"
Blessed assurance!
Discuss, as a family, what it will be like one day, to
live in heaven and meet Jesus.
Day 5 Volume 2 Number 22
I’m glad Thomas asked Jesus (vs. 5) what
I’m sure each of the other disciples were thinking at
that moment, and what you and I also ask in one way
ENGAGED
May 29–June 4
or another, each time we face difficult situations.
“Lord, how . . . how can I make it through this? Lord,
what should I do; where should I go? Lord, why?”
Jesus’ statement, “I am the way, the truth and the
life” is made in response to Thomas’ question. If
Thomas had not asked his question then we may
have never had such a direct statement from Jesus
as to the way to the Father. Jesus does not penalize
us for asking questions. Notice though, Jesus does
not answer the first part of Thomas’ question; He just
told the disciples He was going to be with the Father.
Rather than get sidetracked, Jesus focuses in on
clarifying the way. He does not want His disciples,
nor you and I, to be uncertain of how to come into the
Father’s presence. Where we are going is not nearly
as important as Whom we will be with. Is this the
driving force of your faith? To be with Jesus? You
can be in His presence now; just open His inerrant
plenary verbal Word and spend time hearing His John 14:6
voice.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Because of the general attitude that prevails MISSION MOMENT: Pray for our first Family Camp
”
starting Wednesday, here at the church, and then everyone
in America today about absolute truth, we often shy
heads to camp on Thursday. Pray for Neil, Lori & Corey, as
away from revealing that we believe in it. But the
they lead us to grow closer to Christ.
truth is the truth. And as pointed out in day one,
everybody really believes in truth. The difference for
the one who follows Jesus is that they are uniquely
empowered to share the truth with impact. Do not
allow your ability to impact others to lie dormant.
Your words possess the power to change lives by the
truth that dwells in you. Use it!
Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea
where you're going. How do you expect us to know
the road?"
Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the
Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you
really knew me, you would know my Father as well.
From now on, you do know Him. You've even seen
Him!" (The Message)
Day 1
Read this verse in the full context:
John 14:1-6
I want you to clearly see what Jesus is
saying. There is no other way to God but
Jesus. This passage can only be taken
seriously if we can trust the authority of
God’s Word. Do you truly believe God’s
Word? Do you yearn to live according to
every word? The Bible is Inerrant (without
flaw) as it was originally given. It is called
‘plenary verbal’. God Himself directly
inspires every word. If every Christian lived
out the Word, what would the world look
like? What difference would be in your world
if you lived out the Inerrant, plenary verbal,
Word of God?
This week’s engage relationship focus
is on communicating the gospel to those with
whom you relate. The world has become
increasingly hostile to the idea that any one
religion, or way of thinking about spiritual
things, has the only answer to life’s
questions. But remember this as you face
this challenging climate for sharing the truth.
The world’s insistence that we allow for a
plurality of “truths” is their “ONE WAY” of
looking at things. They insist upon the
freedom for themselves that they deny to
those who say Jesus is the only way. They
are not denying there is only one way; they
simply want their one way to be “The Way”!
Let’s start off today with a question.
Is Christ the only way to heaven?
Answer: YES!
No amount of good deeds, social action or
humanitarian aid can gain an eternal reward.
Discuss, as a family, how important it is to
know that Christ is the only way to heaven.
Day 2
Reread John 14:1-6
If God’s Word can be trusted, Jesus is saying
He is the only Way. Does this seem unfair to
you? More and more people today–even many
who consider themselves Christians–believe
there are many roads that lead to God. Today,
people believe that as long as you are sincere in
what you believe and do your best to be a good
moral person, God will accept you in the end.
What Jesus says does not fit within our
pluralistic society that encourages tolerance of
all beliefs. Jesus claims to be THE WAY, THE
TRUTH and THE LIFE (not just a way, a truth
and a life). But He didn’t stop there. Jesus also
said no one would come to the Father God,
except through Him. Jesus leaves no room for
the inclusive mentality that believes all paths will
lead to God. How has the pluralistic society
silenced your stand for Jesus and right things?
One of the earmarks of good
communication is to actually hear the other
person, processing what they say and believe,
before you respond to them. How do you listen
well, while at the same time holding the absolute
truth in your mind? Is it possible to listen both
sympathetically and critically?
Can I put my faith in something else and
it will lead me to heaven?
Answer: NO!
No other faith system can lead people to the one
true God. Some people chafe at such an
exclusive position, but the words of the apostles
and Jesus Himself, leaves no other option.
Read Acts 4:12 and 1 Timothy 2:5.
Day 3
Jesus begins the passage by reassuring
His disciples to trust Him. The hearts and minds
of each of the disciples were overwhelmed with
the thought of what Jesus has told them. They
can’t imagine that each of them would forsake
Jesus, that one of them was set to betray Jesus,
and that Jesus would be crucified–executed like
a criminal. It was all-unbelievable, and yet, it all
happened just like Jesus said it would.
In the midst of these overwhelming
circumstances, Jesus tells His disciples to trust
Him. “Don’t give up hope! You can trust me even
as you have faith in God.” How can Jesus make
such a statement? If what Jesus is telling His
disciples happens, how can they trust Him if He’s
dead? Notice Jesus does not ask His disciples to
have faith in a corpse. Jesus wants the disciples
to look beyond their present difficulty. He desires
the hearts of the disciples to rest confidently
within the assurance of what is to come. Our
lives work the same way. Our trust in Jesus must
come before our trust in our circumstances?
Rate yourself from 1-10 on how well you trust
Jesus when the going gets rough.
Today, consider some passages where
Jesus was both sympathetic and firm in His
dealings with people. Look at His dealings with the
woman at the well in John 5. When was He blunt?
When was He gentle? How did He mesh the two?
Can you find other passages that show both sides
of His communication style?
What about those who never hear about
Jesus?
Answer: There may be no satisfactory answer to this
question. The Bible is clear about the exclusive claims
of Christ (John 14:6). Yet we also know God is
merciful and absolutely just.
It would seem to contradict what we know of His
nature if He did not account for the disadvantages of
those who, through no fault of their own, have never
heard of Jesus.
Still, God's grace requires a human response.
Christians have a responsibility to make Christ known
in all the world, so people have the opportunity to
respond (Matt. 28:19-20).
Ultimately, we can trust God to judge the world justly.