Listen:  103 Question 1

This is such a precious portion of scripture.  Let’s read the words of the Lord Jesus in John 14:1-6, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  To begin with, let’s go back and read John 13:1, “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”  This really sets the stage for what is in front of us.

The Lord knew it was time for him to depart out of the world and return to His Father.  This means that Christ knew that the hour of His crucifixion had come.  He confirms His love to His disciples, and then in a grand gesture of humility, the Lord washes His disciples’ feet.  After this, he speaks to them of the betrayal of Judas; He speaks of the glory of God; He speaks of going away, and tells Peter that he would deny Christ three times before the suns comes up.

Then, in John 14, the Lord begins to comfort and encourage the hearts of His disciples.  He reassures them that their faith in Him was not misplaced.  The Greek word for believe here is ‘pisteuo’ which means to have faith in.  Since they believed in God, they could also believe in Him.  He goes on to tell them of His Father’s dwelling place in the Glory.  It is a house with many mansions, or rooms, to dwell.  It was customary in those days, that when traveling on a journey, one would go ahead of the others to secure lodging place for those following.  As an example, let’s read Numbers 10:33, “And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.”  The purpose of the Lord going away was to secure a resting place for all those who follow Him.  He did that by going to the cross and giving Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.  The Bible says in Galatians 1:3-4, “Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.”

The Lord promises His disciples that after He went away, He would come again someday to take them to that place prepared for them.  Thomas, being confused by these words confessed that he did not know where the Lord was going, so how could he know the way?  The Lord’s reply in John 14:6 is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible.  That says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  Jesus is the one way to the Father.  Jesus is the truth and the fountain of all truth.  Scripture tells us in John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”  Jesus is the life.  The Lord has already told Martha in John 11:25, “…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”

The Lord makes this absolute declaration, “…no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  We can be certain that there is only one way to the Father, one way to Heaven, one way of salvation: the Lord Jesus Christ.  So many like to think there are many ways to salvation.  There is only one.  Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  There is no other way, but that one way is open for all who will come.  (103.1)