March 12, 2017
Scripture:
Read John 4:10. God is a giver and He is willing to give. He gave the ultimate gift when He sent His Son down to the cross to suffer for our sins. Oh, the giving-ness of God! Love like that is unthinkable!
Hymns 351 - One door and only one
Prayer
We’ve been speaking about the events leading up to Jesus’ death in Luke 22, and then in John 14-17.
John 14:1-6. Last time we looked at this passage we saw four Ps: a Person, a Place, a Promise, and a Prospect. Now, let’s look at verse 6. There’s a poem that goes:
Without the way, there is no going;
Without the truth, there is no knowing;
Without the life, there is no living;
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Jesus is the way to the Father’s house. Without Him, we have no salvation.
There used to be a tract called, “Can you tell me the way to Heaven?” It’s the story of a soldier named Bert, who was fighting in a war. He was in one trench with his fellow soldiers, and they were shooting at the enemy, who was in another trench shooting back. All of a sudden, Bert got hit seriously, and fell down in the trench. The soldier beside him knelt down to see how he was, but Bert was dying, and he knew it. He asked the other soldier, “Can you tell me the way to Heaven?”
“I don’t know the way,” said the fellow, “But I’ll see if anyone else does.” He turned to the next man in line, “Do you know the way to Heaven?”
“No, I don’t,” said the third man. And so the question went down the line. Nobody down to the seventeenth man knew the way to Heaven. And all the while the enemy was trying to kill them! Finally, the question reached the eighteenth man, a fellow running a bigger gun.
“Bert’s dying,” he was told. “Do you know the way to Heaven?”
“I do,” he replied, “But I can’t leave my post to go and tell him. Here’s what I’ll do.” The soldier pulled out his testament and marked a verse. “Give that verse to Bert,” he said, “and tell him that’s the way to Heaven.”
So, back down the line that little New Testament traveled, and Bert found the way to Heaven that day.
The verse that soldier marked was John 3:16, one of the best gospel verses of all time. It has 25 words, and the middle word—word number 13—is the word “Son”. The gospel and our salvation revolve around Jesus. He is the way to Heaven.
But why do we need a way to Heaven?
The was a man working out in the bush, and he got lost. He was going in circles, and always ended up in the same clearing. He finally just stood there and yelled, “Lost! Lost!” Soon, a first nation man stepped out of the woods. “White man lost?” He asked, “Follow me.” He led the man out to a road. That man was lost, and needed to follow someone that knew the way. We need to follow the Lord Jesus, because He IS the way.
It would be different if Jesus said, “I am A way.” That would mean there is more than one way; but He said “I am THE way”, which shows there is only one. People think that we are narrow minded to say there is only one way, but that’s the way it is!
When I was young, three men died in a fire in our city, and I was speaking with a neighbour lady about the sad incident. “We have to be ready to die,” I said. “Yes,” she said, “There are many ways to Heaven, and we each have to find one.” That is so wrong! Jesus is THE way, not a way; and we need to know that.
Jesus is also the truth about everything. Some people think that truth is relative, or flexible, and that it applies differently depending on the circumstances. Jesus, however, is bedrock truth; no one moves Him. He spoke the truth about God, but He also spoke the truth about man and our sinful condition. He spoke the truth about being the way. Truth reveals the way, and Jesus revealed the truth. He deserves our faith and trust.
Finally, Jesus is the life. We can be united with His life, the Divine life, if we’re willing to take it by faith and believe in Jesus. This was a triple “I am” statement—I am the way, the truth, and the life—but they all connect into one. We need the truth about the way, and we need life in order to walk in the way once we find it. What’s interesting is that as Jesus was teaching this, He was also heading to the cross, in order to make these truths happen.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 - 3:13
It was precious for Paul to anticipate the glory ahead, and the fruit of his work even among difficulties. Many of the Lord’s people have the same joy. It opens a glimpse of eternity. We don’t know much of eternity, but Paul figured he was going to recognize the Thessalonians. He often refers to the people of the churches he started as his “joy and crown.”
We said hope is a desirable future happening. Paul hoped to be in all joy and glory with the Thessalonians because they were saved through him. It is nice to see the fruit of one’s work on earth; though some will never know what God did through them until they are in heaven. Satan may have hindered the fruit, and although he is a beaten foe he can still do stuff to hinder the work. It’s wonderful to know he won’t be in heaven.
Timothy, in this chapter, receives a nice commendation from Paul. We can see his earnestness and faithfulness here. It was brought to light because of the value it was to Paul and the Thessalonians.
One of the big questions some people ask is “If God is a God of love why is there suffering?“. But according to verse four, turning to God increases suffering. If one went with the Jew under the law it might be easier, but the Thessalonians chose the path of richest blessing. For those not saved life isn’t an easy path either, they still suffer; but we have the Lord with us. The Thessalonians were made family through salvation. They ministered to, established, and comforted one another in the Lord. It doesn’t eliminate the suffering, but it comforts with the blessed hope. Jesus told His disciples to expect suffering. Paul was happy in the Lord even with trouble. He knew he was doing what God wanted him to do. To those in the world it doesn’t seem like a very high calling, but it comes with the position.
This also shows the special concern Paul had for the Thessalonains. They were new converts. Paul hadn’t gone there to have a gospel campaign and then move on. He was concerned for them during their trials and tribulations, but he couldn’t go and see them. He was worried of what Satan would try to do. Satan uses all kinds of temptations. We can’t stop it, but we shouldn’t yield to them either. Paul seemed to know Satan would go after their faith first. The shield of faith is the first mention in the armor of God. If that is down the game is up because it leaves you wide open.
Hymn 294 - Around the throne of God in heaven
Prayer