The Way, the Truth, and the Life:

Context:

• Jesus washes the disciples feet.
• He tells them about the betrayal that is about to take place.
• Now He works on assuring them.

John 14:1 “...Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me...”

Were there troubling things in the disciples lives?

• They have been informed about the Messiah’s upcoming death.
• They have been informed that they will scatter.
• They are about to face significant changes in their lives.

Are there troubling things in our lives?

What did Jesus present as a starting place for facing troubling times?

• Believing in God and believing in Jesus.

How can this bring peace to troubled hearts?

What difference does a living God make in our lives?

John 14:2-4 “...In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going...”

Where was Jesus going?

• To His Father’s house.

What did Jesus tell them He was going to do?

• To prepare a place.

Do you think there is room for you in Father’s house?

What is the end result of Jesus going?

• He will come again to take His disciples to Himself.
• Where Jesus is, His disciples will be.

Do you know the way to where Jesus was going?

• John 14:5 “...Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?...”

• Thomas said he didn’t know the way.

John 14:6-7 “...Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him...”

Are there many ways to get to God?

• Jesus plainly said there is but one way.

John 14:9-11 “...Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves...”

Why did Philip ask Jesus to show them the Father?

• He didn’t know Jesus like he thought he did.
• He didn’t know the abiding oneness of the triune God.

What do you think Jesus meant by ‘... I am in the Father and the Father is in me...’?

• They dwell together.

Why should the works of Jesus help belief?

• The works were not human works, they were divine in origin.
• The Kingdom of God was presented to earthbound men.

John 14:12-14 “...Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it...”

When a person truly believes, what happens?

• They do greater works than those done by Jesus Himself.

How are these works performed?

• In Jesus name.

What do these works accomplish?

• They glorify the Father in the Son.

Does that mean you can do anything and everything?

• 1 John 5:14-15 “...And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him...”

Positioning:

Context:

• Jesus is approaching the end.
• He has been telling his disciples what to expect.
• He reveals the meaning of communion.
• They dispute about which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

Luke 22:25-27 “...And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves...”

What is the world’s definition of greatness?

• Achieving more than others.
• Possessing more than others.
• Having authority over others.
• Having others serve you.

What is the counter culture position that Jesus describes?

• Jesus demonstrated a life of serving others.

What position would you say your life choices and personal ambitions most closely resembles?

• We live in an extremely selfish culture.
• We can very easily be squeezed into the culture’s mold.
• We should be positioned to serve.
• We usually operate with selfish, not selfless, motives.

Matthew 26:30-32 “...And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee...”

Mark 14:26-28 “...And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee...”

What do you hear in these passages?

• They sang a hymn before going to the Mount of Olives.
• Jesus knew they would fulfill prophesy by falling away.
• He told them about post resurrection Galilee.

Matthew 26:33-35 “...Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same...”

Mark 14:29-31 “...Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same...”

Luke 22:31-34 “...Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me...”

John 13:37-38 “...Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times...”

What was Peter confident he could do?

• He was sure he could ‘stay the course’.
• He was sure he would stay with Jesus to the end.

What was Peter’s reality?

• He would cower in fear.
• He would deny Jesus three times before morning.

What was Satan going to do?

• Satan intends to sift the followers of Jesus like wheat.

Do followers of Jesus face various trials?

How does Jesus respond to Satan’s demands?

• He intercedes for believers.
• He prays that faith many not fail.
• He prays for ‘turning again’ to lead to strengthening others.

Are you confident in your ability to follow Jesus?

Why is it often difficult to follow Jesus?

What is your part in following Jesus?

What is God’s part?

Last Supper / First Communion:

Matthew 26:18 “...He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples...’”

Mark 14:13-15 “...And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us...”

Luke 22:8-12 “...So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there...”

Why did the Jews celebrate the Passover?

• Leviticus 23:5 “...In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover...”

• Deuteronomy 16:1 “...Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night...”

• The angel of death PassedOver the Israelites who had the blood of the lamb on the doorpost.

Why was this particular Passover significant?

• 1 Corinthians 5:7 “...Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed...”

• The Perfect Passover Lamb was to be sacrificed.
• Those who have the blood of Jesus on the doorpost of their heart will not harvested for the Lake of Fire.

Did Jesus have control of the current situation?

Matthew 26:21 “...And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me...”

Mark 14:18 “...And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me...”

Luke 22:21-22 “...But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!...”

John 13:21 “...After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me...”

John 13:26-27 “...Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly...”

Did Jesus know what was about to happen?

• He knew He was about to be betrayed.

Matthew 26:23-25 “...He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so...”

Mark 14:20-21 “...He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born...”

Did Jesus know who would betray Him?

• He apparently knew what, when, and by whom.

Matthew 26:26-29 “...Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom...”

Mark 14:22-25 “...And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God...”

Luke 22:15-20 “...And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood...”

What did Jesus reveal about this “communion” with His disciples?

• It was the new covenant, for remembrance, for the forgiveness of sins.
• The blood of Jesus was poured out for many.