John 14:6 & 18-21

⁶Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

¹⁸I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.²⁰On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ²¹Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 

“I am the … Life …”

Martin Luther called John 14 "the best and most comforting sermon that Jesus Christ delivered on earth, a treasure and a jewel not to be purchased with the world's goods." These verses are a great comfort, not only for the disciples, but also for us. Whenever life is confusing, scary or seemingly hopeless these verses provide a place to turn to, a place to rest the soul.

Fear, confusion and uncertainty are probably what the disciples felt, too. After the triumphant parade in Jerusalem where people hailed him as the Messiah, they hear Jesus predict his betrayal not only by Judas, but also Peter, and hear him talk about going away, dying.

Thomas’s question: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” prompts Jesus to say the words “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me,” therefore excluding any other way to get to the place he went to prepare for those who believe in him (John 14:1-4).

Jesus says: “Do not let your hearts be troubled … 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.”

What a comfort these words are! He is the way. We don`t have to find or build the way ourselves, nor walk on it alone. He will come back to get us and make us one with him and the Father: “Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20).

Prayer

Dear Lord, comfort us in our daily struggles with the overwhelming gift of your sacrifice that made us one with you and the Father. Help us to reflect your love in our lives. Amen.