John 14:1-14

Jesus the Way to the Father

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. 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, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ 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 know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? 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; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 

Today’s passage will be familiar to many readers from its use in funeral services, but its relevance is not limited to that context. The passage falls into four parts, each of which builds on what has gone before. A feature throughout is that what seems at first to be straightforward turns out to have deeper significance.

Verses 1-4
In the previous chapter, Jesus has warned the disciples that he is about to leave them and they will be unable to follow. He now reassures them that in time they will be able to follow. He goes to prepare a place for them and will return to collect them. When will this be? In the context we think of the resurrection when he returns to the disciples. But for John, writing years later, and for us as readers, there has been another departure, at the ascension. So there will be another ‘coming’, but whether that coming is to each individual at the moment of death, or to the world at the end of time is left (deliberately?) unclear.

Verses 5-7
Thomas is puzzled. Taking Jesus’ words literally he asks about the destination and the route. Jesus, however, takes the topic to another level. The journey is to God the Father, and Jesus himself is the route, because he embodies truth about God and gives life.

Verses 8-11
Fundamental to the Old Testament is the insistence that God is invisible so Jesus’ statement is striking. God’s character and intention can be seen in Jesus himself. This is a challenge to faith, but the preceding chapters have consistently described Jesus’ miracles as ‘signs’, pointers to God at work in him.

Verses 12-14
Jesus promises that his followers will continue his work and even excel what he has done. “In my name” must not be regarded as a sort of password or magic formula. It implies asking for what Jesus himself would ask.

Blessings as we thank Jesus for showing us who God the Father is.  Be safe!  Be well!  He is Risen Indeed!

 To Ponder:

• “No one comes to the Father except through me”. What bearing does this have on your attitude to people of other faiths?
• What might be the “greater works” that Jesus’ followers will be able to do?
• What might this passage have to say about our reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic?