“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.”Jn 14:5-6
Full Text John 14: 1-14
I like Thomas, he acts , like a child and and asks childlike questions. He has helped his generations and our generation to know God .
When Jesus rose from the dead and showed himself to the disciples he was not there . When they told him his reaction was childlike. “It is impossible, do you see a dead man just getting up. Tell me something else “ They insisted they saw him . He said ok. "When I see him , and see where they pierce him, then, I will believe". Jesus was forced to come back . The lesson is not so much about unbelief but the fact that he wants to see Jesus himself. He wants to know and experience the resurrection power. He doesn't want filtered Jesus! He doesn’t want third hand Jesus . Many of us are satisfied with people telling us "I saw Jesus", "I have an encounter with Jesus", but we don't bother to have that personal experience.Thomas wanted the first hand experience and got .
Let's go to todays passage . Jesus was also talking about believing in him and his father and the wonderful plans he has in his will for us when we die and resurrect. "I have mansion for you in heaven, fabulous and fantastic house . And I am going now . And I am very sure you know where I am going . Don’t you"? Thomas was expecting others to say something, nobody spoke ! He raised up his hand. "Excuse me sir I don’t know why these people are keeping quiet but for me, to be frank and honest I don’t know where you are going. And you can also answer the second question I don’t know the way. What way ! How can I find the way ?
Jesus gave us one of the most controversial part of the scripture- “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus seized the opportunity to answer his next probable question- You are the Way, to where?.So Jesus said "the way to the Father", Wow! - Do you know Jesus. Do you know the Father. Do you know the Holy Spirit, brethren?
Jesus did not stop there : John 14 : If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him!
By now Thomas had opened the classroom for the day . Everyone was eager to get more from Jesus , the teacher from heaven. The teacher of teachers .
So, Philip raised up his hand." Sir, as a follow up to the question from brother Thomas, permit me to say "you are assuming we know many things, which honestly we don’t . For instance, we don’t know the father"- “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us” V9.Jesus saith unto him, Hav known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Jesus was saying, so with all this your coming to church, coming to Prayer meeting, Bible Study you don’t know me you don’t know the Father? So what do you know? Your colleagues, your pastor, your departmental members. Church is more than that . The essence of the church is for you to know me and the father!
Then, Jesus taught them how to know him . “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.” Jn 14:10
Jesus was saying: I am in the Father! The Father is in me. You could not see the Father, that is why I came. So that you can know that every word you hear from me, they are the words from the father . That is why I am telling you, the Father is in me. The miracles I do,He does them through me .
“Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.”Jn 14:11
Jesus said there are two ways you can know me. Firstly, believe in me. Believe what I am telling you. Secondly, if the first feels complex , believe me for the work I am doing! The miracles. The healings. The raising of the dead.
One time John the Baptist, who introduced him as the Messiah, was in prison . He was distressed, He apparently was now doubting the personality of Jesus . You know, it is very easy to say you believe in Jesus when things are rosy. When you have a good job, expensive car, big house, top grades in class. But when sickness ties you down in hospital, when you find yourself behind bars for what you know nothing about, that is when the test of life comes, that is when we know who really believes.
John asked - are you the one or someone else ? Jesus' answer: “So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Luke 7:22
How do you know Jesus? Believe him or believe the works he has done (and permit me to add) or both!
The icing on the cake that the Holy Spirt taught me today from John 14 are as follows:
Why must I believe? He gave us three reasons;
1. To do greater works
2. To secure a blank check for all your needs on earth: physical, material, financial, business, relationships, career.
3. That the Father may be glorified
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” John 14:12-13.
Summary: This year, get to know Jesus . You shall be glad you did .
Pastor Amos Dada PhD, P.Eng.
Zonal Superintendent Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Canada Zone
Chairman, CAC Men's Association, North America
Dean, Christ Apostolic Church North America Bible Institute
