When have you felt most at peace? QUESTION 1 #MoreThanEnough BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 45
THE POINT Jesus is the Way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE One of the most beloved American literary characters is Atticus Finch, the small-town Alabama lawyer in Harper Lee s To Kill a Mockingbird. Throughout the novel, Atticus maintains a calm poise whether facing down a rabid dog or dealing with a raciallymotivated mob. Several times in the narrative, Atticus tells his children, Jem and Scout, It s not time to worry. Atticus has always been very open with his children, so they trust that, if there s a time to worry, he ll tell them. Trouble has a way of finding us, and it is easy to let those troubles cause us to worry. It would be nice to a have our own version of a calm and collected Atticus Finch someone who would tell us, It s not time to worry. We don t need a fictitious character like Atticus. We have Jesus, who offers us something far greater. He doesn t just offer words in an attempt to comfort us; He offers Himself. Jesus does what no Atticus Finch can do: He is our peace in the midst of any trouble. 46 SESSION 5
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? John 14:1-7 (HCSB) 1 Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. 2 In My Father s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going. 5 Lord, Thomas said, we don t know where You re going. How can we know the way? Troubled (v. 1) This term can refer to outward shaking or stirring up, inward turmoil, unsettling circumstances, or being thrown into confusion. Dwelling places (v. 2) This phrase refers to a room or abode, or even of a settled residence. Know (v. 7) All three uses in this verse come from the Greek word meaning to know by personal experience. A different Greek word appears in verses 4-5. 6 Jesus told him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 47
THE POINT Jesus is the Way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. John 14:1 Your heart must not be troubled. It was just hours before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion, yet Jesus was not focused on Himself; rather, He sought to comfort and encourage His disciples. These men had already experienced difficulty because of their commitment to Him. It was going to get worse much worse. Persecution was coming; martyrdom would soon be a reality. Becoming a Christian, from the first century until now, has not been an escape hatch from trouble. Our faith often invites conflict. And of course, believers experience many of the same difficulties unbelievers go through: sickness, accidents, natural disasters, crimes, and wars are all realities. For all these reasons, Jesus knew finding and maintaining peace would be difficult. His encouragement, Your heart must not be troubled, advocates a practical reality, not a theoretical possibility. And how exactly am I supposed to avoid being overcome by trouble? Jesus revealed the Source of peace in the midst of trouble: Believe in God; believe also in Me. The word believe in this context also could be translated trust. The key is trusting God and Jesus to sustain you through those challenges. To underscore how important this strategy is, Jesus repeated the word believe. Furthermore, He used the imperative tense in the original language. That makes it a command an urging more than a suggestion. Notice Jesus did not say simply to trust the power of God or the presence of Jesus. It is a trust based on a relationship with God that is personal and intimate. We trust in Persons (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit), not merely in concepts or doctrines. That s a distinctive characteristic of the Christian faith. Several years ago, after being diagnosed with cancer, I had two surgeries in five days. The night after the second surgery was very difficult. During the night, I became desperate for help. My prayer was, God, just get me through to the morning. For the first time in my life, all my education and experiences were useless. That night, it was just me trusting God and He was enough. How do you determine if someone is trustworthy? QUESTION 2 48 SESSION 5
John 14:2-4 Jesus promised believers permanent residence in His Father s house. He said His Father s house contains many dwelling places. The phrase dwelling places emphasizes the location of the place being prepared for us and that location is with God. God has a perpetual place for believers that is with Him. The grandeur of heaven is the presence of God! Be careful not to fixate on receiving your mansion, as if some glorified version of a brick-and-mortar castle is what will make heaven special. God is preparing a place for His people to dwell near Him to be in His presence for all eternity which is the ultimate benefit of heaven. Jesus underscored this priority when He promised, I will come back and receive you to Myself. Jesus promised to retrieve His followers, accompany them beyond death, and bring them into His presence as their eternal reward. No stately home no matter how nice could possibly be better than dwelling in the presence of Jesus. Jesus foreshadowed His impending departure and its purpose. He warned, I am going away to prepare a place for you but in the next breath He assured them, If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself. These short sentences summarize His upcoming death, resurrection, ascension, and return events that are essential in making heaven a reality for us. Jesus redemptive work through the cross and resurrection were the means to prepare a place for you. Jesus death and resurrection were the preparation the work to give us eternal access into God s presence. You know the way to where I am going. Clearly, by now, Jesus believed His followers should know the way to heaven. As we shall see, however, they still didn t understand. What do these verses reveal about God s intention for our relationship with Him? QUESTION 3 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 49
THE POINT Jesus is the Way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. "Jesus death and resurrection were the preparation What does this I am statement teach us about Jesus nature and character? the work to give us eternal access into God s presence." QUESTION 4 JEFF IORG CHAOS OR CALM? Peace is the result of placing your faith wholly in Christ. Which of the following areas feel like choppy waters in your life right now? Check all that apply. Navigating a big decision Managing finances Implementing education & career plans Strengthening current relationships Other: What truth from today s passage gives you the greatest sense of peace? Write it below in your own words. 50 SESSION 5
John 14:5-7 Thomas heard Jesus say, You know the way to where I am going (John 14:4), but he was still confused. True to his character, Thomas was willing to risk an honest question. Jesus response included no hint of rebuke toward Thomas. Instead, He responded to Thomas s question with one of His most powerfully concise statements: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Jesus made a tri-fold claim. Jesus did not say He was a Source or Teacher of the way; He said, I am the way. Jesus statement is personal, referring to His very being and not simply something communicated by Him or through Him. This is a fundamental uniqueness about Christianity compared with other world religions. Our faith is personal generated by a Person and accessed through a relationship with a Person. Jesus does not teach the way ; He is the Way. The same personal claim also applies to truth and life. Jesus said, I am the truth and I am the life. While Jesus taught truth and gave life, He claimed to be more than a Source for these things. Jesus is Truth and Life. Jesus claim to being the Way, Truth, and Life may be the clearest claim in the whole of Scripture about the exclusivity of the gospel. We find absolutely no biblical foundation for universalism the misguided belief all faiths are equal, all roads lead to heaven, and all religions are valid expressions of truth about God. Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth, and the only Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Let s take these words seriously. Let them motivate our witness, deepen our spiritual resolve, and increase our efforts to get the gospel to more people. That s the best response to Jesus definitive words and the only way to true peace. How do these verses lead us to experience peace? QUESTION 5 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 51
THE POINT Jesus is the Way to the Father; therefore, we can live in peace. LIVE IT OUT Jesus is the way to the Father. What will you do with this truth? ]] Turn from counterfeit peace. Spend some time this week identifying things in your life that you lean on to bring you peace. Confess to God your tendency to seek peace in things other than Christ. Ask Him for strength to trust in Christ alone. ]] Memorize John 14:6. Commit this verse to memory and ask God to remind you of it the next time you find yourself feeling anxious or worried. Thank God for the access to Him we re given in Christ. ]] Invite a person of a different faith to coffee or lunch. Ask them to explain what their religion teaches about concepts like the way to heaven, truth, and eternal life. In turn, tell them what Jesus has taught you about these issues. Major decisions, distressing experiences, and unexpected life circumstances will come. That s when we plant our feet firmly on God s Word: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Trusting in these truths yields peace that only comes from God. My thoughts 52 SESSION 5