Transcript
Jesus says, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
I’d like to give you three lenses for this passage, and you can decide which is most helpful for you.It’s like at the eye doctor.
- Jesus shows us what God is like
- Jesus offers perfect access to God
- Jesus describes for us the reality of God
Jesus shows us what God is like.
Fr. Ellsworth was preaching on this text at 7:30, and he said, “You know, it’s not like there is some hidden God behind Jesus. ”Jesus tells the disciples, if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.My mercy, my grace, my love–that’s the Father.
Some of you know that I went to Virginia Theological Seminary.The Deacon of that Seminary is Ian Markham, and he was also one of my theology professors. He used to say it this way: “God has disclosed truth about God in a life – the life of Jesus Christ.”In other words, Jesus Christ is the definitive disclosure of who God is.
Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God.”This is the totally unique claim of Christianity.
Jesus Christ does not simply teach about God. He shows us–definitively–what God is like.
How does this work? When you read the Gospels, when you watch and listen to Jesus, you are seeing who God is.
Take the woman at the well.What does that story tell us about God?
Jesus is stunningly inclusive.That’s what God is like.
Jesus is bold to tell the truth.That’s what God is like.
Jesus meets people where they are in love, and in his love he doesn’t intend to leave them there.That’s what God is like.
So when Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through me,” part of what he is saying is, “If you really want to know what God is fully like–get to know me.”
Access to God
Jesus offers perfect access to God
No one comes to the Father except through me.
You may remember that at the moment Jesus died on the cross, the Bible says that the curtain of the Temple was torn in two.That was the barrier that set apart the special area of the Temple called the Holy of Holies, where on the High Priest could go.The Bible says that through and in Christ, that barrier has–like the heavens themselves–has been torn open.When Jesus was Baptized, the heavens were torn open and voice came, “This is my son…”
Back when I lived in Washington DC I was able one time to visit the Pentagon in Arlington Virginia.It was very cool. Am I military? No. Am I a military contractor? No. Did I have any business –religious or otherwise–in the Pentagon that day? No.
So why and how did I spend an entire morning in one of the most secure buildings in the entire world? Because I went with a woman from my church who worked there, and she invited me. And I was her guest. We’ll call her Nancy.
I was totally comfortable in the Pentagon…because I was with Nancy. I had no personal standing to be in those halls–but because I was with her, I could walk freely and enjoy myself.
“No one comes to the Father except through me. ”In other words, Jesus says, “Through me–through my standing, my work, my worthiness, you have access to the very courts of heaven. You have standing, because you are my guest. You are attached to me.And I will bring you into my Father’s house.”
Jesus describes for us the reality of God
This is the most philosophical, but I think it’s actually the easiest.When you or I posit ideas about God, that’s one thing. But when Jesus talks about what God is, well, he knows what he is talking about.
It’s like, well if you were in chemistry class, and the professor said, every molecule of water is made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. That’s like, not an opinion.It just is.It’s a description of reality–from someone who knows what he or she is talking about.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit–the New Testament says that’s what God is. It’s not an idea. Or a device. Or a thought experiment.
The Christian claim is that the Trinity–the nature of God–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is the most real thing in the entire universe.
I was just listening to the Templeton Ideas Podcast.Simon Conway Morris, the person who just won the Templeton prize…he said this:
“Presuppose that the realities we associate with day-to-day existence are indeed important, but they are only a very small fraction of what actually is there.”
He goes to say that he is very open to the idea that, “Consciousness undergirds the physical space instead of sitting on top of it as a product of it.”
What does that mean? Here’s what it means. The materialist says, “There’s matter–that’s the most real thing in the universe: atoms, cells, brains….And from all that bubbles up consciousness: thoughts, ideas, beliefs, belief systems, religions.”
But the Bible (and I think Simon Conway Morris) says the exact opposite. In the beginning was the Word. The highest consciousness… non-material. And that non-material reality of power and love spoke the material world into existence. And then entered into that world to draw all people back to himself.
Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” In other words: “I became flesh and blood so that I could take you to that which is really real. Into the divine life itself.”
Ok, A word on Evangelism
God is love.
Jesus says that “I when I am lifted up, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32). So evangelism is cooperating with God in that endeavor.
I’m going to let the Daughters of the King do the talking here.
Daughters of the King teaching on Evangelism.
Jesus says that He will draw all people to himself (John 12:32). That’s his job. Your job (and mine) is live out your Christian faith, in deed and word. To tell people about Jesus. To love people like Jesus. To pray for people to find Jesus; and for the Holy Spirit to come into people’s lives. To invite people to Alpha.
To walk in love.
Let Jesus do his job.And cooperate with him.
Have I ever told you the best compliment I ever gave another person? Now I’ve said a lot of dumb things in my life. Ask Danielle. But this was a good thing. It was a friend at seminary who was unclear about her path ahead–unsure about where she would work and minister. And I said, “Well, I mean…whatever you do…I just know that at the end of the day there will be more Christians in this world because of you.”
She said, “That’s the most wonderful thing that anyone’s ever said to me.”
Well… Go and do likewise.
Thanks be to God, Amen.
