Episode 199: September 22, 2024 - The Mission Of God - Part 4

Eternity Church PodCast

A Sunday morning sermon. The other morning, I came across a verse, one I’ve read countless times (I’m sure you’ve been there). It’s the kind of verse you’ve reflected on before but with this newest reading, it shines off the page. In his Gospel, the Apostle John writes, “Thomas said to Jesus, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’” (John 14.5). This is the kind of question I’ve heard many times from people in the Middle East on their way to faith. And it's a great question. It makes perfect sense to ask it! In the context of the verse, it doesn’t feel like Jesus is giving the disciples much comfort for their troubles. He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” but his answer isn’t a ten-step guide or a pinpoint location for where He is going. Jesus instead says, “You believe in God; believe also in me.” Biblical scholar Karen Jobes recognizes, “Thomas, the loyal but ever pragmatic disciple, asks a perfectly logical question. Without knowing Jesus’ destination, how could they know the route to take? Where is the Father’s house to which Jesus is departing?” So often in life, and particularly when we consider the mission of God, we want all the details. We want the 10-point plan. We want all the details that seem obscure to us. But this isn’t what Jesus offers His disciples. It isn’t what He offers us. Jesus doesn’t spend His precious time with His disciples giving them a roadmap to success or a series of mantras to reduce their anxiety. He gives the Way. He gives them Himself. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him,’” (John 14.6-7). Jesus offers them an avenue within Himself to trust. He shows us the Way because He is the Way and He is walking with us. And we have this great and awesome privilege to invite others to experience redemption and transformation on the Way of Jesus.