"Learn From Me" - Part 3 (John 14:5-11)

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus offered a two-fold invitation. First, Jesus offered rest. But Jesus also offered an opportunity to learn of Him (KJV) or from Him (NKJV). We want to learn "of" or about Jesus. We also want to learn "from" Him. Over the next several weeks, we're going to look at several passages in an effort to do just that.

Previous Posts in the Series: Part 1, Part 2

Have you ever wondered what it might have been like to be one of the apostles? I mean, you'd be walking with Jesus every day. You would have it all figured out, wouldn't you?

Well, if you did, you wouldn't have been much like the twelve apostles that Jesus chose. We see many times in scripture that the apostles had questions, they wondered, they worried, and they doubted--at least while Jesus was with them. 

The apostles had much to learn. Today's text is John 14:5-11. In this text, we find at least two of the apostles learning very important lessons from Jesus.

Jesus is the Way

1. Jesus was trying to comfort the apostles. He knew His time was at hand. He knew the apostles were going to have trouble dealing with the loss of their friend and mentor. Jesus said that He was preparing a place for them. He said they knew where He was going and how they were going to get there.
2. They didn't get it. Thomas spoke up with a question. "Where are you going and how can we get there?" Thomas wanted to be with Jesus and was at one point even willing to die with Him (John 11:16). We should respect Thomas' desire to be with Christ.
3. Jesus' response to Thomas' question was clear. To paraphrase, Jesus said: "I am going to the Father and I am the Way." What a powerful lesson to learn from Jesus. Jesus never claimed to be a way to salvation. He never claimed to be a good way, or a better way, or even the best way to salvation and to the Father. Jesus said He is THE WAY--THE ONLY WAY--to the Father.
4. There is comfort for those who are in Christ knowing that heaven awaits. Sure there will be struggles in this life. There will be hard times. There will be difficulties. We can be comforted by knowing what lies ahead. Jesus used this for comfort Himself (Hebrews 12:2), and so did Paul (Romans 8:18).

Jesus is God

1. Philip then speaks up and basically says, "Just show us the Father and that will be enough." To us, it makes sense to make that request. Wouldn't that just solve everything? Wouldn't that provide all the comfort that the apostles would need? Just let us see God.
2. Philip didn't get it. Jesus said (and again, I'm paraphrasing), "You ought to know me by now!" He said, "I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father." When Jesus said that knowing Him and seeing Him was the same thing as knowing the Father and seeing the Father, Jesus was again making the claim that He is God.
3. Philip had a strong desire to know the Father. Each one of us should have that same desire. We cannot see the Father without seeing the Son. Of course, today we can't see Jesus in the flesh as the apostles did (1 Peter 1:8). But we can see Him through the Word. 
4. There's comfort in knowing that we can see the Father and the Son. We must be diligent in our reading and studying of the Bible so that we are able to clearly and fully see God.

Have you experienced loss? Maybe a friend, a family member, or some other loved one. The apostles were about to lose their best friend. Jesus essentially said: "Don't worry about it. Increase your faith." 

That's not easy! Thomas and Philip recognized that it's not easy. So Jesus added to their comfort and, if you'll allow me one last paraphrase, He said: "I am the Way to the Father and by seeing Me, you have seen Him."

May we be comforted in our trials and our troubles as we continue to learn from Jesus Christ!

"Let not your heart be troubled..." -- John 14:1

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