Holy Week
” I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”
Jesus, John 14:6
The supper was done. The one that was going to betray Jesus had left to do his part in fulfilling the prophecies and the plan to lead Jesus to the cross. The disciples sat with Jesus after the Passover meal was had and they listened to him give what is known as Jesus’ Farewell Discords. After talking with Roger Clark, he said, ” I think we should pay attention a little more to the last words than we do sometimes.”
What if I told you that even in the most intimate settings and the most intimate of conversations that Jesus had with his best friends and those that would continue his message of love and grace and freedom….that Jesus was thinking about you?
We see in John 14, the conversation starts with Jesus simply stating the truth. That the only way for anyone to get to the Father, God, is through him. That Jesus is the truth, meaning we should pay close attention and learn from everything that he says. That Jesus is life, meaning in Jesus there is a life of freedom that no one can experience unless coming to Him. For the disciples, I have a feeling there was a little bit more understanding to what he is saying, but for Thomas, Thomas asked the question that led Jesus to the answer he gives in 14:6.
” Thomas said to him, ‘ Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
John 14:5
I have a feeling that if we were all truly honest with ourselves, we all are a bit more like Thomas that the rest of the disciples. We ask the questions to get better understanding. We doubt because we just don’t know if we can truly trust the words of Jesus. But in the end, when we have a transcending moment with Jesus, we fall to our knees and cry out ” My Lord and my God!!” John 20:28.
The Farewell Discord is one that is full of things to unpack and think about, but today, on what would have been the day that Jesus is betrayed and led to a crooked court…..ask yourself this question…..
What would you be thinking if you were the disciples? How would you react with some of what Jesus is saying after spending 3 years with him?
Those thoughts that you might have, might get blown away in just a little while when we get to John 17 where Jesus prays for you. Jesus knows you and sees you and knows every area of your life that you try to keep hidden.
But Jesus, never turns away.