"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace." John 16:33
In His farewell conversation, John 14-16, Jesus is preparing His disciples for His imminent departure through death’s door. He speaks words of comfort to them. For the orphaned disciples, life would be like a difficult journey traversing “field and fountain, moor and mountain” and finally leading thought the valley of the shadow of death.
But the journey is worthwhile, for it has a glorious destination. The goal toward which they are striving is not anything in this world. It is not what man’s hands can build – the kind of houses people want today and already wanted in the time of Amos (3:15): “winter house,” “summer house,” “houses adorned with ivory,” “mansions.” The destination is the Father’s house of many mansions. To come face to face with our Father in heaven – that is also our goal.
But it would be purposeless for Jesus to point to the destination if He didn’t also give us the direction for getting there. What road must His disciples follow to reach their destination? Jesus is specific: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life’ (John 14:6). This is one of many “I am” passages in John’s Gospel, showing that Jesus equated Himself with the Lord who revealed Himself to Moses as “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Jesus is the Way, the only road leading to the Father, and all who believe in Him have found the way. He is the Truth, the Revealer of the true God and of His good and gracious will for our salvation. He is the Life, the Giver of eternal life beginning here and now and reaching its fullness in heaven.
Destination and direction for getting there – heaven and faith in Christ – that is why the Savior came.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord Jesus for coming to be my Savior. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 7-8 John 7:28-53
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