Do You Know The Way?

I was reading the book of John in the New International Version of the bible when John 14:4 caught my attention. Thoughts starting flowing in. Jesus told His disciples in verse 4, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” I thought to myself, what did He mean by that? How could He be sure that the disciples knew where He was going when He was still with them? I started thinking that if Jesus told His disciples that they knew the way when He was still with them, what about me? Do I know the way?

I went back to chapter 12 where Jesus was warning His disciples about His impending death. I reread chapter 13 that emphasized that Jesus was going to demonstrate the full extend of his love to His disciples who are in the world, and how He did it. He wanted to make sure that they know He loves them. I found out that He instituted the washing of the feet and wanted them to know that the servant is not greater than the master.

I read how He predicted His betrayal and informed His disciples that He knew those He has chosen. He let them know that anyone who accepted them accepted Him and the Father who sent Him. He also predicted Peter's denial and gave a new command. His new command focused on love and will be the binding foundation of His true disciples.

Now all this conversation was taking place before Jesus' death and before the disciples even knew that there was a Holy Spirit that will undue them with power. Chapter 14 starts with Jesus describing that He was going to His Father's house to prepare a place for the disciples. He promised to come back and take all that belong to Him with Him. Then came the statement in verse 4, “You know the way to the place where I am going.”

My question to you is: Do you know the way to the Father? If you say yes, do you have the assurance that you know the way? If you are not sure, or if like Thomas you say: “Lord we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus provided the answer in verse 6 of John chapter 14 when he says “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He also emphasized strongly that the ones who knew Him knew the Father.

Now how can we be sure that we know Him and know the way? Jesus gave indications of ways we should behave and what we can expect when we are His disciples. First, Jesus states that His disciples will live in love and obey His commands (John 13:35; John 14:21, 23-24; 1John 4:7, 12, 21). Second, the Father will be living in us. And if we have the Father living in us, He will be doing His work through us as He has with Jesus (John 14:10, 16-17; 1John 2:5). Third, anyone who has faith in Jesus will do greater works than He did (John 14:14). Fourth, Jesus will do whatever we ask in His name according to His will, when we abide in Him, so the Father can be glorified (John 14:13-14; John 15:4, 7-8; 1John 5:14-15). At last, our hearts should not be troubled because the Holy Spirit Father will teach us all things and remind us of everything Jesus has said (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27).

Believing in Jesus, loving one another and obeying His commands are proof that He and the Father live in us. We know that we know the way by the Spirit He gave us. When you look at your life do you see Jesus in you? Are you convinced now that you know the way or do you need to change?

Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luc 11:28)

Marie Monaus