Jump Start # 683

John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Jesus had just declared that He was leaving. He was going to prepare a place for the disciples. He would come and receive them so that they could be where He was. Confusing words for the disciples. They didn’t understand. They were trying to grasp who He was. Our passage today was the Lord’s answer to their confusion.

I am—I am the way, the truth, the life. I am. The Charlestown Road congregation where I attend is putting on a very special series this Saturday evening and Sunday. A special friend of mine will address the question, “Is Jesus still the answer?” Our verse helps us to grasp that concept—yes, He is. Jesus said, I am.

Throughout history many have claimed to be of God. Stating that gave their message and mission a divine aspect to it. It granted credibility. The problem with that is that they couldn’t prove it. Their theories were plagued with inconsistencies, and unbiblical claims. Audiences were suspicious of them and only a few followed them. Jesus claimed to be of God and He proved it. John 5 gives a series of “witnesses” or proofs of Jesus. John the Baptist, the works or miracles that Jesus did, the Scriptures, and finally God Himself all testified and verified the genuineness of Jesus. He was the real deal. He is as He said. The “I am”  truly is, “I am.”

We need to understand this today. Some have gotten away from that. Our lives get messy and complicated. We feel that the simple gospel isn’t enough for where we are. We look for more. We turn to self help books, which just about anyone could write. The advice is practical but common. There is nothing there. We turn to counselors. They try to figure us out. They are expensive and talking through problems can only do so much. We try to work things out ourselves. Some problems can be solved that way. Others are too big for that. We get frustrated, impatient and desperate. Marriages become sour, relationships strained, life seems to be an endless merry-go-round, one day turns into a month, into a year. Every once in a while there is a little brightness—a wedding, a baby is born, but quickly we are back on the endless merry-go-round of life. Some think that this is life the way it should be. So they make the most of it but finding hobbies and things that bring them happiness. A few stop and reflect. Something’s not right. There’s got to be more to life than this.

This is where Jesus comes in. He is the answer. He has always been the answer. He is the “I am.” It’s not just going to church services. It’s more than just reading a couple of verses at night before you fall asleep. It’s more than saying a prayer before you eat some food, it’s allowing Jesus to live in you. The N.T. abounds with that concept.

• Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20)
• Christ, who is our life (Col 3:4)
• Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart (Col 3:15)
• Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you (Col 3:16)
• Walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16)

Imagine Christ living your life for today. Everywhere you go, everything you do, He does. He becomes you, except that He has His heart. He’s at the job you work. He’s at school. He is you. He eats what you eat today. He drives the car you drive today. He comes home to your home. Imagine Christ in me for a day. Would I see things differently? Would I be more patient? Would I care more? Would I fuss less? Would I worry less about stuff that doesn’t matter? What would be different? He is the answer.

That is what Christ is after. Not more church services, but inviting Him to dwell in us, continually. How we would then look and approach life differently. How we would respond to problems, people and pressure differently. We would be like “Christ.” This is what Jesus wants. A transformation. A renewing of the mind. A heart like His.

It can be done. Thousands have done it. Open the door and let Him in. He is the answer.

By the way, we will be meeting Saturday at 7:00 pm. Why not come and join us as we see that Jesus is the answer.

Roger