The New Covenant

A New Way Written By: Liz Jones

John 14:1-14 NKJV

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” 8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

These Words of Jesus were explosive and veiled in mystery. 

In the chapter before John shares the account of Jesus and His disciples eating the last supper and Him washing their feet. In verses 33 and 36, Jesus tells His disciples He is going someplace they can’t follow yet! 

In chapter 14, Jesus challenges His disciples by saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” 

The word “believe” can be translated as “trust.” In other words, “you trust God, trust Me too” 

Jesus shares about His Father’s house and the need for Him to prepare a place for them so they can come too. Then, he promises that He will come and get them. And tells them they know where He’s going and know how to get there. 

Poor Thomas doesn’t understand. (v5) Honestly, we’d have been just as lost if we didn’t have the rest of the story. 

Jesus’ answer to Thomas is the gospel in a nutshell. (v6)

Jesus responds: 

  • I am the way
  • I am the truth
  • And the life

No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

The way,

Before Jesus, the law of Moses was the only way, and it wasn’t complete. Rules and regulations are a heavy burden that leaves the follower in constant fear. “Did I do enough? Have I obeyed the law to the exact letter?” Jesus arrived on the scene to fulfill the law, not to abolish it. Jesus obeyed every Jewish law in Torah so that we could follow Him because He is the WAY! https://www.gotquestions.org/abolish-fulfill-law.html

The truth,

Truth has a name – His name is Jesus. In every situation, He is the truth. He knows the truth and loves to reveal Himself when we ask. The issue most people have with the truth? They don’t want to hear it because hearing the truth always requires a response. 

The life,

Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive. Salvation gave our spirits life. Every believer has had a Lazarus experience. You died and rose with Christ, and the Spirit of God lives in you.

No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

A lot of controversy surrounds this truth. Pre-believers and people of different religious beliefs feel that Jesus’ statement is too restrictive and absolute. He makes no room for other options. 

When someone says this to me, my response is always the same. “The invitation is for EVERYONE!” 

Every god requires its followers to “pay” their way to heaven. They all have dues. Christianity is the only religion where our God paid the dues.

Amazingly, the only requirement for salvation is belief in Him. 

Father, thank You for loving the world so much that You sent Your only begotten Son. Thank You, Jesus, for choosing to come and dwell among us. Thank You for paying the debt that we could never pay. Thank You for loving us enough to endure the cross. Lord, we are forever grateful for Your steadfast love. In Jesus name, amen. 

Digging deeper: 

  • Have you discussed your faith with someone who doesn’t believe? I want to encourage you to prepare for this discussion. As you grow in your relationship with Jesus, people will notice. They will start asking questions. 
  • Prepare to share your faith ahead of time, write your two minute testimony using this guide:
    • 30 seconds who you were before Christ
    • 30 seconds the day you accepted Him as savior
    • 1 minute – what He has done for you since salvation? (Share current stories)

I declare Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I will live in gratitude because of what He has done for me. I will point people to THE WAY as I walk in it. I will speak THE TRUTH and live it. Jesus gave me LIFE. I am no longer dead in my sin. I have been made righteous through His blood. I will trust Him.