"Jesus is the Way"

The opening words of our text, "Let not your hearts be troubled," lead us to expect words of comfort from Jesus. Jesus doesn’t let us down when he promises there are a lot of rooms in heaven and that we have reservations.

Then Jesus spells out the way to heaven. He says that He is the way and the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father but through him. It is Jesus alone that provides the way, and the truth and the life that clearly charts the course to heaven.

We could be like Thomas who said, "Lord we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Of course, Thomas was obviously not paying attention or had a little lapse in concentration. Jesus had just told them where he was going. He was going to his Father’s house, heaven itself. Thomas should have gotten the idea, but grief and unbelief were clouding his mind. Of course, we know all about those problems.

But like Thomas, we may wonder, what is the way that Jesus is talking about? A literal definition of "way" is a path, a road, or even a journey. It is a means of getting from one place to another. It is a progression from something, to something else. It is how we get from one point to another.

Our text finds us listening in as Jesus is speaking to his disciples at the Last Supper. Jesus is trying to leave tem some words of comfort. Where the disciples would otherwise be left with only despair, Jesus responds with precious Good News. All is not lost: Despite all the evil of the world, and all that is about to happen, there is still a way, still truth and still life: Jesus Himself.

While much has happened in the last 20 centuries, much remains the same. When it comes to religion, the world apart from Christ offers you three different, basic options. One option is to turn religion into moralism: This means that religion is all about what you do. Good people go to heaven; bad people don't. That philosophy means that religion is not about faith, but about the will: You will be saved as long as you can summon the moral strength to do good things.

What are those good things? It varies from group to group. In some churches on the fringe of Christianity, you will be saved as long as you keep the Ten Commandments. In Islam, a very moralistic religion, you will be saved as long as you follow a strict code of prayer and behavior. If you are an animal rights activist, then not eating meat is the good work. The "good" works are different; there are many religions that teach moralism, that the way to heaven is by doing good.

The problems with moralism are many, and can often be identified even without the help of Scripture. People who follow such religions can never live up to the perfection that their religion demands. Therefore, they are haunted by hypocrisy which exposes their religion as a fraud. On top of that, those who follow a strict code of behavior tend to grow proud of their behavior. Attempts at moral perfection can lead to immoral actions.

Consider the Pharisees. Rather than trying to change the minds of the apostles, they tried to kill them instead. Consider the Taliban of Afghanistan, carrying out executions and amputations on those who refuse their code of behavior. The one who believes in salvation by works grows proud of his works; and that pride may well lead to cruelty. The problem is that there is no salvation here. Man can never live up to God's requirements for perfection and holiness. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast.

Others believe that the discovery of God and truth comes through speculation. Religion, then, is not about an act of the will; it is an act of the mind. It is finding truth by study, by knowledge, by philosophy. There are plenty of examples of such religion in history.

Consider the great Marcus Aurelius, who lived about 150 years after Jesus. Considered one of the greatest Roman emperors, he was regarded as the embodiment of reason. His laws were built upon the "universal brotherhood of man," and he brought a new mercy and humanity to the Roman Empire.

Or consider the Enlightenment in France, with the idea that of equality among all. Many have put forth brilliant systems of knowledge about how the world operates, and how the world ought to operate. Many highly intelligent philosophers have thus defined truth. But there are problems with salvation by speculation, too. As philosophers have risen and fallen throughout the centuries, they've often contradicted one another. Not all of them could be right, and all had elements that were wrong. Salvation by knowledge usually rules out what can't be known; therefore, most religions based on knowledge alone rule out the idea of God, because He can't be scientifically measured.

However, the consequences grow in severity: Human beings and human minds are finite and sinful; their knowledge is, too. Marcus Aurelius heard of a religious group called "Christians" who prophesied judgment for sin. In response, he persecuted them. The Enlightenment in France, which led the French Revolution, also led to the guillotine and the unjust death of thousands. Wrong and unjust? Yes, but perfectly sensible to the philosophy of the time. We might also add that the philosophy of Karl Marx, the philosophy of communism, has led to the death of millions.

Scripture declares that knowledge puffs up, and that it will vanish. Many preach that religion is the pursuit of truth, and that truth will be found by human knowledge. But the sinful human mind cannot achieve salvation. There is no

Others, including Eastern religions like Hinduism and New Age cults, seek to find Him through extensive meditation. Some look for God in dreams, claiming to have met with Him in visions. Still others seek to find God through altering their minds with substances or exhausting actions that supposedly set emotions free.

The problems with mysticism, with finding God in the emotions, are many. Emotions rise and fall; therefore, one's understanding of God is constantly changing. This should clue us in to the second problem: The god that is found there is only as big as one's emotions; it is a god that is created on one's own terms. It's an imaginary god, nothing more. Still, many religions are founded on mysticism today, seeking God and life through the emotions and mystical encounters with God.

So to the ways of the world, there are really only three varieties of religion that the world teaches apart from Christ. Moralism, which says you must use your will to do good works; and that is the way to heaven. Speculation, that says you must use your mind to gain knowledge of truth; and that is the way to salvation. And mysticism, which says you must rely on your emotions to make contact with the Divine and the life He has for you.

All three strains of religion have a couple of things in common. First, all of them declare that religion is about your work, not God's. Whether you are seeking God by the works of your will, the works of your mind or the works of your emotions, it is all up to you. So then, they have a second thing in common: All condemn the Gospel of salvation through Christ alone as far too narrow-minded and exclusive.

The third thing they have in common: All of these religions fail. They are all based on human effort, and they all end up in death. No matter how much the world tries, it cannot find a way to God. No matter how hard the world thinks, it cannot establish new truth. No matter how sincerely the world feels, it cannot find life with God. All these roads lead to death. All of these end in despair.

Despair would be the order of the day for this world, except for this wonderful news that our Lord declares in the Gospel lesson today: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life no one comes to the Father except through Me." Despite the sin and evil of the world, there is a Way. There is Truth to be found. There is Life-eternal.

Jesus has fulfilled all the requirements of God's Law for us. You see, part of His redemptive work was the living of a perfect life as He made His way to the cross. And having lived a perfect life, He gives the credit to us. God declares, according to His Law, "You cannot live up to My commandments-you cannot save yourself by your works, by the act of your will." This is obviously not the way. But Jesus declares, "I am the Way."

When He speaks from His perfect knowledge, what He says is always certain. His promises are always sure: He always speaks the truth. God declares, according to His Law, "You cannot find me in your knowledge, for I use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. You will never know the truth from your own thoughts, and you can never be certain from your own speculations." Jesus continues, "I am the Truth." The truth announces that you are lost in your trespasses and sins, and cannot save yourself. But He has died and risen again to guarantee your redemption. And if He says it, it is true. His promise of forgiveness is sure.

The Son of God has become flesh and dwelt among us. He has done so in order to die in our place. He has done so that He might raise us up, body and soul, to stand before God in heaven. To those who wish to know God, He declares that to know the Son is to know the Father. To those who seek a spiritual connection with the Almighty, Jesus gives them a real, concrete presence: For He is really present in His Word and Sacraments, to give His people forgiveness-to give them life!

Christ, the Life of all the living, declares that He has taken on human flesh and died the death that we deserve. He did this to give us life. It is He who brings us into communion with God, for to know the Son is to know the Father. Jesus declares, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me."

The world doesn’t go along with the words of Jesus. "Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life? The only Way, Truth and Life? How politically incorrect. How insensitive." Perhaps we don't help matters in way we use this passage. Too often, when we hear the false teachings that there are other paths to heaven, we are quick to say, "No! John 14:6 declares that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus." This is true, but to use this passage as a club is to miss out on the Good News. At the Last Supper, Jesus did not say these words to warn the disciples about false religions. With His death looming, He spoke these words to give comfort and hope.

Because Jesus died on the cross, and because He is risen, we can declare the truth: The price has been paid for sin. Death has been conquered. All who by the power of the Holy Spirit believe in Jesus, will be raised to everlasting life. A heavenly mansion is prepared. It is all accomplished by Jesus, the Way and the Truth, and the Life. We rejoice this day in this wonderful news. Amen