John 14:1-15
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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. And you know the way where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.
If you have come to know Me, you will know My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all so long and have you not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak from Myself, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, 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 the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Introduction
John’s account of the last supper extends over several chapters, with many lessons taught to the disciples. One that is particularly relevant to us today in our pluralistic society that sees all faiths as equally valid is this one: “No one comes to the Father but through Me.”
From the likes of Rob Bell (of the Nooma series) to Richard Rohr (Franciscan Priest), and even Billy Graham, men who have risen to prominent Christian leadership have faltered on this exact point. Bell, in his book Love Wins, suggests God’s love extends even past people who have faith in Christ, granting salvation to everyone regardless of belief. Rohr has taught Christ as a universal presence, and so explicit faith in Jesus becomes moot. Billy Graham, in a 1997 interview, told the audience that people who have never heard of Christ, but “are sincerely seeking God” may be saved.
Each of these men allowed modern and postmodern sensibilities to influence their reading of scripture. Jesus is clear, though, when He tells His disciples that He is the only mediator between God and man, and that if you have a desire to see the Father, then you must go through Him.
Far from being cold, backwards, and cruel-thinking, this teaching emphasizes the need for evangelism and missionary work. If it were possible for the proverbial “remote tribesman” to find salvation apart from knowledge of the gospel, then bringing the gospel to his people becomes redundant and unnecessary. Because it is necessary for them to hear the gospel to be saved, though, we are blessed to participate in their salvation by bringing them the news about Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection.
A place prepared for you
But because all who go to the Father go through Jesus, those are blessed with this personal loving touch. A place in the Father’s house prepared for you. And not just some secluded place far in the corner, but a place with Jesus.
Consider the comforting words Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Church when he taught them about the unity of believers, even in death, saying, “and so we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17b) We are always with Him, and Jesus told us so Himself right here. After preparing a place for us, He teaches, “I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” It is the very same words of comfort Paul gave the Thessalonian believers. When Christ returns, He will gather all His people to Himself.
But before then, we still follow Him. He reigns now in heaven (1 Corinthians 15:25), and when we die, we go to be with Him (2 Corinthians 5:8). But that place in heaven is not the room in the Father’s house that is prepared for us. Heaven is not our final destination. At the end of time, when Jesus returns to bring together His people, He will inaugurate the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21:1). That is when the fullness of our faith will be realized, and we will be with Him forever, resurrected as He was resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:20-49).
Christ is our greatest revelation
As Jesus taught He was the only way to the Father, He elaborated by stating that knowing Him is knowing the Father. Their unity is so deep and fundamental that Paul even says He is “the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15) The God who is so holy that none can look on Him and live (Exodus 33:20) made Himself manifest in a way we could behold Him. Knowing Christ is knowing the Father.
In His coming, Jesus perfected the revelation from Scripture. Nothing else is needed, because knowing Him finally bridges the gap between man and God. As He hung condemned on the cross, He declared “it is finished.” (John 19:30)
Many deceivers have come since the completion of the New Testament, claiming further revelation. Some of the most famous and persistent include Muhammad, who claimed the angel Gabriel brought him new revelation, and Joseph Smith, who claimed visitation from an angel he called Moroni. But we know that this sort of revelation would be a step backwards. The religions both these men started revert their followers away from salvation by grace through faith and toward a self-serving set of rules whereby they believe they can earn eternal security.
And we are given adequate defense against this sort of thinking from scripture itself:
God, having spoken long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days spoke to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power; who, having accomplished cleansing for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:1-4
Revelation from prophets and angels is the old way. We have seen the Son of God face to face and lived. Knowing Him is as simple as reading the scriptures and praying. He has already gone ahead to prepare a place for you in His Father’s house. Know this and rejoice.
May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.
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