Thoughts for the Day

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

John Chapter 14 verses.1-7 was my mother's favourite passage in the Bible, and so I have been familiar with these words since childhood. There have been hundreds of chapters written about them, as well as thousands of funeral sermons, indeed many of mine as well. But these verses came to my mind one night before the days of Google maps on the phone, and with only a very rudimentary satnav, when I followed a friend to her home in my car. As dusk drew on, it became harder to keep her car in sight. Finally as we came to some traffic lights, I got left behind. She was unable to stop so she kept going, knowing that I had her address.

A few moments later though I had to admit I had a problem, there was no sign of her car. I pulled over and put her address into my satnav, before setting off again. However, it wasn't long before I realised that I had a major difficulty. The road was getting very narrow, and ahead was a barrier in front of what had once been a ford, but was now a fast-flowing river. Her house appeared to be over the other side of the water, but this couldn't be the way to get there. Luckily, she realised what had happened and crossed over a footbridge, helped me turn round, and directed me where to go.

Today we are looking at Jesus' sixth "I am" saying. Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life". He is the way to the Father, and He is the way to our Heavenly home. He is the truth, for our attitude toward the truth determines the outcome of our lives, ie our salvation. He is the life, for all life, past, present and future; exists through Him. When we've lost our way in this life and things are going 'pear-shaped', turn to Jesus and He will guide you to Your destination. It's better than a satnav!

Lord Jesus,
when we are troubled in body, mind, or spirit,
help us to trust you to lead us to safety.
Help us to know instinctively how to follow You,
and when we are lost meet us on the road
to guide us home.
Amen.