DIALOGUE WITH JESUS - JOHN 14-16

The mood at Jesus' last meal with his disciples is grim. The disciples are concerned they are about to be left alone and Jesus has some very personal words of comfort for them and for us.

As our culture grows increasingly isolated and alienated from each other, we find the solution to this problem is actually found in the Gospel.  Knowing God personally is at the heart of Christianity.  The focus of our faith, isn’t a set of creeds, isn’t a set of practices, isn’t found in a building or in our religious traditions, but are found supremely in a person -
Jesus Christ.  This is so important, especially if you used to go to church and found it empty, lifeless, meaningless, you were probably trying to access God through the wrong means. Christianity won’t do anything for you till you decide what you think of HIM!

In John 14:1-14 Jesus speaks incredibly personally about his relationship with us.  in fact, he says three things in similar ways:
Jesus says a similar thing 3 different ways:
1) Knowing Jesus Personally
2) Knowing Jesus Exclusively
3) Knowing Jesus is Knowing the Father

1) Knowing Jesus Personally:
Firstly there is a difference between knowing someone and knowing about someone.  Thomas asks Jesus, “you’ve told us you’re going to the cross in order to prepare a place for us in heaven, how do we get there?”  Jesus says to him, you won’t find the answer from knowing things about God, knowing the bible, but by knowing me.  “Jesus says in verse 6, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” In other words, Thomas, through me you can know the father.

So, it’s not good enough if you know about Jesus second hand.  If you’ve found out stuff about him. If you’ve come with a friend to church, attended Intro and More, (which are all good things).  You need to know him personally. He is the way, the truth and life.  It’s in Jesus you find your answers.  We must move from information to vulnerability and commitment - friendship
That’s where it’s difficult for some of you because trusting a person means risk.  This Means you could be let down. I realize that this does sound vulnerable but you have to always risk your heart being broken if you are truly going to love someone.

CS Lewis
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

In other words, if you try and guard your life, protect it from being controlled, avoid personal knowing, then you will be controlled in the long run.  Your heart won’t be broken but it will become hardened and impervious.

2) Knowing Jesus Exclusively:
Now, this personal knowing is helpful when it comes to getting you head around what Jesus says next. Verse 6 “No one comes to the Father except through me.”  This sounds like Jesus is saying he is the only way to God.  Which sounds terrible Un PC and exclusive.  What right has he got to say that?  Why should he be the only one? How can he say that he has to be number 1?

Well if you are being invited into a friendship with Jesus then he has to lead you in from the inside.  He is the one who determines the way not you. Christianity says that God comes to you and says this is the way in. It doesn’t come through you being good, doing it your own way, or you choosing the way because Christianity is about good revealing his love to you.
He determines the way in. Therefore, like every human friendship, it is exclusive.

3) Knowing Jesus personally is knowing the Father:
Jesus continues “7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Jesus take things on another step here.  He says that if you get to know him personally, then in effect, you are getting to know God the father, personally.  Seeing Christ is seeing the father.

Now Philip doesn’t understand. “8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” He wants proof, he wants evidence, he wants facts, but Jesus knows that’s not what he needs. Lots of people saw his miracles but didn’t end up following him.  Verse 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…” Jesus says “I’ve been around you all this time –you’ve missed it, you’ve failed to see me.”

one person who didn’t fail to see or understand what Jesus was saying was the Centurian who oversaw Jesus’ crucifixion.  As Jesus dies Luke 23:47 “The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” The centurion moves beyond merely seeing with his eyes.  He moved in that moment from information to personal knowledge, from being an enemy to friend.  It caught his emotions. It involved him changing his worldview.  It changes his heart, there’s warmth, affection and love.  He’s never going to be the same as a result.  The cross isn’t just a method of punishment, but of self sacrificial love -for him.
He sees Christ. He sees the father.

Questions:
1) Give your testimony of how you came to know Jesus personally or tell you story up to this point if you haven’t decided to become a Christian yet.
2) Was there anything you didn’t agree with, or particularly liked from the preach - why?
3) How can you support each other in growing in your relationships with Jesus?
4) What do you think the Father is like -given what you know about the Son? think of story’s from the Gospels to highlight your point.
5) What do you think about Jesus’ exclusive claims?