What a disciple needs to know (3 things)

• 1^st – Know the way home… vs. 1-5 (4 things)
  • 1^st – Do not let your heart be troubled… vs. 1
    • This was meant to comfort Peter – who had just been told he would betray Jesus…
      • But is was also meant to comfort the disciples – because Jesus was going away…
      • Jesus had always been right there beside them – leading them…
      • It was a very disturbing thought to realize Jesus would no longer be with them!
      • None of us have ever seen Jesus face to face – had a conversation with Him…
      • So when things get hard in life – it is easy for us to doubt – our heart troubled…
    • You believe in God – believe also in Me (Imperative)…
      • They disciples had never seen God – but God was still there to help them…
      • Jesus was going away – but He would be there for them even if they did not see Him!
      • I Peter 1:8 – “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”
      • Just because we cannot see Jesus – does not mean He is not right beside us!
      • He is always working in our lives – protecting us from unseen dangers…
      • Jesus will never leave us – through the good times and the bad He says…
      • Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
  • 2^nd – In My Father’s house there are many rooms… vs. 2
    • Jesus was going back to heaven to prepare a mansion for them to live in forever!
      • Revelation 21:2 – “I saw the new Jerusalem coming down… out of heaven.”
      • The ‘City of God’ is a cube that is 2,220km on each side – Revelation 21:16…
      • It is hard to imagine just how enormous a city that really is…
      • To put it into perspective / the Philippines could fit inside 50,000 times!
      • The highest mountain – Everest – is 9km high / the ‘City of God’ is 2,220km high! 
      • In fact the New Jerusalem is almost as large as the Moon!
      • This is the place God has gone to prepare for us – an eternal home!
      • And He has been busy working on it for almost 2000 years now…
      • God created the universe in 6 days – imagine what He has done in two millennia!
    • It is easy for us to forget this is no longer our home – we are waiting to go home…
      • Hebrews 11:16 – “…looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, he has prepared a heavenly city for them.”
      • While we are still here waiting for the Lord – it is easy for us to get distracted…
      • It is important we take the time to strengthen our relationship with God…
      • Spending time with Jesus through His Word – and through prayer…
      • Preparing ourselves for the day when we will get to see our NEW HOME!
  • 3^rd – Since Jesus was going to prepare a place – He would come back for them… vs. 3
    • Jesus was making a reference to a Jewish wedding tradition…
      • After an engagement a groom would leave and return to his father’s house…
      • There he would remain separate from his bride for an undefined amount of time…
      • This period of separation afforded the bride time to prepare for married life…
      • The groom prepared the living accommodations in his father’s house for His bride…
    • The groom would come to take his bride home to live with him….
      • He would come at night – a torch light procession to the home of His bride…
      • Although the bride was expecting Him – she did not know the exact time…
      • She had to be constantly ready – prepared to go at a moment’s notice…
      • As a result the groom’s arrival would be preceded by a shout – the groom is coming!
    • When we least expect it Jesus will come back – the rapture – to take us back to heaven…
      • Matthew 24:44 – “Be ready, the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
      • We tend to think Jesus will not come back in our lifetime – it has not happened yet…
      • But we are in the last days – Jesus could come next week – today – right now!
      • Are we ready – if Jesus came back today – what would He find in our lives…
      • This is a hugely important message – both as an encouragement and warning…
      • Jesus is coming – VERY soon – we need to be constantly prepared / ready…
    • He will come with a shout…
      • I Thessalonians 4:16 – “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout.”
      • Are we wise – are we living our lives for Jesus – excited to see Him…
      • Or foolish – are we living for the moment / this world – caught of guard…
      • It is not enough to know Jesus is coming – we need to be ready…
      • As a bride waiting for her groom – live every day prepared for His soon return!
        
  • 4^th – You know where I am going – and how to get there…
    • Jesus was trying to tell the disciples His destination was heaven…
      • And Jesus told them they also knew the way to get there – but they disagreed…
      • Thomas argued –  ‘we do not know where you are going!’
      • ‘And if we do not know where you are going – how can we know how to get there!’
      • There are a lot of people who do not know where they are going – heaven or hell…
      • They just hope somehow it will all work out – and they will end up in paradise…
      • But if you do not know where you are going – you are guaranteed not to get there…
    • Jesus told them – I am – the Way the Truth and the Life…
      • This is the 6^th of 7 I am statements made by Jesus in the book of John…
      • We live in a world that says there are many ways to heaven – many truths…
      • Like Pilate before Jesus – John 18:37 – the world asks – “What is truth?”
      • Truth is not open to interpretation (subjective) – it is not an opinion…
      • Jesus is not a truth – the Bible is not a truth – Jesus and the Word are Truth defined!
      • There is only One Way – One Truth – One Bible – One God  – Jesus Christ!
      • And the ONE WAY / ONLY WAY to get to heaven is by faith in Him!
        
• 2^nd – Know the Father… vs. 7-11
  • Jesus said – ‘If you had known Me – you would have known the Father’… vs. 7-9
    • Up to this point the disciples still did not understand – the triune nature of God…
      • Philip said – ‘show us the Father and we will be satisfied…’
      • Jesus answered – ‘Have I been with you so long and still you do not know Me…’
      • To see Jesus is to see the Father – because Jesus and the Father are one!
    • It is no wonder the disciples did not understand – it is hard to comprehend…
      • One of the great mysteries of our Faith – there is only One God – Deuteronomy 6:4…
      • Who exists in three distinct persons – God the Father / God the Son / God the Spirit…
      • I have heard the Trinity explained like ‘water’ – solid / liquid / gas – all still water…
      • Or perhaps a better explanation is like ‘man’ – body / soul / spirit – all still man…
      • But the Bible makes no effort to explain how this is true – only that it is a fact!
  • Everything Jesus said / did – came from the Father in heaven… vs. 10-11
    • Jesus did nothing in His own authority / by His own power…
      • He did this to set an example for the disciples to follow after…
      • Jesus could have depended on His power / ability – He was God almighty…
      • But then we could not have followed his example – because we are not God…
      • By depending on the Father in all Jesus said and did – he gave us an example…
      • In everything we should seek to pattern our lives after Jesus – I Corinthians 11:1
      • The perfect role model – the perfect example – following in the footsteps of Jesus!
    • If the disciples had a hard time believing – all they had to do was look…
      • The miracles Jesus performed – proved that He and the Father were one…
      • When we follow Jesus’ example – we prove to the world we belong to God…
      • I could tell you that I am a good friend of the President – you might doubt…
      • But If I then called him up on my phone – and started to talk to him – proof!
      • It is one thing to tell people we know God – have a relationship with Jesus…
      • But the proof is in our actions – through our life we show we know God!
        
• 3^rd – Know the power of God… vs. 12-14
  • 1^st – I tell you the truth – I am going to the Father… vs. 12
    • Because Jesus was going to the Father – the disciples would do GREATER works…
      • Jesus raised healed the sick / cast out demons / raised 3 people from the dead…
      • Jairus daughter – Mark 5:42 / Widows’ son – Luke 7:15 / Lazarus – John 11:43…
      • When He sent out the disciples – told them to raise the dead – Matthew 10:8
      • Peter raised Tabitha – Acts 9:40 / Paul raised the young man – Acts 20:10
      • God does not change – Hebrew 13:8 – “…the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
      • Does that mean we can raise the dead too – the better question is do we believe…
      • If we have the faith of a mustard seed – nothing is impossible – Matthew 17:20
      • That does not mean to head down to the graveyard and start clearing it out…
      • It does mean if God asks us to do anything – then by His grace it can be done!
      • That might mean praying for someone who is sick / believing God can provide…
      • It might mean sharing Jesus with a friend / or teaching a Bible Study…
    • But we will not just do the works Jesus did – GREATER works…
      • What could be greater than healing / casting out demons / raising the dead…
      • If you heal – they will get sick again / if you raise the dead – they die again one day…
      • The greater work – is giving the Gospel – bringing eternal life that never fades away!
  • 2^nd – You can ask anything in My name – and I will do it… vs. 13-14
    • If we ask in the name of Jesus – we will receive it!
      • But often in life we ask God for selfish things – showing we are not abiding…
      • James 4:3 – “When you ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.”
      • We ask God for 1 million pesos – because we want to be rich and have lots of stuff…
      • We justify ourselves motives – we would give a portion back to God…
      • If we won – the money would become our god – so God does not answer that prayer…
      • But when we ask for those things that God has given us a desire for – Psalm 37:4
      • Asking God to save a lost friend / family member – is a prayer God WILL answer!
    • We ask to bring GLORY to God!
      • If God let you raise the dead – move mountains – heal the sick…
      • You would get a whole lot of attention – people would begin to follow you…
      • Rather than giving the glory to God – the temptation is to receive the praise of men
      • One reason why we do not see miracles much anymore – people take the credit…
      • We either serve God legitimately of a pure heart – giving all honor and glory to Him…
      • Or we are serving ourselves – looking to take the credit for God’s work…
      • Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
      • A disciple does not point other people to himself – he points them back to Jesus!