Day 29 - The Comfort of the Way

Today's reading begins at John 13:36 through John 14:6

John 13:36-14:6 (NIV)
36 Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
37 Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This is one of those times when stopping at the end of a chapter and not reading on would break the flow of what was occurring.

It is the evening of Jesus' arrest. He had gathered with his disciples to celebrate the Passover feast. He had broken bread with them and it was here that the Lord's Supper was given to them as a permanent expression of his presence, and the remembrance of what was soon to happen in his death on the cross.
He had also washed their feet and reminded them (and us) that love is wrapped in humble service to one another. It was here that he spoke of the deep love he had for them, and the desire - even command - that they/we love one another also.

It is Peter who begins to realize the implications of this talk...that something was about to happen that they would not control, and that Jesus was talking to them in a manner that let them know he would not physically be with them anymore. It is Peter who speaks up and says, "Lord, where are you going?"..."Why can't I follow you now?"..."even if I have to die with you!" It is Peter who speaks up, but it is Jesus' mercy and grace that remind Peter that he has to do this alone, and even though he is going to deny him, later on he would indeed come after him.

The chapter breaks the flow, but Jesus' words continue on to let them know, it's all ok. He is going on ahead "to prepare a place for you". Can we understand their confusion? Can we put ourselves into their shoes and recognize how unsettling it all is?

We only need to realize how people today find the idea of their life transitioning from the physical life here on the earth to life in heaven at times troubling. How? What will happen? Yes, I know there is eternal life - that life is going on right now even as I live physically these days upon the earth. But how will it all occur? It is a mystery of what happens at death, and what heaven will look like.

Jesus' words point to a reality that he knows to be true, even if the disciples can only accept it by faith. Isn't it most important to hear Jesus' words, "I am the way, the truth, the life...I am the way to the Father"? Yes...our confidence is not in figuring out how it all looks, or how it will all take place. Our confidence, and faith, is in Jesus as the way. We do not know, but he does know the way, and that is enough.

Remember back a while ago of the little boy who experienced heaven? It's a heartwarming picture that unfolds. Take a look at it here:


Peace

If you're reading along in the-bible-in-a-year with me, read 1 Kings 3, 4, 5 today.