I Am The Way
John 14:1-9
Gettysburg Presbyterian Church
Harry G. Winsheimer
March 15, 2009

I enjoy the ease with which I may find my way in Gettysburg and Adams County.  This really is a very easy place in which to drive.  The traffic is so light compared with metropolitan areas, and most everything is within about 50 minutes travel time.  Many of the roads make sense, making it easy to give directions.  Carlisle Street goes to Carlisle.  Baltimore Street goes to Baltimore.  York Street goes to York and Chambersburg Street goes to Chambersburg.  That was not true in previous church locations.  In suburban Buffalo there was the New York Thruway.  It took me several trips to learn that in western New York you go north by following the signs for east and south by following the signs for west.  That really throws a person like me who naturally orients by the compass.  When serving in the DC area, I often went through the National Mall area near the White House.  Returning to our church, I came west on Constitution Ave., intending to take Rock Creek Parkway near the Watergate next to the Potomac and go north into Maryland; in other words, make a simple right turn.  I ended up across the river in Virginia – three times!  

I need maps.  I have maps in the office.  I have maps at home.  I have maps in the car.  I have maps on the computer.  Now I have a GPS, and use it.

For us Christians, the Bible, is our map for living.  In this book, we will not find all the instructions needed for every situation, but teachings which give us the general direction for ethical behavior, interpersonal relationships and linking with God.  How do we find our way?  As Christians, we say this is our authoritative printed material, our large-scale map.

But, God offers us more than a map!  God gives us a guide!

I remember a frustrating and amusing incident.  I picked up our son at the bus stop in downtown Pittsburgh.  He was coming home from college for the weekend.  It was about nine o'clock in the evening.  We waited for a traffic light to change.  The passenger of the compact car on my left yelled to me.  Three young men of senior high or college age were in the car.  I rolled down my window.  They shouted, "How do we get to Dormont?"  I replied, "At the second traffic light, turn left onto the Blvd. of the Allies.  As you go up the hill, the access ramp for the Liberty Bridge will be on your right.  Cross the bridge and go through the Liberty Tunnel.  Continue straight and you will be in Dormont.  It is not hard, but it is confusing.  I am going that direction.  Just follow me and I will lead you to the far end of the Tunnel.  Then, just go up the hill."  They thanked me. 

They followed me in the center lane on the Blvd. of the Allies, which is a street with three lanes going east.  Our lane would funnel us onto the bridge access ramp.  I slowed my speed to keep the boys behind me through all the traffic lights.  There was one at each block.  Suddenly I heard this rooooom!  They shot by me in the left lane and speeded out of sight--right past the access ramp!  From there, even if they knew how to use the streets, it would take them at least fifteen minutes to return, due to all the no-turns, one-way streets and pretzel-like lay-out.  I don't know if they ever got to Dormont.  Impatience and impulsiveness and maybe showing off by the driver to his male passengers got them lost.  If they had stayed with me, they would have been in Dormont in three minutes. 

I tried to be their guide. 

Jesus is our guide.  He is more than a teacher who gives us lessons.  He is our companion on the road of life.  He said, I am the way. . . .  He is teacher and guide.

Jesus said, I am the way.  "I" is a personal word.  It implies the possibility of relationship, of an "I and You."

We are not talking about learning the teachings of Jesus and about his life.  That is cognitive.  That is necessary.  Knowledge is needed.  When I met that cute college girl named Charlotte, I had to learn about her.  I had to learn her name, from where she came, what she liked and did not like, e.g., her favorite foods.  Facts.  It went beyond facts to relationship.  Beyond what could be put on paper to love, to bonding, to sharing, to merger of persons, to marriage, to an "I-with-You."  I am the way, is Jesus' call to relationship, to love, to bonding, to sharing, to merger of our persons, to marriage.  He calls us to an emotional experience of one-on-one.  Jesus Christ and you.  Jesus Christ and you.  Jesus Christ and me.  One with one--blending, supporting, guiding, correcting, shaping, sharing, merging.  We feel the forgiveness, love, joy, peace, purpose, energy flow from him into us.  The effect is that you and I become more alive.  And, we understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote, "It is not I who live but Christ who lives within me."  Galatians 2:20

This life is what Christians mean when we speak about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Recall the story of the young men who asked me for directions to Dormont?  I offered to guide them, and they scooted off on their own to be lost.  In stupid, short-sighted, self-assertion we may reject Jesus as our guide and be lost.  What do we call this attitude?  Sin.  In smart humility, we may ask Jesus to guide us as would a friend, allow ourselves to be in relationship with him, and discover one day that we know God better, enjoy inner blessings and want to be with God in the heavenly mansion.

The pertinent question:  Do you want to relate with God in this life and the next?  If you do, then relate through Jesus.  Jesus is the Way!

To where?

Let's take a look at our text.  Crunch time approaches.  The walking, teaching and healing trips to Capernaum, Samaria, and the country side are over.  Now, its time to prepare the disciples for the trauma of the cross and the joy of the resurrection.  Jesus said, Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am 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 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, but by me . . . .

Thomas said, “We don’t know where you are going….”  Thomas doesn’t get it.

He is going to whom?  The Father.  “Father” was the favorite title that Jesus used for God.  In his culture, the father was the authority figure.  Father was to provide for the family, protect the family, love the family, teach the family, represent the family.  He was to discipline himself and the family.  He was to be the spiritual guide.  Jesus’ image of the father was of a responsible, faithful, strong, disciplined, judging, loving and compassionate person.  We could learn about the Father from his parables.  In the Parable of the Prodigal and Elder Sons, God loves his wayward son and welcomes him home, while teaching the other son compassion.  In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids, God is a strict judge who lets happen the consequences for foolish choices.  God, in Jesus’ parables is strong and determined, while sensitive and responsive to those who submit humbly to his guidance and love.

Where is Jesus going?  To the Father.
Where is Jesus going?  To the Father’s house, which is an expression for what?  Heaven. 
Why is Jesus going to the Father’s house?  To prepare a room for his people.

My parents continued to live in the house in which they raised me.  Even when I was sixty years old, I still wanted to go to that house to see my parents.  This image of going to see the Father in the Father’s house brings up a touching memory and warm feeling.  Can any of you resonate to the image? 

This is happy talk!  Jesus takes us home to the heavenly parent.  This is muscular talk!  The way to God in heaven is through Jesus!  Not his teachings only, but through him.  He is the guide.  He is the escort.  He is the person with the password.  He is the way!

Many people would like to take scissors to this passage.  No one comes to the Father but by me is repulsive to many persons who want an inclusive, syncretistic, universalistic religion.  They resent what they perceive be a supercilious, elitist posture.

What do I mean?   Two popular views of religion are inclusive in nature.  One says that we are all wanting the same thing and wanting to go the same place; therefore, our differences should be submerged for the greater unity.  When the advocate refers to differences among Christian denominations, I can live with that view.  However, if the person is referring to all religions as being equal, then biblically-oriented Christians have a problem.  We are challenged by the very common belief, the increasingly popular belief, that religion is a personal matter, like buying a car.  Each person chooses from the smorgasbord of religions, all of them equal.  It is complemented by the belief that religion divides us and therefore frays the social and political fabric -- regrettably that is true.  For these people, maintenance of social coherence is most important. This belief appears to be common among people in entertainment, news media and politics.  This is understandable, since they do not want to offend anyone and lose support.  

But, Jesus in the text is quoted as saying:  I am the way to [God].  Not one of the ways.  Not one among many ways.  Not one possible way.  The way.  The exclusivity is what offends some members of the church and certainly offends Moslems and adherents of other religions.

Then, Christians debate over whether all will be saved, or only some.  Also, we debate whether the Jews and Moslems will be saved.  I don't get emotionally involved in that debate.  I figure that decision is up to God.  I can't decide the destiny of anyone; God will.  My task is to be faithful and to tell the story of Jesus.

Is Jesus just a way or the way to God?

Does this claim of Jesus have motivating power?  Does Jesus as the way change people’s lives!  Yes!  It does!

People have lived their lives according to this saying of Jesus!  This text has motivated believers to be missionaries and evangelists.  They have come to know God and trust that their future with God in heaven is dependent upon their faith in Jesus, so they feel compelled to tell others about Jesus.  If Jesus plays the crucial role, then let's tell the whole world so all may enjoy the benefits!  In the days when the Gospel of John was composed, Christians believed that they had found a unique guide to God in Jesus.  Dozens of religions existed already, but Jesus offered a new way.  Believers in Jesus conveyed their faith to pagans.  The church grew.  In fact, do you know what Christians were called before we were referred to as Christians?  Followers of the Way, as in Followers of the Way of Jesus.  This message still moves believers to tell about Jesus.

So, this message causes strong contradictory reactions.  To some it stirs a comforting, warm expectation.  To others it is offensive.  To others it sends them out as missionaries and evangelists.

What about you? How do you react to Jesus?  What do you believe?

This is a powerful text!

This is a challenging message!

Do you believe that Jesus is the way to God?  I do!

If you just say, “Sure, Harry, I believe that Jesus is the way,” it means little.  Believe it!  Sure,

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