WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday July 26, 2020
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THE WISDOM TO FOLLOW CHRIST
(JESUS is the only way to the GOD in
Heaven)
(John 14:1-14)
In John chapter 14, JESUS
continues to teach HIS disciples in private. Here HE focuses on trying to
encourage them to wisely hold fast to the belief that HE has revealed to them
exactly what GOD THE FATHER is like, through HIS actions and behavior. They
already trusted in GOD the FATHER, and now HE was asking them to trust in HIM
also, and to trust in HIM, just like trusting in the FATHER, would be their “antidote” to a troubled heart.
In the Greek, the word
New Testament writers use for “promise” is “epaggello” (ep-ang-el-ee-ah), and
it is “an announcement of divine assurance of good”. John 14:1-3 is arguably,
one of the most beautifully written passages in, perhaps, the most beautifully
written book, in all of Scripture. It comes in the form of a “divine promise”
to those who wisely believe in CHRIST JESUS as their LORD and SAVIOR.
Here in this passage,
JESUS, first, encourages, and then, makes a promise to HIS faithful followers
with these divine words; “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in GOD,
believe also in ME. In MY FATHER’s house are many mansions: if it were not so,
I would tell you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto MYSELF; that where I AM,
there ye may be also” (KJV).
This is a promise that
is made at a time when the cumulative weight and effect of all the previous
revelations that JESUS had laid upon HIS disciples, had begun to set in and
depress them greatly. Remember, HE had already revealed to them that HE would
go away, and, that they would not be able to follow HIM (John 7:34, 8:21, 12:8
& 35, and 13:33). HE had also revealed to them that HE would die (John
12:32-33), and, that one of them would betray HIM (John 13:21).
Furthermore, JESUS had earlier
revealed to Peter that he would deny HIM, not once, but three times before
daybreak (John 13:38). And also, that satan would be working against them all
(Luke 22:31-32), and, at that time, every one of them would fall away from HIM,
due to their lack of faith, or “fear” (Matthew 26:31).
And so, we see it is a
statement that was much needed to try and comfort and allay the fears of what
was about to befall HIS disciples in the coming hours, and very near future. It
is wisely said that “a person’s heart is at the center of their personality and
thoughts”, and that, “we must keep our hearts with all diligence”. Our soul’s
sorrow is relieved when we trust in the Word of GOD, and CHRIST says, if you
trust GOD, trust also in HIM.
“I AM the WAY, THE
TRUTH, and THE LIFE” is what JESUS said to a “doubting Thomas” in John 14:6. It
is the sixth of JESUS’ seven great “I AM statements” that are found in the
Gospel of John. JESUS tells us plainly that if we have seen HIM, we have
already seen GOD, and if we “know” HIM and “have” HIM in our heart (at the
center of our thoughts), we already possess “Eternal Life”.
In the final analysis,
all man ever really seeks is a better life for himself and his family. A man
never seeks knowledge, just for knowledge sake, but rather, for what that
knowledge can do to make his life more worth living. It is JESUS’ claim, throughout
HIS ministry, that obedience to HIM is “the only true foundation” that we can
securely build upon.
It is also JESUS’
contention that life through HIM is the only life worth living. No one, HE
says, can go to the FATHER, but by HIM, because, HE alone, is “THE WAY” to GOD.
In HIM, we see exactly what GOD is like. And only HE, can usher us, into GOD’s
OWN glorious presence, without fear, without guilt, and, without shame.
Anyone who believes in
CHRIST JESUS will desire to do the same work that HIS earthly ministry
demonstrates to us that HE did. But JESUS says that “we can do even greater
works” than HE did, and this is simply because many of us will have much more
time on this earth than HE had, to do them.
In addition, we are able
to ask GOD for anything within HIS Will, and, “in the name of JESUS”, and HE
will grant it, because all of JESUS’ work, during HIS earthly ministry, brought
glory to HIS FATHER in Heaven (Vs. 12-14). And if we wisely follow JESUS, doing
the same work that HE aspired to, and did, we too, will bring glory the SAME, “our
FATHER, WHO art in Heaven”.
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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