• 2 months ago
Join Douglas Vandergraph as he explores the key themes in John 14 from the Bible's New Testament. This video focuses on Jesus' declaration as the Way, the Truth, and the Life, His promise of the Holy Spirit, and how these messages continue to resonate today. Don't miss this chance to gain deeper insights into this essential chapter of the Gospel of John!

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Transcript
00:00The Gospel of John chapter 14. Today I want to share a message that I believe
00:07is profoundly relevant for each of us. You know, we live in a world filled with
00:13uncertainty where we often struggle with doubts, fears, and a longing for peace. Now
00:19in these moments it's easy to feel lost or overwhelmed, unsure of what's next or
00:27if everything will be okay. But there's a passage in the Bible where Jesus speaks
00:33words of extraordinary hope and reassurance. He was talking to his
00:38disciples during a deeply uncertain time, knowing that soon he would face the
00:44cross and they would be left feeling alone and confused. Yet he shared a
00:50message that still resonates today. A message of faith, hope, guidance, and
00:58unshakable peace. So let's explore this message together, drawing from its rich
01:05and life-giving words that can transform our perspective and encourage our hearts.
01:13Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in me. So
01:21Jesus starts with a comforting yet challenging command. Do not let your
01:27hearts be troubled. Notice that he doesn't dismiss their fears but
01:31acknowledges them, encouraging his disciples and us to actively resist
01:38anxiety by choosing to trust. Now Jesus knows that the events ahead, his
01:44crucifixion, death, and departure would be unsettling. Yet he emphasizes a shift of
01:51focus from earthly troubles to divine assurance. Now by saying, you believe in
01:59God, believe also in me, Jesus makes it clear that he is equally worthy of our
02:05trust. The invitation here is to a deeper faith that transcends current
02:11troubles, rooting itself in God who never fails. In the face of hardship, Jesus's
02:19words challenge us to lean into faith rather than fear, trusting that he holds
02:25our lives no matter what lies ahead.
02:30My father's house has many rooms. If that were not so, would I have told you that
02:38I am going to prepare a place for you? So Jesus then assures his disciples that
02:44his departure is not a sign of abandonment but of preparation. When he
02:51speaks of his father's house having many rooms, he's referring to the eternal home
02:56he is preparing for his followers. This metaphor paints a picture of heaven as a
03:02place of welcome, rest, and belonging, where there is more than enough room for
03:09all who believe. Jesus then goes on to say, I will come back and take you to be
03:17with me. Now this is a beautiful promise of his return. It's a reminder that the
03:23world is not our final destination. We are pilgrims passing through with heaven
03:30as our true home. This promise should ignite hope within us, knowing that Jesus
03:37is personally preparing a place where we will be with him forever. I am the way,
03:44the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Now this is
03:53one of the most defining statements Jesus makes, revealing the core of his
03:57mission. When Jesus says, I am the way, he isn't simply pointing to a path but
04:04declaring that he is the path to God. And there's no road that leads to the Father.
04:09Only through Jesus can one find forgiveness, redemption, and
04:15reconciliation with God. When he calls himself the truth, he means that he is
04:22the embodiment of God's reality, unchanging and eternal. In a world where
04:29truth often seems relative, Jesus offers absolute truth that anchors our souls.
04:35And when Jesus claims to be the life, he's not only talking about eternal life
04:41but abundant life here and now. In him we find true fulfillment, joy, and purpose.
04:49Jesus is inviting us into a relationship with God that is personal, transformative,
04:55and life-giving. Now the promise of the Holy Spirit, I will ask the Father and he
05:03will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever, the Spirit
05:09of truth. Now knowing that the disciples would feel lost without him, Jesus
05:16promises to send the Holy Spirit, the advocate, or in this case the helper and
05:22comforter. The Holy Spirit isn't just a distant presence but God dwelling within
05:28us. He guides us, teaches us, and helps us understand God's Word. He also empowers us
05:36to live out the faith that Jesus calls us to, making the teachings of Jesus a
05:43living reality in our hearts. And Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the Spirit
05:49of truth, meaning that the Spirit helps us discern what is right. It leads us
05:55into all truth. This isn't truth just intellectually, meaning knowledge, but
06:03experiential truth that changes how we live, think, and love. Peace I leave with
06:12you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let
06:19your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Now Jesus concludes this passage
06:26with one of the most comforting promises, his peace. And this peace is not like the
06:32temporary peace the world offers, which often depends on circumstances,
06:37relationships, or material security. Instead, Jesus gives us a peace that is
06:43lasting and unaffected by the storms of life. It's a peace that anchors us when
06:49everything else seems to be falling apart, a divine calm that surpasses all
06:55understanding. So Jesus urges us again, do not let your hearts be troubled and do
07:03not be afraid. He's reminding us that his peace isn't just a feeling, but a
07:09sustained force that enables us to face challenges with confidence. I think it's
07:17beautiful. So as we reflect on the words of Jesus in this chapter, let's
07:25carry these promises with us in our daily lives. Jesus didn't promise a life
07:30free of trouble, but he promised his presence, his guidance, his spirit, and his
07:37peace. He assured us of a future home and a way to the Father that is secure and
07:44unchanging. So as you leave here today, remember this, when your heart is
07:50troubled, look to Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. And when you feel
07:58alone, trust in the presence of the Holy Spirit who is always with you. And when
08:05peace seems impossible, lean on the peace that only Christ can give, a peace that
08:12is both a gift and a promise. Let these words continue to resonate in your heart
08:18throughout the rest of this week, inspiring you to trust deeper, hope
08:23stronger, and walk boldly, knowing that Jesus is with you, preparing a place, and
08:30giving you his spirit and his peace. Amen. It's beautiful, isn't it? Friends, this is
08:39my favorite time of every day, a chance that I have to spend with you, and I love
08:45spending time with you. I'll be back tomorrow and we'll discuss the Gospel of
08:50John chapter 15. I'm looking forward to it and I can't wait. I'll see you then.
08:55Take care.

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