April 24, 2005

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
1 Peter 2:2-10
John 14:1-14

It's obvious that Jesus is not going to be with his disciples much longer. He's preparing them for his death. But Thomas says, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Thank goodness for Thomas! Among all the disciples, he comes across as one of the most human, certainly as the one with whom we most easily identify. His honest questioning reveals the same confusion and doubts that we sometimes feel, and he is certainly speaking for the rest of the disciples as well. They are often bewildered, misinterpret Jesus' words, and misunderstand his actions. But they usually follow along like little lemmings, not really knowing where they are going. But not Thomas; he is different. If he doesn't understand something or is unsure of what's being said, he speaks out. Some may question his faith, but he doesn't hide behind vague pious expressions. We remember the incident in the Upper Room right after the crucifixion. The others tell him that they have seen the resurrected Christ, but he doesn't buy any of this. He wants tangible proof. He's not doubting or questioning to be a trouble-maker; he's just being authentic in trying to know the way.

This is our task also as Christians. We also want to know the way Jesus would have us go. The answer is in Jesus' response, when Thomas asks him "How can we know the way?," and he replies, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." This sounds quite simple, but it's not. Let's spend a few minutes unpacking these profound words.

When Jesus says, "I am the way ...," I think of an intersection, and someone standing, pointing the way for the cars to go. Isaiah talks about a teacher who gives instructions, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." (i) Jesus' brief ministry was primarily a teaching ministry, and in a variety of ways, in his parables, his conversations, and in his discourses like today's, we hear this common element - "this is the way; walk in it." In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers this teaching: "Enter through the narrow gate ... for the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life ..." (ii) The way to which he is pointing us is a hard way, the way of the cross, and as he says elsewhere, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (iii)

Jesus says, "I am the way ..." When we change the emphasis we recognize the reality of Jesus actually living the way toward which he is also pointing us. He is saying to us in essence, if you want to follow me, then you've got to live in the manner that I have lived. Jesus does more than point the way; he helps us and is with us on the way.

Let's say we're in a strange place and we ask someone for directions. But when he finishes telling us, we're more confused than we were before we asked. Then the person says, "Listen, follow my car and I'll take you right there." Now he is not just describing the way; he is the way. This is Jesus for us, not only giving us advice and directions, but actually taking us by the hand and going along with us. Jesus strengthens, empowers, enables, and guides us in the way every day. He is the way.

"Way" implies action, a going from somewhere to somewhere, a reaching toward a goal. An important goal for Christians is to know God in Christ better, and for Christians there is no better way to know God than through the person, words, and works of Jesus. Also, true followers of Christ will do the works that he did - the works of love, servanthood, and discipleship that he taught and lived. And if we love him, we will keep his commandment to love one another.

The way of Jesus Christ is a journey, and though we may never arrive at the final destination in this life, that doesn't make traveling the way any less exciting or worthwhile. In fact, the action of going from somewhere to somewhere else, on the way, may be what is most important. Jesus also says, "I am the truth ..." Of all the virtues we were taught as children and that we teach our own, truthfulness is one of the most important. "Tell the truth," we say to our kids. "Speak the truth in love," Paul says to the Ephesians. Telling the truth, being open and honest, is the cornerstone of trust, so vital in relationships. The Psalmist wrote: "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth." (iv) In this short verse is embodied the first two elements of the phrase we're studying today. Jesus is the way, and learning about him and his ways, will enable us to walk in God's truth. Jesus is the way and the truth. He embodies the essence of truth, more than just telling the truth, but also living the truth. Many an excellent teacher could say, "I have taught you what is true," but only Jesus can say, "I am the truth." John in the beginning of his Gospel describes Jesus as being "full of grace and truth," the epitome of God-like qualities.

When Jesus is brought before Pilate at the end of his life, they have a brief conversation in which the governor tries to figure out just what it is about this man that has so incensed the Jewish leaders. Pilate asks about his kingship and Jesus replies, "My kingdom is not from this world," and then moments later he says, "... for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate responds with a question that perhaps is rhetorical, perhaps sarcastic, or perhaps is the age-old question asked in complete innocence: "What is truth?" (v) There standing in front of him is the embodiment of truth, yet he cannot see it. Perhaps we too are like Pilate, neglecting to see, or refusing to see the truth in Christ, even when he is right in front of us.

When Jesus says, "I am the life ...," various images of life pop into my mind - breathing in and out, so common yet so wondrous; a newborn baby's cry; a bird chirping on a warm spring day; flowers blooming in the sunshine. Jesus makes a big claim, equating himself with life itself. As in his first two claims, he also teaches us in stories, parables, and sayings, about the kind of life we should lead. But again, the best examples are how he lives his own life - a life of servanthood, obedience, compassion, unlimited love. One of the paradoxical sayings of Jesus is this about life: "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it." (vi) If we look for happiness it often eludes us. If we look for happiness in food or drink, all we may find in the end is overweight, indigestion, or alcoholism. If we look for happiness in money or success or material possessions, all we may find in the end is restlessness and wanting more of the same. But if we forget ourselves, become interested in other people, or in the work of the church, or some great cause, if we lose ourselves in doing for others, suddenly we find that we are happy! This is how Jesus would have us lead our lives - not in pursuit of happiness, which if we consciously pursue it will escape us - but in doing for others, out of which will come a satisfying life. I believe that Jesus wants us to live all of our lives. How many of us are really alive all the time? Lots of us plod along day after day, content to let most of life pass us by, either because we're too tired, too busy, or too preoccupied with our own problems to fully inhale - breathe in - the wonder, the excitement, the joy of life. Too many of us take for granted the miracles in creation, the beauty of the people who live or work with us, the marvels of technology, or science, or whatever - we take them for granted and ignore them. We get used to routines, to the regular ways of doing things; we even get used to the emotional experiences we share with loved ones - and hardly pay them notice. Jesus wants us to live all of our lives, and if we don't, we miss a great deal. To live is more than just to exist.

A boy and his dad go fishing, and at the end of the day the boy looks in the basket at the several fish they've caught and notices that one is still flopping around. It's mouth is open and it looks like its breathing. The boy asks his father, "Is it still alive?" "No, Jack," responds his dad, "it isn't alive. It just thinks it is." (vii) Whether this is biologically correct or not, I don't know. But the question and answer are good ones for us. Are we really alive - full of life - or do we just think we are?

Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly. It is freely given and all we have to do is take it. But sometimes this is so hard to do. When I was in seminary (a long time ago) I wrote a faith ballad, entitled, "The Gift of Love," which begins with a reflection on how life feels when we've experienced the loss of a loved one, through death, the dissolution of a relationship, or whatever:

"Without love, life's not worth living,
Without love, life's filled with pain,
And so many, many souls cry out for
Love in their lives once again."

And when we're feeling this way, it's hard to grab onto the abundant life that Jesus promises, it's hard to even grasp the depth of God's love for us in Christ. But, truth is, God never deserts us, even when we feel life is not worth living, even when our life is filled with pain. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life," and if we can be receptive to this "gift of love," then we really can move on in our lives once again.

There's a lot of hatred in this world, and bitterness, jealousy, war, cruelty, abuse, violence against those less able to defend themselves, discrimination - the list, sadly, goes on and on. But there's also a huge potential for love in the world, much more than we sometimes realize. Our mission as Christians is two-fold: first, to recognize the love in our midst, celebrate it, thank God for it, and rejoice in it; and second, to share the love we have, to let Christ's love work in us and through us, so that others may know the way, the truth, and the life reflected in us.

"So if we can spread some sunshine
With the love we've got inside,
Then the world may be a little brighter,
And we'll feel so satisfied.

Love is a mystery that's hard to explain,
The more you give, the more you gain,
We can't pretend to know the reason why,
For love is a gift from on high.

Without love, life's not worth living,
But with faith we'll rise above,
And to those in need of comfort,
We'll share God's Gift of Love."

Let us go and do likewise. Amen.

The Pilgrim Church of Duxbury
Rev. Kenneth C. Landall

i Isaiah 30:21.
ii Matthew 7:13-14.
iii Matthew 16:24.
iv Psalm 86:11.
v John 18:36-38.
vi Matthew 16:25.
vii Philip Mitchell, "Desire to See God."