The Journey: The Beginning

James Watson

The Journey • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

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There is nothing like the feeling of going on an adventure. For one person there is the sheer excitement of what’s to come. For another there is the sheer panic of not being ready or not knowing what to expect.

For some of us we can remember adventures in our lives. For others we lived them through books or movies.

But the truth is sometimes the hardest part is taking that first step.

Some of my favorite adventure stories are ones that include a journey. Going from point A to point B. knowing your destination and constantly moving in that direction. Simple enough, right? Yeah Journey’s are never simple. In the Hobbit, they go from the Shire to the Lonely Mountain. In the LOTR they go again from the Shire to Mordor. 3 story lines you say…they all end up at Mordor. Saving Private Ryan starts on the beaches of Normandy and go on a search for Private Ryan. Even the Narnia series. No real twists and turns. Just a straight line with everything that comes along the way. And we seem to be along for the ride.

Except that the journey often doesn’t end when you think that it does. Take the Lord of the rings. After the ring is destroyed, there is still another hour in the movie. Still another 100 or so pages in the book. And it still bothers me that the eagles didn’t just fly them all the way to mordor.

The journey doesn’t often end when we think it does. At times when we thing the story is just ending, it’s really just beginning.

That’s the kind of journey we’re talking about today.

Turn with me in your Bible’s to John 14:1-6.

In today’s story, the disciples they thought that their journey was coming to an end. The started in on a journey with Jesus on the banks of the sea of Gallilee. They always knew that their journey with Jesus would lead them to Jerusalem where the rightful king of Israel would take His throne. They thought they would rule with Jesus. But Jesus had other plans.

The following passage of scripture is part of a larger section where Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was about to happen. The truth is, for His disciples, the journey hadn’t really started yet.

John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 And if 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. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Spurgeon said that he was glad that the disciples were not perfect men otherwise they would have understood all that Jesus said at once and we would have lost our Lord’s instructive explanations.

In light of His departure from them, Jesus gave the disciples specific encouragements.

The Promise of an eternal dwelling with Him.

A promise to return for them.

Can you feel the confusion in Thomas’ voice? They signed up to follow the Messiah. And the Messiah was supposed to restore the kingdom of Israel with them ruling right beside him.

IF YOU GET JESUS WRONG YOU ARE GOING TO MESS EVERYTHING ELSE UP AS WELL.

What do you want from Jesus?

Power?

Authority?

Wealth?

Community?

Family?

The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus had come to do. They were still arguing over who would sit on His right and his left when Jesus came into His kingdom.

And 2000 years later we stand the risk of doing the same thing. We need to make sure that we are beginning the journey with Jesus.

Big Idea: The journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step…in the right direction.

Belief is more than just knowledge of truth, but in this case it’s a personal, relational trust.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 36: John (Second Edition) The Departure and Return of Jesus (14:1–3)

The departure of Jesus is for the purpose of preparing a place for the disciples within that “home”; the latter is viewed as existing already, but by his death and exaltation the Lord is to make it possible for his own to be there with him.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. The Promise of a Place Where Jesus Is Going (14:1–4)

I am going there to prepare a place for you: the words presuppose that the ‘place’ exists before Jesus gets there. It is not that he arrives on the scene and then begins to prepare the place; rather, in the context of Johannine theology, it is the going itself, via the cross and resurrection, that prepares the place for Jesus’ disciples.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 2. The Promise of a Place Where Jesus Is Going (14:1–4)

1. Do not be distracted by worry.

For the disciples this would be the pivotal moment in their journey. How would they respond to this plot twist. Jesus is essentially saying that you are not going to rule beside me in the kingdom....at least not in the way that you think. And certainly not right now.

Not necessarily mansions. More like rooms.

The command to believe in me is in effect Jesus saying…trust me.

While the road is narrow and the gate small that leads to life (), it is also true that the number of Abraham’s children is like the sand on the seashore and the stars of the sky (), “a great multitude that no one could number” (rev 7:9).

For us this can be all about refocusing on the fact that Jesus never promised an easy journey. In fact he promised trouble. He promised trials. And if you come to Jesus believing that life is going to be perfect and you’ll be healthy, wealthy and happy, you are going to be disappointing when life throws the first punch. And again Jesus is asking you to truth Him.

Some of us the worry is so strong that it cripples us from ever beginning the journey.

Do not worry about anything.

Luke 12:24–26 ESV

24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

Luke 12:

Think of all the journey’s you’ve failed to undertake because you were worried.

Anyone who comes to Jesus must first believe in Him and trust Him.

2. Keep Your final Destination in Mind.

I don’t know of many people who get in the car and just start driving with no destination in mind. That may have been the plot of a lot of teenage angst movies in the 90s, but with today’s gas prices…right where we’re at is looking pretty good.

For the disciples they thought their destination was Jersusalem. A lavish lifestyle awaited. The problem is this isn’t the first time Jesus has told them…I’m going to die. They just didn’t get it.

My dad believes you still need a rand mcnally in the trunk....just in case. Do they even print those anymore.

For us, we can feel like our final destination is a new home…a new car....new job. That college we’ve been planning for....that we hope our parents can afford. Even if we don’t say it…that seems what we’re living for. Money, power, fame and the love of our life.

But a GPS, you punch in your destination and Go! It used to be a stand alone unit. Now we have it on our phone. It’s amazing.

So many of us get distracted by lesser goals. Our final destination is an eternity with Jesus.

It was good that Jesus was leaving because he was going to prepare a place. Now if you’re life me, you might think of Jesus the carpenter making a trip the heavenly home depot to buy a new hammer, some nails, and some wood and building us our mansions. But the truth is that’s not what Jesus is talking about here. It’s not his heavenly hammer that prepared the place but the hammer that nailed him to the cross. You see, it wasn’t so much that heaven needed to be prepared for us, but we need to be prepared for heaven.

Sin had to be dealt with.

When Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you…He may have simply been talking about the cross. The cross prepared the way for us to have a restored relationship with God.

But there is an encouragement here. Jesus does say that there are many rooms already there. While the road is narrow and the gate small that leads to life (), it is also true that the number of Abraham’s children is like the sand on the seashore and the stars of the sky (), “a great multitude that no one could number” (rev 7:9). Heaven is not a place for those who earn it, but those who look to Jesus. But you have to know the way.

Not necessarily mansions. More like rooms.

3. Make sure you know the way.

I’m firmly convinced that GPS is the greatest invention of the 21st century. When I first started driving, we had to print out directions and that didn’t account for traffic or road closures.

My dad believes you still need a rand mcnally in the trunk....just in case. Do they even print those anymore.

But a GPS, you punch in your destination and Go! It used to be a stand alone unit. Now we have it on our phone. It’s amazing. However, with a GPS there are many ways to get to your destination.

When amanda and I moved from Maryland to California, there were several ways that we could go. The Northern Route which would take us over the Rocky Mountains or the sourthern route that would take us through God’s country…texas. We chose the southern route…mainly because didn’t trust our cars to go through the mountains.

As for our final destination, that’s a little different. is perhaps the most controversial and rage inducing passages in all of scripture. For many these words are enough to make you swear off Jesus. But assuming it’s true, any other way will lead to a different final destination.

Christ alone is the way of salvation. Let no one deceive you. To imagine and proclaim other ways is to mislead people and forget the necessity of His coming and redemption.

This is the answer to Thomas’ questions.

John 14:5 ESV

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

The way, truth, and life does not refer to 3 things but to one: the way of salvation.

And this morning as we begin our Journey of Faith, if you begin with any other way but that of Jesus Christ, you have begun your journey in the wrong direction.

And the truth is as we begin our journey this is all that is required…to recognize Jesus.

For some it’s time to take your first step.

For others its time to get back on track.

Still for others, be reminded that the way was, is and will always be Jesus....so stay the course.

Reflection: Do you know your way to begin the journey?

It’s fitting that we would end this sermon with an invitation to partake in the Lord’s supper. For that is what they did that night.

We celebrate the picture of Jesus as our salvation on the cross. The bread represents his body which was broken for for us. The cup represents his blood which was shed for us.

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