Daily Devotions
John
The need "to know the way"
Text: John 14 : 1 - 11
THE NEED “TO KNOW THE WAY”
Jesus understood Thomas and the question he raised. He had been their Teacher all this while and He understood each of His Disciples perfectly. He knew that the Disciples were worried about the future. Who would lead them? Who would give them the necessary guidance?
Thomas had asked for more specific guidelines, perhaps partly because he was brought up in Judaism. He had been instructed all his life. He had definite guidelines concerning almost everything. There were rules and regulations concerning almost every aspect of life. Would it not be better if Jesus were to teach the Disciples how to regulate their new found faith?
As long as Jesus was with the Disciples, there was no need for them to raise this question. However, if Jesus were to leave them shortly, would they not need to know “the way”?
AVOIDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANOTHER “TRADITION”
Jesus’ answer to Thomas was typical of the way He had taught His Disciples all along. His approach had always been different from the Pharisees right at the start! This comment from Matthew is worth looking at again.
“And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings,
that the people were astonished at His teaching,
for He taught them as one having authority,
and not as the scribes.”
Matthew 7:28-29
The “scribes” may be thought of as the custodians of the Scriptures. They were the ones who worked on copying the Scriptures, for there were no printing machines in those days. They were the ones who kept the traditions of their forefathers by writing down their traditions.
This approach in itself was not wrong or faulty. However, the danger of having traditions that transgressed the commandments of God was very real and must be avoided at all cost. The Jews had numerous traditions and they sometimes transgressed God’s laws. This was something that Jesus brought to the attention of the scribes and the Pharisees on one occasion. Let us take a look at the following text.
“Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem
came to Jesus, saying,
‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?
For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’
He answered and said to them,
‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God
because of your tradition?Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect
by your tradition!'”
Matthew 15:1-3, 6
Jesus did not give to His Disciples another set of traditions! He taught from the Scriptures. He differed strenuously from the way the scribes and Pharisees pursued their religion! Jesus had taught the Disciples a different approach altogether! What was that approach?
THE NEW AND LIVING WAY
The multitudes never understood “the way” that Jesus espoused. The Jews resisted what He taught and emphasized! The Disciples did not fully understand what Jesus sought to teach them!
Only Jesus could say what He did! Did Thomas want to know the way? He did not need to look further than Jesus! He was THE WAY! What did Jesus mean?
1. Far better than a set of rigid mechanical rules
Jesus offered a far better approach than what the Disciples had known previously. They had been brought up in tal Jewish homes. Their whole approach towards faith in God was encased in sets and sets of rigid mechanical rules!
Did the Disciples not enjoy the refreshing difference that Jesus offered? He was THE WAY!
2. A Living Person
Jesus did not just teach great and profound truths! He was the living embodiment of Truth itself. Thus He could say that He was “The Truth”. Did not Jesus teach the truth with great authority and power? He made the truth found in the Scriptures come alive!
3. A Life-giving Word
Jesus did not offer another set of traditions. The Jews fretted and fumed because Jesus differed from them so vastly! They could not understand His approach because He was not confined by their rigid rules and regulations!
When Jesus spoke, His words had such power. They brought life! The Disciples had seen this with their own eyes again and again. His word brought life to the sick and even the dead!
FATHOMING JESUS AND ALL THAT HE STOOD FOR
Was Thomas seeking a simpler approach? He must have found it difficult to apply all that Jesus had taught them. In his heart, he must have agreed with all that Jesus had taught, but he knew that it would be difficult to practise his new found faith.
He would not have traditions to fall back on. He would have to apply his faith constantly. He would have to call upon whatever wisdom he had gained from having been taught by Jesus. Was that what Jesus meant when He said, “I am the Way…”? If so, then Thomas would have to recall and apply all that Jesus stood for in His teaching.