John 14:1-14
Each morning I wake up, read Scripture and pray, and then I read the news for a few minutes. Over the last few weeks, the story that I’ve been most interested in is the release of Israeli captives by Hamas. If you’ve been following the developments, you’ve probably been praying and asking the Lord to be merciful to these people. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be in captivity for over two months – wondering if you’re ever going to make it home. The amount of work that has gone into freeing the captives is astounding. Governments and militaries are involved and it’s all to make sure those people make it safely home.
Jesus agrees that making it home is of the utmost importance. When his disciples were troubled, he promised that “he was going to prepare a home for them.” The natural question the disciples asked was, “How are we going to make it to this home?” It was the same question I’m confident those hostages were asking. How are we going to make it? What power is going to release us and protect us? Who is going to ensure our safe passage? Jesus answers the disciples by promising them that he would bring them home. He boldly declared that he is “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Now, if you are the disciples, you might rightly ask, “What gives you the power to ensure our safe arrival? Philip spoke up and voiced that concern. He said,
8 “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (John 14:8)
Philip is struggling to believe that Jesus has the power to do what he just promised. He wants to see the Father – that’s the only way he believed they could make it home. Jesus responded,
9 “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:9)
The reason that the disciples can have confidence they will make it home is because Jesus and his Father are unified. The astounding truth Jesus is sharing with them is that all of the power of heaven is leveraged to get them home.
The same is true for those who are in Christ. Jesus promises our safe arrival too. All of the power of heaven is leveraged to get us home. Truly, nothing can separate us from God’s love. Our arrival is secured by divine power. When it comes to reaching our eternal home, we will never experience being held hostage, unable to make it. We have already been redeemed, freed from captivity, and purchased back from the Evil One and the grave. The exchange has already been made – the perfect Son of God gave his life for us and assured us that we will make it safely.
Today, take some time and thank Jesus for his rescue and promise that you will make it home safe and sound.
Pastor Ryan Paulson