John 14:1-7
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Judas has left to go betray Jesus. Peter confesses his willingness to die for Christ, and yet, Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the sunrise. Now Jesus knows that the apostles’ hearts are troubled and wants to give them assurance that things will be all right.
Jesus tells them that there are places for them in eternity, and although He will be leaving soon, He will personally come back for them. They cannot follow Him now, but later, they will all be together. Jesus tells them that He is the way, the truth, and the life.
The apostles are a bit troubled. After Jesus sets an example of how to love one another by washing their feet, Jesus tells them that one of them is going to betray Him. Then when Peter asks Jesus where He is going, Jesus tells them that where He is going, they cannot follow Him, at least not for now.
Since Jesus had talked in the past about being arrested and dying, the apostles are starting to feel apprehensive about what is about to happen, and it feels like whatever is going to happen, it will happen soon.
When we are troubled by something, especially about people leaving us or dying, and we are told, “not to worry” or “do not let your hearts be troubled”, it rarely helps – We still worry, and are troubled by it, even if we try not to show it.
It is a tough situation for the apostles. They really do not know what is going to happen. After all, this is before Jesus’ resurrection, and before the Holy Spirit was given to them. The only assurance they had was Jesus telling them not to worry and that there is a place for them in eternity.
For us, we have the completed New Testament so that we know that Jesus will be arrested, tried and crucified. But we also know that He will be resurrected and will teach His followers for forty days on what it all means. We also know that Jesus returns to His Father but promises to come back.
Through the writings of Luke, Paul, Peter and John, we know how the church started and that until Jesus comes back, we are to be witnesses for the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. We are to preach the good news of the cross and the kingdom of God.
We are to proclaim what Jesus told the apostles – That Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is not a way, but the only way to the Father. Jesus is not a truth, but the only truth. Jesus is the life — Real life that lasts forever with God and His people.
There are many people who believe that there are many paths to heaven – Many paths to God. But that is not what our Bible teaches us.
Do you believe that Jesus is the way? If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you should, since this is what Jesus is telling us. And if we believe this, then we cannot help but be anxious about those around us who have not yet believed.
We do not have to be anxious about our lives or about our ultimate future, but we are to care what happens to those around us who are not believers. When we get together for the upcoming holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s – There will be opportunities for us to share what the Bible teaches us. Not to argue that they are wrong, but to let them know of the Good News of Jesus Christ. There is a place in eternity for them – If they believe and accept Jesus Christ into their hearts.
I cannot remember which Washington coastal beach it was – Shi Shi Beach, Second Beach or Third Beach – One of those. There is a lower trail that is very scenic, but the danger is that if you are at certain parts of the trail when the tide comes in, you can get stuck there for hours. They always advise that you have a tide chart so you know when the tide will be coming in, to make sure that you do not get stuck.
If you are at one of these beaches and you see people about to take the lower trail, but you know they cannot get back before the tide comes in, you would tell them to take the higher trail if they do not want to get stuck.
All people start out on the more dangerous trail. If they continue, it is not just about getting stuck until the next low tide. It is about where they end up in eternity.
Now that we know that Jesus is the only way to safety, we need to be sure to be on the safe path ourselves. We also need to point out to others the way, the truth, and the life – Jesus Christ.
In this world, there are many things that can trouble us. Conflicts, earthquakes, wildfires, storms, drought, politics, health, getting older, finances, decisions we must make that affect our futures, passing of family and friends, etc. In many ways, what the apostles were facing was worse. They left the lives they knew to follow Jesus, who they believed was the Messiah. But now, Jesus is telling them that one of them is going to betray Him and that He must go away and that they cannot follow Him. Their future seems uncertain, and they do not know how they will continue if Jesus is not going to be there with them. They are confused and anxious.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me”, is what Jesus tells the apostles. He is telling us the same thing. Whatever problems, troubles and worries we are carrying, remember that Jesus is with us through His Holy Spirit. And there is a place for us in eternity with Him and other followers. Because of this, we can seek first the Kingdom of God and boldly witness for the fact that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world – That Jesus is the way, and the truth and the life.
(the above is a summary of the message shared by Pastor Shun Takano at our worship on November 9, 2025.)
Japanese Congregational Church 