It does not take long living on planet Earth to know that this world is full of sin and brokenness. People today are hurting and feeling deeply hopeless. Friends, we have the message of hope that every person around us deeply needs. The question is, will we share that hope with those around us or keep it to ourselves?
Jesus explains that He is the hope of the world in John 14. This passage of Scripture records teaching from Jesus to His disciples shortly before His death on the cross. This chapter begins with Jesus calling His disciples not to be troubled about what was about to take place. He explained to them, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home…When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (verses 2-3). His call not to be troubled was followed with a promise that one day, His followers would be with Him again. Next, Jesus offered a powerful statement, "And you know the way to where I am going” (verse 4). Can you imagine what was going through Jesus’ disciples’ minds when He said this? How did they know how to get to where He was going? Confused by Jesus' statement, Thomas responded, “No, we don’t know, Lord… We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (verse 5). Perhaps the following statement Jesus said was the boldest statement they had ever heard Him say. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (verse 6). Oh, they knew Jesus. They had spent three years following Jesus and learning from Him. Because they knew Jesus, they knew the way to eternal life with Him. Jesus was the way. Jesus was the hope they and the rest of the world needed to receive eternal life.
Still today, Jesus is the hope of the world. He is the only way to eternal life with Him forever. As His followers, we have the privilege of spreading His message of hope to the rest of the world. He is the one and only way to salvation. We have the answer to finding the hope that every single person we encounter is looking for: Jesus. May we share it with every single person we encounter, and may they find the hope of Christ as a result.
Who is one person you know who needs the hope of Christ? Invite them to one of our weekend services and for a meal before or after the service. This invitation may just be the catalyst that starts their faith journey!
1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.
