Jesus, The ONLY Way?"
John 14:1-6
Today's sermon is on a complicated topic asked of me to preach upon by the congregation: Is Jesus the only way to God? How are Christians in today's world to understand verse six in the light of our encounter with other, vital world religions? In this world where Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and people of other faiths no longer live overseas from Christians but have taken up residence next door, how do we speak with them about Jesus being the way?
In the passage for this morning, which I have used countless times at people's memorial services, there is a sense of comfort, but more importantly, a guiding and abiding hope in a future with our God. It is a hope that can sometimes guide us when we feel most lost in this world- when our lives are imploding, someone is sick, our finances are crumbling, and stresses are ever-present. This passage speaks of future hope amid a time when many of us feel lost in some way- a time of pandemic and division- a time of troubled hearts.
This was such a moment for the disciples- Jesus had just told them he would suffer and die. After washing their feet to show them that servanthood was vital in following the Way, Jesus told the twelve that one of his innermost trusted disciples would betray him to the Pharisees. Judas was given a piece of bread from Jesus, identifying him as the one who would betray him. Judas then ran out into the night. Jesus then hinted to the remaining disciples that he was going. Peter wanted to go too and told Jesus he would lay down his life for him. Jesus responded- "Very truly I tell you; before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times." The disciples were confused, afraid, and uncertain. Jesus betrayed? Judas running out? Peter denying his Lord?
Amid this challenging time, Jesus gives them these words, a gift of guiding hope. He says to them- "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms, and one of them belongs to each one of you." Now the Greek, in this case for house -Oikos - means a household or family home. Hopefully, you have the same feeling about home as I do- it is a familiar, comfortable, peaceful place in which to be. I remember as a child coming back from summer vacation longing for our family home. I looked forward to the couch in the living room, the familiar smells in the kitchen, and the faint smell of cigarettes throughout the house, as my Dad used to smoke a lot. When we finally did arrive home, the best place in my house was MY room. It was a place of comfort, a place I looked forward to.
The understanding of home is an essential thing for us to ponder about heaven. It isn't some unfamiliar place - it is like coming home. And each of us has a room, a place that is perfect and comfortable and safe and wonderful in our heavenly family home. And Jesus tells us he'll return from heaven and take us all there one day. During those moments when this life is in upheaval, we have this future hope which can bring us peace in the present. British Theologian Matthew Henry(1662-1714) said, "Our duty as Christians is to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet." Here Jesus gives the disciples and us a future in heaven to focus upon while we walk this earth.
Jesus then tells the eleven he is leaving and that they know how to get where he is going. Thomas, likely stressed amid a difficult time and worried about his future, asked Jesus, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
Now to the heart of the matter for today's sermon. Jesus responds - "I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." What does this mean? In speaking of the way, Jesus uses the word- hodos - This denotes a road or path, widely used to refer to a way of life, a practice symbolically. Is Jesus saying in this one verse, the ONLY place in all of the New Testament, that he is exclusively the one and only way to God? For many decades in my own faith journey, I did believe as such.
I remember some thirty years ago having a conversation with a nurse friend who was caring for our sick child, Sarah, while we were at seminary. We were on a walk with our daughter in the stroller, and we discussed religion. This very gentle and caring soul was a combination of Buddhist and other spiritual beliefs, and she believed in many paths or approaches to God. I remember listening to her, then sharing this passage with her. I then said I respected her ideas and opinions but that there was something particular about Christianity, something more fulfilling in following Jesus. I couldn't find that in any other religion-even though, at the time, I hadn't looked at any other religion in depth. I went on to tell her that John 14:6 was one of the reasons I was studying to become a minister. I believed at the time that John 14:6 pretty much settled the debate on who held the truth about God. I thought I respected her beliefs at the time but knew the absolute truth. In retrospect, I don't think I was respectful. Instead, I was arrogant. I found an anonymous quote recently which speaks to this conversation. "We have lobbed verses of Scripture, like hand grenades, into the camps of others, convinced that we, alone, have the truth." In this case, in looking back, I believe I used John 14:6 as a hand grenade with that very caring and loving nurse.
As is true of any scripture passage, we must be cautious when isolating it and taking it out of context. TWO contexts, in particular, frame the meaning behind John 14:6. The first is historical.
Most Biblical scholars date the writing of the gospel of John to approximately 90 A.D. It was a difficult time for the Christian movement. A general dislike for Christians arose from their refusal to worship the emperor or any Roman gods or participate in sacrifice to those gods, which was expected of those living in the Roman Empire.   Although the Jewish people at that time also refused to partake in these actions, they were tolerated because they had protected standing within Roman law. On the other hand, Romans believed Christians, who were thought to take part in strange rituals and nocturnal rites, cultivated a dangerous and superstitious sect.  
During this time, Roman governors played a more significant role in the persecution of Christians than did Emperors. Christians were accused and prosecuted through a process termed cognitio extra ordinem, which translates loosely as "knowledge out of order." Evidence shows that trials and punishments varied greatly, and sentences for those who followed Christ ranged from an acquittal to death.
In addition, historically, Christians and Jews had often worshipped together in synagogues for decades after Christ walked the earth. With the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70 by Roman troops, Christians began to separate themselves from Judaism. Jewish/Christian relations deteriorated, and Christians were no longer welcomed at temple worship. With those historical contexts in mind, reading John 14:6 reflects what was happening at the time. If I were struggling with Roman persecution due to not following Roman religion, I would want to hear Jesus say, "I am THE way, the truth, and the life." If I were recently kicked out of worship in the synagogue, I would also want to hear Jesus say, "No one comes to the Father except through me."
The second context we need to explore is the context of the verse within the passage itself. This passage is about Jesus trying to reassure the disciples in a challenging time. Their hearts were troubled. Thomas, in particular, is worried that Jesus is leaving them and they will be left to their own devices. He wants to know how to get to the Creator's house. He wants the Google map and specific directions. Jesus tells him in this moment of angst. "Don't worry. I am the way." Jesus is answering Thomas' question, and by the way, his question is not, "Jesus, are all non-Christians going to hell?" This verse is a statement by Jesus, a promise, a word of comfort to the disciples that Jesus is all they will need; there is no need to panic or search desperately for a secret map.
This passage is not meant to be taken out of its context and used as a trump card or threat to tell people of other beliefs that they had better accept Jesus as their personal Lord and savior or else. Interpreting a Biblical text out of context is pretext. Consider that even traditional well respected Christian theologian C.S. Lewis(1898-1963) wrote, "We do know that no (one) can be saved except through Christ; we do NOT know that only those who know Him can be saved through Him." More recent and progressive theologian Episcopalian Bishop J.S. Spong (1931-2021)wrote, "True religion is not about possessing the truth. No religion does that. It is rather an invitation into a journey that leads one toward the mystery of God. Idolatry is religion pretending that it has all the answers."
So, where am I then when it comes to Jesus? I will say this, Jesus defines me. I accepted him as my Lord and Savior in 1974 as I stood in front of Rancho Cordova Presbyterian church at the age of twelve, and he has been with me ever since. Through Jesus, I have access to God. I follow Jesus on the way through studying and trying to apply his teachings - caring for the least of these, trying to love unconditionally, lifting up the oppressed, challenging the authorities of the day and speaking truth to power, working to forgive and reconcile others, working for God's justice on earth so that it can be more "on earth as it is in heaven," praying to God for wisdom, connection, and guidance, and doing all of these things as humbly as I can. Jesus is MY way, and I hope to attract others to him through what I say and do.
Those things being said, I believe we can find God and God's Spirit in other faiths. I find fellowship with those from Temple Emek Shalom when we work together on a Habitat house, and I believe God smiles when we work together in such a way. I practice loving my neighbors as I build the house while my Jewish friends practice showing charity or Tzedakah to those in need and practicing a mitzvah, a good deed.
Scripture reminds us that the God of Abraham is the God of three of the world's major religions through Abraham's sons Isaac and Ishmael - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. I hear some commonalities of God's truth in other religions and respect those truths, even though I may not agree with all of them. I also appreciate some of the differences and do not feel threatened by them.
Our Executive Presbyter for vision and mission of Cascades Presbytery, Rev. Brian Heron, wrote the following in his "Breadcrumbs" column last week. "I believe the future of the Church is going to come from the dialogue between our rich historic traditions and the emerging spiritualities of our time." I find myself in agreement with Brian. I believe in this time of great division within our nation; this is a time for Christians to reach out in humility rather than superiority; to meet and speak with people of other religions, to dialogue with them, not seeking to convert them but seeking to learn. We can show them our Way of Jesus, and they can show us their way of connecting with God and living out their faith. Together, we can look for those places of harmony between other religions and our Way. That may not be easy to hear, and you may not agree with me, which is OK. As a follower of Jesus, I will respect the possibility that you may be in a different place and will also love and listen and dialogue with you.
So, may we who live in a time of troubled hearts and stress find comfort in Jesus' words today, just like the disciples did all of those centuries ago. May Jesus remind us that one day, we will be home, that we are not left alone, and that he will be with us every step of our Way. Amen.
