April 29, 2025 • 28 mins
Standing amid the tension and uncertainty of the Last Supper, Jesus offers his troubled disciples a powerful declaration that would anchor the faith of millions for millennia to come: "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
Imagine the scene—confusion fills the air as Jesus speaks of betrayal and denial. The disciples' hearts race with anxiety about what lies ahead. It's precisely in this moment of emotional turmoil that Jesus provides clarity that cuts through their fear. Wayne and Matt unpack this profound statement verse by verse, revealing how early Christians so embraced this concept that they called themselves followers of "The Way."
The conversation moves beyond theological abstractions to practical application. What does it mean when Jesus claims to be "the truth" in a world where truth feels increasingly relative? How does following Jesus' way lead not to restriction but to freedom? The hosts explore how every commandment Jesus gives is designed not to burden us but to benefit us—contrary to the chaos that results from following our own whims.
Most compellingly, they illuminate how Jesus doesn't merely point to a way of living—he embodies it through his perfect life of obedience, love, and humility. When life feels like "a small boat in a strong storm out on the sea," Jesus provides not just a destination but accompaniment along the journey.
Whether you're questioning your direction in life, struggling with competing truth claims, or searching for purpose beyond the daily grind, this episode offers a lighthouse perspective to navigate life's storms with confidence. Join us as we discover why Jesus' identity as way, truth, and life matters not just for eternity but for finding peace and purpose today.
Learn More at 109.church
We invite you to join us in this journey of faith. If you would like to learn more about a deeper relationship with God or need someone to pray with, please reach out to us at hello@109.church. We are here to support and encourage you in your spiritual growth.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hello friends, and welcome to the Rooted and
Grounded podcast, joined by thetwo troublemakers, Wayne and
Matt.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
What's up man?
Easy man.
What's up my brother?
All right.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
So guys, I thought we would play a little game of
first thing that comes to mindso don't think about it oh, man
Just a couple words and we gotbiblical and non-biblical, so so
we'll start with the non first,first thing to come to mind
when I say winter weather heyspoken like a true cow farmer.
(00:42):
Cow farmer, that's right he is.
He hasn't earned cowboy yet.
That's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
He's a cow farmer yeah, because he only has that
one.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Spur you know we talked about that, but cold.
Yeah, yeah, alright, bigfootSasquatch oh, yeah, exactly hot
dogs oh, baseball, baseball,yeah, and Sasquatch, oh yeah,
exactly, hot dogs, baseball.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
And July 4th.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Scented candles.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yankee candle.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yankee, it's a saccharine, okay.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Let's go to the biblical side now.
Jonah, okay, all right.
Um well, let's go to thebiblical side now um jonah, oh
uh, every well big fish yeah,run yeah, uh, noah's ark safety
600 years old the talking donkeywow wow exactly unbelievable
(01:49):
and maybe I'm sure I'm not theonly one, but I'll tell you
everyone, like my generation,down like shrek is where oh yeah
, totally yeah for my generation, mister, yeah you know, we just
talked about mr ed.
That's crazy, yeah, yeah, yes,I'm here with mr ed too yeah and
then uh, last one, the lastsupper savior yeah, sacrifice,
(02:13):
okay, yeah, so so when we thinkabout the last supper, I think
the typical imagery and thefirst thing that comes to mind
for a lot of people is kind ofJesus washing feet, sharing,
establishing the last supper,really an emotional evening
before the culmination ofJesus's ministry.
But I think John paints alittle bit of a different
(02:37):
picture if you really readwhat's going on and so you think
about some of this.
When Jesus is saying that oneof you will betray me, he says
that the disciples were filledwith uncertainty.
Or you think about foretellingof Peter's denial and all the
apostles, how they would denyhim and the feelings that that
(02:57):
would have generated within theapostles.
You think about the confusionthat was there.
When Jesus says apostles, youthink about the confusion that
was there when Jesus says I'mleaving, but you know the way,
and they're thinking, no, wedon't, we don't know the way.
And so in these times of stress, and I think it's hard to
imagine just exactly, what theapostles would have been feeling
(03:19):
, but you think about how thebody responds to stress and it's
increased heart rate it's rapid, shallow breathing.
It's muscle tension, it's fightor flight difficulty,
concentrating, adrenaline rushesthoughts of impending doom and
I want us to kind of have thosefeelings in that mindset as we
approach Jesus's I am statementin John 14 today because, he is
(03:43):
going to give the apostles amessage of comfort, and I think
it's one that they don't graspfully in the moment, but it's
one that Jesus is speaking totheir feelings of panic and
stress and worry.
And so, with that being said,today we're going to talk about
Jesus being the way, the truthand the life.
And so let's read John 14,beginning in verse one, he says
(04:07):
let not your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God, believe also inme.
In my father's house are manyrooms.
If it were not so, would I havetold you that I go to prepare a
place for you.
And if I go and prepare a placefor you, I will come again and
will take you to myself thatwhere I am, you may be also, and
you know the way to where I'mgoing.
(04:27):
Thomas said to him Lord, we donot know where you're going.
How can we know the way?
Jesus said to him I am the way,the truth and the life.
No one comes to the fatherexcept through me.
If you had known me, you wouldhave known my father also.
From now on, you do know himand have seen him.
And so, as this is our focusfor the episode today, wayne,
(04:52):
take us through the first partof Jesus' I Am statement, and so
we'll split this up and look ateach part individually.
But, wayne, talk to us aboutwhat Jesus means when he says
that he is the way, what Jesusmeans when he says that he is
the way.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
You know, when I think about even there with his
apostles and they admittedconfusion how can we know when
are you going?
I mean, what's up with all ofthis?
And I think about there's a lotof application of that to the
world today, guys.
I mean, there's a lot of peoplein our world that they can't
find the way.
You know, the stress is alive.
(05:25):
There's so much fear, there'sso much doubt.
You know, life can sometimes belike a small boat in a strong
storm out on the sea, and tothink about Jesus being the way,
it's easy for us to lose ourway today.
So we need a beacon of hope.
We need a beacon of hope, weneed a, we need a direction.
(05:46):
Um, as I said, when he says I amthe way, I think several things
come to my mind.
First of all, he's our guide,okay, and he's our compass to
get the direction of where we weneed to be.
So did jesus say, and it'simportant, I think, guys, to
look at the fact that he doesn'tsay I'm one of many ways.
He doesn't say I'm a way.
(06:07):
There's a very definite articlethere before the word way I am
the way.
And we might even say today, Iam the only way.
Because he goes on to say inthe last part no one.
So that includes everybody.
There is no one who's going tocome from father except through
him.
So when he says I am the way,he's the one that's showing us
(06:29):
there.
But the thing that stands out,guys, about him being the way,
he not only talked about that, Ithink in last episode we talked
about matt you brought up, youknow, it's one thing to talk, to
talk, but he walked the walk.
He does that right here when heI am the way.
That is a comfort and assuranceyou mentioned earlier, but I
also see it as a call of action.
(06:50):
Yeah, because that's exactlywhat they were.
Where can we go?
How are we going to know theway if we don't know where
you're going?
So Jesus is a comfort andassurance, but it's also, guys,
it's a call to action.
It's like I'm the way.
You know what you need to do.
You need to follow me, becauseif you want to go to the Father,
guess what you got to do?
(07:11):
You got to follow me.
And the amazing thing aboutJesus, guys, that Jesus just
didn't talk about the way.
He didn't just, he lived it, heshowed it.
He showed what it means the way.
He shows us what it means to beobedient to the Father.
He shows us what it means tolove.
(07:34):
He shows us what it means tolive in humility, even to the
point of death on the cross.
When he could have called10,000 angels, he didn't do it.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
He didn't do it.
He didn't do it Well, and youthink about the way that phrase
that carries so much weight,with the disciples going forward
, Because you think about theoriginal name of the disciples
or the followers of Jesus wasthe ones who was a part of the
way.
I mean Paul said that sect orthat group.
(08:07):
You know we tried to destroy theway.
Well, me and Wayne were kind ofcollabing on this idea and
thinking about it.
It was like, why did they callthemselves the way?
They could have calledthemselves followers of Jesus or
they could have phrased it anyway.
Well, why did they call it theway?
Because it was that important.
(08:27):
Exactly, they got this oneNobody comes to the Father
except through me.
They knew.
They elevated I appreciate them, guys, so much for that because
they elevate that phrase.
That's the word that they couldhave said we follow the truth
or we follow the life, but wefollow the resurrection.
But they picked we follow theway.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
and Paul said in Acts 22, verse 3 and 4 what did he
do?
He said I was persecuting again, not the followers or the life,
I was persecuting the way, theway.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
They got it.
There was something about thatphrase that was catchy to people
that they would say what areyou talking about the way?
And they'll say let me show you, it's a different path.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Exactly this is the way that compass to show them
the way.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Well, and Wayne, as you were talking, and talking
about Jesus wanting the peopleto follow him, that made me
think about all the differentways that he does that
throughout his ministry.
Like calling the apostles, hesays follow me, or you think
about Matthew 11, come to me andI will give you rest and just
throughout his ministry, jesussays follow me.
He's not forcing it, but he'ssaying, at times compassionately
(09:44):
, at times directly, at times,um, almost sternly, to those
that are objecting yeah, he saysfollow me in that invitation.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
There is a reason for that.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Well, you, because he was that way that john 9, uh,
where he says, uh, verse 40,I've gone back and back to this.
Then some of the Pharisees whowere with him heard these words
and said to him are we blind?
Also, jesus said to them if youwere blind you would have no
sin.
But you say we see.
Therefore, your sin remains.
(10:17):
You can't see the way you can'tsee.
I'm trying to take you on apath that is very different than
anything you've ever been apart of and oh, by the way, this
will take you to the Father,right.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
And I think that's one of the blessings, because
it's so easy for folks to losetheir way.
Yes, even the disciples wouldstay in there.
Yeah, but in the world todayit's so easy to just follow.
After so many avenues, yeah,but there's only one that we
need to make sure we're on.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Only one path.
That is incredible to me, man.
Just that phrase, I appreciateit All right.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
So now that we've got the way established, matt,
let's talk about truth, becausetruth is a big deal.
Today we have the.
Is truth relative?
Is it absolute?
My truth versus your truth?
But what does Jesus want us tounderstand when he establishes
himself as the truth?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
I don't think it was just a coincidence or he was
trying to say just a catchyphrase.
When he says it in that order,just like we've talked about
with the Beatitudes last year,when we were talking about Jesus
didn't just in our sermons, nothere on the podcast, but those
(11:37):
phrases weren't just said in anytype of way.
They were layered on purposeand this is, I think, the same.
He says I'm the way.
So if you say, okay, I want tofollow your way, what is that?
Well, same, he says I'm the way.
So if you say, okay, I want tofollow your way, what is that?
Well, he says I'm the truth.
Like, what I'm about to tellyou is not a lie.
What I'm actually about to tellyou is the truth, and I had I
(11:58):
wanted that they.
They speak volumes of.
You know what jesus is tryingto say.
John 8, 32.
You'll know the truth and thetruth will set you free.
Um, john 17, 17.
(12:18):
Sanctify them in the truth.
And what's the truth?
Your word is the truth, right,and you know the?
This whole idea of in john 4,where he says god is spirit and
those who worship him mustworship in spirit and in truth.
The true way to worship is theway that I'm going to tell you
how to do it.
Like again, he's elevatinghimself in front of all of these
(12:41):
people to say I'm the guy andI'm not ashamed to say it.
Like I'm not ashamed at all.
To say that I am what I'msaying is the only thing that
you need to listen to.
Who says I mean?
People will say, well, you gotto believe what I'm saying.
It's like, dude, I'm notbelieving what you're saying,
because I know what's in yourheart and I know really, maybe,
(13:04):
the motives that you're saying.
What's in your heart and I knowreally, maybe, the motives that
you're saying you rememberJesus would always say for what
thing have I done wrong?
You've seen all the things andyou've heard all the things that
I've done.
Which one thing, which is theone that you're going to accuse
me of being deceiving or lyingor trying to elevate myself?
And he did all that on purpose,because he's pointing to this
(13:26):
truth.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
We're just like he was the way.
He is not one of truths, he'sthe.
I mean, he's it.
That's right, that's right.
And then, not only did he againthe way, but he's a truth, not
only did he teach a truth, he isa truth, but he lived the truth
that's right he lived inobedience, truth to the father
yeah, what was it?
Speaker 3 (13:47):
uh, jesus said we, we were talking about this too.
A lot of times we'll say jesussaid it, I believe it, that
settles it.
Well, that's not true.
Jesus said it, that settles it.
I mean, like, how did you getinvolved exactly?
Like when did you get up on thethe list of having to be the
one to okay it?
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah right.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Like what he says is truth.
I mean Whether I believe it ornot.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Yeah, it's still truth.
When Jesus says it, it settles.
You know you mentioned a whileago about is it absolute?
Is it relative?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Right, it's absolute.
Yeah, I mean Well, when he toldLazarus come forth that boy
came forth.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
That was absolute.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
That was absolute wasn't it when he said I mean
all of the things that he did.
Go put mud on your face andcome back on your eyeballs and
come back over here and whathappened?
He did it and it happened.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Because he's the truth.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Because he's the truth.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Well.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I think just how important truth is for any type
of relationship because he's therock that we build on, and his
word is truth, and that's whatwe establish our faith and grow
(15:16):
from, and truth is just a veryimportant part of that.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
If we're going to be set apart, like John 17 says
says, sanctify them.
It means you're set apart.
How, one way, the absolutetruth that Jesus is.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Well, and you think about kind of the distinction
between those living for God andChrist and those who do not.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
And you have those that are living under a set
standard and set principles anda way of life to follow for a
very specific reason.
But then you look at those thatare living outside of Christ
and they all have their own.
There's no set truth.
There's a here's what I want,here's what I believe, here's
how I'm going to live, and eachone leads to chaos.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Each one leads to problems.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
It's just a very empty, unfulfilling way to live.
But Jesus says when you live inthe truth, then you are living
in the way where you can receivethe blessings, where you can
follow the light, where you canhave everything that I've
promised to you.
But you have to do it the rightway.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
I find confidence and I think that when we can get to
this point and I'm still tryingto get there, this is a work in
progress, but what truth hasJesus ever told us to do that
would ever lead us to where?
It's chaotic For me to come toa brother and say I'm going to
(16:42):
go the extra mile and I'm goingto admit my fault to you,
something that the world wouldsay bro, don't just say nothing
until they say something to youLike just get away from them,
don't be a peacemaker, just keepthe peace man.
Like every single thing thatJesus tries to teach us is a
benefit to our life.
(17:03):
You know, like in 1 John, 3, 18, 3, 18, little children, let us
not love in word or talk, butindeed in truth.
Well, what truth?
Not your truth, it's what hesays is true, and so I think it
goes back to what I was talkingabout earlier.
Jesus said what thing have Idone that was wrong, like, what
(17:23):
thing did I do?
That was wrong.
And it's.
He can press even the same, thesame point on his truth.
What truth or what commandmentam I giving you that's going to
lead to chaos, and you can'tnever find it.
If you do have chaos, it'sbecause your self-pride and your
desire is controlling thenarrative of your life.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Right, and you know, as you were talking about that,
just remind me of a verse backin Proverbs 21, 21,.
When, if we pursue the truth,we walk in the way, live in the
way, et cetera.
Whoever pursues righteousnessand kindness, here's the result.
Nothing chaotic.
You will find life,righteousness and honor and
(18:06):
honor.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Every time.
I mean he said even in thelesson that we talked about last
time with Lazarus I'm doingthis to glorify you, I'm doing
this to honor you.
Well, when we become like Jesus, what did he become?
The name above every name.
He was exalted, and the Biblesays if you humble yourself
(18:28):
under his mighty hand, he'lllift you up in due time.
You will get the honoraccording to God's will.
That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
And that's truth, that's right and that makes me
think really a lot of issues.
But, you think aboutdenominations right, every
single one, while, while theyall may have a a structure and a
belief in christ in the bible,to varying degrees, they all
(18:58):
have the man-made element rightand additional pieces or
additional truths, or truthsthat maybe change over time
depending on what the leadershipis, and I think that's what is
so right and what.
I love so much about the churchof Christ is we've got the Bible
.
That's it.
And within the Bible there areexamples of how a church should
(19:21):
be led, but we don't have acentral organization, I mean we
don't have a, a, a Pope or, or acity or a structure that says
here's what we believe.
Now we believe what's been truefor thousands of years because
we got it from the truth.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Yeah, I think that that's true.
I mean Psalm 25, five lead mein your truth and teach me, for
you are the God of my salvation,for you I wait all the day long
, like I don't need man to tellme anything, like I have the
things that I need right here.
Wow, they were the way.
They followed what jesus said.
(20:00):
They didn't follow what petersaid and it was recognized and
it was recognized.
They were okay with that, theyembraced that and they loved it.
And and peter would say youremember, you guys can beat us,
you can lock us up, but we willnot stop talking about what
we've seen and what we heard,because he is the way and the
(20:20):
truth and the life.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
So let's build out the rest of this equation and
look at the life.
And so what does Jesus meanwhen he says he's the life?
And I think life and Jesus aresynonymous, but maybe even more
so, because you cannot have onewithout the other If you want
life, the only way to do it isthrough.
Jesus and if you have Jesus thenby default you are having the
(20:47):
life.
And I searched and you look atthe gospel of John alone and how
many times the teaching is forlife or eternal life.
But even just to narrow it downand think about the I am
statements that we've looked atso far, john said you've got the
bread of life.
Or you think about when welooked at the light of the world
(21:07):
.
Jesus says whoever follows mewill have the light of life.
Or when we looked a few weeksago in John 10, the good
shepherd and the door.
I have come that they may havelife and have life abundantly.
Or you look at the last episodewith the resurrection of
Lazarus I am the resurrectionand the life.
(21:28):
I am the way, the truth and thelife.
And then next week, when welook at the vine, he's saying I
am the source of life.
If you want to live, you haveto live in Jesus.
That is the only way.
And so he says I am the waythat you will know to get to the
father.
I am the way that you will knowhow to live your life.
(21:48):
I am the truth that you buildit on and the culmination of
this, I'm the life.
And I will give this life toyou in the life now and in the
life to come life to you in thelife now and in the life to come
.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
The just the, the way that this phrase works out.
And I love the way that we'veset this up, because if I look,
and, and Jesus is saying this isthe way, right here, come on,
and I say, okay, I'm going to go, you know, and I'm just kind of
drawing this picture out Now,if I follow this way and I start
walking with him, he startsgiving me these truths.
And now, as I keep walking,what I understand is, as I'm
(22:25):
looking up, there's this lightat the end of this path and it's
like, oh yeah, this is going tobe where it's at.
But here's the deal.
I'm not to that light yet, butI'm walking on this path and I
can see it all the time and I'mjust walking towards it.
It doesn't even necessarily getbigger and bigger, but I can
just see it as I'm walking andthere's joy and there's this
(22:48):
peace and there's this comfortas I'm walking with him.
I think about 1 John, 5, 20.
And we know that the Son of Godhas come and has.
Give us understanding so thatwe may know him, who is true.
And we are in him, who is truein his Son, jesus Christ.
What I mean?
(23:10):
You almost become oblivious ifyou keep your eyes on Jesus.
Not that you don't see thethings happening around you in
the world, but you see it verydifferently.
Now.
You're like you know what weneed to have compassion on these
people.
You know what we need to helpthese people, or you know what
we need to stay clear of that.
We just need to not be in that.
(23:32):
And people are gossiping andI'm not going to be involved in
it.
You know I'm looking and I'mwalking with Jesus.
You know that song Hand in Handwith Jesus.
Some people may struggle withthat idea, but I do think that
there is some power to thatpicture, because when I'm
holding his hand and I'm walkingwith him, he's saying yeah, I
(23:52):
know there's trouble, I knowthere's drama, but don't worry,
I'm the way, I'm the truth, I'mthe life.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
And when you read 1 John, 5, 20 there, but notice
the last phrase of it not justlife here, that's an abundant
life we've talked about, butit's an eternal life.
That's right.
Never ending, never.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Yeah, well, and think about the second half of our
sits.
I'm the way, the truth and thelife.
No one comes to the Fatherexcept through me.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
And Jesus is saying I am the gate to what you get to
god.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Yeah that's right, that's right.
And then he goes on and uh,especially what we'll look at in
the next episode of aboutabiding in the vine so that we
can know the father.
So so what else, anything elsethat we want to pull out on
jesus being the way and life,before we move to close the
episode.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
I just those verse.
That verse six to me is just.
I think that as he keepsdrawing closer to the cross, I
think he's starting to put morepieces of the puzzle together
and, like you said, in themoment they don't necessarily
see this, but when you look atthe end of Luke 24, when Jesus
gets them all together and hestarts talking about the Psalms,
and he starts talking about thethings that were, you know, he
(25:12):
opens their eyes to this.
Their mind is blown, becausenow they're seeing all of this,
what we see, because now they'reseeing all of this what we see,
and, I think, the beauty of usbeing able to have the word of
God with us.
While I may not be able to, youknow, heal somebody or raise
somebody from the dead, I havethese words that will save their
life.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
I mean literally Save their life here and the eternal
soul.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
And their eternals.
I have that power available tome to give to them and it takes
them right to the king becausehe's the one that sanctifies man
, he says, that's right allright so wayne, make it real for
us oh, make it real.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Uh, when you think about just the, the blessing of
being able to follow the way andto know the truth and to have
the truth, you know that isabsolute, that what it brings us
and what it results in is alife here.
That is the best life there is.
Because you know, we all know,that we haven't always, I
haven't always walked that walk,I haven't always lived in the
(26:14):
path, and I can just tell youfrom experience and from
observation, you know, even ifwe didn't have the Word of God,
just from life experience andwatching others' observations,
this is the best life there ishere and it ends in the best
life for eternity, because Jesusis the way and the truth and he
(26:36):
gives us life.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Yeah, I say amen to that.
I just think that, hey, we'vegot some power on here.
So I'm talking about.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Well, you've been talking about power.
He is the light and he bringslife.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
So no, I just I appreciate the idea of just
Jesus wanting us to know that wecan just confidently follow him
and he won't lead us astray.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I just appreciate when somebody tells me the truth
you know, and I would say, mineis whatever you need Jesus has
it you need to know the way.
Well to him.
If you need to know the truth,what to him?
If you need life, look to him.
But then I think about all theother things too.
If you need peace, if you needhope, if you need love, if you
need compassion, if you needrest, if you need instruction,
(27:30):
if you need wisdom, whatever youneed, Jesus has it.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
He is the way he is the truth.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
he is the life.
Well, we hope that you all willbe blessed by the time that we
spent together today and have agreat rest of the day, and we'll
do it all again in two weeks.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Take care, appreciate y'all.
Thank you, appreciate you you.
Hello friends, and welcome to the Rooted and
Grounded podcast, joined by thetwo troublemakers, Wayne and
Matt.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
What's up man?
Easy man.
What's up my brother?
All right.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
So guys, I thought we would play a little game of
first thing that comes to mindso don't think about it oh, man
Just a couple words and we gotbiblical and non-biblical, so so
we'll start with the non first,first thing to come to mind
when I say winter weather heyspoken like a true cow farmer.
(00:42):
Cow farmer, that's right he is.
He hasn't earned cowboy yet.
That's exactly right.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
He's a cow farmer yeah, because he only has that
one.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Spur you know we talked about that, but cold.
Yeah, yeah, alright, bigfootSasquatch oh, yeah, exactly hot
dogs oh, baseball, baseball,yeah, and Sasquatch, oh yeah,
exactly, hot dogs, baseball.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
And July 4th.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Scented candles.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Yankee candle.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yankee, it's a saccharine, okay.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Let's go to the biblical side now.
Jonah, okay, all right.
Um well, let's go to thebiblical side now um jonah, oh
uh, every well big fish yeah,run yeah, uh, noah's ark safety
600 years old the talking donkeywow wow exactly unbelievable
(01:49):
and maybe I'm sure I'm not theonly one, but I'll tell you
everyone, like my generation,down like shrek is where oh yeah
, totally yeah for my generation, mister, yeah you know, we just
talked about mr ed.
That's crazy, yeah, yeah, yes,I'm here with mr ed too yeah and
then uh, last one, the lastsupper savior yeah, sacrifice,
(02:13):
okay, yeah, so so when we thinkabout the last supper, I think
the typical imagery and thefirst thing that comes to mind
for a lot of people is kind ofJesus washing feet, sharing,
establishing the last supper,really an emotional evening
before the culmination ofJesus's ministry.
But I think John paints alittle bit of a different
(02:37):
picture if you really readwhat's going on and so you think
about some of this.
When Jesus is saying that oneof you will betray me, he says
that the disciples were filledwith uncertainty.
Or you think about foretellingof Peter's denial and all the
apostles, how they would denyhim and the feelings that that
(02:57):
would have generated within theapostles.
You think about the confusionthat was there.
When Jesus says apostles, youthink about the confusion that
was there when Jesus says I'mleaving, but you know the way,
and they're thinking, no, wedon't, we don't know the way.
And so in these times of stress, and I think it's hard to
imagine just exactly, what theapostles would have been feeling
(03:19):
, but you think about how thebody responds to stress and it's
increased heart rate it's rapid, shallow breathing.
It's muscle tension, it's fightor flight difficulty,
concentrating, adrenaline rushesthoughts of impending doom and
I want us to kind of have thosefeelings in that mindset as we
approach Jesus's I am statementin John 14 today because, he is
(03:43):
going to give the apostles amessage of comfort, and I think
it's one that they don't graspfully in the moment, but it's
one that Jesus is speaking totheir feelings of panic and
stress and worry.
And so, with that being said,today we're going to talk about
Jesus being the way, the truthand the life.
And so let's read John 14,beginning in verse one, he says
(04:07):
let not your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God, believe also inme.
In my father's house are manyrooms.
If it were not so, would I havetold you that I go to prepare a
place for you.
And if I go and prepare a placefor you, I will come again and
will take you to myself thatwhere I am, you may be also, and
you know the way to where I'mgoing.
(04:27):
Thomas said to him Lord, we donot know where you're going.
How can we know the way?
Jesus said to him I am the way,the truth and the life.
No one comes to the fatherexcept through me.
If you had known me, you wouldhave known my father also.
From now on, you do know himand have seen him.
And so, as this is our focusfor the episode today, wayne,
(04:52):
take us through the first partof Jesus' I Am statement, and so
we'll split this up and look ateach part individually.
But, wayne, talk to us aboutwhat Jesus means when he says
that he is the way, what Jesusmeans when he says that he is
the way.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
You know, when I think about even there with his
apostles and they admittedconfusion how can we know when
are you going?
I mean, what's up with all ofthis?
And I think about there's a lotof application of that to the
world today, guys.
I mean, there's a lot of peoplein our world that they can't
find the way.
You know, the stress is alive.
(05:25):
There's so much fear, there'sso much doubt.
You know, life can sometimes belike a small boat in a strong
storm out on the sea, and tothink about Jesus being the way,
it's easy for us to lose ourway today.
So we need a beacon of hope.
We need a beacon of hope, weneed a, we need a direction.
(05:46):
Um, as I said, when he says I amthe way, I think several things
come to my mind.
First of all, he's our guide,okay, and he's our compass to
get the direction of where we weneed to be.
So did jesus say, and it'simportant, I think, guys, to
look at the fact that he doesn'tsay I'm one of many ways.
He doesn't say I'm a way.
(06:07):
There's a very definite articlethere before the word way I am
the way.
And we might even say today, Iam the only way.
Because he goes on to say inthe last part no one.
So that includes everybody.
There is no one who's going tocome from father except through
him.
So when he says I am the way,he's the one that's showing us
(06:29):
there.
But the thing that stands out,guys, about him being the way,
he not only talked about that, Ithink in last episode we talked
about matt you brought up, youknow, it's one thing to talk, to
talk, but he walked the walk.
He does that right here when heI am the way.
That is a comfort and assuranceyou mentioned earlier, but I
also see it as a call of action.
(06:50):
Yeah, because that's exactlywhat they were.
Where can we go?
How are we going to know theway if we don't know where
you're going?
So Jesus is a comfort andassurance, but it's also, guys,
it's a call to action.
It's like I'm the way.
You know what you need to do.
You need to follow me, becauseif you want to go to the Father,
guess what you got to do?
(07:11):
You got to follow me.
And the amazing thing aboutJesus, guys, that Jesus just
didn't talk about the way.
He didn't just, he lived it, heshowed it.
He showed what it means the way.
He shows us what it means to beobedient to the Father.
He shows us what it means tolove.
(07:34):
He shows us what it means tolive in humility, even to the
point of death on the cross.
When he could have called10,000 angels, he didn't do it.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
He didn't do it.
He didn't do it Well, and youthink about the way that phrase
that carries so much weight,with the disciples going forward
, Because you think about theoriginal name of the disciples
or the followers of Jesus wasthe ones who was a part of the
way.
I mean Paul said that sect orthat group.
(08:07):
You know we tried to destroy theway.
Well, me and Wayne were kind ofcollabing on this idea and
thinking about it.
It was like, why did they callthemselves the way?
They could have calledthemselves followers of Jesus or
they could have phrased it anyway.
Well, why did they call it theway?
Because it was that important.
(08:27):
Exactly, they got this oneNobody comes to the Father
except through me.
They knew.
They elevated I appreciate them, guys, so much for that because
they elevate that phrase.
That's the word that they couldhave said we follow the truth
or we follow the life, but wefollow the resurrection.
But they picked we follow theway.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
and Paul said in Acts 22, verse 3 and 4 what did he
do?
He said I was persecuting again, not the followers or the life,
I was persecuting the way, theway.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
They got it.
There was something about thatphrase that was catchy to people
that they would say what areyou talking about the way?
And they'll say let me show you, it's a different path.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Exactly this is the way that compass to show them
the way.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Well, and Wayne, as you were talking, and talking
about Jesus wanting the peopleto follow him, that made me
think about all the differentways that he does that
throughout his ministry.
Like calling the apostles, hesays follow me, or you think
about Matthew 11, come to me andI will give you rest and just
throughout his ministry, jesussays follow me.
He's not forcing it, but he'ssaying, at times compassionately
(09:44):
, at times directly, at times,um, almost sternly, to those
that are objecting yeah, he saysfollow me in that invitation.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
There is a reason for that.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Well, you, because he was that way that john 9, uh,
where he says, uh, verse 40,I've gone back and back to this.
Then some of the Pharisees whowere with him heard these words
and said to him are we blind?
Also, jesus said to them if youwere blind you would have no
sin.
But you say we see.
Therefore, your sin remains.
(10:17):
You can't see the way you can'tsee.
I'm trying to take you on apath that is very different than
anything you've ever been apart of and oh, by the way, this
will take you to the Father,right.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
And I think that's one of the blessings, because
it's so easy for folks to losetheir way.
Yes, even the disciples wouldstay in there.
Yeah, but in the world todayit's so easy to just follow.
After so many avenues, yeah,but there's only one that we
need to make sure we're on.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Only one path.
That is incredible to me, man.
Just that phrase, I appreciateit All right.
Speaker 1 (10:58):
So now that we've got the way established, matt,
let's talk about truth, becausetruth is a big deal.
Today we have the.
Is truth relative?
Is it absolute?
My truth versus your truth?
But what does Jesus want us tounderstand when he establishes
himself as the truth?
Speaker 3 (11:14):
I don't think it was just a coincidence or he was
trying to say just a catchyphrase.
When he says it in that order,just like we've talked about
with the Beatitudes last year,when we were talking about Jesus
didn't just in our sermons, nothere on the podcast, but those
(11:37):
phrases weren't just said in anytype of way.
They were layered on purposeand this is, I think, the same.
He says I'm the way.
So if you say, okay, I want tofollow your way, what is that?
Well, same, he says I'm the way.
So if you say, okay, I want tofollow your way, what is that?
Well, he says I'm the truth.
Like, what I'm about to tellyou is not a lie.
What I'm actually about to tellyou is the truth, and I had I
(11:58):
wanted that they.
They speak volumes of.
You know what jesus is tryingto say.
John 8, 32.
You'll know the truth and thetruth will set you free.
Um, john 17, 17.
(12:18):
Sanctify them in the truth.
And what's the truth?
Your word is the truth, right,and you know the?
This whole idea of in john 4,where he says god is spirit and
those who worship him mustworship in spirit and in truth.
The true way to worship is theway that I'm going to tell you
how to do it.
Like again, he's elevatinghimself in front of all of these
(12:41):
people to say I'm the guy andI'm not ashamed to say it.
Like I'm not ashamed at all.
To say that I am what I'msaying is the only thing that
you need to listen to.
Who says I mean?
People will say, well, you gotto believe what I'm saying.
It's like, dude, I'm notbelieving what you're saying,
because I know what's in yourheart and I know really, maybe,
(13:04):
the motives that you're saying.
What's in your heart and I knowreally, maybe, the motives that
you're saying you rememberJesus would always say for what
thing have I done wrong?
You've seen all the things andyou've heard all the things that
I've done.
Which one thing, which is theone that you're going to accuse
me of being deceiving or lyingor trying to elevate myself?
And he did all that on purpose,because he's pointing to this
(13:26):
truth.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
We're just like he was the way.
He is not one of truths, he'sthe.
I mean, he's it.
That's right, that's right.
And then, not only did he againthe way, but he's a truth, not
only did he teach a truth, he isa truth, but he lived the truth
that's right he lived inobedience, truth to the father
yeah, what was it?
Speaker 3 (13:47):
uh, jesus said we, we were talking about this too.
A lot of times we'll say jesussaid it, I believe it, that
settles it.
Well, that's not true.
Jesus said it, that settles it.
I mean, like, how did you getinvolved exactly?
Like when did you get up on thethe list of having to be the
one to okay it?
Speaker 2 (14:05):
Yeah right.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Like what he says is truth.
I mean Whether I believe it ornot.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Yeah, it's still truth.
When Jesus says it, it settles.
You know you mentioned a whileago about is it absolute?
Is it relative?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Right, it's absolute.
Yeah, I mean Well, when he toldLazarus come forth that boy
came forth.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
That was absolute.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
That was absolute wasn't it when he said I mean
all of the things that he did.
Go put mud on your face andcome back on your eyeballs and
come back over here and whathappened?
He did it and it happened.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Because he's the truth.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Because he's the truth.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:41):
Well.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
I think just how important truth is for any type
of relationship because he's therock that we build on, and his
word is truth, and that's whatwe establish our faith and grow
(15:16):
from, and truth is just a veryimportant part of that.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
If we're going to be set apart, like John 17 says
says, sanctify them.
It means you're set apart.
How, one way, the absolutetruth that Jesus is.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Well, and you think about kind of the distinction
between those living for God andChrist and those who do not.
Speaker 2 (15:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
And you have those that are living under a set
standard and set principles anda way of life to follow for a
very specific reason.
But then you look at those thatare living outside of Christ
and they all have their own.
There's no set truth.
There's a here's what I want,here's what I believe, here's
how I'm going to live, and eachone leads to chaos.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Each one leads to problems.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
It's just a very empty, unfulfilling way to live.
But Jesus says when you live inthe truth, then you are living
in the way where you can receivethe blessings, where you can
follow the light, where you canhave everything that I've
promised to you.
But you have to do it the rightway.
Speaker 3 (16:18):
I find confidence and I think that when we can get to
this point and I'm still tryingto get there, this is a work in
progress, but what truth hasJesus ever told us to do that
would ever lead us to where?
It's chaotic For me to come toa brother and say I'm going to
(16:42):
go the extra mile and I'm goingto admit my fault to you,
something that the world wouldsay bro, don't just say nothing
until they say something to youLike just get away from them,
don't be a peacemaker, just keepthe peace man.
Like every single thing thatJesus tries to teach us is a
benefit to our life.
(17:03):
You know, like in 1 John, 3, 18, 3, 18, little children, let us
not love in word or talk, butindeed in truth.
Well, what truth?
Not your truth, it's what hesays is true, and so I think it
goes back to what I was talkingabout earlier.
Jesus said what thing have Idone that was wrong, like, what
(17:23):
thing did I do?
That was wrong.
And it's.
He can press even the same, thesame point on his truth.
What truth or what commandmentam I giving you that's going to
lead to chaos, and you can'tnever find it.
If you do have chaos, it'sbecause your self-pride and your
desire is controlling thenarrative of your life.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Right, and you know, as you were talking about that,
just remind me of a verse backin Proverbs 21, 21,.
When, if we pursue the truth,we walk in the way, live in the
way, et cetera.
Whoever pursues righteousnessand kindness, here's the result.
Nothing chaotic.
You will find life,righteousness and honor and
(18:06):
honor.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Every time.
I mean he said even in thelesson that we talked about last
time with Lazarus I'm doingthis to glorify you, I'm doing
this to honor you.
Well, when we become like Jesus, what did he become?
The name above every name.
He was exalted, and the Biblesays if you humble yourself
(18:28):
under his mighty hand, he'lllift you up in due time.
You will get the honoraccording to God's will.
That's incredible.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
And that's truth, that's right and that makes me
think really a lot of issues.
But, you think aboutdenominations right, every
single one, while, while theyall may have a a structure and a
belief in christ in the bible,to varying degrees, they all
(18:58):
have the man-made element rightand additional pieces or
additional truths, or truthsthat maybe change over time
depending on what the leadershipis, and I think that's what is
so right and what.
I love so much about the churchof Christ is we've got the Bible
.
That's it.
And within the Bible there areexamples of how a church should
(19:21):
be led, but we don't have acentral organization, I mean we
don't have a, a, a Pope or, or acity or a structure that says
here's what we believe.
Now we believe what's been truefor thousands of years because
we got it from the truth.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
Yeah, I think that that's true.
I mean Psalm 25, five lead mein your truth and teach me, for
you are the God of my salvation,for you I wait all the day long
, like I don't need man to tellme anything, like I have the
things that I need right here.
Wow, they were the way.
They followed what jesus said.
(20:00):
They didn't follow what petersaid and it was recognized and
it was recognized.
They were okay with that, theyembraced that and they loved it.
And and peter would say youremember, you guys can beat us,
you can lock us up, but we willnot stop talking about what
we've seen and what we heard,because he is the way and the
(20:20):
truth and the life.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
So let's build out the rest of this equation and
look at the life.
And so what does Jesus meanwhen he says he's the life?
And I think life and Jesus aresynonymous, but maybe even more
so, because you cannot have onewithout the other If you want
life, the only way to do it isthrough.
Jesus and if you have Jesus thenby default you are having the
(20:47):
life.
And I searched and you look atthe gospel of John alone and how
many times the teaching is forlife or eternal life.
But even just to narrow it downand think about the I am
statements that we've looked atso far, john said you've got the
bread of life.
Or you think about when welooked at the light of the world
(21:07):
.
Jesus says whoever follows mewill have the light of life.
Or when we looked a few weeksago in John 10, the good
shepherd and the door.
I have come that they may havelife and have life abundantly.
Or you look at the last episodewith the resurrection of
Lazarus I am the resurrectionand the life.
(21:28):
I am the way, the truth and thelife.
And then next week, when welook at the vine, he's saying I
am the source of life.
If you want to live, you haveto live in Jesus.
That is the only way.
And so he says I am the waythat you will know to get to the
father.
I am the way that you will knowhow to live your life.
(21:48):
I am the truth that you buildit on and the culmination of
this, I'm the life.
And I will give this life toyou in the life now and in the
life to come life to you in thelife now and in the life to come
.
Speaker 3 (22:03):
The just the, the way that this phrase works out.
And I love the way that we'veset this up, because if I look,
and, and Jesus is saying this isthe way, right here, come on,
and I say, okay, I'm going to go, you know, and I'm just kind of
drawing this picture out Now,if I follow this way and I start
walking with him, he startsgiving me these truths.
And now, as I keep walking,what I understand is, as I'm
(22:25):
looking up, there's this lightat the end of this path and it's
like, oh yeah, this is going tobe where it's at.
But here's the deal.
I'm not to that light yet, butI'm walking on this path and I
can see it all the time and I'mjust walking towards it.
It doesn't even necessarily getbigger and bigger, but I can
just see it as I'm walking andthere's joy and there's this
(22:48):
peace and there's this comfortas I'm walking with him.
I think about 1 John, 5, 20.
And we know that the Son of Godhas come and has.
Give us understanding so thatwe may know him, who is true.
And we are in him, who is truein his Son, jesus Christ.
What I mean?
(23:10):
You almost become oblivious ifyou keep your eyes on Jesus.
Not that you don't see thethings happening around you in
the world, but you see it verydifferently.
Now.
You're like you know what weneed to have compassion on these
people.
You know what we need to helpthese people, or you know what
we need to stay clear of that.
We just need to not be in that.
(23:32):
And people are gossiping andI'm not going to be involved in
it.
You know I'm looking and I'mwalking with Jesus.
You know that song Hand in Handwith Jesus.
Some people may struggle withthat idea, but I do think that
there is some power to thatpicture, because when I'm
holding his hand and I'm walkingwith him, he's saying yeah, I
(23:52):
know there's trouble, I knowthere's drama, but don't worry,
I'm the way, I'm the truth, I'mthe life.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
And when you read 1 John, 5, 20 there, but notice
the last phrase of it not justlife here, that's an abundant
life we've talked about, butit's an eternal life.
That's right.
Never ending, never.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Yeah, well, and think about the second half of our
sits.
I'm the way, the truth and thelife.
No one comes to the Fatherexcept through me.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
And Jesus is saying I am the gate to what you get to
god.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
Yeah that's right, that's right.
And then he goes on and uh,especially what we'll look at in
the next episode of aboutabiding in the vine so that we
can know the father.
So so what else, anything elsethat we want to pull out on
jesus being the way and life,before we move to close the
episode.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
I just those verse.
That verse six to me is just.
I think that as he keepsdrawing closer to the cross, I
think he's starting to put morepieces of the puzzle together
and, like you said, in themoment they don't necessarily
see this, but when you look atthe end of Luke 24, when Jesus
gets them all together and hestarts talking about the Psalms,
and he starts talking about thethings that were, you know, he
(25:12):
opens their eyes to this.
Their mind is blown, becausenow they're seeing all of this,
what we see, because now they'reseeing all of this what we see,
and, I think, the beauty of usbeing able to have the word of
God with us.
While I may not be able to, youknow, heal somebody or raise
somebody from the dead, I havethese words that will save their
life.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
I mean literally Save their life here and the eternal
soul.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
And their eternals.
I have that power available tome to give to them and it takes
them right to the king becausehe's the one that sanctifies man
, he says, that's right allright so wayne, make it real for
us oh, make it real.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Uh, when you think about just the, the blessing of
being able to follow the way andto know the truth and to have
the truth, you know that isabsolute, that what it brings us
and what it results in is alife here.
That is the best life there is.
Because you know, we all know,that we haven't always, I
haven't always walked that walk,I haven't always lived in the
(26:14):
path, and I can just tell youfrom experience and from
observation, you know, even ifwe didn't have the Word of God,
just from life experience andwatching others' observations,
this is the best life there ishere and it ends in the best
life for eternity, because Jesusis the way and the truth and he
(26:36):
gives us life.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
Yeah, I say amen to that.
I just think that, hey, we'vegot some power on here.
So I'm talking about.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
Well, you've been talking about power.
He is the light and he bringslife.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
So no, I just I appreciate the idea of just
Jesus wanting us to know that wecan just confidently follow him
and he won't lead us astray.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I just appreciate when somebody tells me the truth
you know, and I would say, mineis whatever you need Jesus has
it you need to know the way.
Well to him.
If you need to know the truth,what to him?
If you need life, look to him.
But then I think about all theother things too.
If you need peace, if you needhope, if you need love, if you
need compassion, if you needrest, if you need instruction,
(27:30):
if you need wisdom, whatever youneed, Jesus has it.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
He is the way he is the truth.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
he is the life.
Well, we hope that you all willbe blessed by the time that we
spent together today and have agreat rest of the day, and we'll
do it all again in two weeks.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Take care, appreciate y'all.
Thank you, appreciate you you.
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