The Crowd, The Christ, the Critics, & the Conflict

Is Jesus the Only Way?Jn 14:5-11

1Context12:1-8, The Anointing at Bethany.Foreshadow: Raising of Lazarus foreshadowed Jesus resurrection powers.Foreshadow: Anointing by Mary of Bethany foreshadowed Jesus imminent arrest, trial, condemnation, crucifixion, and burial. Foreshadow: Judas antagonism12:9-11, The Decision to Kill Lazarus.12:12-19, The Triumphal Entry.The same crowd cheering him would, a few days later, be cheering for his death. 12:20-35, Jesus Predicts His Crucifixion.Now some Greeks were among those who went up to worship at the festival. (Jn 12:20)12:37-43, Isaiahs Prophecies FulfilledIsraels Wilderness WanderingsWitnessed the Miracles of Gods deliverance.Responded with Grumbling.Unbelieving Jews of His DayWitnessed the Signs/Miracles of Jesus. Responded with Grumbling (Jn 6:41, 61; Ex 17:3; Nm 11:1) and Unbelief (Jn 12:39). 12:44-50, A Summary of Jesus Mission

2Doctor: Congratulations on the birth of your new baby. I have some important news you need to know. She has jaundice. Its a liver disorder that causes her skin and the whites of her eyes to turn yellow. Parents: Are you talking about our baby? She looks okay to us. If fact she looks beautiful. (Together they ooh and aah as they look at the baby). If we take her home and give her a lot of love, Im sure the problem will go away.

Skit: Not Our BabyDoctor: She is beautiful but this is a potentially devastating disease. If we dont do something shell have a lot of trouble. Parents: (Now panicking.) Oh, no! What are we going to do? (Now screaming.) We need help! Doctor, doctor youve got to help us. What do we do? Doctor: I have good news. This potentially devastating disease is eas- ily treated. All we have to do is put the baby under a special light for a while. This will stimulate her liver to start working properly and shell be all right.

Skit: Not Our BabyMother: (Very skeptical.) That doesnt sound good. My mother and grandmother always told me not to shine a bright light on a baby that will hurt the baby. Im not doing that. Doctor: There is nothing to worry about. The light will help her liver and remove this yellow hue from her skin. Mother: (Increasingly skeptical.) I dont see how sitting under a light will remove her yellowthats too easy. How about instead if we scrubbed her with soap and dipped her in bleach? If we worked hard enough, Im sure we could get her normal coloring back. Skit: Not Our BabyDoctor: You seem like a very concerned parent, but scrubbing and dipping wont solve this problem. And using bleach on a human could cause injury or death! Theres only one way to treat this. Get your baby under the light, and shell get healthy. Father: (Smug and confident.) I agree with my wifethat sounds too easy. If we just relax and let her grow up naturally everything will turn out okay. Doctor: Let me be clear about this. Your baby has jaundice and needs help right now. Skit: Not Our BabyFather: (Anger rising.) I dont like your tone, Doc. Youre getting a little pushy with this light-treatment thing. You say jaundice is real. Maybe for you, but we dont see it that way. We go by what we see and believe and if we sincerely believe that, things will work out for the best. Doctor: Youre going to jeopardize your baby if you do that. Look, theres only one way to cure her. You hesitate because it sounds too easy, but look at the credentials hanging on my wall. Ive studied at medical school, and Ive used what Ive learned to cure countless babies like yours. Trust me!Mother: (Angry and emotional.) I dont like it when you say you know how to fix this problem. Maybe there are other ways to handle this. I think you are very narrow-minded to push this light-treatment thing on us and our baby.

Skit: Not Our BabyDoctor: I am telling you this because I want to save your baby. This is the best and only way we know to treat jaundice in newborn babies. I want to cure your little girl. This isnt narrow-mindedits the only rational choice in accordance with the evidence. Father: (Angry and emphatic.) My parents taught me to be skeptical of people who act like they have all the answers. Who can know everything? I think were done here. (Parents turn and leave.) THE ENDSkit: Not Our BabyWhats happening here? What is the doctor trying to do? What do you think about the response of the parents? Whats keeping these parents from receiving the help the doctor is offering? Who is being responsible and rational, and who is being arrogant and narrow-minded? Today were going to talk about Jesus Christ being the solution to our problems and the only way to really knowing God. If we replayed this skit and talked about Jesus, what would the doctor say about Jesus being the answer? What would the parents say expressing their disbelief? Why is Jesus being the only way to God such a highly charged argument?

Skit: QuestionsWhat did Thomas ask Jesus? What response did he receive? How did Jesus describe his relationship with the Father? What evidence did Jesus suggest to prove his relationship with the Father? In what ways is faith in Jesus Christ exclusive or narrow? How do people who dont believe Jesus is the only way to God describe who Jesus was? What do you think about Jesus claim to be the way and the truth and the life? Reading (Jn 14:1-11)10 14:1, Believe in God 14:2-3, My Fathers House1. The Way to God (Jn 14:1-5)The Way to God (Jn 14:1-5)Explanation14:1, Believe in GodWhat troubles the disciples is Jesus imminent departure (see 13:36). Believe, in keeping with OT usage (e.g., Isa. 28:16), denotes personal, relational trust.14:2-3, My Fathers HouseHouse as Heaven MetaphorIllustrationSignificance11 14:6, I Am 14:6, The Way 14:6, The Truth 14:6, The Life2. Jesus Outrageous Claim (Jn 14:6)Jesus Outrageous Claim (Jn 14:6)Explanation14:6, I amThis is another I am saying that makes a claim to deity (see note on 6:35).14:6, the WayActs 4:12Jesus as the one way to the Father fulfills the OT symbols and teachings that show the exclusiveness of Gods claim (see note on 3:18), such as the curtain (Ex. 26:33) barring access to Gods presence from all except the Levitical high priest (Leviticus 16), the rejection of human inventions as means to approach God (Lev. 10:2), and the choice of Aaron alone to represent Israel before God in his sanctuary (Num. 17:5). Jesus is the only way to God (Acts 4:12), and he alone can provide access to God.14:6, the TruthJesus as the truth fulfills the teaching of the OT (John 1:17) and reveals the true God (cf. 1:14, 17; 5:33; 18:37; also 8:40, 4546; 14:9).14:6, the LifeJesus alone is the life who fulfills the OT promises of life given by God (11:2526), having life in himself (1:4; 5:26), and he is thus able to confer eternal life to all those who believe in him (e.g., 3:16).who believe in him (e.g., 3:16).IllustrationThe SkitSignificance12 14:8, show us the Father 14:9, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. CR: Jn 1:18 14:11, Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.3. Backing up His Claim (Jn 14:7-11)The Way to God (Jn 14:1-5)Explanation14:8, show us the FatherPhilip apparently asks for some sort of appearance by God. In the OT, Moses asked for and was given a limited vision of Gods glory (Ex. 33:18; cf. Ex. 24:10). Isaiah, too, received a vision of God (Isa. 6:1; see note on John 12:41). Jesus is the greater fulfillment of these limited OT events (see also Ezek. 1:2628). In keeping with OT teaching, Jesus denied the possibility of a direct vision of God (John 5:37; 6:46; cf. 1:18), yet he makes the stunning assertion that those who have seen him have seen the Fathera clear claim to deity. Philips request shows that he has not yet understood the point of Jesus coming, namely, to reveal the Father (1:14, 18). 14:9, Whoever has seen me has seen the FatherCR Jn 1:1814:11, Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.IllustrationWhat were some proofs that back up his claim?Video: Evidence 1 in 1017Significance13

Evidence 1 in 10174. Narrow Minded?15