John 14:1-14: Re-Examining the Way

I'm about to get controversial, so be ready!  

Introduction

(Read once to be introduced to the series. After that skip this to go right to the good stuff!) 

Welcome to my Devotions Series. This series features devotions based on the Scriptures of the Common Lectionary. The series is being prepared for eventual print publication.

By going to my Main Article List you can also find the complete collection posted on Gather, including the additional readings not posted to any groups. New Scriptures selections will be posted every Monday through Thursday to my main page and to my groups.

The series is also posted and regularly updated on my official blog every Monday, with the entire selections for the following Sunday: http://www.cedwardsellner.blogspot.com/

You can find a host of additional information, online resources and links to my other work there. This includes a cross-referenced Archive that lists the various Sundays, but then also lists all currently published Devotions by their sequence in Scripture as well as a Topical Index.

You can go directly to the Devotions: Archive by clicking here.

Each Scripture is also hyperlinked to the online Bible at Bible Gateway in the NIV version I used in preparing the series.

As I mentioned this series is being prepared for print publication, so I of course would welcome any and all feedback, either through Gather, or directly to cedwardsellner@aol.com

Lectionary Series Year A: Fifth Sunday of Easter
John 14:1-14 (Read it on Bible Gateway)
Re-examining the Way
This passage from the Gospel of John comes in the middle of the section which details all that took place between Jesus and his Disciples on the night before he was arrested and eventually crucified. In the preceding verses, Jesus has washed his Disciples' feet and shared with them his imminent departure from them to 'a place they cannot follow' (see John 13:33-38), alluding to his coming death. In the verses following this, Jesus then provides his Disciples a last set of teachings, challenges and assurances that include the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit, and words that mix assurance and confidence with acknowledgement of coming suffering.

This passage itself is something of bridge between those two sections. Having essentially told them he will soon die, he comforts them, sharing with them the ultimate promise: eternal life in Heaven. As a result of its themes, this passage is one of the standard selections often read at funerals, right along with Psalm 23. It's appropriate, because this passage more than any other in the Gospels doesn't really focus on any specific teaching on earthly behavior, but is instead a comforting promise that when we die, we will be going to a home prepared for us by Christ himself. As a result, we have listened to those words echoed through the generations as a promise remembered when we have bid farewell to those we love, who have gone onto a place we 'cannot follow now.'

So, it may seem odd that this passage has also been the crux point for another purpose or argument that actually causes some discomfort with many Christians, namely how it is one gets to Heaven. This passage is often quoted by more conservative Christians who make the argument that Christianity is the exclusive means by which we can be saved and enter into Heaven. Specifically, as the theology goes, when Christ says that he is "the way, the truth and the life" and that "no one comes to the Father except through me" he is essentially saying that belief in himself, Christ, is the sole means to God's grace.

I'm about to get controversial, so be ready!

Frankly this has been one of the images of Christ that I find hard to justify against a loving and benevolent God. Why? Well, there is the moral dilemma all Seminary students are at some point queried on during their studies, as well as all youth leaders who encourage their kids to ask questions: what about those who have never been exposed to Christ? Are they condemned to Hell by omission? For me that's a very good question. Beyond those who have never heard, there is also our extended family of faith. To me, the Scriptures of the Hebrew Testament clearly promise a place with God for the Jewish people. Were those promises revoked or undone? Then there are later religions which stem out of the same roots as our own. Do we really have the right and authority to say that faiths such as Islam, or the Mormons are completely false and their believers or practitioners are lost to God?

I'm sure there are some reading this who would be very quick to say YES to all of the above, just as there are some who might be saying NO just as loudly. I'm sure among those saying YES might also be a few who would love nothing better then to preach at me all the Scriptures that they argue backs this up beyond all doubt in their minds. Don't worry, I know them. Really. Such moral absolutism frankly sounds just a little too much like those who shouted to crucify Christ, so confident in their theology they could condemn anyone who challenged it on any level.

Right here, right now, this isn't meant to advocate one position over the other. It's simply an invitation to all of us, indeed to all Christians everywhere to be willing to look at this with an open mind and wrestle with the questions a bit beyond the quick memorized verses to argue the perspective we were once handed and may have never questioned.

One thing that I think all Christians minimally need to hear is that there are some who firmly believe the Christ is the Messiah, and that Christ is the way to God, but that does not necessarily mean that 'belief' in Christ is the only means of accessing that way. If there are multiple perspectives on this issue, held by mature, reasonable, intelligent Christians, it seems only logical that those mature, reasonable, intelligent Christians could have a mature, reasonable, intelligent conversation on the matter. Doesn't it? How do we reconcile the tough questions on this? What paths does this lead us on? Think through them, ask yourself, and follow through the thought. If you believe a certain way, how then do you balance things out in the end? What does your belief say about God? Does that stack up against everything else you believe about God? I don't know which answer is right, but I know the question is valid. Think about it, then find a way to engage your community of faith in the same discussion, you just might be amazed at what you discover.

For the complete listing of our Devotions, see our Devotions Archive