We left off last week with the realization that Jesus’ disciples were about to have transferred to them the responsibility of continuing His ministry.  They were promised the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit to equip and empower them to be able to carry that responsibility. 

Today is Pentecost Sunday and we are so incredibly blessed to live in the days of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people.  It is an experience that we don’t want anyone to miss out on!  Salvation is a free gift to all who ask for it in faith and so is the gift of Spirit Baptism.  Jesus taught us that anyone who asks for the Holy Spirit will be given the Holy Spirit and we want Him to the full!  We want to be overflowing with the Spirit of the Living God within!  We want His fire baptism to burn away all of our old self so that only He remains!

For Jesus’ disciples, however, there was a journey in between the promise and the fulfillment.  There was a season of waiting and uncertainty; a 50 day season.  There was a journey to make and it was going to be a challenging, dangerous, and emotion-filled one.  Jesus was concerned for them. 

Would they have the courage and strength and faith to stay the course and continue the journey without His physical presence?

Out of His concern, He told them in just a few simple words everything that they needed to know about the path that lie ahead of them.  They didn’t understand it at the time, but as they journeyed on, those words became a lamp for their feet and a light to their path.

Those same simple words are the answer for each of us as well.

He said:

John 14:1-14

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Just like His disciples, you already know the way to the place where Jesus has gone.  You do!

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Really knowing Jesus is to know the way.  Really, really getting to know Jesus is to have a confidence and boldness and assurance that we are never alone.  Knowing the Father in a personal, intimate way so much so that you know His thoughts, His attitudes, His voice, His behavior, His attributes. 

Jesus is the way.  To us, this is a cliché, easy-to-quote verse.  However, it should be so, so much more to us.  Jesus IS THE WAY!  With Jesus:

Isaiah 30:21

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

You never need to be lost when you have been found by Jesus.  You will never need to be lonely when you have the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  You never need to wonder or worry or fear when you know Jesus, the way.

However, much like us, the disciples heard these words straight from the mouth of Jesus and yet they still just didn’t quite get it…

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

Wow, this had to pierce the heart of Jesus; it had to hurt.  Jesus wasn’t enough for Philip.  He wanted to see the Heavenly Father.

9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?

It doesn’t matter how many years we have been with Jesus.  We can still miss it.  We can still not truly know Jesus and therefore, not truly know the way.  In the same way that you could know someone and spend tons of time with them and still not really know who they are, we can call ourselves a Christian for