2 posts tagged “marriage”

John 14:1-6

In old Jewish times, when a man was interested in marrying a woman, he would first go to her father with a proposal.  Next, he would go back to his own father’s house, and build a new room onto it, where he & his new bride will live.  Once finished, he would return to the bride’s father and ask him to look at the new room. If her father approves of the room, the man will then return to his bride, and then bring her back to their new home.

In the context, Jesus is explaining to His disciples that this is not the end, but the beginning of something great…they will see Him again, He will bring them back with Him to His home (Heaven), and be with Him forever…it’s a marriage proposal.  But what opens this passage up to discussion is when Thomas asks, "No, Lord, we don't know.  We haven't any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?" And Jesus replies, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." 

I can imagine the disciples mocking, “Way to go, Thomas…just tell Jesus we don’t understand…you remember what happened last time with the talk about the bread!” or maybe, “Good thinking, Thomas…see if Jesus will draw us a map!”  "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  That’s a nice map…no turns, just straightforward and to the point. 

But many refuse to believe this claim by Jesus.  Instead they want curves, shortcuts, secret passages, and for every path to lead to the same destination.  Now granted, I can understand their reasons for wanting to disagree…why they so badly want to believe that there are other ways to Heaven other than through Jesus.  Some have friends/relatives who’ve died before coming to know Jesus, and so want to believe they’ll go to heaven; or they know people who are doing such great things for others and so expect to see them in Heaven for their good works; Some even want to believe it, but are afraid of “offending” people by having to tell them of God’s Good News about Jesus Christ being the only way.  So in response, instead of straight out saying, “God, you’re not fair!” they explain it away, often using theology and scripture out of context to support their claims, such as explanations of God’s grace or the misuse of Baptism; or John 3:16 to claim God’s love for all His creation, but they leave out verses 17-18; even 2 Peter 3:9 where God’s will is that none should perish (yet they leave out the last part about God taking His time because He wants them to repent).  But Jesus didn’t only say that He is the Way, but also the Truth and the Life.  Jesus is giving His credentials in this passage:

• To get to the Father, one must know me, because I am the Way to the Father.
• The way to know me is to listen to the Truth (I am the truth...listen to Me).
• Once you listen to me and come to know me, then you will have Life.
  

If we take out 1, then we must take out all 3.  And if we take out all 3, then Jesus is neither, our message is void, and as Paul said, “we should be pitied most above all.”

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Nobody comes to the Father except through me.”  Before Jesus, there was no other way to the Father.  But now, Jesus has drawn a map and it leads straight through Him.  So how were people saved before Jesus walked the earth?  By listening to the Truth and knowing the Way, they received Life.  For Jesus said, "The Father and I are one."  Those who had a close, knowing relationship with the Lord, knew the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Today, Jesus has asked us into a commitment relationship based on true love...marriage.  How can anybody argue this passage to be anything other than an invitation to true love?

What do you do when you get a crush on someone?
Submitted by Desi.

I'm married...I don't allow myself to have crushes on anybody other than the crush I married.  :)