The Answer

This is the age of AI, where the answer to anything is apparently at your fingertips. You don’t just have to swallow any information that comes your way. You can instantly reference it against the other sources that are readily available. For those that would influence or lead it is a challenge to make personal connections. The content provided can just be independently applied without the need to pay any fees or commit to any appointments – or so it would seem. While this may be possible for some things, for certain services like guiding or piloting, what you’re getting in the person is not just information, but experience, ability, and wisdom, not just for the present, but for things yet to come. Without the presence of this individual, there may be a temporary fix, but no real solution, because the answer is not just information, but the person themselves.

This is what Thomas, the DIYer, was after in John 14, when he asked Jesus about the way Jesus was going, as if this might just be some information he could take note of. Jesus was obviously presenting a whole new way of living that would include behaviors and actions that were unique to where He was going. To hear Him speak was to learn of some of them in a way that might have appeared to just be an alternative to the Law of Moses they were so familiar with. Jesus’ response to Thomas’ question, however, was that His way wasn’t just information that could be learned and performed. He Himself is the Answer. To try and separate the answer from the Man is to never discover it or follow in its way. This is the challenge for us today as we desire to do whatever it takes to depart from an undesirable situation and arrive at a desirable one. Surely it’s just about what is being done – information that can be Googled, Siried, Socialed, or Conferenced and independently applied. If this new life were just about information, this might be so, but there is no answer without the Man. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and is Himself the Answer.

Notes

The Way/Answer -

John 14:4-6 (NLT) 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Religion vs Relationship

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) 28 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. 29 Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 30 Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”

What is His yoke? How is it easy?

Knowing Him – not life removal, but life discovery

John 10:9-10 (NLT) 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Determined Purpose

Philippians 3:10 (AMPC) 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly],

The Yoke – removal of chains

Colossians 2:9-11 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.

The Yoke – a divine/holy nature with His purpose.

2 Peter 1:3-4 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

All of Life

Titus 2:11-12 (TLB) 11 For the free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone; 12 and along with this gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day,