Grace Will Lead

Photo by Gunnar Bengtsson on Unsplash

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. - John 14:5-6

How can we know?

How can we know the way?

Is it left, right, back, or straight down the middle? Up or down?

It seems very complicated, nuanced, and deep. We are looking for some direction here.

Picture the upper room and the somber mood of twelve friends hearing the ominous words from their Master that He will soon die and that they will soon fail Him.

“Not I,” protests Peter.

Not that way!

“You will,” declares Jesus, "You will pass the way of failure, humiliation, fear, and disgrace. You will."

But ..."let not your heart be troubled …”

But!

However!

In spite of it all.

Through it all!

He offers hope.

He is going to prepare a place for them, that He will come again to receive them to Himself, that He will ever be with them and they with Him, and that they really do know where He is going.”

At that point, Thomas interrupts, “No we really don’t know where you are going. How can we know? Show us the way.”

Thomas felt that in order to follow Jesus, he must become more of an expert in navigational theology to traverse the diverse paths leading to God. It was a frightening prospect.

“How can we know the way?”

Indeed, how can we?

Jesus simplified the answer. He would be their compass. He would be their guide. It was not necessary for them to know anything more that Him. If they would follow Him, He would provide the way, the truth, and the life within His own person.

The message of Jesus to us as we stumble in the darkness of uncertain ambiguity is, “Follow me.”

He will lead us through the darkness.

He will lead us to our eternal home.

We can trust Him and follow Him.

Grace will lead us home.