John 14:4-11

John 14:4-11

1. We should mark how much better Jesus speaks of believers than they speak of themselves.
2. We should mark what glorious names the Lord Jesus gives Himself.
3. We should mark how expressly the Lord Jesus shuts out all ways of salvation except Himself.

"The plain truth is that all believers tend to undervalue the work of the Spirit in their own souls, and to imagine they know nothing because they do not know everything."

"To use Christ daily as the way, to believe Christ daily as the truth, to live on Christ daily as the life—this is to be a well-informed, a thoroughly equipped and an established Christian."

"It counts for nothing that a person is clever, learned, highly gifted, amiable, charitable, kind-hearted and zealous about some sort of faith. All this will not save their soul if they do not draw near to God by Christ’s atonement and make use of God’s own Son as their Mediator and Saviour."

"We must be content to believe when we cannot explain and to admire and revere when we cannot interpret."

Questions:

1. We hear Jesus speak of his disciples knowing much while Thomas objects. Ryle points out that while the disciples were children in many ways, their knowledge was far greater than the majority of the Jewish nation. Yet, what matters most is that the disciples, and by implication, all disciples, have a heart knowledge that God sees and finds precious in His sight. Is this a new idea to you, namely that God takes more account of a heart knowledge than a head knowledge?
2. We hear the famous words of Jesus telling his disciples that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Ryle declares that the Christian who uses Christ daily as the way, believes Christ daily as the truth, and lives on Christ daily as the life is to be a well-informed, thoroughly equipped and an established Christian. What does that truth do in simplifying your life and walk?
3. Jesus declares that He is the only way to God. Ryle warns of a common error then as it is still today, namely that salvation will come to any who have sincere faith in any god. Sincerity counts for nothing if it is in the wrong thing. Is this teaching a hill to die on for us or have we bought into the world's message and are afraid to offend?
4. We learn from Jesus that He is one with the Father. Ryle points out that this is a deep well and that our minds simply cannot take it all in. Instead, in such cases, we must be content to believe when we cannot explain, and admire and revere when we cannot interpret. If you are like me, we like to be able to wrap our heads around a thing before we have peace, but does this statement not help you? When it comes to the deep things about God, does it lead us to worship and contentment?