"I am the Way"
A story from the Gospel of John, chapter 14, verses1-14
On the night before he died, Jesus shared a meal with his closest friends. He loved them very, very much, and he knew that they were feeling scared and sad.
"I am going away. Soon I will die," he said to them. "I know this is hard for you."
His friends nodded their heads. "Jesus, it is hard to imagine life without you. We don't want you to go away," they told him.
"Don't be afraid," he said. His voice was strong and calm and loving. "Trust in God. Trust in me, too. I am going to God, but I promise you that I will come back to you."
He went on. "I will get a place with God ready for each of you. This is what the place with God will be like: a wonderful house with plenty of room. There will be room for everyone, forever."
Some of his friends looked worried and confused. "Jesus," they said, "this is hard for us to understand. How can we go to live with God?"
Jesus smiled at them. "You know," he told them.
But Thomas shook his head. "No, I don't know, Jesus! And I don't think I'm the only one here who is confused. Where you are going? How can we get there, too? How do we find the way to eternal life with God?"
Jesus told him, "I am the way, Thomas. I am the truth and the life, as well. Everyone comes close to God by becoming close friends with me. God and I are so close that it is impossible to know where God ends and I begin, or where I end and God begins. If you know me, then you know God."
And then Jesus told his friends another important thing. "Once I am gone and you can't see me any longer, keep talking with me. I will be listening. When you have love for me in your heart, God will do whatever you ask."
Questions to think about:
Have you ever lost your way or been all alone? How did that feel?
How did you find your way again? Who helped?
What do you talk to God about? What do you talk to Jesus about?
How do you know that God and Jesus are listening?