Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” – John 14:6-7

Sunday mornings are always a treat. This weekend was memorable because I was invited to sing my new song in church, plus Rebekah preached with her usual wisdom and passion, plus I enjoyed another good class with the summer study group.

We were told attendance would dwindle significantly during the summer. Yes, it’s down, but nowhere near to the levels predicted, and the twenty-ish who come early for my class on discipleship have been engaged and enthusiastic and encouraging.

Rebekah is in the middle of an “I am” series about the teachings of Jesus. This time the scripture was, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

She talked about how Christ’s message is often trivialized, as if Jesus is saying “I am your ticket to heaven.” Rather, she explains, the Master is presenting an invitation for all of us to join him. It’s an invitation to partner with Jesus in the ongoing work of redemption and reconciliation right here and right now.

Salvation, I believe, is best understood as us – as followers of The Way of Jesus – joining in with God’s initiatives of love, light, grace, reconciliation, healing, mercy, justice, redemption and more…

• “I am the way….” the way back into relationship with God.
• “I am the truth…” the truth that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17), the truth that “we are loved with an everlasting love,” the truth that life has meaning and purpose, the truth that Jesus came to invite us home.
• “I am the life…” the life that is inexhaustible: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14).

Worship here at HMPC is a celebration and an affirmation, always. Here is a short video of my song – and you can catch Rebekah’s message beginning at the 20-minute mark RIGHT HERE.

I pray that we will all begin this new day in the presence God and in the joy of real and authentic faith – DEREK