Torridge Coastal Mission Community

Reflection from Nigel Price for 16.5.25

John 14:1-6

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV)

Reflection

These words are frequently used at funerals. It is perhaps not surprising since it is a time when we really don’t know where we are going and above all we crave for some reassurance. Thomas is being quite grumpy – if we don’t even know where you are going, how can we go with you?

But the answer Jesus gives is quite profound – I am the way – no one comes to the Father except through me. It is quite a claim and it has troubled some sections of the church who feel it is an arrogant claim. But that is to deny the uniqueness of Jesus. If you wish to see the true God, then just look at Jesus – the Jesus who wept at the tomb of a friend, the Jesus who washed his followers’ feet. Jesus wished to reassure his disciples because he was leaving them – but they were not being abandoned; there was still going to b a place waiting for them. So we also can be comforted because there are places for us also – there is room for everyone!

Let us pray:

Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father. Amen

Torridge Coastal Mission Community

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