Promises, promises

John 14:6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

There is a story about a Fox boasting to a Cat about his clever tactics for escaping its enemies. "I have a whole bag of tricks," he said, "which contains a hundred different ways of escaping from my enemies."

"I have only one," said the Cat; "but I can generally manage with that."

Just at that moment they heard a pack of hounds coming towards them, and the Cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid herself in the branches. "This is my plan," said the Cat. "What are you going to do?"

The Fox thought first of one way and then of another. While he was debating and thinking which route to take, it was too late. Meanwhile the cat , who had been looking on, said, "Better one safe and sure way than a hundred on which you cannot reckon."

In one short sentence we have a summary of who Jesus is. He offers us a sure pathway to guide us. When the mist of uncertainties descend on us we can cling to his abiding presence.  We won’t be deceived by living by his teachings, however difficult they may seem, for He is the Truth. And although he asks us to deny ourselves, it is so that that in letting go of our self-centredness we will find life in its fullness.

Part of the problem of this teaching of Jesus is that the words have become almost too familiar and in our hearts and minds is has seemingly lost its impact in our hearts and minds.Following Jesus is a call to be in relationship. Jesus invites me into the very heart of life, the source of goodness; to be with him 'in the Father'.

We learn from the Gospels that it was the close relationship he had with his Father which led Jesus to behave in the ways that he did. The movement of God's spirit within me draws me into the life of Jesus and the Father. It takes a time to recognise and appreciate where God is working around us.

O Lord Jesus Christ,
you have said that you are the way, the truth, and the life.
Do not let us stray from you
who are the way,
nor to distrust you
who are the truth,
nor to rest in anything other than you,
who are the life.

Teach us by your Holy Spirit,
what to believe,
what to do,
and where to take our rest.

We ask it for your own name’s sake. Amen