SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON SUMMARY
Lesson 10: The Way, the Truth, and the Life
Memory Text: “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in
the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18).
Introduction: The book of John is divided into four parts: (1) The Beginning (John
1:1–18); (2) the Book About Miracles (John 1:19–12:50); (3) the Book About Glory
(John 13:1–20:31); and (4) the End (John 21:1–25). So far, we have studied the
Beginning and the Book About Miracles. Now our lesson will look at the third part of
John: the Book About Glory. This week’s lesson our study with Jesus’ sermon and its
introduction with Jesus washing His followers’ feet. Then we will look at the “I AM”
statement in John 14.
Sunday: I Have Given You an Example
For three and a half years, Jesus did not only impart wisdom and instruction to
His disciples, but it was illustrated in His actions which we should follow.
On His last night with them, the Lord washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:4-
5).
In Jesus’ day, people went barefoot or wore sandals
1. Their feet would become dusty and dirty.
2. Slaves or servants washed the feet of guests who came to someone’s house
for a meal, Bbt no servant was with Jesus and His followers on the night that
Jesus ate His last meal with His disciples.
Christ’s Example to Follow
Christ did not first wait for His disciples to volunteer to wash one another’s
feet.
He did not lecture them on humility and service, nor did He expect a servant
to be called upon to perform that work.
Instead, Jesus Himself came forward to be that Servant, to show His followers
a living example of humility.
How could Jesus, the Savior, their Master, lower Himself to do this dirty work?
What an example to follow!
Importance of Jesus’ action
Jesus’ action is connected to who He is- the Teacher and the Lord. These titles
express authority and power.
But Jesus teaches that power and authority must be used to serve other
people, not to make yourself more powerful.
Takeaway:
Since we are all equal before God, power and authority must be used to serve
others with true humility (Jn. 13:12-16). Such humility should be a hallmark of
followers of Jesus.
Monday: I Will Certainly Come Again
Before His arrest, Jesus’ says to His disciples. “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” (John 14:3).
It is a promise of His Second Coming.
I will come again …
I will come is in the present continuous or futuristic present tense in Greek (I
am coming). What does it mean?
It means that it is a future event spoken of with such certainty that it is
described as though already happening now.
What is its implication? It means that our anticipation of His sure coming
should impacts our present lives.
Rooms not mansions
Some desire to be in heaven because of the special mansions or palaces
prepared for them; others because of the streets of gold.
In Greek, the text does not say “mansions” but rooms, which can imply that
what is important is not the physical space that we will own or occupy but,
rather, enjoying the companionship of Jesus.
Context of John 14:1-3
The announcement of Jesus’ departure at the end of John 13 left the apostles
troubled (John. 13:33, 36). The disciples do not understand that Jesus is
talking about His death, resurrection, and ascension.
Peter says that he is ready to die for Jesus (John 13:37). But Jesus warns Peter
that he will soon deny Him.
Because of disciple’s fears, in this context Jesus tells His disciples not to let
their hearts be troubled.
Jesus’ words look beyond His coming crucifixion to the time that He will return
to redeem His people, where the sin problem will be solved forever.
Why can we trust this promise?
Because the basis of our hope in the return of our Lord is not simply the
fulfillment of Bible prophecy but based on our confidence in the Man who
made the promise. Jesus is faithful to His promises!
Soon we will be able to join the apostles in welcoming Jesus and
accompanying him to the rooms that will be prepared for us in Heaven.
Tuesday: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life
When Jesus announced that He was leaving, Peter asked, “Where are You
going?” (Jn. 13:36). Shortly afterward, Jesus said to them, “And you know where I
am going, and you know the way” (Jn. 14:4). To this, Thomas replied that they
did not yet know where He was going, so they could not know the way to get
there either (Jn. 14:5).
How did Jesus’ answer Thomas’ question?
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
The way to what? The way to the Father.
Notice the progression in how Jesus describes Himself. Jesus is the Way. If we
walk the WAY (imitating Jesus), we will learn more and more of the TRUTH,
which eventually leads us to life abundant in this world and in the eternal
world to come, and we will be able to see the Father face to face.
Not all paths lead to God
Jesus is the only path to God because He is the only One who is righteous and
can take away our sins.
He is the only One who can replace our death with eternal life. Jesus is the
only One who can give us righteousness and life, for He possesses both. No
one else in this world possesses them or can give them.
How did Jesus clear up Philip’s misunderstanding?
Philip asked Jesus to see the Father, something no sinful human can do.
Jesus replied, if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father (John 14:9). This
also leads us to conclude that Jesus is the pathway to God.
Jesus answers also means that He is the most perfect representation of God.
The way Jesus acted, and the love He showed in dying for us, are an exact
reflection of the Father's character and love.
Wednesday: I AM the Truth
John relates truth to the three Persons of the Trinity:
(1) The truth comes from the Father (Jn. 8:40)
(2) Jesus is the truth (Jn. 14:6)
(3) The Comforter is the Spirit of truth (Jn. 15:26)
In our society, truth keeps shifting and evolving. What is truth today is not
necessarily truth tomorrow. But in the Bible, truth is not a concept or a theory, it
is a Person: Jesus Christ.
Five (5) Statements of Truth
1. The Truth is Jesus
2. The Truth illuminates the darkness
3. The Truth sets us free
4. The Truth can be hard to accept
5. The Truth needs to be spiritually discerned
Thursday: The Scriptures and the Truth
Jesus is the truth, but He is gone. Where then can we find the truth? In the
Scriptures (the Bible), because Jesus Himself said that “they are the ones who
testify about Me” (Jn. 5:39).
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus reviewed the Old Testament so that two of his
disciples could understand His mission (Lk. 24:25-27).
Peter based his Pentecost speech on biblical texts to introduce Jesus (Acts 2:16-
17, 25, 34). So did Paul and the other authors of the New Testament. Thus,
thanks to the New Testament we can better understand the Old.
The Bible is not a schoolbook about science. The Bible doesn’t explain how to
split the smallest part of a human brain cell or how to operate on the human
body. But the Bible helps us understand who we are and why we are here.
Thus, the Bible is the light that allows us to see the Path that leads us to the
Truth (Ps. 119:105). Thanks to it, our universe makes sense; we understand the
existence of God; we know our origin; and it is the key to understanding the
glorious future that awaits us.
Application: This week’s lesson tells the amazing story of Jesus. There is no one
like Jesus. He is unique. He knows the Father intimately. Jesus is the Way, the Truth,
and the Life. Let us follow Him, the Way, and when we walk with Him, we learn His
Truth, which leads to life abundant and life eternal.
