The disciples followed Jesus leaving their boat, net, father, and everything else behind. What is being unfolded before them now? Jesus is leaving them and is going to a place where they cannot follow him. And it is not happening in the distant future but is happening now.
The disciples were about to face the darkest three days in the history of this planet. Every prop, anchor, every familiar landmark and guiding star, were to be swept away. Jesus would lie still and cold in death, his body riddled with wounds, his voice silent, his presence gone, and his personality removed somewhere on the other side of the grave beyond their reach.[1]
Think of the chaos, terror, and despair of the disciples at this moment.
Concerned about the disciples whom he will leave behind in the evil world, Jesus, prepares them:“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me” (v. 1).
Now Jesus speaks about a new peace: “Believe.”[2] Although the shadow of death is about to engulf you, have trust in the Lord. Trust in God and trust in Christ. With this trust do not let your hearts be troubled but rather gain peace.
Whatever we render to God we render to Jesus. There is not one particle of difference between faith in God and faith in Jesus. Jesus is God, as God is God.[3] Indeed, as Pascal has said, “We know God only through Jesus Christ” (Pensées547),[4] and no one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ (v. 6).
In a few hours Jesus would have been killed by people who vigorously opposed the way of God, but he could say, “I am the way.” In the face of the approaching victory of evil people whose lies would bring about his death, Jesus could say, “I am the truth.” And although his lifeless body would be put in a tomb so soon, he could say, “I am the life.”[5] Jesus knew what God will be demonstrating through his death. He knew well that God will let the world know that Jesus is the way to God, Jesus is the substance of the truth and eternal life through his death. We cannot know God and cannot go to God without through Jesus.
“If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (v. 7).
If you really know me, you will knowmy Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
To know Jesus is to know God. This is the very God whom “no one has ever seen” (1:18), whose “voice you have never heard, [whose] form you have never seen” (5:37). What the prologue said about beholding the glory of the Word who “was God” (1:1) and “became flesh and dwelt among us” (1:14) is here spelled out.[6] The one who knew Jesus truly knew God and has seen God. Truly Jesus is the way and the truth and the life for us.
[1] Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of John, 263.
[2] Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of John, 262.
[3]Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of John, 262.
[4] Marrow, The Gospel of John, 248.
[5] Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John, 494.
[6] Marrow, The Gospel of John, 251.