Jesus: The Way, the Truth and the Life

This sermon explores the idea of coming to the Father in the light of the OT tabernacle and its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The tabernacle helps us to visualize what it means to come to the Father and how Jesus is the Way.  The ideas of Jesus being the Truth and the Life are considered as necessary for Jesus to be the Way to the Father.

Read John 14:4-6

Jesus: The Way, the Truth and the Life
Rev. Jerry Hamstra

Despair (Almost)

This is a unique Psalm in that there is no note of hope at the end. It is meant to teach that there are not always happy endings in life. The psalmist expresses his faith by continuing to pray in spite of no answer. From the rest of the Bible we know that the ultimate answer to such prayers is the blessedness of eternity with Christ.

Read Psalm 88

Despair (Almost)
Rev. Jerry Hamstra

Jesus and Judas

This  passage contains both encouragement and warning. The encouragement is conveyed by the way that Jesus tells his disciples that one of them is going to betray him. He shows that the betrayal will happen in fulfillment of Scripture and thus in accordance with God’s plan.  The warning is conveyed by the fact that Judas was not suspected by the other disciples as a traitor, showing that it is possible to be a respected member of the community of faith without being a genuine believer.

Read John 13:18-30

Jesus and Judas
Rev. Jerry Hamstra