14 day plan

A Funny Thing Happened Along the Way in Israel

Day 1 of 14

GNT

John 14:6

6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me.

The early disciples of Jesus were called followers of The Way before they were ever known as Christians. This is important (and great!) because it tells us that Christianity is meant to be a journey, a daily walk, a way to walk rather than a religious institution or set of behaviours to try to be perfect. This study looks at Israel’s journey from slavery to freedom in parallel to our story and our journey with God. It is designed to simply help you do the journey and discover some great things along The Way.

Today we start a new series, “A Funny Thing Happened Along the Way in Israel”, which has been
prepared by Catrina Henderson. Catrina is an Aussie girl living in Tel Aviv pioneering and pastoring Hillsong Israel.

 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Matt 4:19

Reflection:  The Way – The earliest disciples were called followers of The Way, which is important because Christianity was never meant to be just another religion, but a Way. It’s both a journey and the path you walk on. It’s not static but in constant motion; it’s not just one choice but a lifetime of choices. We’ve not reached our destination, our best life, our God-given potential but we are always on the way … and we are called to make a way for others to join us. We are
called to follow not formulate … follow the way of the One who is The Way … The Truth and The Life. In Matt 4:19 Jesus said “Come follow me,” to his first disciples, and he says the same to us today. It’s a walk with him and we’re all just on the way. It’s not always easy but it’s always that simple.

Questions: In what ways may you have overcomplicated what following Jesus looks like?

Prayer: Father, thank you that you sent Jesus to show us The Way and that by your grace and through your Spirit we can walk with him daily. Help us, Holy Spirit, to simply walk with Jesus every day. May we be followers of The Way and may we show others the way too.

We’re
reading the Bible until 16th June with Catrina Henderson, an Aussie girl living in Tel Aviv pioneering and pastoring Hillsong Israel.

John 14:1-31

Jesus the Way to the Father

1“Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in me. 2There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. 3And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. 4You know the way that leads to the place where I am going.”

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?”

6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. 7Now that you have known me,” he said to them, “you will know my Father also, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him.”

8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need.”

9Jesus answered, “For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I have spoken to you,” Jesus said to his disciples, “do not come from me. The Father, who remains in me, does his own work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If not, believe because of the things I do. 12I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do—yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. 14If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. 17He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God. The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you.

18“When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you. 19In a little while the world will see me no more, but you will see me; and because I live, you also will live. 20When that day comes, you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me, just as I am in you.

21 “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. My Father will love those who love me; I too will love them and reveal myself to them.”

22Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “Lord, how can it be that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?”

23Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them. 24Those who do not love me do not obey my teaching. And the teaching you have heard is not mine, but comes from the Father, who sent me.

25“I have told you this while I am still with you. 26The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you.

27“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. 28You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father; for he is greater than I. 29I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. 30I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, 31but the world must know that I love the Father; that is why I do everything as he commands me.

“Come, let us go from this place.