The Way to the Father's House

At this point in the Gospel, Jesus has told the apostles He will be leaving shortly. And after learning that Peter, whom they looked up to, would deny Christ three times, all hope seemed lost. Jesus encourages them not to be troubled as He will take their trouble. He anchors this in an imperative to believe in God and believe in Him. Belief will steady their troubled hearts. Jesus then makes a promise to the disciples and even the rest of the church that in His Father's house are many rooms. He's telling the truth that He is going back to the heavenly realm not to simply stay alone with the Father and the angels but to prepare a place for us in His Father's house. Jesus had no where to lay His head in His earthly ministry so that we could have a dwelling with Him forever. Many have left us in our lives and promised they would return but no one can make that promise with the certainty and authority that Jesus makes it. We can face tomorrow because He will come for us and take us with Him. Thomas admitted though they still feel lost. They don't know where Jesus is going or the way to get there. At this moment, Jesus makes one of the most divinely powerful statements He's made in this Gospel. Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." First, Jesus claims deity and the power that backs all His promises with saying the holy name for Himself: Ego Eimi. Next, Jesus says that He is the way to the Father's house. He's not 'a' way but 'the' way. And He's not simply the one who blazed this pathway for us. He is literally the pathway for us.