The God Who Includes All People

John 14:1-6

St. John’s United Church of Christ
Greeley, Colorado
June 1, 2025
Rev. Juvenal Cervantes

Is God Exclusive?  This is a question that makes us uncomfortable. This question comes to us because we live in a culture that says we must have a backup plan. Jesus wants to be your only plan, a one stop plan.

I. Why does exclusivity seem bad? (John 14:1)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

Jesus is in the middle of a discourse in the Upper Room, John 13-17. It is an awkward conversation.

The disciples begin to hear information that is troubling and Jesus knows their heart and he assures them, “Don’t get all rattled, all is well.”

“Know this,” Christ tells his disciples.

“One of you is going to betray me. Peter, you will deny that you know me.”

“I am leaving, I am going away, you will be scared and sad, the world will rejoice that I am gone, and know that the Spirit will come.”

“Don’t get all stirred up and confused.”

Understandingly, all they are hearing from Christ is throwing their mind into disarray. Five days before, they witnessed the triumphal entry, finally the Messiah has come. All were excited, clapping hands, shouts of rejoicing, finally, our coming King is here, and now they feel like Jesus is throwing them a curve: “Guys, it is not going to go the way you think it will go.”

The disciples seem dense. They are in shock and we see this as Christ was arrested, they went into the flight or freeze mode, they ran.

Jesus pleaded with his disciples to stay awake, and what did they do? They fell asleep.

Peter goes from “I am going to strike the ear of one who offends Christ” to “I don’t even know this Christ man.”

There is a sense of emptiness in the air. There is also a sense of unbelief and Jesus know this. Thomas was present. He was the one whom when Christ appeared after the resurrection said, “I will not believe until I put my hand on your side.”

There Christ says, “You believe in God, believe also in me. Believe in me, just as natural as you breathe.”

To believe is not just to assent to a fact, but it means, “to trust.”

Trusting in Christ is a simple basic act, the spiritual equivalent of breathing.

The predicament the disciples are in would not be possible if it weren’t for Christ. These are men who gave us all they had for Christ. Can you imagine what they would be doing if they were not with Jesus?

Peter, James, John, and Andrew would probably be fishing with their families. Matthew would be collecting taxes, amassing a fortune on the backs of the hardworking people. Simon the Zealot would be planning an assassination.

By choosing to associate with Jesus, the disciples painted a target on their back and eleven of the twelve were killed.

It is hard to think of being a part of an exclusive movement or having only options. This makes us vulnerable, it is restrictive. Fear begins to set in.

When we commit ourselves, it can make us vulnerable. Perhaps this is why many of your young people are waiting to get married later in life. Some say, “I am not ready for such a big responsibly of caring for someone.”

It is a big commitment. Jesus told his followers, “You cannot be my disciple unless you hate your father or your mother.” Of course, this is hyperbole. Additionally, Christ is saying, “All that you need to live life successfully I will provide. I will show you how to love your mother, how to love your father, how to navigate life.”

Most of us are in two camps today: you are ether entering crisis in your life or you are in the midst of a Christ. If you are entering a crisis, God wants you to know that He is resourceful, that He will help you.

If you are in the middle of a crisis, God want to let you know that you can trust Him, that Jesus is with you and he will see you through.

Exclusivity sounds bad until you’re drowning and somebody throws you a life preserver and that life preserver seems good.

II. Why is exclusivity good? (John 14:2-4)

In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Jesus gives reasons why exclusivity is good and it has to do with the fact that he is going to prepare a place for you and me.

In God’s kingdom, there is room for you.

He is exclusively the way that you access the kingdom of God.

John 10:10 says that he is the good shepherd and that he is the door of the sheep.

Jesus makes a claim on his own integrity: “If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” Jesus said, “I would not lie to you.”

Jesus reassured his disciples, “There is going to be long-term gain, but there will be short term frustrations and tribulation.”

Consider with me the graciousness of Christ. Listen to his words, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

He does not say, “Try some pilgrimage, or some kind of game of Marco polo where we call out to Jesus and He calls our name and we try blindly to get through existence.” No, it is not of works, He has completed he ultimate work for us.

He also makes it incredibly simple for us. We can come to him.

Why is Walmar and Amazon so successful? Because they make it simple for us. You can order food, sweatpants and TV. Sweet. Simple. Life is wonderful. Come to Christ for all things are ready.

III. Why is exclusivity necessary? (John 14:4-6)

And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Peter is generally the impetuous one, the impulsive one, the one who speaks before thinking. Here it is as if Thomas says to Peter, “Let me take a shot at Christ this time.” Then he approaches Christ, “How do we know the way?”

Jesus responds, “Am the way, the truth, and the life. It is the only way to live. I am all that you need in life, to breathe, to exist.”

We don’t like to talk or think about exclusivity because we want a universal faith, pluralistic approach.

I am told there is a stone in Rome. It was placed by August Caesar, 20 years before Jesus born. The idea was that everything goes through here. All roads lead to Rome. We don’t really think that, do we? We say that all religions will point us to God, but we really don’t believe this. For example, what about the religion that practices cannibalism, does this road lead to God? What about the religion that practices child-sacrifice, does this religion point us to God? Not.

My friends, it is foolish to tell someone how to get to heaven when we have not been there. Yet, Jesus has been there- He is the valid way because He has been there.

Psalms 118:22 declares, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” This passage is listed five times in the New Testament.

Jesus is the capstone, the cornerstone by which we access abundant life and eternal life. If you want to be a part of the kingdom you have to connect to the stone. We are burdened with sin, brokenness, we believe so many lies and Jesus is the only framework and foundation that will help us.

Connect your life to Christ. Yes, it is exclusive, but the best roads are exclusive. This is the word of the Lord.