The words of Ravis father cut deep. Youre a complete failure. Youre an embarrassment to the family. Compared to his talented siblings, Ravi was viewed as a disgrace. He tried excelling in sports, and he did, but he still felt like a loser. He wondered, What is going to become of me? Am I a complete failure? Can I get out of life some way, painlessly? These thoughts haunted him, but he talked to no one. That simply wasnt done in his culture. He had been taught to keep your private heartache private; keep your collapsing world propped up.
So Ravi struggled alone. Then while he was recovering in the hospital after a failed suicide attempt, a visitor brought him a Bible opened to John 14. His mother read these words of Jesus to Ravi: Because I live, you also will live (v. 19). This may be my only hope, he thought. A new way of living. Life as defined by the Author of life. So he prayed, Jesus, if You are the one who gives life as it is meant to be, I want it.
Life can present despairing moments. But, like Ravi, we can find hope in Jesus who is the way and the truth and the life (v. 6). God longs to give us a rich and satisfying life.
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On the eve of Jesus Christs death on the cross, His preoccupation was not with the imminent pain that awaited Him but on the welfare of His disciples. After promising He was going away to prepare a dwelling place for them, Jesus told His followers He would come again to gather them to Himself. The foundation for such claims was Christs declaration that He is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6). He was able to comfort His disciples because of who and what He is. Jesus offers all who believe in Him the same hope of a new life.