LEARNING DAILY

 

John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

 

The setting must be explained to fully understand what Jesus meant by this. In John 3:16 Jesus washed the feet of His disciples, identified the one who would betray Him to the authorities in order for them to arrest Him, and told them He was going where they could not follow Him. They did not understand any of this and finally Peter asks why he could not follow Him to where He was going (John 13:37). No doubt they were confused. John 14 is to encourage them (and us); He tells them, “Do not let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” He continues, ‘In My Father’s house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” Jesus has told them before about his death and resurrection; this is confusing to them and they do not understand what He is telling them. Thomas finally said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going and how can we know the way:” Jesus replied, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

Consider the confusion held by the disciples. They wanted to know where this walk of faith – following Jesus – was going to take them. They wanted to go where He was going. Anyone, today, going on a trip wants to know the roads they need to take to get to their destination. The possible routes are examined, and the best route is determined. Thomas was concerned about where Jesus was going and how to get there. I do not want any of us to be confused!

By saying, “I am”, Jesus was claiming He is the True God. When God spoke to Moses as a burning bush (read Exodus 3), He instructed him to go to Egypt and instruct Pharoah to “let His people go”. When Moses asked who he should say sent him, God told him to say “I AM” sent me. When Jesus began with “I am” He was speaking with power and authority claiming to be God and the only way for anyone to get to where He was going was through Him, by believing in Him. When He called each of them to be His disciples He said, “Follow Me”. He did not explain what it meant to follow Him; they got up, left all behind and followed Him. Here Jesus was telling them, that following Him is not a defined route but is a walk in faith, that He is the Way. “The Way” is a deep belief stating He will lead His disciples, His followers, where they need to walk as they walk on a narrow way that leads to where He was going. There are those who believe there are many ways to where Jesus went – the kingdom of heaven. Jesus was not stating He is one of many ways; He was stating He is the Only Way.

There are also many who profess to have the truth in their beliefs. Jesus makes another claim in John 14:6. He said He embodied all things that are true. The significance of this statement is He has provided in Himself all that is necessary for eternal life. No one is able to earn their way into God’s kingdom by being good, not by doing good. Jesus could claim to be the Truth because there was nothing false in Him. He is the embodiment of Truth! Anyone who follows Him must compare what is seen, heard, or read against the words of Jesus, the Truth. Because of this He could testify and teach Truth. Anything that removes God from the center of all things and tries to get people to pursue worldly philosophies is false.

Jesus also said He was “The Life”. He is the only Way to eternal life. He is the source of life for all who believe in Him. He enables us to walk on the narrow way that leads us to God’s kingdom. As a Believer walks through this life, their walk is centered around their life that comes. The closer one walks with Jesus in this life, the meaning, the truth of what He said about eternal life becomes clearer. One begins to understand that trying to gain the things that do not last (money, prestige, achievements recognition) is not important. Rather, one comes to understand that eternal life is in the present and not something that begins when one steps into the kingdom of God. 

Jesus makes it very clear that “there is no other way to come to the Father except through Him”. The way to the kingdom of God is an exclusive way; it is only through the Good Shepherd. He has given all who believe in Him a better way to live their lives – in Him. It is a great reminder to live for what matters, for what will impact their eternity.