I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life

Jesus answered, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Way - access into the eternal presence of God and eternal life.

It was the last meal that Jesus would share with His disciples before His crucifixion. Jesus warned His disciples of some of the events that were going to happen. They were about to witness a very confusing and frightening time. Jesus would be arrested and crucified. He offers them comfort because He knows they do not understand. He tells them He is leaving to prepare a place for them with the Father.

Since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, mankind had been separated from God. Jesus didn’t just know the way; He is the Way. He wasn’t the star leading the wise men to the Savior. He is the Savior who enables us to be reconciled to God.

“No one comes to the Father except through me,” Jesus explained to His disciples. God is the destination. We don’t make it to God through the church, good deeds, or reading the Bible. These are ways that lead us to Jesus. We must accept Him and allow Him to live in our hearts.

God gave the Israelites rules—the Ten Commandments—as a way to live and please Him. But they could not or would not live by them. They were warned by the prophets, and still they did not live by the law. But God, in His love, still wanted a relationship with man. So He gave His Son to be the Way to Him.

“When we could not find our way back to God on our own, Jesus came, not to show us the way but to be the way. When we couldn’t ascend to God, He descended to us, making us able to ascend to the heavenly places - not because we are suddenly able ourselves, but because we are hidden within Him and He is able.” Mary Wiley, Our Highest Good

Truth - not concealed but open and known. Purity from all falsehood and error.

To Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32. Unfortunately, in our world today, truth is not absolute. Advertisements are deceptive, politicians change their stances to suit their needs…what is presented as truth is often opinion.

Satan is very adept at corrupting truth. He is the master of disinformation. “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding the truth, for there is no truth in him.” (John 8:44) We are called to worship the One who is truth, but Satan is hard at work to keep us from knowing Him. “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever praised.” Romans 1:25

There is a well-known saying that truth is relative. But for the Christian, truth is absolute—independent of time, context, or individual perspective.

Life - without end

We are encouraged by the world to “live our best life,” looking for adventure or whatever makes us happy or fulfilled. But Jesus is life - He created all things and He is everlasting. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son does not have life.” 1 John 5:12. Ephesians 2 says we are dead in our sins, but God made us alive together with Christ. “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:3-4

Eugene Peterson said in A Long Obedience in the Same Direction that many people have adopted a lifestyle of tourists when it comes to God. They only want the high points and instant results. But the Christian life cannot mature under such conditions. This world is not our home, but it doesn’t mean we are here as tourists to enjoy all the temporary pleasures that the world has to offer. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life that leads us to our true home. We are pilgrims on our way to our Father’s house. We are here for His glory.

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God Who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.

Philippians 2:12-13

Jesus is the Way to heaven. We must hold on to the Truth (Jesus) and trust that He is the Way. If we have faith and trust Him, the curse is reversed, and sin will no longer separate us from God.