AP

By James Jeffery

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

A common modern catchphrase is that all religions are essentially the same. I suspect people mean to say that all religions share common features, or even that they all lead to the same destination. However popular and fashionable this saying may be, nothing could be further from the truth.

Though the idea sounds appealing, it is an empty platitude that has mislead many souls. In one sense, most religions are the same — they are all attempts to attain God’s righteousness through our own good deeds. In this sense, all religions are the same, except one. There is only one religion that teaches righteousness cannot be earned but must be given as a gift from God. This religion is centred upon a person, and His name is Jesus Christ.

Understanding the Context

Here we come to the sixth of Jesus ‘I Am’ statements in the Gospel of John. Jesus declared, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life…’ (14:6). What did Jesus mean by this, and what does it mean for us today?

Immediately prior to making this claim, Jesus was asked by Thomas — one of His disciples — ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’

Thomas was scared as Jesus had just told him that He was going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house. While this was comforting, it was also terrifying for Thomas.

Thomas had spent three years travelling and living with Jesus, but the time had come for Jesus to depart. Therefore, Thomas begged Jesus to share how he too could go with Him. In many ways, this is the most important question we could ever ask: How can we know the way to God?

In response to Thomas, Jesus said:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Two Key Truths: Exclusivity and Jesus’ Identity

There are twocritical truths we must note in Jesus’ response.

First, the most important word in Jesus’ response is ‘the.’ Jesus did not say, ‘I am a way, a truth, and a life.’ He declared that He is the way, the truth, and the life. This is an exclusive truth claim. In other words, Jesus is not teaching religious pluralism. Jesus here rejects the notion that we can believe whatever we like, and that we will all end up in the same place. While all roads may lead to Rome, not all faiths lead to God.

Jesus doubles-down on this point. He said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” There is no other way to receive forgiveness and reconcile with God outside of Jesus. It is only through Jesus that we can know the true way to God.

The most loving person is the one who will tell you the truth even when it hurts. There is no one more loving than Jesus, who tells us that He is the only way to know God. Jesus doesn’t beat around the bush; He tells it as it is.

Second, Jesus declares that He Himself is the way, the truth, and the life. In other words, life, truth, and the way to God are not merely gifts that Jesus offers. Rather, Jesus Himself is the way, the truth, and the life.

Only in Jesus will you find clear direction with your life, and how you can know the way to the Father. There is no assurance or hope in other religions, only fear. This is because Jesus is the only way.

Only in Jesus will you hear the truth about who God is, and therefore who you are. In Christ, we see the glory of God displayed, which in turn exposes our sin. Only Jesus is the truth we desperately need to hear.

Only in Jesus will you find eternal life which begins the moment you believe. He is our source of our existence, our strength, and our vitality. More importantly, through His death and resurrection, we are given new life forever. Only in Jesus do we find life itself.

Final Words

Jesus claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life because He really is. There is no other way to be reconciled to God than to go through Jesus, for no one comes to the Father except through Him. All religions teach that God’s favour is something we can earn through our performance. Jesus taught that God’s favour is a free gift for unworthy sinners like you and me.

Do you believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life? If not, cry out to Him today that He would give you faith to believe in Him. For when you do so, you shall know the way, the truth, and the life. These words of Jesus cast out every grain of doubt, anxiety, and fear from our hearts, leading us to know with confidence how we have been made right with God.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for revealing Yourself to us through Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. Lord, thank You for not leaving us in darkness, but showing us how we can be made right with You. Holy Spirit, embolden us to share this gospel with our friends and family who do not know Christ yet.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.