The Way, the Truth, and the Life

One of the most well known Bible verses is John 14.6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'" I googled the phrase "most well known Bible verses and five out of six had it on the list. The one that didn't have it only looked at the top five verses searched in 2011.

For me it's been a verse I've known for years. But I made a mistake with it until recently. I put more emphasis on the last phrase than on the beginning. Without the beginning the last part isn't possible. The reason that no one can come to the Father except through Christ is because He is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. The beginning is essential, not just because the second part depends on it, but because it tells us about who Jesus is, and how to get to the Father.

Jesus is the Way. Christ paved the way to the Father. Not simply by dying on the cross to pay the price for sin. Not just in His resurrection when He conquered sin, death, and Hell forever. But by His life. Christ is the example of how God would live life as a human. Christ is the model of the way to live. In Christ we see the way to live, and as we become Christlike, we get to the Father. The Way.

Jesus is the Truth. In Christ we see what God is really like. We see the truth about the Father. In Christ we see God as approachable, loving and compassionate. We see His gentleness and His willingness to humbly serve. We see that God is willing to do whatever it takes to get His children back. And ultimately we see the truth that God is love. God is not angry, God is love. In Christ we see who God really is, powerful yet gentle, just but loving. The Truth.

Jesus is the Life. In Christ we have eternal life. We have God's quality of life. In Christ we receive life as it was meant to be. Apart from Christ and the life that He offers there is is simply death and a constant search for meaning. But in Christ is found life to the fullest, life as it was meant to be. There is a life of meaning because it is spent in service to God and in pursuit of holiness. And it is through Christ that this is possible. Christ was fully God, and fully man. In Christ we have life, and are empowered to live the life that God created us to life. The Life.

When we follow Jesus as the Way, find our foundation in Jesus the Truth, and life as Christ by the power of Jesus the Life, we are given access to the Father. When we follow the example of Christ, live our lives base on the truth displayed in Him, and live life as He did, we come to the Father. Without Jesus no one can come to the Father, because without Him we don't know how to get to God, we don't know who God is or what He is like, and we don't know how to live the life that He requires nor do we have the power to do so.

William Barclay said this in his commentary on John 14, "It is easy to imagine a God who condemns people; it is still easier to imagine a God who, if people oppose him, wipes them out. No one would ever have dreamed of a God who chose the cross to obtain our salvation." That statement shows how Christianity is not only different, but it gives yet another strong case for its credibility. Only in Christianity does God become fully human, live as a common man, work for a living, and serve those who follow Him. Only in Christianity does God suffer and endure the punishment that was reserved for His enemies. Only in Christianity does God allow Himself to be nailed to a cross and killed as a common criminal. You can't make stuff like this up, because no one would ever imagine a God like that.

But that is who God is. And it is through Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, that we not only see Him, but gain access to Him. Through Christ we are welcomed into the presence of God for all eternity. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'"

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you