Jesus Promises He Is the Way to Life

John 14:4-6 Jesus said, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
 
“I am the way and the truth and the life.”  Jesus’ remarkable, personal promise to the world is considered one “I am.” statement from Jesus. But it could easily be three. Let’s first consider Jesus’ affirmation he is “the Way”.
   Jesus was in the midst of the “Upper Room Discourse”. As he prepares his disciples for his departure, he comforts them that one day they will be with him in the Father’s house (John 14:2-3). He confirms to them, “You know the way to the place where I am going.”
    But Thomas speaks for the men. They do not understand Jesus. They want to know what we all would want to know: “Where? When? Give us directions, Jesus!” So Jesus expands their minds to focus on him.
   Jesus tells them they know the way because they know Jesus and his true dwelling. They have heard him speak of the kingdom of God for several years. He has told them of being born again. They have watched his magnificent work change lives. These men have confessed he is the Son of God. Jesus has shown he is resurrection into new life. He helped them understand he is bread. He is water. He is light out of the darkness. He is the gate. He is the good shepherd. In other words, Jesus is I AM, who has personally come to restore his kingdom on earth.
   Yes, God has given us definite directions to him. But the world says, “I don’t like your way, Jesus. I want to come in my own way.” It’s absurd, isn’t it, to think there is more than one way to the Holy God. The devil wanted Adam and Eve to believe that lie, and the lie still puts people on the detour to destruction.
   All need to trust Jesus’ direction because Jesus is the truth. He is not just part of the truth, but he is the whole truth. John tells us Jesus is the Living Word (John 1:1-3). The Living Word is the true Word. Everything about Christ and his message is true. Know his truth is absolute and universal for all people to believe. Yet, the world rejects this, too. Mankind turns God’s commands and promises into suggestions of convenience.
   Truth defines who we are: sinners. Truth defines who rescues us from sin: Jesus. How can we not receive such grace?
   Third, Jesus is the life. Note he also said this to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) What a glorious gift it is to mankind to know God has personally come to us to declare that true, resurrected, eternal life is available only through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Those who accept his resurrected life receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life with Christ.
   We may often ask, “Where is God? Where does God want me?” But Jesus wanted his disciples then and all of us now to know the only direction to life is through him. Seek each day to know Jesus. He will show you the true way to go. You will live in his truth as you journey on your toward the room he has prepared for you, so you can be with him.