Originally posted 3/18
One of my favorite 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 except through me”.
It is the sixth “I AM” statement and it comes after Judas betrayed Jesus. We can better understand the verse if we look at the first verses in the chapter.
John 14:1-6, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
As the chapter opens, Jesus begins sharing with the disciples what the rest of Christ’s journey would be like. He knows he will be leaving the disciples and needs to prepare them. They certainly didn’t understand the path that Christ would have to take. Thomas probably says what everyone else is thinking. “How do we go where you are if we don’t know where you are going.” He is thinking more concretely where Christ is thinking much more deeply. Christ is speaking about living eternally with him. Thomas is thinking an earthly destination.
Bibleref.com explains it this way, “Each component of this statement is given a definite article; both Greek and English refer to “the” way, “the” truth, and “the” life. There is no possibility of translating this comment as Jesus being “one way,” or “a truth,” or just “life.” He doubles down on the idea, in fact, by emphasizing that nobody comes to God “except through [Christ].” Rarely does anyone object to the idea that those who believe in Christ will be saved. What offends many is the suggestion that only those who believe in Christ find salvation. Yet that is the clear teaching of Scripture (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5–6).” https://www.bibleref.com/John/14/John-14-6.html
According to www.gotquestions.org, “In these words, Jesus was declaring Himself the great “I Am,” the only path to heaven, the only true measure of righteousness, and the source of both physical and spiritual life. He was staking His claim as the very God of Creation, the Lord who blessed Abraham, and the Holy One who inhabits eternity. He did this so the disciples would be able to face the dark days ahead and carry on the mission of declaring the gospel to the world. Of course, we know from Scripture that they still didn’t understand, and it took several visits from their risen Lord to shake them out of their disbelief. Once they understood the truth of His words, they became changed people, and the world has never been the same.”
Jesus’s words are clear–I am all you need. He wasn’t talking about “a”way to the Father. He was telling them that he was “the only” way to Jesus. Many people are under the impression that there are many ways to heaven. Scripture denies that belief. He knew what was going to happen and he spends some time ministering to the eleven disciples.
We are expecting our first grandchild. We have two grandchildren already in heaven. But the first grandchild we get to hold will be here in just a few weeks. My son and daughter-in-law have been busily preparing a room for his arrival. Family and friends have graciously given items to help them prepare. Everything is unpacked, washed, and put in its spot in the anxious anticipation of his birth. Christ is telling his disciples that is going to his Father’s house to prepare our rooms. Christ left the earth to go to heaven to prepare our heavenly spot. There is nothing more encouraging to me. I trust that you find it encouraging that the Lord is preparing for your arrival.
Other I Am Statements:
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
I Am the way, the Truth, and the Life
Image taken from https://www.freebibleimages.org/illustrations/last-supper-jesus/
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