Articles
Jesus - The Way, the Truth, the Life
Jesus makes a very exclusive statement which is not politically correct in our pluralistic society today. John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (NKJV). Peter would later express a somewhat similar thought saying, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NKJV). Let’s consider some important points from Jesus’ statement in John 14:6.
Jesus’ claim possesses the word “the” before the words “way,” “truth,” and, “life.” The word “the” emphasizes He is not only of many but is the singular way, truth, and life. Jesus is not simply a way to the Father but is the only way to the Father.
Jesus’ claim at the end of the verse is very universal in its application. Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus is not simply the way to the Father for the Jews. Jesus is not simply a way to be religious for Europeans or Americans. Jesus and His way is the only way anyone can make it to the Father.
Jesus speaks of Himself as “the way.” John 14:6 is a passage many people in various denominations are fond of and yet John 14:6 condemns the concept of denominationalism. Jesus does not hold out the prospect of several different ways to the Father but only one way. Throughout the book of Acts, disciples of Christ could be referred to as “the Way” (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22) because there was only one group of people who were followers of Christ. There were not multiple different denominations in existence in the first century like there is in the world today. The existence of these various denominations is not from God, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33, NKJV). The source of these different denominations is because men have departed from the pattern laid out in the New Testament. If all people would abandon those practices and beliefs they uphold which are not authorized by the word of God, then we could be united in following the way laid out by Jesus and thus have access to the Father through Him. If Jesus is the way, then we cannot have access to the Father while not being a part of His church, which is His body (Ephesians 1:22-23) and of which there is only one (Ephesians 4:4). Therefore, a person does not have access to the Father without being a part of the church purchased with the blood of Christ and thus belonging to Him (Acts 20:28).
Jesus speaks of Himself as “the truth.” Truth is viewed by many people in the world around us today as something relative to the individual or to the circumstance. God’s word teaches us truth is not relative but rather is something which all men can know (1 Timothy 2:4; John 8:31-32). Truth is contained in the word of God (John 17:17). Jesus, being the perfect revelation of the Father, makes known to us what the truth is. Truth is singular just like the number of ways to the Father is singular. Remember Ephesians 4:5 speaks about “one faith” and Jude 3 points out it was “once for all delivered to the saints.” If we want to know the truth and walk in the truth, we need to simply follow Jesus’ teaching as recorded for us in the New Testament. Again, when a group of people fail to follow Jesus’ teaching on some point such as what a person must do to be saved (Mark 16:16), then they are no longer following the truth given by Jesus which leads one to the Father.
Jesus speaks of Himself as “the life.” Jesus is the source of spiritual and eternal life. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross makes it possible for us to have eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Jesus speaks of Himself as the good Shepherd who comes, “that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV). Jesus provides us with instructions which might help us in dealing with things in this life but ultimately Jesus is concerned about us receiving eternal life or the life which is to come (1 Timothy 4:8). One cannot have eternal life without following what Jesus taught.
Remember it is not enough to simply give lip service to saying Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We must demonstrate we believe Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life by hearing His words and doing what He says (Matthew 7:21-27). It is not enough to claim Jesus as our Lord and then not do what He tells us to do (Luke 6:46). Are you acting as one who truly believes Jesus is the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to the Father?
