Question of the Day: Is Jesus the Way, the Truth, and the Life?
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life". John 14:6 As we mentioned yesterday, Jesus never minced words about who He was and why He came to earth. Yesterday we quoted him saying, "I am the resurrection and the life".
Many people think this verse shows how narrow minded and exclusive Christianity is. I mean how could Jesus be the only way? That is not very politically correct! How about all the other ways? Let's examine what he means by these three statements about himself, and whether they are actually true.
Jesus said, "I am the way" The way to what? Jesus' primary mission was to lead people back to the Father. But in what sense was Jesus that way? Jesus became the way by dying on a cross for us, so we could be reconciled with the Father. The way had been blocked by our sin problem and Jesus cleared the way by dying for our sins. And here is the thing, many people think that is narrow minded to say, "Jesus is the only way!" But show me a better way to have my sins forgiven so I can come into the presence of holy God!
Jesus said, "I am the truth!" How do we judge if He is the truth? By what He taught? By the way He lived? Whether or not he backed up the truth claims he made? I would say all three. Regardless of one's religious preference, Jesus' teachings are widely regarded by everyone as the greatest collection of moral teaching the world has ever seen. People regularly quote His Sermon on the Mount, including sayings like "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Jesus' life, unlike anyone who has ever lived, was flawless both morally and how he loved all people regardless of their background or social status. And finally, Jesus proved He was the truth, when He rose from the dead. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, as He promised, He would not be the Truth. Everything he did and said would have lost it believability.
Finally, Jesus said, "I am the life". In John 10:10 he said, "I came to give life and life abundantly". Simply said Jesus' way to live is the best way to live. It is a way to really live and participate in something that will far outlast oneself. The world offers all kinds of ways to the "good life". But upon investigation these ways all fall woefully short of the life Jesus offers us. Jesus said the way to true fulfillment in this life is to lose your life for others. Jesus shows us that the true way to measure net worth is not what is in our bank account but how we showed His love to those who He brought into our lives.
At the end of the day, either Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, or he isn't. This forces you and I to make a decision. Either we believe in Him or we don't! Jesus has done everything possible to show us the way back to the Father and spend eternity with Him. So let me ask you a question. Do you believe He is the way, the truth, and the life?
Many people think this verse shows how narrow minded and exclusive Christianity is. I mean how could Jesus be the only way? That is not very politically correct! How about all the other ways? Let's examine what he means by these three statements about himself, and whether they are actually true.
Jesus said, "I am the way" The way to what? Jesus' primary mission was to lead people back to the Father. But in what sense was Jesus that way? Jesus became the way by dying on a cross for us, so we could be reconciled with the Father. The way had been blocked by our sin problem and Jesus cleared the way by dying for our sins. And here is the thing, many people think that is narrow minded to say, "Jesus is the only way!" But show me a better way to have my sins forgiven so I can come into the presence of holy God!
Jesus said, "I am the truth!" How do we judge if He is the truth? By what He taught? By the way He lived? Whether or not he backed up the truth claims he made? I would say all three. Regardless of one's religious preference, Jesus' teachings are widely regarded by everyone as the greatest collection of moral teaching the world has ever seen. People regularly quote His Sermon on the Mount, including sayings like "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Jesus' life, unlike anyone who has ever lived, was flawless both morally and how he loved all people regardless of their background or social status. And finally, Jesus proved He was the truth, when He rose from the dead. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, as He promised, He would not be the Truth. Everything he did and said would have lost it believability.
Finally, Jesus said, "I am the life". In John 10:10 he said, "I came to give life and life abundantly". Simply said Jesus' way to live is the best way to live. It is a way to really live and participate in something that will far outlast oneself. The world offers all kinds of ways to the "good life". But upon investigation these ways all fall woefully short of the life Jesus offers us. Jesus said the way to true fulfillment in this life is to lose your life for others. Jesus shows us that the true way to measure net worth is not what is in our bank account but how we showed His love to those who He brought into our lives.
At the end of the day, either Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, or he isn't. This forces you and I to make a decision. Either we believe in Him or we don't! Jesus has done everything possible to show us the way back to the Father and spend eternity with Him. So let me ask you a question. Do you believe He is the way, the truth, and the life?
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