Is Jesus the Only Way?

Readings for the Day
Jeremiah 10-12, John 14

Verses for the Day
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

Thoughts for the Day
As Jesus gets closer to his destination, the cross, he continues to reveal his true identity. In the verse above, he gives us THE defining statement of who He is by saying, "I am the way, the truth and the life." And then Jesus makes it clear there is no other way to the Father except through him. That sounds very narrow, but in actuality eliminates a lot of false teaching about who Jesus really is.

First, Jesus is the "Way". As God provided a way in the wilderness, through Moses his spokesperson, now God came in the person of Jesus to reveal the way back to him. Notice it does not say "a way", but "the way". The prevailing worldview in Western civilization, including our country, is that all ways lead to God. After all, to say that Jesus is the only way is not "politically correct". In our effort to not offend anyone, we have taken out who Jesus said he was. Without Jesus being the only Son of God and the only way to God, Christianity is effectively reduced to nothing.

The problem is Jesus did not leave us that option. He is clear that He is the only way. Why? Because if there was another way, why would he have had to die? Either Jesus is the Son of God or not? Jesus also claims to be the truth. Notice not that he teaches the truth, but He is the truth. He is the truth about who God is and who we are and why we need his saving death on the cross to forgive us of our sin and restore us to a right relationship with him. Jesus embodies the truth. Meaning if there is anything He says or does that is not true, He cannot make that claim. Finally, He is the life. As we make Jesus the way and the truth in our lives, we find life. Not only abundant life now, but eternal life in the world to come. This can only be experienced as we make Jesus the Lord in our life by following His way and His truth.

While we can teach about this statement, why Jesus made it, and how He fulfilled it in every way possible. At the end of the day is Jesus the way, the truth and the life for you and me?

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