The Way, the Truth and the Life

“Jesus saith unto him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6a)

Not only is He the way to God in salvation, Jesus is the way to God in prayer. The Bible says, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 2:5) Jesus is the believer’s high priest at the right hand of God, having ascended into heaven following forty days of resurrection appearances. He is there making intercession for us. We have the possibility and privilege of prayer because of the priesthood of Jesus. See also Romans 8:34.

Jesus continued His dialogue with Thomas by saying, “I am the truth.”  Jesus is the truth about God and about creation. He is the truth that sets men free. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)  He sets us free from sin and Satan. He frees us from false gods, false religions, false prophets and false philosophies.

Jesus said also, “I am the life.” When Martha, the sister of Lazarus, who had died, approached Jesus coming to Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)  He said also, “Because I live, ye shall live also.”(John 14:19)

Jesus is the Way

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

It was Thomas who had asked the question of Jesus, “How can we know the way?” So Jesus directed His answer to Thomas. Jesus saith unto “him…” not the others, although they were probably hearing the dialogue between Thomas and Jesus. Our Lord has time for each of us individually. We cannot ask Him a question too difficult for Him to answer. In His answer Jesus said, “I am the way.” He is not one of many ways. He is the only way to God.

A missionary in a distant land needed to go to a remote tribe deep in a jungle. Vegetation had grown over any sign of a trail. There was no path to be seen. There were no posted arrows showing the right direction. “Will someone please show me the way,” begged the missionary. A man who had been sent from the remote tribe came to him and said, “I cannot show you the way.” With that he turned his back to the missionary and said, “Get on my back. There is no trail. I am the way. I am here to take you to your destination.”

Jesus does not show us the way. He IS the way. He will take us to our heavenly home, our destination. There is no other Way. Trust your soul, your life and eternity to Him.

What Made Thomas Doubt?

“Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

Just three days from this scene and conversation Jesus would appear in His resurrection body to the ten. Judas Iscariot had committed suicide and Thomas was not present. So when the others saw Jesus they told the absent Thomas. Thomas responded by saying, “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

One wonders how many other times Thomas may have missed assembling with the others. It seems he had missed what Jesus had said about where He was going and how they could get there. “We don’t know where you are going or how to get there.” Somehow Thomas had missed that bit of news. Or maybe he had just forgotten.

What assurances, challenges and spiritual instructions have you missed along the way? We always miss something God has for us when we miss the fellowship of other believers and the message from God’s Word. I wonder what Thomas’ excuses were for missing? What are your excuses? Someone said, “Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.”

Keep Telling the Old, Old Story

“And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.” (John 14:4)

Often when I am preparing a message to deliver to a small group or a large crowd, I realize they have heard all of it many times before. If someone attends church faithfully and regularly, instead of something new they hear reassurances of their faith every time they assemble with the other believers.  They hear the songs of assurance.  The message from the pulpit solidifies their faith. The testimonies of fellow believers are an encouragement to their faith. For those reasons we are “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together with other believers.” (Hebrews 10:25) 

Vacation Bible School had ended on Friday. It was Sunday night, VBS Commencement or Family Night. A precious little five year old named Bonnie had been called on to recite her part. She stood on the platform and proudly said, “We just tell the old, old ‘tory.”  That’s what we Christians do.

Jesus was saying in effect, “I’m not telling you something I have not told you before. You know where I am going and you know the way.”

Coming to Receive Us

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)

“If I go…” is not to be interpreted as though He might not go, but rather, “seeing that I am going …” There was no question that He would be going away to prepare a place for His own. And, since that was true, He would come again and receive us.

I once knew a man who believed that the second coming of Jesus was the same as death for a child of God. For him, death and the second coming were one and the same. At death He does indeed come for us. But, that is not at all to be equated with the doctrine of the Second Coming of Jesus. At the Second Coming all the bodies of all the Christians who have died will be raised in resurrection. Immediately afterward the Christians who are alive will be taken up, snatched away, at what we call the rapture, (I Thessalonians 4:15-17)

In either case, when He comes for us at death or when He comes for us at His second coming we will be with Him. He longs for us to be with Him. I believe that is one of the reasons the Psalmist wrote, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116:15)  He will enjoy our presence while we enjoy His presence.

A Prepared Place for Prepared People

"In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)

An old song says, “Lord, build me just a cabin in the corner of Glory Land.” At least two translations say, “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places.” One version has “resting place” here. And one I have seen has the word, “nests.” I don’t think I would enjoy sitting on a nest for all eternity. Nor would I enjoy living in a cabin when He has promised me a mansion.

He would have told us to be prepared for less if less were what He promised. A mansion would be a fitting place to welcome the King of Kings and other guests from the population of heaven over for a good Bible study and a time of singing and rejoicing. He has gone to prepare the place. We can be sure that whatever it looks like, it will be better than anything we could imagine down here. It’s a prepared place for prepared people. I encourage you that if you have not done so to make preparation for heaven by receiving Christ Jesus.

As Trustworthy as God

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (John 14:1)

We often hear this passage of scripture read at funerals. It is very comforting and consoling in times of bereavement. However, these verses are appropriate any time.

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples on the evening before His crucifixion the next morning. They had heard Him speak of His death. They were troubled at His announcement that one of them would betray Him. They even questioned,“Master, is it I?”(Matt. 26:22)

When He said, “Ye believe in God, believe also in me,” He was reminding them that He was God in the flesh. (John 1:14)  He was verifying that He and the Father are one. (John 10:30)  God was totally trustworthy and so was He. Through His crucifixion, resurrection, post resurrection appearances and even through His ascension He was reassuring His disciples of His total trustworthiness.

Are you going through a difficult time?  We worship with fellow believers today and have been doing so for centuries because His followers believe He is trustworthy. You can trust Him completely.