How To Get To God

HOW TO GET TO GOD

John 14:5-6

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.” – John 14:5-6

The Gospel of John records seven important statements Jesus made about himself. John 6:35: “I am the bread of life.” John 8:12: “I am the light of the world.” John 10:9: “I am the door.” John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd.” John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 15:1: “I am the true vine.” And our text, John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” These self-descriptive statements strategically alluded to the covenant name with which the Lord revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush. Exodus 3:14 records that the Lord responded to Moses’ question, “What is your name?” by saying: “I AM WHO I AM.” These “I am” statements of Jesus were very controversial, because in making them Jesus clearly identified himself with God. Centuries later, the controversy remains. John 14:6 is the most controversial, offensive, and unpopular of them all.

The scene is THE UPPER ROOM. It is the last meal Jesus will have with his disciples before his crucifixion. He would be arrested just hours after the conclusion of this supper. This is the last opportunity the Lord had to instruct and encourage his disciples before he would be taken away from them. In John 14:1-4, Jesus says: “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.” The disciples were trouble, confused, and overwhelmed by the idea of Jesus going away. To comfort them, Jesus said, “You know where I am going. And you know how to get there.” This did not comfort the disciples. In verse 5, Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” The Lord answered: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

This statement is the Lord’s response to Thomas’ question, “How can we know the way to the place where you are going?” Jesus did not show the way. He did not proclaim the truth. And he did not teach them how to live. Jesus declares himself to be the personification of the way and truth and life of God. In essence, Jesus said, “You don’t need to know the way to God. You know me!” Just in case they missed the point, he restated it in the bluntest of terms: “No one comes to the Father except through me.” If believing Jesus is the only way to God is intolerant, then Jesus himself is intolerant. He is the one who said it first. In so doing, Jesus answered the question of how a person can establish a personal relationship with God the Father. Let me give it to you in five words: JESUS ONLY AND ONLY JESUS. John 14:8-9 says, “”Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?” Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’”

• To know Jesus is to know God.

• To believe in Jesus is to believe in God.

• To receive Jesus is to receive God.

• To hate Jesus is to hate God.

• To honor Jesus is to honor God.

Jesus is the only way to God. Every person who goes any other way is a lost person who needs to find the way, a deceived person who needs to know the truth, a dead person who needs to receive the life. In short, everybody needs Jesus! Here are four reasons everyone should embrace Christianity’s claim that Jesus is the only way to God.

I. IT IS AN EXCLUSIVE CLAIM.

Every life is a spiritual journey that is only successful if God is the destination. There is no more important question than this: “If God is real, how do I get to him?” Proverbs 14:12 warns: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” In the ancient world, it was said, “ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME.” Is that true of the Father’s house? Can that be accurately said as it relates to getting to God? The answer depends on who you ask. Religion says all roads lead to God. Religion says there are different and equally valid ways that all lead to God. Religion says it does not matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere.