John 14:3-6 (NKJV)
"The Way, The Truth & The Life"
October 8, 2023
‘This text takes place’ - After the miracles, after the teaching, after the preaching, after the Passover Supper, after the washing of their feet, after Satan entered Judas and betrays Him, Jesus now speaks to His remaining Disciples privately… “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” He goes on to say, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you... By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” This Chapter opens, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me… I go to prepare a place for you… where I go you know, and the way you know.”
The Way - What is this Way? In Proverbs 16 Solomon said, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” But Jesus says in John 14, “I am the way. . .” then goes on to say, “no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” There is no other Way! “The Way” is mentioned several times in the book of Acts (Acts 9:2; 19:9; 22:4; 24:14) in connection with early followers of Christ. When Saul of Tarsus went to Damascus to take prisoners all the men and women who “belonged to the Way” (Acts 9:2; 22:4). After Saul was converted, he became a missionary and often in scripture he went by the name of Paul. In Ephesus, Paul met some in the synagogue who “became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way” (Acts 19:9). Paul left the synagogue and continued to preach the gospel where it would be heard rather than remain with those who hated “the Way.” During his trial before Gov. Felix, Paul said, “I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way” (Acts 24:14). The early followers of Christ referred to themselves as followers of the Way because of Jesus said in John 14:6 that He is “the way and the truth and the life.” Family, we have had mega pastors in Houston on talk shows to not defend that Jesus is the only way! We have had some Christians today raised in our churches who have said that this position is too exclusive for them because every religion has some intrinsic value! Saints, God has not called you out of darkness into light to defend the value of Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam or even Judaism! He has called you to tell others that He is the only way! Paul argued with the churches in Galatia in his opening words, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” The Hebrew writer says that Jesus’ broken body is the “new and living way” for us to enter the Most Holy Place (10:19). There is only one way! Jesus is the Way!
The Truth - What is this Truth? Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth . . . no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Not only is Jesus the only way to the Father but His truth is the ultimate truth concerning our Father in heaven. Jesus says to those Jews which believed on him, (John 8:31) “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” We live in a world that does not offer the child of God much hope or encouragement. With wars and rumors of wars, unabashed sin and dens of iniquity, crime and ungodliness abounding everywhere, it is easy to become discouraged, disillusioned and disappointed. That is why it is important for us to remember the Truth! And it is the Truth that will set you free! Truth is found in the Son! And when the Son has set you free, you are free indeed! Jesus says in Matthew 6, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Notice that the scripture does not say follow your heart and you will find your treasure! No, No, Jesus says follow your treasure and you will know exactly where your heart is. This is why I teach that every Christian household should have a budget. Your treasure will always reveal your heart. And if you are not paying attention to where your resources are being spent you may find out that your heart has been misleading you. That’s why any ministry that refuses to budget is doomed to failure. Allow me to remind you that this world is not our home and that the truth is that we are just passing through. Jesus prayed to the Father for us concerning this! (John 17:13) “But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. [Holy Father,] I have given them Your Word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.” So, when Jesus says, I am the Truth, He is teaching us how to define truth! The Word of God is the Truth! And Jesus is the Word!
The Life - What is this Life? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus began this prayer for us in chapter 17 with, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” He died that we might know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent! This is Life! The world needs to know, that if their life is not in Jesus, then they have no life! Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Do you remember what Jesus taught Martha at the grave of Lazarus? He was teaching her about the Resurrection, but He added I AM The Resurrection AND The Life. What is the Life? Paul says of Jesus in Colossians 1, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” This means that Jesus was NOT a created being, because he was never created, He IS the Life! And He gave His life that we might live. When He was ready to lay down His life for our sins, He gave it up with the full knowledge of His power to raise it up again! And because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know, He holds the future and life is worth the living, just because He lives. God sent His Son. They called Him Jesus. He came to love, heal and forgive. He bled and died, to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives!
