“Jesus is the only way”
John 14:1-6
A bank in New York had some flowers:
sent to a competitor who had recently moved into a new building.
There was a mix up at the flower shop, and
the card sent with the arrangement read, “With our deepest sympathy.”
The florist, who was greatly embarrassed apologized:
He was even more embarrassed
when he realized that the card that was meant for the bank
was attached to a floral arrangement sent to a funeral home
in honor of a deceased person.
That card read:
“Congratulations on your new location.”
The DISCIPLES were likely filled with confusion and uncertainty as John 14 begins:
Their lives were being turned upside down
Their week had started with excitement and triumph but
was quickly turning toward fear and disappointment.
It is Thursday night now:
- Judas has gone to betray Jesus
- Jesus has told them of He is leaving
- and told them they cannot come with Him
Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Jesus 3x’s before the morning comes
Remember, the disciples had left everything to follow Jesus:
- they had left family and friends
- they had left homes and businesses
- all they had left was Jesus
And now Jesus is telling them He is leaving them:
- they must be perplexed
- they are probably feeling abandoned
They do not know what they are going to do!
- for 3 years they had followed Jesus
- He had been their teacher, guide and their provider
Their future appears uncertain.
I imagine they are thinking to themselves “Now what?”:
- how are we going to live?
- the future is uncertain
- they desperately want to understand, but they are still perplexed and fearful
Have you ever been in a “Now what?” situation:
- where there are no good obvious solutions
- and you have exhausted your own intelligence and strength
- and still the problems are knocking at your door.
At such times, relying on our faith is essential.
We live in troubled times:
News of shootings, we saw that Charlie Kirk was killed this week.
Rising debt
Soaring living costs
Health concerns
Family struggles
Wars around the world
On top of that, many are worried about:
- their children’s future and the pressures of daily life.
Uncertainty about what lies ahead
Heavy responsibilities that never seem to end
No wonder so many people feel stressed, fearful, and anxious.
Perhaps that describes YOU today:
You may be walking through a hard season
Your strength feels spent
The weight of anxiety presses down on you
Jesus’ solution for troubled hearts is TRUST…
John 14:1–3 (NIV):
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
Jesus offers hope for the heartbroken:
1. His Presence now.
2. His prepared Place in heaven.
3. His faithful Promise to return.
Next Jesus tells the DISCIPLES….
“You know the way to the place where I’m going.” And Thomas responds, “Lord, we don’t know where You’re going. How do we know the way?”
- John 14:4- 5
Then comes the question from Thomas…. “How do we know the way?”
Thomas says:
- wait a minute.
- you think we know the WAY to where you are going
- but…. uhh…we really do not know where you are going
That is a fair question:
- The Disciple’s probably thought Jesus was going
- to travel to a location nearby…maybe head back North to Galilee
- they did not understand that Jesus was headed farther than they could imagine
Jesus said they KNEW the WAY, because He had been telling them all along…
“Jesus said, ‘I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.’”
- John 7:33-34 (NIV)
1. The WAY – The PATH to the FATHER
In John 14:6 (NIV), Jesus says:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
The Word “Way”
The Greek word used here is ?d?? (hodos).
Literally, it means road, path, or highway
a route you travel on.
In This Passage:
Jesus is not saying He’s just pointing out a road
He is saying He Himself is the road.
He is the only path of access to God the Father.
The idea is:
if you want to reach God,
you must travel by way of Jesus.
There is no alternate route, no back road, no other bridge.
The main reason society is so hostile to Jesus:
- is they can’t stand that Jesus is the only way to God
- they are willing to see Jesus as “A way, a truth, and a life”
- but that is not what JESUS claimed
Jesus is not ONE of many ways to heaven. Jesus is the ONE and ONLY way to heaven
1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV):
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
Buddha – taught a path of self-enlightenment, but he never claimed to forgive sins or provide eternal life.
Muhammad – pointed to Allah, but the Qur’an itself does not present him as Savior; only Jesus claimed to be “the way, the truth, and the life.”
Confucius – offered wisdom for living, but not a way to God.
Hindu gurus or teachers – may provide spiritual philosophies, but none can remove sin or reconcile people to the Father.
Modern “self-help” or New Age leaders – may inspire or motivate but cannot offer salvation.
Joseph Smith can’t save you…
The key difference is this:
• Other leaders may point to a way,
• But only Jesus says, “I am the way.”
The Bible teaches that:
- mankind’s sin has separated us from God
- and we owe a debt of sin
- that Jesus died on the cross and paid for the sins of the world….
Acts 4:12 in the NLT:
“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
2. The TRUTH – God’s Full REVELATION
Many years ago:
- when our kids were young, it was about 5 pm
- I was tired, and they were getting on my last nerve
- so, I came up with a plan to solve the problem
I went around the house:
- and set all the clocks to 9 PM
- and told them it was late, and to get ready for bed
- the plan was going well, until one of them found out the truth
I’m not sure who ruined my plan…it was a solid plan.
In John 14:6 (NIV), Jesus says:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
There are many lies circulating about heaven:
Everyone will go to heaven.
God won’t send anyone to hell.
You must go to purgatory and be prayed into heaven.
St. Peter will stand at the gates of heaven and quiz you before you can enter.
If you are good enough of a person, you will go to heaven:
Only 144,000 will make it to heaven.
Heaven and hell are figurative, not real.
It seems everyone has their own version of the truth:
- I can be a Christian and not be a part of the Church
- You don’t have to be Baptized to be saved
- God is love, so I can live however I want
- I’m a good person, so God must let me into heaven
When I get to Hell, my friends will be there, and we will have a good time…
Someone else’s opinion of the TRUTH:
- make sound good
- it may make sense to some
- but Jesus is the TRUTH
Jesus is TRUTH:
- He is the one who SAVES
- He is the one who made THE WAY to heaven
- His truth keeps us out of HELL
Hell in the Bible is depicted as:
- a real, eternal place of separation from God,
- marked by fire, torment, and punishment.
HELL is the ultimate consequence:
of rejecting Jesus Christ,
who alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
When Jesus said, “I am the Truth,”:
He was saying that no matter what anyone says, and
no matter what circumstances come our way,
We can always know the truth if we know Him.
The truth is important get right:
- especially when we are talking about sin, salvation and Hell
- many people will not make it to heaven
- because they did not, would not believe the TRUTH
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
- John 1:17 (NIV)
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14 (NIV)
Lies the World Believes:
1. Good Works Alone Save
• Many think that being a “good person” or doing enough good deeds earns them heaven.
• Truth: Ephesians 2:8–9 – Salvation is a gift of God’s grace through faith, not by works.
2. All Religions Lead to God
• The idea that all spiritual paths are equal and lead to the same destination.
• Truth: John 14:6 – Jesus is the only way to the Father.
3. Human Leaders Can Save
• Belief that prophets, gurus, or religious teachers can grant eternal life.
• Truth: 1 Timothy 2:5 – There is one mediator between God and mankind: Jesus Christ.
4. Inner Spirituality is Enough
• Some think personal enlightenment, meditation, or inner “good vibes” can bring salvation.
• Truth: Only a personal relationship with Jesus, the Savior, reconciles us to God.
5. Works + Religion = Heaven
• Many assume that combining faith in God with personal effort, rituals, or church rules secures heaven.
• Truth: Acts 4:12 – Salvation is found in no one else but Jesus.
6. We Have Another Chance After Death
• The belief that after we die, there’s another opportunity to reach God apart from faith in Jesus.
• Truth: Hebrews 9:27 – People are destined to die once and then face judgment.
You will remember that John’s Gospel has a purpose:
- that purpose is to REVEAL Jesus as God in the flesh
- and it is evangelistic in nature
- so that people would SEE the TRUTH and have life in the name of JESUS
Many people seek freedom in:
money, success, or philosophy
but real freedom is found only in Christ.
John 8:32 tells us…
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
3. The LIFE – ETERNAL and ABUNDANT
In John 14:6 (NIV), Jesus says:
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Outside of Christ we are lost and dead in SIN:
- we were separated from God and hopeless on our own
- We were guilty of SIN and headed to HELL
- But God made us alive in Christ
- not by our works, but by His grace (Ephesians 2:1–5).
The Christian has stepped out of death and into eternal life, fully forgiven.
Many, many people are still LOST and DEAD.
Jesus came to SAVE, to give us life…
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
- John 10:10
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
- Luke 19:10
Since Jesus is the LIFE:
- and the world is lost and dead in SIN
- we MUST BE about the business of Spreading the WORD
Jesus has a heart for the lost:
- Jesus came to earth, not to condemn, but to save
- He seeks out those who are spiritually lost
- offers forgiveness, and gives eternal life
After His resurrection:
Jesus commanded His followers to
go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing and teaching them.
Just as JESUS came to seek the lost:
He calls us to participate in that mission,
sharing the gospel and bringing others to faith in Him.
The Great Commission is the continuation of Jesus’ mission through His followers.
We must not make the mistake:
- of opening the doors at the Church building
- and merely waiting for people to come in
- We must “GO” and MAKE Disciples
We are doing that coming up soon:
- the FALL FESTIVAL
- “The Community Thanksgiving dinner”
Let us ALSO:
look for the opportunity to share Christ in our daily lives.
Pray for the opportunity and
the boldness to speak God’s TRUTH
Imagine a traveler who needs to cross a deep canyon:
He sees a broken bridge,
a rope swing, and
a slippery log stretched across—but none are safe.
Then he comes to:
a brand-new, solid bridge
built by engineers
that leads securely to the other side.
That bridge is like Jesus:
Many people try different ways to reach God, but
only one way is strong enough to hold: Christ Himself.
As Jesus says:
“No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
- John 14:6b (NIV)
4. Jesus is the ONLY WAY to the FATHER
I am going to tell you what you might already know:
- many people do not want to hear that the way they are living is unacceptable to God
- they do not want to think about an exclusive God would demands HOLINESS.
- They do not like the Bible telling them how to live.
Many people want salvation and heaven:
- but they want these things on their own terms
- they demand that God conforms to their way of thinking
- Their ego will not allow God to tell them what to do
They want to:
- feed the desires of their flesh
without God or God’s people interrupting
Not only that, but they also demand approval for their sinful behavior
It is much worse that in many places:
- where there is real persecution, violence, killings,
- prison, destruction of their churches and homes
- because they are Christians
AND STILL…we are to go:
- and share the life-giving message
- that Jesus wants all people to come to repentance
- that Jesus wants all people to be reconciled to Him
We are to share that message:
- even if it is unpopular
- even when it is awkward
- even if it cost us our life
Imagine a club with a sign on the door: “Members Only.”
Everyone outside wants to get in:
Some people try to sneak in through the windows,
others follow fake invitations, and
some even pretend to be members.
But the bouncer at the door has strict rules: only those with the official pass are allowed entry.
In the same way, Jesus is the only way to God the Father:
No matter what other paths people try
good deeds, philosophies, other religions
They cannot gain entry into eternal life apart from Him.
John 14:6 reminds us:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Application:
• Like a strict club with one door,
• Jesus is the exclusive entry point to heaven.
Jesus is the only way to heaven, and yet anyone can get a ticket.
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV):
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
This truth is not meant to be prideful:
• it’s meant to motivate us to share the gospel,
• so, others can have the “ticket” through faith in Christ.
• One door, one Savior, one cross.
Conclusion
• Jesus is The Way ? Follow Him.
• Jesus is The Truth ? Believe Him.
• Jesus is The Life ? Receive Him.
INVITATION:
A boy was swimming at the beach when:
he got caught in a rip current.
No matter how hard he kicked,
the waves pulled him farther out.
He panicked and started to sink:
Then a lifeguard dove in,
swam out to him, and
pulled him safely to shore.
The boy couldn’t save himself—he needed someone stronger to come to him.
That’s what Jesus does:
He doesn’t just shout advice from the shore.
He comes to us and rescues us, saying,
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
If you’ve never obeyed Jesus in faith, repentance, and baptism, today is the day to respond.
Scripture teaches that:
Salvation comes through
faith, confession,
and being immersed into Christ
You can take that step of obedience today:
o Believe in Jesus as the Son of God.
o Repent of your sins.
o Confess Him as Lord.
o Be IMMERSED for the forgiveness of your sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Come to the front or speak with one of our ministers now:
— let Jesus be your Way, your Truth, and your Life today.
CREDIT:
K. Skidmore, John MacArthur, Chatgpt
