The Way, Truth, And Life Series

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

John 14:6

As we continue to examine the I AM statements made by Jesus, we come to one that is often quoted and very profound. I am convinced this is one of the most compelling statements in all of Scripture. Jesus was very emphatic as He spoke to Thomas, and this is a statement that all must consider and respond.

While it may appear that Jesus made a simple statement, these few words reveal much about His character and the redeeming work He came to perform. He is not merely a way, one way or even the best way – He is the way. He is not some truth, partial truth, or even adequate truth – He is the truth. He is not mere life, good life, or beneficial life – He is the life. Watchman Nee had this to say about Jesus in his book The Normal Christian Life – “The normal Christian life must begin with a very definite ‘knowing,’ which is not just knowing something about the truth nor understanding some important doctrine. It’s not an intellectual knowledge at all, but an opening of the eyes of the heart to see what we have in Christ. So, our first step is to seek from God knowledge that comes by revelation - a revelation, that is to say, not of ourselves but of the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the Cross.”

As we examine the certainties in this powerful statement, I want to consider: The Way, the Truth, and the Life.

I. A Comforting Message (6a) – Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus had revealed unto the disciples, just hours before His crucifixion, that He was going away to prepare a place for them, and that He would come again and receive them unto Himself. He declared they knew where He was going and the way He would go. Thomas replied, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus responded with this profound statement. He revealed:

A. He is the Way – Bear in mind the question of Thomas as we consider this statement. For centuries the prophets had prophesied of the coming of Christ. They stood as God’s representative to men. They pointed the way to God. While these had revealed the way to God, the coming of Christ and His atoning sacrifice, none prior to Christ could provide the way. In fact, they likely never fully understood the way they proclaimed.

Jesus declared unto Thomas that He was the way. He was not a way, one of many ways, or even the best way – He was the way, the only way! If these, or any other, desired to dwell with Christ in eternity, they must come by and through Him. He was the way unto eternal life and residence in heaven. He was the door, the path, the way to eternal life.

It is interesting to note that in the books of Acts, dealing with the early church and believers in Christ, those who identified with the Lord were described as being in the way. On the Damascus Road where Paul was converted to Christ, he was on a mission to arrest and imprison any he found of this way. As Paul testified before the Roman governor regarding the resurrection, Felix is described as having a more perfect knowledge of that way. In the days of the early church, believers were identified as being in the way. These were in Christ; they were in the Way! I am thankful to have received the grace of God unto salvation, believing the Gospel by faith, and being placed in the Way.

Are you in the way today? Jesus is not one of many ways as the world would have us believe. He is the way. There is no other avenue to obtain reconciliation to God, forgiveness of sin, and eternal life. Jesus is the Way, and He is the only way!

B. He is the Truth – Jesus declared that He was not only the way, He is the truth as well. Again, consider the prophets of old. They had declared the truth revealed to them by God, but they never comprehended complete truth. These looked through a shaded glass, seeing only what God desired them to see. They shared the truth they knew, but they never held absolute, complete truth. Jesus had not come to reveal partial truth, or even adequate truth – He is the truth, revealing all truth.

Jesus was and is the embodiment of truth. He was truth robed in flesh. He did not merely comprehend all truth or convey truth, He revealed truth in the person of God. The eternal God revealed truth to humanity through the incarnation of the Son. Truth walked among men, ministering to them and teaching them the truth. John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. The world declares that truth is relative, and absolute truth does not exist. We have truth in the person of Jesus Christ. He is truth!