“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:1-6
Though the world be deceived and seek to deceive others into believing there are many legitimate ways to God, though they make similar claims regarding truth and it being relative, and there being many paths to a blissful afterlife that are crafted to their liking and the god of their making, Jesus consistently and decisively dashes and rejects all such claims in the one, exclusive statement that He is “the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (v. 6) As we consider the meaning of Christ’s I AM statement today, it’s important to understand the context in which it was said. His words compose an apologetic statement that were said in Christ’s application of comfort to the troubled hearts of His disciples.
Why were many of their hearts troubled? Their Lord and Master would soon be leaving them. And what was even more troubling was that they couldn’t follow and go with Him, as they had thus far. You can see this message begin in John 13:31 as Jesus was giving them a new commandment.
- What did He say in verse 33? “Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.”
- Also consider the dialogue between Peter and Jesus in verses 36-37 before Jesus told Peter that he would soon deny Christ “Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”
Both of these passages give the reason Christ would comfort them in Chapter 14 by sharing details about what He would be doing in the place He would go to. Christ points you to His exaltation, His ascension (Acts 1:9-11), His work of preparation in Heaven for you, and His second coming. Notice Jesus’ wonderful care in His words in verse 3 that really connect the dots for troubled hearts. Though He would ascend to Heaven after being crucified and rising from the grave, He wouldn’t leave them and hasn’t left you as orphans. Jesus sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with you now. When the preparation is finished, He will return, receive all of His people to Himself, and you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven (2 Thessalonians 2:1). Praise the Lord!
Not only will His great promise come true but see that Jesus ended his initials statements by saying, “And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Now these words quickly made the disciples sensible of their own ignorance. Thomas replied, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Keep in mind that the disciples were likely thinking that He was going somewhere, maybe some great city, to restore the kingdom to Israel. But where that place would be they couldn’t tell. Therefore, they didn’t know the way.
Thus, why Jesus marvelously lifted their heads and drew their attention to Himself in this sixth I AM statement- “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In saying this, Jesus knew that His words would be inflammatory for the Jewish leaders. Yet, in saying this, see that Jesus really connects and builds on his call in verse 1 “you believe in God, believe also in Me.” Though the disciples faith in Christ as the God-man and Mediator was still weak, Jesus here reveals a wonderful truth to build their faith.
- In Jesus being the way, consider two things: 1) Know that He is His own way to God the Father. (Hebrews 9:12) Regarding the way for men and women, Jesus isn’t merely one way of many to God. He is the only way through whom one can come to the Father in a reconciled relationship. Christ’s salvation is appropriated to men and women through faith in who He is and what He has done. 2) Know also that early Christians would refer to themselves as followers of the Way. (Acts 9:2) Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus would seek to take those who belonged to the Way prisoner. (Acts 22:4) Yet, praise the Lord that after his conversion, during his trial before Felix, Paul identified himself as being a follower of the Way. (Acts 24:14)
- In His being the truth, Jesus is that only, perfect knowledge by which ignorant people can receive revelation by and through His Spirit, as well as illumination. (John 1:14) The psalmist teaches you in Psalm 119:160 “The entirety of Your word is truth”. In John 17:17, Jesus prayed that His Father would sanctify His people by His truth, His Word is truth.” Here, Jesus proclaims Himself to be the truth, once again confirming His identity as the incarnate Word of God, as John does in John 1:1-3.
- In Jesus being the life, see the theme connection that runs through all of His I AM statements- Christ is the only power by which those who are dead in sin can be raised to live in communion with the living, triune God both now and forever. (John 11:25-26)
Do you know Jesus to be your way? Your truth? Your life? I don’t ask this with any subjective sense, but do you personally know Jesus as He revealed Himself here? Jesus’ claim is a brief and wonderful distillation of all that He is for you, His people. Believe in Him and be faithful to follow Him. Reject all others who come knocking at your door seeking to draw you to a false Christ- another way, another “truth”, another gospel, another claim of life.
Living in a world of absolute doubt and uncertainty about a way forward, the reality of truth, and the meaning of life, Christ comes to speak in, to, and through His church to proclaim good news of great hope that is found in Him. Praise the incarnate Word who has come and saved you and will come again to receive you to Himself, as He ushers you in to life everlasting with Him in glory!