The Way The Truth

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”  (John 14:6)

                The Gospel of John gives us a very special glimpse into the final hours of Jesus on this earth.  John chapters 13-21 focus on the final 24 hours of Christ’s life.  Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, washed their feet, then proceeded to give then some final instructions that would carry them well beyond His resurrection from the dead.  At the end of chapter 13, Jesus let His disciples know that He was about to be taken from them – even predicting Peter’s denial following His arrest.

                Those words must’ve been devastating to Peter.  I’m sure he couldn’t imagine himself denying the Lord three times prior to sunrise, but that’s just what happened.  And yet in the midst of that devastating news, Jesus gave Peter and the rest of the disciples the best news of all – “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).  Better still, Jesus said that his disciples knew the way to that special place (John 14:4).  Thomas responded with doubt – “Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

                Jesus responded with some of the most familiar words in the Christian faith.  First, He said, “I am the way” – the only way of salvation for lost and sinful men.  He also declared, “I am the truth” – the One from whom all truth proceeds.  Finally, He said, “I am the life” – because abundant life and eternal life are found only in Christ.  And just so no one could confuse His statements, Jesus added, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  All those who come to God must come through Him.