John 14:6
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me.”
What does Jesus mean?
This is a cornerstone claim for Christians. The only way to reach God is by accepting Jesus Christ. Jesus’ promise to those who believe in Him is eternal life.
This is the claim, broken down:
The WAY:
Jesus was saying that he is the only way to heaven. He is not a way – which would indicate that there are other ways – He is the way, as in the one and only. The only path to eternal life is through Jesus.
It is important to take note that this was said out of love. Jesus chose to step down from glory to bear our sins on Him as He died on the cross, because that is the only way that we could ever hope for eternal life. So anything He says is always out of love, never to condemn.
Jesus is a two way street. Through Him, God can come to meet & fellowship with us. And through Him, we have intimate access to God. So intimate that we can call Him Father.
The TRUTH:
All truth is found in Jesus. Though circumstances may change with time, God remains the same. He is unchanging, and His words and ways will always remain true. Over time, people have had blurred impressions of God. Even today, people have false ideas about who God is. Some think He is mean, others think He is judgmental. But Jesus is God and He is a representation of who the Father is. When Jesus was on Earth, He was never mean. He was never judgmental. In fact, the Bible is filled with stories of Jesus healing people of their physical and emotional needs, showing immense love and care for everyone around Him. A mean, judgmental God would never choose to die for you. Through the life of Jesus on Earth, we see the TRUTH of who God really is and what He is all about: love.
The LIFE:
Jesus is the source of all life. Through the connection we build with Jesus, we find the meaning and purpose of life. Jesus died for us to save us from eternal damnation and restore the connection God had with us. The connection that was smeared by our wrong actions. In Christ, there is no condemnation because Jesus paid the brutal price for us. Are you overwhelmed by the weight of your sin? Do you think that you’ve done too many bad things to ever be worthy again? Well, there is good news for you! Jesus wants you to know that no matter the state of your life, He wants you. In Jesus, you will find new life. You will find purpose and true joy.
No one comes to the Father but by me:
The Godhead is 3 in 1 – Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus. The Father is only revealed through Jesus. If you do not know Jesus, you will not know who the Father is. If you do not know who the Father is, you do not know God. We come to the Father in Jesus’ name, and He guides us (through prayer) to the Father. The first step to eternal life is through receiving and believing Jesus Christ.
What does this mean for us?
This is great news for us! None of us are perfect – we have all sinned. But Jesus still loves you deeply and wants you to experience His great love. If we accept Him in faith, believe in Him and surrender our lives to Him, He will mould us into His image. You will then see God working in your life in a beautiful way!
God desires to have a relationship with you. You are His child and He loves you more than anyone else ever could. His love is so deep that we call Him ‘Father’. No one can force you to accept Jesus into your heart. The choice is in your hands. But let me just say that having Jesus in your life, is better than any other beautiful treasure. You find eternal life, hope and friendship.
