I Am the Way
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
There are several important truths in this very familiar verse, but for now, I want to concentrate just on Jesus’ claim to be “the way.”
Elsewhere in Scripture we read the warning to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it” (Matthew 7:13)
Jesus is THE way. He is the ONLY way that leads to eternal life. There are not multiple ways to get to God. Not all religious paths are equally valid.
In answer to Philip’s request to “show us the Father, Jesus responded, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8-9).
Iain Campbell points out that Jesus “is our Priest. What is the function of the priest? It is to make a way into the presence of God. One of the Latin words for Priest is ‘pontifex,’ literally a bridge-builder. The priest opened a way of communication; his office was one of bridge-building. Here is our priest—he is our way.”[1]
The first time Jesus came it was to prepare us for heaven. He will come again to take us to heaven, to the Father’s house. He is truly our Way!
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)
[1] Iain D. Campbell, Exploring the “I am” sayings of John’s Gospel (Evangelical Press, Kindle Edition).
