September, 2002

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Withdrawing from the crowd, Jesus spent the last evening before crucifixion with His disciples in the Upper Room. After the Passover meal, Jesus girded himself with a towel and washed His disciples’ feet. It was an unfathomable act of humility. No master would ever wash his disciple’s feet! Not in a million years! But Jesus did!

Now, the time for Jesus’ betrayal was approaching. He painfully told His disciples that one of them was going to betray Him (13:21); that they could no longer follow Him to where He was about to go (13:33); and that Peter, the leader of the pack would defect his loyalty at the most critical time (13:38). The disciples couldn’t go with Him to the place (13:33, 36) because Jesus was going there to prepare a place for them and for every believer who comes along later. No one could assist Him, in completing this mission. In Him alone is Salvation completed. When Salvation is done on the cross, He would return to take them to be where He would be. The natural reaction of the disciples was a state of confusion and troubled. Seeing their troubled hearts, Jesus reassured them that He was going to prepare a place for reunion. Throughout His ministry, Jesus had been showing them the place and the way to get there, but Thomas indicated that they did not fully understand.

Thomas’ question (14:5) prompted Jesus to respond with His sixth of the seven “I AM” statement in this gospel. “I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Let us not forget that the “I AM” is how Jesus referred Himself as the Almighty God. Jesus is the Way because He is the Truth and the Life, just as God the Father is the Truth and the Life. Contrary to what many people think and hope for, Salvation can only be obtained through one way, and this way must come from God so that He may pave the Way for people to return to Him. If people try to find their own way to God, they would be lost because they would not know the place, nor would they know the requirement.

If you follow the exegetical principle, you would realize that this statement is not evangelistic in nature. Jesus was speaking with the disciples (believers). This assurance of Jesus is always the way and the truth and the life, even in times of trouble. Like the disciples who were confused and troubled, we will face uncertain times too, but remember Jesus is still the way to the Father, who will provide us with more than we need to combat our difficulties. Trust in Him!

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