Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6 (NIV)

As a young mother, I found it very challenging to leave my children in the care of others. I always created detailed instructions in the hopes that all would go smoothly in my absence. 

I am reminded of this because in today’s passage, Jesus is preparing to go to the cross, and ultimately, to join His Father in Heaven. And like me, He began to prepare His disciples for His departure. As He spoke to them about Heaven, Jesus told them they knew the way to where He was going (John 14:4). But Thomas contradicted Him, “‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’” (John 14.5 NIV). 

In Jesus’ response we find His sixth I AM Statement:

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

The Way

I’ve always loved this I AM Statement, because Jesus clarifies what the world tries to confuse. The religious leaders of Jesus’ time taught that people could get to Heaven by demonstrating an appearance of righteousness, even if they did not possess an inner holiness from the heart. In today’s culture, it is popular to believe that many roads lead to Heaven. But in this statement Jesus makes it clear. We can’t earn our way into heaven, and we can’t take any path to get there. The only way to the Father is through believing and following the Son. (See related blog post here.)

The Truth

A dear friend often laments that our children are growing up in a culture which does not recognize universal truth. We do live in an age where people are encouraged to “live their truth”. But Jesus clearly stated that He alone is the source of truth and knowledge of God. In fact, Jesus became the living Word of God (John 1:14). When we choose to follow His teachings, He promises we will know the truth (John 8:31-32). 

The Life

When I first studied the Bible, I was surprised to learn Jesus created the world, alongside His Father and the Holy Spirit. Through the creation process, He became the source of physical life (John 1:2-4). As our Good Shepherd, He leads us to a full and abundant life (John 10:10). And as we have seen, in Him our spirits will never die (John 11:25-26).(See related blog post here.) Here, Jesus reminds us that He is the only source to the Father and eternal life (John 17:3). Only in Jesus do we experience the life God created for us.

Vauvenargues, a french moralist and writer from the eighteenth century, is quoted as saying, “Simple truths are a relief from grand speculations”. I believe Jesus’ simple truths relieve us of the anxiety of uncertainty. His truthful words not only clarify the One path we should take, but they assure us it will lead us all the way to Heaven.

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the way, the truth, and the life for us. In a complicated world of so many choices, You clarify what we need. I pray we will accept and trust Your Words as our truth, and that we will follow You all the way as You lead us to Heaven. Amen.