Jesus Is The Way

My wife and I recently camped at Scout Mountain near Pocatello. Neither of us had been there before so it was a new adventure for us. I had planned to do some hiking in the area, but unfortunately, the US Forest Service provided no trail information at the trailheads, and my trail app wouldn’t show any maps.

I decided to take a late morning hike to Scout Mountain’s peak following a trail used by hikers, bikers, and ATVs. The trail was easy to follow, even through the snowbanks. But, without a map, I didn’t know how long the trail was or the elevation change. Knowing these would have helped me to be better prepared for what turned out to be a 10.5-mile hike with a 2,200’ elevation change.

I like to know where I am going so that I can be better prepared for my journey – maybe you can relate to the feeling. And yet, I find that many are ill-prepared for their journey, especially their spiritual journey.

When Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6) he is showing us the way to God. Certainly, we can balk at the exclusivity of Jesus’ claim, but it’s an undeniable declaration of the way Jesus says we are to go. Either it is true, or it is not.

Notice that Jesus doesn't say that he merely speaks the truth; he claims to be the embodiment of truth. He doesn't say he can give life; he tells us he is the source of life itself. And he doesn't say he is one among many pathways to God; he asserts he is the only way. How can we know if his claims are true?

We can evaluate Jesus’ claims by exploring the historical and theological context of the statement, consider its contextual meaning within the larger narrative of the Bible, and, if we find them to be true, we can evaluate their implications for our lives.

John 14:6 is in a section of John’s gospel that is often referred to as the Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17). In it, we’re given Jesus’ final teaching before his arrest and crucifixion. The verse is a key declaration within Christian theology, emphasizing Jesus' unique role in salvation and his relationship with God, and, in it, he also declares what he brings to those who follow him.

The context for his declaration of being “the way, and the truth, and the life” is rooted in the greater biblical story. First, saying that He is "the way" implies that Jesus is the pathway to God, the only means of access to the Father. On my hike to Scout Mountain, at a crossroads, I depended on a trail sign to point me in the direction that I was to go. Without a sign at a crossroads, how will we know which way to turn? Jesus tells us that he is the way to God.

Since many have declared themselves to be “The Way”, we are wise to ask questions before accepting their claim. That is where Jesus’ second claim comes in: I Am The Truth. In this Jesus is declaring that he is the ultimate revelation of God for all people. Embedded in this statement is the fact that he is not one of many truths, but that he alone is truth.

This also means that Jesus is the incarnation of God's Truth. John’s gospel opened by telling us that Jesus is God's gracious self-disclosure, his "Word" made flesh. It is because of this that we can look to Jesus as our source of both spiritual and moral truth. Therefore, as an absolute truth declared by God through Christ, it is not just my opinion.

Finally, and most importantly, Jesus declares that salvation, seeing God, comes only through him. This is revealed in Jesus’ statement of being "the life", the eternal life given to all who accept the salvation offered by Jesus.

If I had had a map showing the way to the top of Scout Mountain, I would have not only been better prepared for my hike, but I could have gone with greater assurance. Considering the words of the Bible and looking to Jesus, we will not only know the way to go but the way to eternal life. Jesus’ statement of being the way, truth, and life shows us the pathway to the Father. A path of faith that gives us comfort and hope as we rest in His life-giving promises.