The Way, The Truth, The Life

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

To live with God in His realm would be the supreme state of life and fruition of purpose. What could be better than that? To be with Him, accepted into the sphere of His eternal love, would surpass all conditions. This is derived from what Jesus said to His disciples. He comforted them concerning His imminent departure; “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3) A place in His Father’s house. . .  Perhaps house was the term of choice because it points to home, the comfort zone. What kind of place would the One from everlasting to everlasting have for Himself? “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” (Acts 17:24-25) The Spirit calls the church His house; “the house of God, which is the church of the living God. . .” (I Tim. 3:15) The church consists of people, living stones, among whom love abides. If we reduce God’s house to an architectural frame, nothing fits. A resplendent mansion nested in the heart of a magnificent estate would be tawdry, a cardboard shanty would be unfit. However, love makes a shanty homey and a mansion peaceful. Love is the resplendent quality. The Lord depicted His abode as a cube measured 1500 miles to a side, as per Revelation 21:16. The very dimensions take this outside of earthly practicality, these hint of vastness and symmetry, some kind of abstraction which the Spirit associated with the tenderness of wiping all tears away. There is a place prepared for the followers of Jesus, wonderful beyond imagination.

When Jesus said, “I am the way. . .” He was talking about how we arrive at His Father’s house, God’s home. The term “way” has to do with an avenue for travel. In this case, the avenue is Jesus’ behavior. Jesus said to His disciples; “ My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34) His way consisted of doing the Father’s will. Therefore, we must follow Jesus in this matter. Our path is to do the Father’s will. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matt.7:21) A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. (Isaiah 35:8) “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.” (I John 5:18)

Through Jesus, the particulars of God’s will are made clear. The truth is not arbitrary. God is One, and there is “one faith.” The source of that faith is “one Spirit” who was sent by Jesus to convict the world “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” Conviction occurs because of testimony establishing evidence; truth. Truth enables us to yield with eyes open to God’s revelation and commandments. Truth is revealed through the Bible, and the knowledge of Jesus puts everything into perspective from beginning to end. “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding. . .” (I John 5:20)

Life is simply the power from God which gives us strength to move. In this case, it is the strength to be as Christ. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24) For our purpose the pivotal phrase is “shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” Life begins with being free from condemnation, innocence. But it is more than a clean slate. To live is to do. “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death.” (I John 3:14) Therefore life is not only being justified, it is going on to the perfection of love. This is to be in Christ; “. . .we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (I John 5:20)

Finally, the exclusiveness of Jesus is clearly stated in these phrases from John 14:6; “I am the” and, “except through Me.” Jesus declared only through Himself can we go home to the Father. It is not through faith in any other. This was not pride or self absorption. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (II Tim.2:13) The reality of Jesus as the Son of God brooks no substitution. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” (I John 5:21)