What Is In a Name: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

The Way, the Truth, and the Life

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7, NIV)

It was graduation day! The ceremony was complete and they all had their degrees. As they stood around at the reception talking, emotions were mixed. They were all excited about what was to come, and many had new jobs lined up. But as they looked around at the people they had spent the last four years with, they knew things were about to change. For four years they had lived together, laughed together, cried together, studied together, and spent far too many waking hours together. Now that was all going to change. They would no longer be in the same states, much less the same neighborhood or house. But it was time. Time to take what they had learned and apply it to the world.

For the disciples, it was almost graduation day. Things were about to change, although they did not yet know it. Jesus knew, however. Jesus knew things were about to change. He knew exactly what was going to happen in the coming hours and coming days. And He did what He could to prepare the disciples for it.

Jesus gave his sixth I AM declaration during the Last Supper. In His seven I AM declarations, Jesus was not simply claiming to be, He was claiming to be the only one! Just as God declared Himself the I AM to Moses, the only one. Here, at the Last Supper, Jesus declared Himself the way, the truth, and the light, the only way to come to the Father.

First, Jesus was making clear that He was the only way! There is no other path, no back road, no forging your own path. The path goes through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the only way a person can obtain salvation. We cannot earn it ourselves. Salvation and eternal life are only accessible through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, believing in the sacrifice that He made for our sins.

No two people have the same path in life. Jesus is the way, therefore we must fix our eyes upon Him, follow where He leads us, and trust in Him in everything we do. We are sheep, following our Shepherd’s voice.

Second, Jesus was making clear that He is the only truth! Anyone can claim to speak the truth, however, only Jesus can never be doubted. All truths we are told must be compared to the truth told by Jesus. Jesus speaks the Law of God, the supreme truth, because He is the Law. He is the Truth.

Finally, Jesus was making clear that He is life. Jesus was there when life was created. He has authority over life and death. Death has no power, no hold over Him. He may die, but death will not hold him. He will return to life. Through His defeat of death, we can be saved from the consequences of our sins and granted eternal life.

So what does this mean for us? Our lives should be dedicated to following Christ and living our lives through Him. We should entrust our journey to Him, following only Him, as He will not lead us astray. Knowing Jesus, developing our relationship with Him, will help us see the path He has planned for us.

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