I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)
Jesus said to Thomas, one of the Apostles: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Believers in Jesus Christ, how well do we understand this statement?
Jesus spoke these words to His apostles while explaining His kingdom on earth and the heavenly kingdom. John 14 begins with Jesus consoling His apostles after telling them in the previous chapter that He would return to Heaven.
John 13:33-36
33 “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.”
34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
36 “Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.”
Here, Jesus clearly tells them He is returning to Heaven, and that they will follow Him later. Peter, however, presses for an answer. Jesus reassures him but explains that events of that night—His arrest and crucifixion—are part of God’s plan.
1. Jesus Christ, the Way
Why does Jesus say He is the way to God? The answer is found in John 10:7-9:
7 “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”
8 “All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”
9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Every believer is described as a sheep, with Christ as the shepherd. Scriptures like Psalms 80:1-19, Psalm 100:3, Psalm 95:7, Ezekiel 34:31, and Genesis 48:15 reinforce that God Himself is the shepherd of His people, leading, protecting, and providing for them. Psalms 23:1-6 further highlights this care and guidance.
2. Jesus Christ, the Truth
Jesus Christ as the truth is revealed in His sending of the Holy Spirit:
John 15:26
“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”
Jesus, as the truth, sends the Spirit of truth. He acts both as sender and as the Spirit Himself. Only through the Holy Spirit can we truly understand that Jesus is God. John 16:7, 13-15 clarify that the Spirit guides us into all truth and glorifies Jesus.
Revelation 1:8, 1:11-18 and John 1:1-5 further reveal Jesus as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, and God Himself. In John 14:7, Jesus clearly states that knowing Him is knowing the Father. Through metaphors, proverbs, and analogies, Jesus teaches in ways that require the Holy Spirit to understand fully.
John 4:24, John 8:56-58 reinforce that Jesus is the “I am,” the eternal God, before Abraham and all creation.
