John in His gospel records the seven I am statements of Christ. These statements tell us something about the identity of Jesus. This article looks at the sixth one – I am the way the truth, and the life, based on John 14:6. 

Source: Christian Renewal, 2000. 2 pages.

The Way, The Truth, The Life

long gravel road

It was the night in which He was betrayed. The "last supper" was finished. Reclining about the table after the meal, the disciples find their hearts swimming with a whole host of emotions. There was sadness. There was shame because of the proud and childish way they'd acted as compared to their Saviour's example of service. They were deeply perplexed that one of them would betray Him. And, as will become clearer a little later when the events of the coming night send them all running, it appears their faith is wavering. They start to wonder about how this can all fit together.

In love and tender compassion Jesus says, "Let not your hearts be troubled."

This is no cold, calloused command. Jesus isn't spouting off empty words. This isn't "don't worry be happy" as if nothing makes sense and nothing matters anyway. Neither is He suggesting that if only their faith were stronger they wouldn't have any heartache.

He knows what it is to have a troubled heart. Nobody knows the troubles He's seen, whether that be in the face of death (John 11:33), pondering His coming cross (John 12:27) or agonizing over being betrayed (John 13:21).

He tenderly points to the Father. In My Father's house are many mansions. The Father loves you, He is saying. You can be sure of it because I AM, He explains. I am the way, the truth and the life.

First, He is the way.

Jesus hasn't invented a new concept. We are immediately put in mind of how the Old Testament spoke of the life of God's covenant fellowship with His people. In Deuteronomy 8:2 Israel is called to remember the way which the LORD her God led her for forty years in the wilderness. To the way belonged all the signs and wonders, the difficult and delight­ful experiences, in short, the life of fellowship in covenant with God. Think of Moses' mediatorial prayer in Exodus 33:13: Now therefore I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.

The way speaks of covenantal obedience. We pray with David: teach me your way O Lord (Psalm 27:11). Disobedience and rebel­lion are spoken of as turning aside from the way (Proverbs 16:25, Isaiah 53:6a, Romans 3:12). Again and again God's people turned aside from the way, like sheep that go astray. It was a way we could not keep.

So when Jesus says I am the way, He is not merely saying, I show you the way, I open the way, I light a path to the way, I blaze a trail for you and then you follow in my steps. No, He says I am the way.

"Where I go you cannot come." Praise God, we need not come! Jesus' way will in a few short hours take in sad Gethsemane; it will mean being despised, rejected, condemned and forsaken. It will take Him to the cross.

staircase to heaven

Your way to God, Jesus is saying, is not My way, but Me.

I'm not asking you to walk in the way that I am going. You can't, but I will. I am the fulfillment of all of those broken demands of the covenant. I am the way.

He is also the truth. It's not just that He speaks the truth (He does), or that He teaches the truth, points to the truth — He is the truth. In John's Gospel the term "truth" doesn't simply mean "not false", but also has the idea of realization and fulfillment. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

So when He says I am the truth, Jesus is saying, all of the ceremonies, all of the sacrifices, all of the symbols of the Old Testament, all of it finds its fulfillment in Me. Those things are the shadows, the pictures, I am the reality, I am the truth!

And He is the life. He doesn't just show us life, He is life, the life. He is the life by whom alone we live, the One who lovingly, sovereignly, brings us into the way and carries us along.

There is a real exclusivism in the words of our Saviour: "No one comes to the Father except through Me." There are not many ways to the Father. This would be the message committed to the apostles with which they would go into all the world, to the Jews first. Everything before pointed to Christ, so you must receive Him. Disown Him and you are not coming to God. Whoever won't see the Son won't see the Father. As well for all times these words of Christ point up the urgency of the message that has been entrusted to us. Yet these words of Christ are not relevant only for the moment of initial conversion, they are about a life of coming to the Father, walking in the Way, living in covenant fellowship, walking in new obedience before His face.

footsteps

To be sure, because Christ is the way we may know that we will one day see the Father face to face. There is a place being prepared for us. But coming to the Father, living in the way is not simply about longing for the day we get to escape, and go to meet God. That's why Phillip was so off the mark when he asked: "Show us the Father." He wanted an experience like Moses had, but he still failed to realize the blessing that stood right before him.

Jesus' goal is not to take us out of this world. You've seen the Father! You have a task to accomplish, here. Greater works will you do. Yes, you will have tribulation, but through Me you are now in the way, you have the truth, you've been given life!

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