John 14:6 - Jesus Is The Way, The Truth And The Life. (part 1)
John 14:6 - Jesus Is The Way, The Truth And The Life. (part 1)
John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
This is a critical verse, for Jesus said that no man could reach
God unless he approached God through Jesus Himself. [Preacher's
Outline & Sermon Bible]
This is one of the most basic and important passages in
Scripture. How can we know the way to God? Only through Jesus. Jesus is the
way because he is both God and man. By uniting our life with his, we
are united with God. Trust Jesus to take you to the Father, and all
the benefits of being God's child will be yours. [Life Application
SB]
The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate
us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other
way! Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will
be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God. [In His
Time; My Utmost For His Highest re Eph.1:7]
No clearer statement in all of Scripture is given on who Jesus
Christ is and His position. So many people consider themselves
spiritually acceptable to God on the basis that they believe that God
exists, or because they have done the best they could. But how far short
of saving faith they fall. Knowing Jesus personally, believing He
is God, accepting His atoning work on the cross is absolutely
essential. Since Jesus is the way, we need to be following Him. Since
Jesus is the truth, we need to be learning from Him. Since Jesus is
the life, we need to be walking with Him. How much time do you
spend learning from Him, or following His commands, or doing what He
requires? There should be no greater desire in our hearts than to be
found "in Him." [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
Jesus' words, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, are the
sixth of Jesus' seven "I am" statements in the Gospel of John (6:48;
8:12; 10:9, 11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1). Jesus is the "Way" because He is
the "Truth" and the "Life." [Bible Knowledge Commentary]
This is the sixth "I am" declaration in John. Jesus does not
simply show the way; He is the Way. Jesus does not simply reveal truth;
He is the Truth. Jesus does not simply give life; He is the Life.
All the concepts and abstractions are turned into a Person. The way,
the truth and the life describe the three principal aspects of the
Exodus: the way out of bondage (as out of Egypt), the truth which guides
us in living the Christian life (the giving of the Law at Mount
Sinai), and the power to live a life pleasing to Christ (the settling
into the Promised Land of Canaan). [Believer's SB]
The Seven "I AM" Statements of Christ. *
1 John 6:35 (KJV) And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of
life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth
on me shall never thirst. Jesus is The Bread of Life
2 John 8:12 (KJV) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I
am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light of life. Jesus is The Light of the
World
3 John 10:7, 9 (KJV) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.... I am the door: by
me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out,
and find pasture. Jesus is Door
4 John 10:11, 14 (KJV) I am the good shepherd: the good
shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.... I am the good shepherd, and know
my sheep, and am known of mine. Jesus is The Good Shepherd
5 John 11:25 (KJV) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection,
and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live: Jesus is The Resurrection
6 John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jesus is
The Way, The Truth, & The Life.
7 John 15:1, 5 (KJV) I am the true vine, and my Father is the
husbandman.... I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I
in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can
do nothing. Jesus is The Vine
* Jesus claimed to be the "I AM" or God. John 8:58
APPLICATION COMMENTARY
JESUS - THE WAY
In the early church, Christianity was sometimes called "the Way"
(e.g., Ac 9:2; 19:9,23). [NIV SB]
If you're lost, you need a map. And that's what Jesus offers
to everyone - a roadmap for navigating life. More than that, he
says he is the road. Jesus says that nothing you find in this world
will provide lasting meaning and direction; only he can do that for
you. Jesus is the pathway that leads to real purpose. Jesus doesn't
point you in the right direction; he is the right direction. Jesus
doesn't provide us with different options to try; he says, "I am the way
you should go. I am the only meaningful pursuit." He is the route to
the ultimate destination - eternal life with God in heaven.
So what does this mean for us? Take him at his word and see if
what he says is true. Believe in him, follow in his way by doing what
he commands, and you'll have abundant life that will never end.
Jesus isn't a twelve-step plan of self-improvement; he is a one-step
plan to eternal life. [The One Year Bible for New Believers re John
14:6]
Christ is the way from earth to heaven. By His humanity He
touches this earth, and by His divinity He touches heaven. He is the
ladder connecting earth and heaven (ch. 1:51; cf. PP 184). Because of
His incarnation and death "a new and living way" has been
consecrated for us (Heb. 10:20). There is no other means of salvation (Acts
4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5). [SDA Commentary]
JESUS is the WAY: Our personal relationship with Christ links us
to God. (Life Application Commentary)
JESUS - THE TRUTH
In our day, as of old, the vital truths of God's word are set
aside for human theories and speculations. Many professed ministers of
the gospel do not accept the whole Bible as the inspired word. One
wise man rejects one portion; another questions another part. They
set up their judgment as superior to the word; and the Scripture
which they do teach rests upon their own authority. Its divine
authenticity is destroyed. Thus the seeds of infidelity are sown broadcast;
for the people become confused and know not what to believe. There
are many beliefs that the mind has no right to entertain. In the
days of Christ the rabbis put a forced, mystical construction upon
many portions of Scripture. Because the plain teaching of God's word
condemned their practices, they tried to destroy its force. The same thing
is done today. The word of God is made to appear mysterious and
obscure in order to excuse transgression of His law. Christ rebuked
these practices in His day. He taught that the word of God was to be
understood by all. He pointed to the Scriptures as of unquestionable
authority, and we should do the same. The Bible is to be presented as the
word of the infinite God, as the end of all controversy and the
foundation of all faith....
In the sermons from many pulpits of today there is not that
divine manifestation which awakens the conscience and brings life to
the soul. The hearers can not say, "Did not our heart burn within
us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us
the Scriptures?"... Philosophical theories or literary essays, however
brilliant, cannot satisfy the heart. The assertions and inventions of men
are of no value. Let the word of God speak to the people... He
presented Himself to the people as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let
these be the themes of Christ's ministers. Present the truth as it is
in Jesus. COL38-41
The word of God is to be our study. We are to educate our
children in the truths found therein. It is an inexhaustible treasure;
but men fail to find this treasure because they do not search until
it is within their possession... But man's inventions are not only
unreliable, they are dangerous; for they place man where God should be. They
place the sayings of men where a "Thus saith the Lord" should be...
Christ is the truth. His words are truth, and they have a deeper
significance than appears on the surface. All the sayings of Christ have a
value beyond their unpretending appearance. Minds that are quickened
by the Holy Spirit will discern the value of these sayings. They
will discern the precious gems of truth, though these may be buried
treasures... Human theories and speculations will never lead to an
understanding to God's word. COL109-111
JESUS is the TRUTH: He is the reality of all God promised. Our
response should be to believe in him and put into practice what he
taught. (Life Application Commentary)
JESUS - THE LIFE
John plainly teaches that life is found in the Person of Jesus
Christ. He who has Jesus Christ has life, and conversely, he who is
without Jesus Christ has no life (1 John 5:12). [Believer's SB]
JESUS is the LIFE: Jesus gives us life both now and eternally
(1Jo.5:11, 12). Our response should be to receive that life and allow it to
work itself out in our daily experience. (Life Application
Commentary)
SUMMARY STATEMENTS
As the way, Jesus is our path to the Father. As the truth, he is
the reality of all God's promises. As the life, he joins his divine
life to ours, both now and eternally. [Life Application SB]
Jesus is the road to God, the accurate understanding of God, and
our very existence come from God. [Disciple SB]
Jesus did not claim merely to know the way, the truth, and the
life as a formula he could impart to the ignorant; but he actually
claimed to be the answer to human problems. Jesus' solution to
perplexity is not a recipe; it is a relationship with him. [Expositors
Bible Commentary]
If you are walking daily with the Lord, you will not have to
find God's will - you will already be in it. If you are walking with
Him in obedience day by day, you will always be in the will of God.
The Holy Spirit's role is to guide you step by step to do God's
will. Walking closely with God each day guarantees that you will be
exactly where He wants you to be. You would have to reject all of the
Holy Spirit's activity in your life in order to get out of the will
of God.
The disciples never had to ask Jesus where they should go
next. They simply looked to see where Jesus was going and stayed close
to Him! Jesus was their "way." They didn't need a map as long as
they had Jesus. Too often, we would prefer a road map of our future
rather than a relationship with the Way. It often seems easier to
follow a plan than to cultivate a relationship. We can become more
concerned with our future than we are with walking intimately with God
today.
Jesus will never give you a substitute for Himself. He is the
only way to the Father. That's why it is critical that you clearly
know when God is speaking to you (Isa. 30:21). If you are disoriented
to how God speaks, you will not understand when He is giving you a
new revelation about what He is doing. If you want to know God's
will, take time to cultivate your relationship with Jesus and learn to
identify His voice. He is more than willing to show you the way.
[Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and Richard Blackaby re John 14:6]
Jesus is the way to the Father; He reveals the truth about the
Father; and He shares the life of the Father with us. Why should our
hearts be troubled? [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren
Wiersbe re John 14]
SUPPORTING TEXTS
Isa 43:11 (KJV) I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is
no saviour.
Isaiah 45:22 (NKJV) "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of
the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Acts 4:12 (NKJV) Nor is there salvation in any other, for there
is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be
saved."
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