The Seven “I AM” Statements in the Gospel of John PART 7

The Seven “I AM” Statements in the Gospel of John PART 7

I AM the Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6)

[Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6)][1]

            Scientists from all over the world spent centuries trying to find a method that would help them to locate global coordinates for any desired location with great accuracy and speed. On June 26, 1993, the United States Airforce launched the satellite, 24th Navistar, into orbit which was part of a 24-satellite operation called the Global Navigation System (GPS) that made their dream a reality.[2] They were finally able to have a way to have precise coordinates for their various military operations. Not only was the military able to benefit from this technology, but it was made available to the public to use rather they were part of a large company and/or for private use.

Years later, from airplane pilots to city drivers within the United States and abroad, people are able to use this great technology to navigate their way to unknown destinations. Once they type an address into their GPS devices, they can go anywhere they choose, Directions to their desired destination are downloaded to their device in a matter of seconds. In addition to readable directions, most GPS devices have a built-in narrator that talks them through every turn, light, highway and even give traffic updates should they encounter a delay. The only thing that the driver has to do is listen to the GPS and follow its instructions. Even if they miss or make a wrong turn, the GPS will immediately reroute the user to get them back on the right track. Similarly, Jesus, who is the Way, Truth, and the Life is man’s spiritual GPS. He is the Way to the Father who gives them Truth that leads them to Eternal Life. 

Jesus declared in John’s Gospel that He is the Way, Truth and the Life. Jesus was responding to the disciple Thomas’ question regarding knowing which way to go upon Jesus’ departure from the earth.[3] Jesus let the disciples know that there is only one Way to get to the Father and that was through Him. The Father was in Him and He was in the Father; therefore, the Two could not be separated from each other. Jesus helped the disciples to understand that when they have seen Him, they were actually seeing the Father whom no earthly man has seen including Moses who could only see the back of God.[4] Jesus was God made flesh so that they could understand that He was the only Way to get to the Father and no other path could take them to Him.

Many people have tried and failed to find another way to what they believe is paradise other than Jesus through Buddha, Mohammad, Gandhi, money, fame, sex and other acts of idolatry. The Jews rejected Him because they only could see the law that was given to Moses but failed to see that Jesus, who was a greater Prophet than Moses, came with grace and truth; therefore, fulfilling the law.[5] Nevertheless, they will one day find out that their failure to accept Christ in their hearts prevented them from receiving eternal life because they rejected God’s son. If the architect of a house tells an interested person that there is only one way to get into the house, why would that person try to find another way when the builder of the house knows that which he built? It is the same way with understanding Jesus’ words in that He is the only way to the Father who leads the believer to Salvation. Because He is the Architect, He is the only Way that can lead one to the expected end.

Jesus is the Truth who leads the believer to the Father. In the beginning of John’s Gospel, he begins by describing Jesus as being the Word. Within the Word, there is Truth, for in Him, there can be no falsehood found. Everything about the Father is presented in the Word that deliver’s truth to the believer’s ears. This is why the Bible says to not only be hearers but doers of the Word of God because the believer who hears have an obligation to respond to the Truth that they have been presented with.[6] Therefore, everyone will be held accountable for what they have done on earth and will be without excuse because the Word of Truth will have been presented to everyone at some point in their lives, but it is up to the individual to either accept or reject it.[7] Jesus’ truth leads the believer down the narrow path to the Father to gain eternal life.

Jesus is the Life. He laid down His own life so that the believer could have eternal life with the Father. Sin caused a rift between God and man, but the sacrificial gift that Jesus gave offered man the opportunity to be reconnected with the Father. It does not matter what a person has done or how many mistakes they have made, Jesus laid down His life so that everyone could be given the gift of eternal life. Man’s life on earth is short but life with the Father is for all eternity which is promised to those who endure to the end. Jesus having come, died, and rose again made it possible for man to have the blessed hope in the knowledge that the devil was defeated at the cross and could no longer hold them captive to sin. Therefore, in Jesus, the promise of New Life begins for all who believe and the old life that was once full of sin is buried in the bottom of the sea with no residue that it ever existed. 

A.    Overview of Divine Qualities as the Way, the Truth and the Life.

a.)    Oneness with the Father

aa.) Jesus is One in the Father and shows His children the path that leads to eternal life through the truth found in His Word just as a navigator gives directions to the listener.

b.)    Incarnate nature

bb.) Jesus was made flesh so that man could gain wisdom from His teachings and see his signs and wonders that are still being experienced today.

c.)    Transcendent qualities

cc.) Jesus is the only way to the Father by which man can be saved and this truth transcends time and space for all who embrace Him as the Son of God.

d.)    Redemptive works

dd.) Jesus’ death tore the veil that separated man from God and it is through Him that man comes to the knowledge of Truth for He is the Risen Savior. His death served to awaken mankind to their need for Him in order to be freed from the bondage of sin embedded within man’s nature.[8]

B.      Application of the Believer

a.)    Jesus is the Way, Truth and the Life by which all can be saved. Any other path that man follows will only lead to destruction. Therefore, this Truth is found in the Word of God which leads all who studies, follows and accepts its teachings to eternal life.

---

[1] John 14:6 (New Living Translation),

[2] National Park Service, "The History of GPS," NPS.gov Homepage (U.S. National Park Service), accessed November 22, 2018, https://www.nps.gov/gis/gps/history.html.

[3] John 14:9-14 (New International Version).

[4] Van der Merwe, "Old Testament Spirituality," 9.

[5] Dirk G. Van der Merwe, "Old Testament spirituality in the gospel of John," Verbum et Ecclesia 35, no. 1 (2014): 6, doi:10.4102/ve.v35i1.837.

[6] James 1:22 (New International Version).

[7] Rom. 1:20 (English Standard Version).

[8] McKinnon, "Contemporary Church Problems," 37.