Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6 (ESV)
This marks the sixth of seven 'I am' statements in John's account (cf. 6:35; 8:12; 10:9, 11; 11:25; 15:1). And while all those sayings are vital to our understanding of Christ’s identity, it is hard to overemphasize the importance of this one. Jesus' words here have so shaped Christianity that, although they may have been first referred to as "Christians" by outsiders (cf. Ac. 11:26), internally, they thought of themselves as followers of "the Way" (cf. Ac. 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22), a likely call back to this very passage.
But, putting aside the historical significance of John 14:6, how are we to understand Jesus' words?
Unlike Mr. Myiagi, Yoda, or the Mandalorian, Jesus did not spout off sayings that may have sounded important but were actually meaningless—i.e., “wax on, wax off,” “do or do not; there is no try,” “this is the way,” .etc. The Lord wanted his words to be understood and applied. And so, below I'd like to meditate on what Jesus meant when he said he was "the way, the truth, and the life." By studying what each term means, we'll avoid leaving this profound statement to the realm of cheesy movie quotes, abstract thought, and utter pointlessness, and we’ll move into the realm of real life.
Jesus is the singular Way.
When Jesus says he is “the way,” he is saying that he is the means, that the only access to God is through him. He is the door where there was no door before (cf. Jn. 10:1, 7, 9). Christianity is not tolerant nor inclusive in this regard (cf. Ac. 4:12). Like a lone light on a dark horizon, Jesus stands in striking relief against the backdrop of our hopeless existence (cf. Jn. 1:5). Though only a few may find it, he beckons all to come to him. But, make no mistake, the called must come on his terms, by his direction, according to his way. The path to Jesus does not meander; it is "straight" (cf. Mat. 7:13). The way is not wide but "narrow" (Mat. 7:14). There are no other roads that lead to God. And, just in case that wasn't clear enough, Jesus even says, "No man comes to the Father except through me.” There are not multiple ways to heaven. There is only Jesus Christ, the Way incarnate (cf. 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 10:20).
Jesus is the singular Truth.
When Jesus says he is “the truth,” he is saying that he is reality, that the only real thing in all the universe is him. John noted in 1:3, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Flip a mountain on its side, and you will find “Made by Jesus” stamped with indelible ink by its roots (cf. Ps. 19:1-2). He is the one by whom the worlds were created and by whom we continue to exist (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is the first mover; he sets into motion movement; he puts the planets into orbit. The Lord is the first cause; he tips the first piece in a chain reaction; he lights the match that ignites stars. Gravitational forces persist because the Lord has not given them leave to stop. Truth, be it from the spiritual or physical realm, cannot be found apart from the Son of God. Christians insist that ‘all truth is God’s truth’ for good reason. If we should happen upon some new discovery, we (perhaps) might take some credit for finding it, but we would never take credit for making it. Old, new, and undiscovered truths all bear the marks of Jesus Christ, the Truth incarnate.
Jesus is the singular Life.
When Jesus says he is "the life," he is saying that he is purpose, that the only meaning that has any real meaning is to be found in him. One cannot truly exist apart from him. Whatever a person might be without Jesus, they are not their truest selves as they were meant to be (cf. Ps. 139:13-16). Like a candle without a flame, life has no light if Jesus is absent from our lives. The Lord alone animates and energizes our very essence. Without him, we become lifeless husks, ghouls who experience a dull and listless existence. But with him, we become children again, adolescents who experience a vibrant and driven life (cf. Jn. 3:3). As John said in his prelude, "In him was life, and the life was the light of men.….[and] to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…" (1:4, 12). "Life," "light," and "right" are found at the hand of the Son of God, and he gives them freely to all those who put their faith in him. He gives us breath and keeps us breathing (cf. Gen. 2:7). He gives us thought and keeps us thinking (cf. Psa. 139:13-14). He gives us life and keeps us living (cf. Deut. 32:39). Listen to a baby's first cry, and you will also hear the Life-Giver singing. Smell the first flowers of spring, and you will breathe in his sweet fragrance. Savor a season's first fruit, and you will delight in Jesus Christ, the Life incarnate.
With all that said, do you follow "the Way" and His leading? Does "the Truth" make His home in you? Will "the Life" welcome you with a warm embrace when your life fades away? I hope so. How tragic it would be if the way you traveled led only to a ditch. How awful it would be if the truth you believed led only to deception. And, truly, truly, how horrible it would be if the life you lived led only to death's cruel embrace.
"Without the Way, there is no going. Without the Truth, there is no knowing. Without the Life, there is no living.”
- Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (2004), p. 124.
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