JESUS IS THE WAY

John 14:4-7 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him, and have seen Him.

Jesus had just explained to His apostles the necessity of His death, burial, resurrection, and return back into heaven to be with His spiritual Father. He also assured them that their separation would only be for a while. Afterwards He would return for them, carry them back into heaven, provide an eternal resting place for them, and in heaven, live with them throughout eternity. And wither I go ye know. That is, they should know, because on several occasions He had told them previously (See Matt. 16:21; Luke 9:22; 18:31-33). Not only should they know where it was necessary for Him to go, but Jesus also added that the way ye know, that is,by believing Him to be the Son of God and obediently following the New Testament doctrine that He taught. That He is the way, is recorded by the apostle John, 3:16-17; 3:36; 6:40; 10:9; 12:26).

Jesus' apostles, though they had often been told of His approaching death, yet they still believed He was the promised Messiah, and that He would establish a temporal kingdom on earth, protect the nation of Israel, and rule over them forever. For this reason, none of His apostles could comprehend the reason for His death, however, only Thomas expressed this lack of understanding. Thomas saith unto Him, Lord, we know not whither Thou goest; and how can we know the way? Confessing his ignorance on the subject, Thomas told Jesus that he, and the other apostles, must first know the place He was going in order for them to know the way they were to get there. One thing we can learn from this lack of understanding is that when one's mind is filled with false, prejudiced misconceptions, it is extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to hear, understand, believe, and accept God's truths. This problem the apostles had in understanding Jesus' teachings, is the same that exists in the majority of today's "religious bodies."

In answering this apostle's question, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. To explain the meaning of Jesus as the way leading to heaven, one only need turn to John 10:9b; there Jesus says that I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. The example He gave us, the doctrine He taught, and the atoning sacrifice He made, also assures us that He is the way. And since His way is the only way to be reconciled to God and be assured of a home in heaven, all other religious doctrines that deny this pathway to heaven, are proven to be false ways that lead to perdition. We know He leads us in the way of righteousness because He is also the truth. John also wrote that the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). Jesus is the only human being that has ever received this holy acknowledged endorsement from God: This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him (Matt. 17:5b). As His Son, Jesus taught only God's will - He taught the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Jesus was the way, the truth, and now tells them that He is also the life. Jesus did not breathe physical life into us; rather God gave life to man in the beginning. However, it was through His Son, Jesus, that all people of the world have the hope of eternal life. Also, John recorded this confession of Jesus about His spiritual life-giving power: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die (John 11:25-26).

The only "way" to eternal life in heaven, and into the presence of God, is through His Son, Christ Jesus - no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me. God gave all men and women of the world the hope of eternal life in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life (See 1 John 5:11-12). Luke wrote this truth about Jesus' power of eternal salvation: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus and God, His Heavenly Father, are one (John 10:30). They were together in heaven before time began, and there they designed the plan of eternal salvation before men and women ever came into being on earth. There is only one plan, and only one way mankind has access to that plan. It is through the soul-cleansing blood of the atoning death of Christ Jesus on the cross of Calvary. If Jewish prejudices had not been allowed to blind them, the apostles at this time would have known Jesus and also His Father. However, they have this consolation. From the time of His crucifixion forward, they shall know Him.