Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
I’d be lost without my satnav, in both senses of the word. I’ve had it for a few years now, and use it all the time. Even if I think I know where I’m going, I’ll often put it on, just to make sure. Some people, though, rely too much on the gadget itself. If all you use is a satnav, you tend to have very little idea about the lie of the land, and can find yourself going in ridiculously circuitous routes to get to your destination. Sometimes, you can even end up miles out of your way, at a place with the same name, but not the one you wanted. Satnav is always best used in conjunction with a map, because that way you can ensure that the satnav is heading in the right direction.
In today’s verse, Jesus gives very clear directions concerning the way to God. “No one,” he says, “comes to the father except through me.” There are many other religions that claim to provide the way to God. Some people even think of choosing a religion as choosing any other commodity – they all do basically the same thing, but in a different way. Jesus is absolutely clear that this is not the case; he alone provides a path to God. Any religion that does not flag Jesus up as the only way to salvation is simply wrong. Jesus is the way, showing us the direction. He is the embodiment of truth, as laid out in the Old Testament. He is the life – the one from whom all life flows, both through the act of creation itself, and also in the life to come. If Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, it is important that we understand both who he is, and the prophecies of the Old Testament. The Bible acts as our map, since it supports and clarifies the teaching of Jesus.
Do you accept that Jesus is the only way to the Father? Do you recognise Jesus as being the way, the truth and the life? Do you diligently study God’s word to ensure that you know and understand the claims that Jesus makes?