The Way The Truth and The Life John

The Way, The Truth, and The Life John 14: 4 -6

Review • Jesus has told His apostles that He will not be with them much longer – He had told them earlier He would be crucified – He told them they would not be able to come with Him, but could follow later • After Peter asked for more information, Jesus revealed He was going to His Father – He would prepare a place for them – Then He would return for them

Finding the Way • John 14: 4 -5 – Jesus concludes His remark by saying • They know where He is going – Heaven, from His preceding statements • They know the way – Thomas says he doesn’t understand • Didn’t catch the meaning of Jesus going to His Father’s house • And if you don’t know where, then you can’t know the way

I am. . . • John 14: 6 – Jesus’ answer to Thomas: • I am the way, the truth, and the life • No one comes to the Father except through Me – Again the answer to where He is going is “to the Father” – In addition, He says He is the way to the Father • But exactly what did Jesus mean by saying He is the way, the truth, and the life?

The Way • Jesus clearly said He is the ONLY way to the Father (Jn 14: 6 b) – Peter later said the same (Acts 4: 12) – May seem too exclusive in our politically correct culture, but it is what Jesus said

How is Jesus the Way? • By revealing the Father – Jn 14: 7 -9; 1: 18; 12: 44 -45 • By opening the way to draw near to the Father – Heb 10: 19 -20 • By serving as our high priest – Heb 2: 17 -18; 4: 14 -16; 10: 21 -22 • By interceding for us (Rom 8: 34; Heb 7: 24 -25) – As our Advocate (1 Jn 2: 1) – As our only Mediator (1 Tim 2: 5) • By virtue of His life on earth, His death on the cross, and now His service in heaven, Jesus is truly the only way to God!

The Truth • Jesus also claimed to be “the truth” – But what is truth? • The question posed by Pontius Pilate (Jn 18: 37 -38) • Consider the meaning of the Greek words translated as "true" and "truth": (as defined in Vine’s) – True (alethes) - "unconcealed, manifest. . . actual, true to fact" – True (alethinos) - "denotes 'true' in the sense of 'real, ideal, genuine; '" – Truth (aletheia) » "objectively, signifying 'the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter' (Cremer)“ » "subjectively, 'truthfulness, ' 'truth, ' not merely verbal, but sincerity and integrity of character" • When Jesus speaks of truth (Jn 14: 6, 18: 37), He uses aletheia objectively – Describes that which is reality, factual, and absolute, not relative

How is Jesus the Truth? • He proclaimed that truth is real and knowable (Jn 8: 31 -32) – He proclaimed that truth can set one free from the bondage of sin (Jn 8: 32 -34) • His word is the way to truth that frees one from sin (Jn 8: 31, 34 -36) • He faithfully proclaimed His Father's Word, which is truth (Jn 17: 14, 17) • By abiding in Jesus' teachings, we can know the truth (the absolute reality) and the freedom it offers!

The Life • Jesus is the life (Jn 14: 6) – What kind of life does He have to offer? • • • Jn 10: 10 – abundant life Jn 11: 25 -26 – eternal life Jn 14: 27 – peaceful life Jn 15: 9 -10 – loving life (Jn 13: 34 -35) Jn 15: 11 – joyful life – How can we receive that life? • Jn 3: 3 -5 – must be born again (Acts 2: 38) • Jn 15: 10 -14 – must obey to His commands

Conclusion • Jesus is truly the way, the truth, and the life – The way to knowing and experience God as our Heavenly Father – The embodiment of truth that provides freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin – The source of life that is blessed now and lasts forever! • Has Jesus become your way to God, your truth, and your life?