I am the way, the truth and the life

Exeter Temple Corps

Sunday 1^st September 2013
"I am the way the truth and the life." John 14:6

The context of these words is a conversation between Jesus and his disciples who are worried and upset. (John 14:1) In Greek the way, truth and life are not co-equal terms. Instead, truth and life describe what the way is. I am the way which is true and I am the way which life giving. 

1. He is the way of life
In nature there are laws of chemistry, physics and biology. There is a way that works and a way that doesn’t. There is also a way that works best for mankind emotionally, e.g. too much stress is bad for you and so is too little. There is a law which says people need to be loved and to love. The reason that man runs out of resources on his own is that he was designed to live life connected with his creator.
There is a right way and a wrong way to live. Jesus Christ came to reveal Himself as the way that is true. His truth is more than a creed to assent to; it is about trusting that Jesus is the real and reliable way to live.  
When some think of Jesus as the way, they think of a doorway or a turnstile but the picture here is much more of Jesus being a way upon whom and with whom life is walked. This was the conception of early Christians. In Acts they referred to what they had found in Jesus as “the way” and they were referred to as the people of the “Way”
Life is connected to the way and so is truth. Truth brings us back to the idea of light. As we walk the Way, truth guides our path. It keeps us from straying from the Way. If you see Jesus as that kind of way then you cannot compartmentalize your life into what is secular and what is religious.
2. He is the way out
Jesus is the right road and without him we are on the wrong road which ultimately leads to our being a casualty. A life without Jesus is an accident black spot. Jesus is the only way out of the traps sin got us into. 
Although Jesus as the way is clearly signposted, many by pass Him.  We are promised that those who are truly seeking a right way will find Him. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open.” 
People can exit the road of sin and self-sufficiency at any time, but they have to trust Jesus and be prepared to go through the cross to pass from our way to his way.  
3 He’s the Way home
The literal definition of “way” is a path, a road. It is a means of getting from one place to another or a progression from something, to something else. Human beings need to know that their lives are heading somewhere.
Jesus adds on to His “I am” statement, “No-one comes to the Father except by me”.  We lose the significance of what Jesus is saying here when we just see this verse as an argument about which religion is right. Jesus is saying that there is a goal to reach and that goal is to come home to as Father. Home is where we belong, where we are wanted, where we are known and where we are loved. Contrary to popular belief the goal of Christianity is not to get to the Father just when we die but to live each day in a personal relationship with God.
Jesus’ statement that He is the exclusive way of truth and life is also one of the most inclusive sayings we have. He is an open road. We have no toll to pay and there is no immigration check.
Christians have a credibility problem. We tell everyone that Jesus is the way, truth and life and often disregard Him in much of our living!
Reflection
Recap upon the three main ideas from the session
a)    Jesus is the way life works
b)    Jesus is the only way out of the traffic jam of sin
c)    Jesus leads us home to the Father

Which one speaks most to you?
What other interpretations are there?

 If I am to hallow my every day are there any changes I need to make in:

the way I use my time 
how I pursue my entertainment
the way I  spend my money 
how I treat others
how I look after my body

God Bless
Alan