Jesus is the way

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him.” ().

Christianity Today, 1956–1957, Volume 1, Numbers 1–25 The Bible: Text of the Month

Jesus here says: I am the means of coming to the Father (the way) in that I am the truth and the life.—F. L. Godet.

Christianity Today, 1956–1957, Volume 1, Numbers 1–25 The Bible: Text of the Month

The three terms lay down the proposition that no other than Christ is the Mediator of eternal salvation with God in the Messianic kingdom, under three several characteristic aspects which are coordinated yet in such a way that the advance is made from the general to the particular.—H. A. W. Meyer.

We Need Direction

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” ().

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” ().

•Choose Your Path—Jesus is the Way

ohn 1:18, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

•, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

•, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

•, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us”

Choose Your Worldview—Jesus is the Truth

Christianity Today, 1956–1957, Volume 1, Numbers 1–25 The Truth

He does not say, “I teach the truth.” All teachers would at least wish to say that. He does not say, “I am the greatest teacher of truth that the world has seen.” That would have been true; but it would have fallen short, almost infinitely short, of the reality. He does say, “I am the Truth.” … His message is bound up indissolubly with his person; nay, he is his own message to the world. His language is intolerable or meaningless unless there exists such a person as he proclaims himself to be, and unless he is that person. In short, Christ is Christianity.—H. P. Liddon.

Christianity Today, 1956–1957, Volume 1, Numbers 1–25 The Truth

God himself is the first and only essential Truth, in whose being and nature the springs of all truth do lie.

Truth (ἀλήθεια)…refers to things as they are—but always that which is expressed” (EDNT, 58).

Jesus is God’s truth—the way God says things are.

•“Does not wisdom call, does not understanding raise her voice?” (). •“We know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ” ().

•“The word of truth, the Gospel” ().

Choose Your Quality—Jesus is the Life

•“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die’” ().

•“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (). •“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you will also appear with him in glory” ().

•Life (ζωή) “is…what man himself regards as his supreme and characteristic possibility, namely, treasure (θεωρία)” (TDNT, 834).

When Jesus is our Way, Truth, and Life…

“O My God, let me with gratitude remember and confess unto Thee Thy mercies bestowed upon me. Let my bones be steeped in Thy love, and let them say, Who is like unto Thee, O Lord? “Thou hast loosed my bonds, I will offer unto Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving” (Confessions).

•What to do?

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers 1.6: Saint Augustin: Sermon on the Mount, Harmony of the Gospels, Homilies on the Gospels (Catholic Edition) Sermon XCI. [CXLI. Ben.]

SERMON XCI

•“Truth and life doth every man desire; but not every man doth find the way” (Augustine SERMON XCI).

•Choose Jesus’ way.

•Choose Jesus’ truth.

•Choose Jesus’ life.