‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’ (John 14:5-6)

This sermon was preached on 31/10/2010

As we can see from the preceding verses, Jesus has been speaking about heaven, including the eventual arrival of his people there. In response to his statement that his band of disciples should know how to get there, Thomas speaks for them and indicates that he has not understood that Jesus was referring to heaven and therefore does not know how to get there. In reply, Jesus indicates that he is the way, the truth and the life. His reply also equates reaching with coming to the Father.

There is a well-known summary of this verse found in Thomas a Kempis’ book, the Imitation of Christ: ‘Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living. I am the way which thou must follow; the truth which thou must believe; the life for which thou must hope. I am the inviolable way; the infallible truth, the never-ending life. I am the straightest way; the sovereign truth; life true, life-blessed, life uncreated.’

Obviously this verse is an important one in our multi-faith society. Life in Britain today involves awareness that there are a great number of alternative religions on our doorstep. Many of their adherents are zealous in practising these religions. This verse of Jesus says that followers of these other religions will not find the way to God. But this is not the only occasion when Jesus claims an exclusive role in providing salvation. He says, for example, in John 10:7-8, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.’

Coming closer to home, this teaching of Jesus speaks to those who imagine that they can get to heaven by living a good life. Speaking to the Pharisees, Jesus claimed in John 8:24: ‘I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.’

One common way of interpreting the verse is to say that ‘way’ refers to discovering Christ as saviour at the beginning of the journey to heaven, that ‘truth’ refers to being discipled by Christ as ‘teacher’ as we travel to heaven, and that ‘life’ refers to the bestowal of eternal life when we reach heaven. This was John Calvin’s position. No doubt there is an element of truth in that division, although I think Jesus is saying that he is these three benefits simultaneously rather than separately.

So that is how I want to consider the verse as Jesus simultaneously functioning as way, truth and life at conversion, throughout one’s Christian life, and at the entrance to heaven.

Conversion

When we think of conversion, we have to begin by asking what are the opposites to these three features. If Jesus needs to provide them, then we do not have them. The opposite of way is lost, the opposite of truth is blinded or deceived, the opposite of life is death. This is a picture of each human being who is without Christ. She is lost from the Father’s house, she is blinded and deceived by the devil as to her state, and she is spiritually dead to God. Her situation is summed up by Paul in Ephesians 2:1-3: ‘And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience’; in 2 Corinthians 4:4: ‘In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.’ Her lostness is described by Jesus in his parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and the lost sons.

At conversion, Jesus delivers her from her lostness, blindness and spiritual death. He does this through the gospel. In that gospel, she discovers that there is a remedy for her situation as estranged from God. This remedy was provided by Jesus when he came to earth to seek and to save that which was lost. It involved him dealing with the penalty of her sins when he suffered on the cross of Calvary. But his seeking was not limited to his work on the cross two thousand years ago. Since then, he has been seeking lost sinners through the Spirit-empowered gospel declared by preachers or communicated in various other ways by Christians.

In the gospel, Jesus conveys truth to us. He gives different kinds of truth: truth about ourselves, truth about God, truth about salvation. Through these teachings we begin to discern or understand where we have been wrong in our thinking and practice. But these areas of truth do not only come as mere information; rather they come with conviction. We are persuaded that what he says is true. Not only is the mind changed, but our hearts are affected. Jesus teaches truth lovingly. John has already described the mission of Jesus as compared to that of Moses: the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The loving appeals of Jesus begins to find a echo in our affections and we find ourselves being drawn to him. In addition to the mind and heart being changed, so also is the third part of our human nature, our will. We want to experience the blessing promised in the gospel.

These changes in our mind, heart and will evidence that the life that Jesus has available for sinners has been conveyed secretly to us. Paul told the Romans that he was not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation. As the good news was declared, sinners were changed. So they find that Jesus is the way to the Father at conversion.

Can we identify some specific examples in which Jesus is the way to the Father at conversion? I would mention two. First, he is the way to the Father in that the Father forgives us all our sins when we trust in Jesus. This is a marvellous benefit, a reality that brings great comfort and joy into the soul. Secondly, he is the way to the Father in that the Father adopts into his family all who believe in Jesus. Each of them is given this high status of having a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

Christian life

In what ways is Jesus the way, the truth and the life in the everyday life of his people? Firstly, he is the way to the Father in the sense that it is through his name that we have access to God in prayer. This is a wonderful aspect of communion with God. This road is never closed. Twenty-four hours a day we can draw near to the Father through Jesus.

Secondly, Jesus is the truth in that he enables us to understand the various doctrines of the Bible. This understanding is done in such a way as to show us the greatness of the doctrines, resulting is us drawing near to the Father in worship and thankfulness. By the Holy Spirit, who has come to us as the representative of Jesus, we are instructed in the things of Christ.

Jesus is the truth in another way to his people and that is in the manner in which he is their perfect example. They read about the details of his wonderful life recorded in the Gospels, a life so beautiful that they desire to imitate it. They observed how Jesus acted according to truth at all times. He never showed favouritism or injustice, he never leaned to one side more than another; he always did what was appropriate and true.

Thirdly, Jesus is the life in that he gives the Holy Spirit to indwell his people. The indwelling Spirit renews their characters in sanctification, with his goal being conformity to the likeness of Christ. The life of Jesus, obtained by a living union with him, works itself out in their lives. Sometimes they mourn lack of progress and are distressed by their failures. But that is also a sign of life because it shows they long for his likeness.

There is another way in which Jesus is life to his people throughout their Christian journey and that is the way by which he gives them satisfaction. In John 10:10, he summarises his mission by saying that he came into the world so that sinners may have abundant life. This inner life is usually marked by a sense of peace and joy.

Jesus gives these blessings simultaneously to those who follow him: access to God, understanding of the faith, an example to follow, the Spirit to indwell and satisfaction in the soul. Truly, he is the way, the truth and the life to his people.

Climax of journey

Jesus is also the way to the Father for his people when they come to the end of their lives. As they breathe their last, he meets them at the doorway of heaven and escorts them to his Father’s presence. One by one, they enter the Father’s house and are greeted by Jesus. What a rich welcome he gives to each!

Jesus will be the truth on that day as well. This will be the case in a number of ways. In heaven, he will be our truthful instructor as he unfolds to us the meaning of the Father’s name. In this life, he gave to us understanding in the faith, but that knowledge is small to that which he shall communicate to us in heaven.

Of course, Jesus will also be the life of his people in heaven. He will give eternal life in its fullness, this life which flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb. He will lead his people to the fountains of the waters of life from which they will drink their fill permanently.

Eventually, this experience of life will include their bodies on the great resurrection day when he will display his final and total victory over death. His power to give life will be seen in the creation of the new heavens and new earth, the rejuvenated universe in which his people will dwell with him for ever. Truly he will be the way, the truth and the life for ever for all his people.