Firstly let’s look at His statement “I am the way.” What does Jesus mean when He says “ I am the way.”
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) A trodden way; a footway.
2. (n.) A way, course, or track, in which anything moves or has moved; route; passage; an established way; as, the path of a meteor, of a caravan, of a storm, of a pestilence. Also used figuratively, of a course of life or action.
3. (v. t.) To make a path in, or on (something), or for (some one).
4. (v. i.) To walk or go.
I believe that Jesus is telling Thomas that He is the literal path to salvation. If we wish to find atonement for our sins we must believe on Christ Jesus and follow his directions through life. Literally take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). He is the way and His is the name by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
In Matthew 7:13 Matthew describes the way like this “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” Conversely the way of Christ Jesus is narrow and difficult is the path to salvation but none will take you from His hand. Those who overcome He will give a crown.
The Truth.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Truth
Used in various senses in Scripture. In Proverbs 12:17, 19, it denotes that which is opposed to falsehood. In Isaiah 59:14, 15, Jeremiah 7:28, it means fidelity or truthfulness. The doctrine of Christ is called "the truth of the gospel" (Galatians 2:5), "the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7; 4:4). Our Lord says of himself, "I am the way, and the truth" (John 14:6).
What is the Truth of Christ Jesus? Simply put God’s Truth is the exact opposite of the truth of Satan and therefore the false truth of this world (Lies). The apostle Paul said this in Romans 1: 18 -20 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
The World rejects the Truth of God and derides God’s Law. Probably because as Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” So the truth of God is in the Holy Spirit and the ordinary man or unbeliever finds them to be folly and cannot understand them.
This idea is central to what Jesus spoke about when he spoke of entering by the narrow gate. You see the world is full of false truth and deception but because of the method that Satan uses to deceive people, altering the truth in clever ways so that it seems right to a man. People accept the lie and reject the Truth of God also not being saved and not having the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth to them.
Therefore Jesus when He said He was the Truth meant that all of the truth available to the Jews at the time in the Torah and the Law that was fulfilled in Him. If we read of the New Covenant in Jeremiah and Hebrews we find that the Law is written in the hearts of believers by the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Hebrews 8: 8-12). We also know it is the purpose of the Holy Spirit to reveal the person of Jesus Christ in us as He sanctifies us for eternal life (John 15:26).
So the truth is that God created the World and everything beyond it (The Universe). Man was created in the image of God and was in constant communion with God in the beginning until Adam and Eve disobeyed God at the Fall. That was when man became sinful and his relationship to God was broken.
The various covenants between man and God described in the bible are based on the truth about sin and mans position in relation to God at the times they were given. The Ten Commandments and the Law as given to Moses and Israel are all biblical and God given truth. They indicate God’s high standards with regard to sin and that man needs a saviour in order to cleansed of sin.
Thus the truth is that Jesus is the truth and in Him all things can be reconciled to God through the sacrifice and shedding of His blood at Calvary. He is the living water through which we can be baptised into the resurrection of life (Justified), and in that baptism by believing on His name we receive the Holy Spirit who cleanses and reorients believers into the person of Jesus Christ (Sanctification).
The Life. What does Jesus mean when He says He is The Life?
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Life
Generally of physical life (Genesis 2:7; Luke 16:25, etc.); also used figuratively (1) for immortality (Hebrews 7:16); (2) conduct or manner of life (Romans 6:4); (3) spiritual life or salvation (John 3:16, 17, 18, 36); (4) eternal life (Matthew 19:16, 17; John 3:15); of God and Christ as the absolute source and cause of all life (John 1:4; 5:26, 39; 11:25; 12:50).
So Easton’s Bible Dictionary covers the definition of Life in a sensible way. However, Jesus spoke of the life that comes from Him as wells of Living Water (John 7: 37-39). He spoke of Himself being the Resurrection and the Life meaning the source of eternal life (John 11:25). Romans 6:23 speaks of the wages of sin being death but the freely given gift of God being eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. What Jesus was saying here relates not to the life we live now as it is temporary and inadequate.
He is speaking about the life to come which if you believe on Jesus Christ as your Saviour will be eternal and lived in the righteousness of God. Further, it will be lived in the Law of Love in Christ Jesus our Lord and King in His Kingdom which will last forever. Remembering that we become partakers in that life when we believe on Jesus Christ and are justified through His sacrifice on the Cross and the shedding of His blood for our sins.
As time moves on and we find ourselves in an age where paganism and antichrist are on the rise. In a world where there are more people alive than at anytime in the past and where we could truly say sin is at the levels of Noah’s time. Where God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). I suppose what I am speaking of here is that we are close to the end of the Age of Grace and the return of Jesus Christ is imminent (Matthew 24).
But before Jesus returns will be a period of judgement so violent that if it were not shortened no flesh would survive (Matthew 24:22). If we look at the world as it stands and even if we excluded God’s judgment as a cause of what we see looming in the near future. Dangerous global floods, famine, war and pestilence would seem to be going to make it very hard for mankind to have any sort of future on the Earth.
Because of the population of mankind (8 Billion), and the selfish way in which resources are gathered and used nearly every species of plant and animal are threatened with extinction. Only a few species can survive beside man. Ultimately even if God doesn’t judge us the excesses of our greed will come home to roost and man will effectively judge himself via the consequences of our sins against the Earth.
So we have a choice, accept that Jesus Christ is the way and reject the ways of this world and Satan. Believe that Jesus is the Truth and reject the lies of this world and Satan. Believe that Jesus is the Life and reject the life of this world and Satan.
Or, accept the way, lies and life of this world and Satan and ultimately perish in our own folly. The bible says It is destined for every man to die once from this life (Hebrews 9:27), but it is up to you whether you believe on Jesus Christ and gain eternal life and avoid the second death which is forever.
Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.”
Revelation 21:8 “ But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.”
So in the end, the choice we all have to make is will we accept Christ Jesus as our Saviour. Thereby accepting the way of righteousness; the righteous truth; and live His righteous life in the Spirit? Ultimately ending in life eternal with Jesus of Nazareth. Or, will we take the default option and accept the wicked way; the wicked lies; and the life of the wicked. Ultimately ending in eternal death?
I realise it’s not always as clear cut as that and I intend no judgement. Believe me I’m not perfect either but I am a saint led to repentance, a life long struggle against the flesh. But, I have chosen the way, the truth and the life eternal in Christ Jesus. My prayer is that God will extend His grace to you so you also may see the light and the Lamb of God and choose life eternal.
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