6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)
Is there any more bold a claim than this one from Jesus? Recently a few teens were talking about how they viewed Christianity as instep with all other religions. I would tell you that this is more ubiquitous a thought within the community and even within the church walls than we can realize. As frightening as this is, it screams of the lack of proper religious teaching in America (By religious teaching I don’t mean merely Christianity but all religions). Any adequate teacher of religious studies would illustrate the stark contrasts in claims and practice within their doctrines. A quick study of the Gospel of John will turn up scandalous and definitive statements from Jesus. His was a pulpit of deity.
John 14 lays to waste all professions of equality within religions. Jesus declares He is the “way” the “truth” and the “life” while presenting Himself as the only way to God.
He is the Way I notoriously ridicule my GPS. I always think I have a better way and can be found on my most snarky of days back talking and selectively cursing it’s robotic persona. And as I wrongfully think I have better directions, Jesus is the only one to confidently assert “I have a better way”
He is the Truth Our world is full of lies. Lies about image, identity, and worth distract us from the simplest of truths. Our purpose is cloudy because the message we buy into is unclear. The Truth of God is found in the person of God and this foundation desires for us to be both unique and unleashed in passion and purpose. We are meant for more than the compromises of this world.
He is the Life At various points of my life, I have wanted it to end. There is an impossible burden to this life we can never quite shake off. And while it would be foolish of us to believe that this magically disappears when following Christ, I do know that a burden with Christ is much more manageable than one without. A life lived with Christ has a redeemed purpose despite the everyday absurdity.
We have something different. We have Jesus. He alone is the great equalizer and divider. In Him alone we are all leveled in equality and His claims set Him apart from any other philosophy or religion. Today, cling to the holder of souls.
Matt simon blog 