“The Way, the Truth, the Life”
the fourteenth chapter of John, Jesus made one of the most
significant claims ever during his brief three-year ministry. It was here
that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John
14:6). This particular claim of Jesus is so unique because it is one of
the most comprehensive statements of who he is and what he came to do.
Every word was full of associations and promises that were connected with the
coming of the Messiah.
In A more correct translation of this passage, according to the
proper Hebrew idiom, would be, "I am the true and living
way." This would make the first two nouns ("the
truth" and "the life"), adjectives which
would describe the last noun ("the way"). In essence,
Jesus was saying, "I am the true way, and I am the living
way." It would be through Jesus of Nazareth that mankind would
find the way that leads back to a loving and merciful God, for he alone
is "the true and living way."
However, centuries before Jesus made this great claim, the
Psalmist prayed, "Teach me Your way, O Lord"(Psalms
27:11; 86:11). And the prophet Isaiah heard Jehovah say, "This
is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21). Here then was the
great promise of a way of holiness, a path that would lead to life, and one
from which man could never stray if he hoped to see Jehovah. It was also
to be a path or way which would be so easy to see that even the most simple
could find (Isaiah 35:8).
Following the establishment of the Lord's church in Acts
chapter two, and the flourishing of Christianity throughout Palestine and the
far regions of the Roman Empire, the disciples of Christ were commonly said to
be of "the way" (Acts 9:2; 19:9). In two letters
Perhaps the most significant thing about Jesus' statement is
not to be seen in what he said, but rather in what he did not say. For example,
he did not say, "I have come to show you the way," or "I
have come to open for you the way." These are statements that we
might make to those lost in their sins. We would have to say that we can
show them the way, and open their understanding of the way, but Jesus claimed
something far greater. He said "I am the
way."
Jesus also said, "I am the truth," a
phrase which was full of meaning to both Jew and Greek.
To the Jews, the ways of the Lord have always been full of
mercy and truth (Psalms 25:10; 31:5; 86:15). The word most commonly used
for truth in these Old Testament passages means fidelity, reliability,
trustworthiness and faithfulness. It is truth in the sense that a lover
would say, "I will be true to you." In essence,
Jesus was claiming to be truth incarnate, one in whom we can completely trust
without any reservation, and one in whom we will never be disappointed.
To the Greeks the word truth carried with it the meaning of
that which is not false, unreal or counterfeit.
Therefore, when Jesus claimed to be "the
truth," he was saying that we can place our complete trust and
confidence in him, for he is real and authentic. But again, Jesus did not
simply claim to "speak truth," or to "be
truthful and faithful." Rather he said, "I am the
truth," a claim that he alone is the truth that enables mankind
to know and understand the way to God. This is something that only one
who possessed deity would be capable of giving.
Finally, Jesus said, "I am the life," a
statement which is to be understood two ways. First, Jesus is the one who
gives physical life. According to John 1:3-4,
Jesus is the Word who existed from the beginning, and by whom everything was
created, including mankind. Secondly, Jesus is pictured throughout the
scriptures as the one who gives spiritual or eternal life.
However, the eternal life which Jesus offers is much more than simply a
continued existence. The mere extension of life to many might seem more
of a curse than a blessing. It might mean prolonged defeat, frustration,
agony and sorrow. Therefore, Jesus did not simply offer an endless
existence, but an eternal life which brings a new quality, an increased
intensity, a more brilliant radiance, and one of indescribable joy and
happiness. He offered to all who would accept it, life in the presence of
God.
As before, Jesus did not say he could, "show
the way of life," or "lead us to the life."
Rather, he said, "I am the
life." Certainly, this claim could only be made by one who was
divine.
Jesus added one
final comment to his great statement, "I am the way, the truth,
and the life." He concluded by saying, "No man
comes to the Father, but by me," a phrase which meant much more
than simply another way of saying that he is the only way to God. Jesus'
disciples understood that he had come to bring mankind back to God, but what
they seldom understood during his ministry was that he continually claimed to
be God himself – one who was both human and divine. Jesus was subtly
saying, "no one can come to God the Father except through God the
Son," for no mere man could possibly cleanse and purify another
so as to be acceptable in the presence of God. This is something that
only God himself could do. And in this subtle statement, Jesus was also
foreshadowing his one brief moment of triumph on the cross, when he would offer
himself for our sins, and open for us the only "true and living way" to
the Father in heaven.
David Webb
No comments:
Post a Comment