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JOHN 14: 6 “JESUS SAID TO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE: NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” (NKJV, KJV, ASV, ESV, NIV, TLB)
“Well, that sounds pretty exclusive!” That’s probably because it is. This may be the biggest stumbling block the world has with Jesus…He says that He is the only way. “Surely not,” they say.
It is interesting that, in this passage of the Scripture, Jesus is talking directly to His disciples. He assures them, as He is preparing to meet the end of His earthly life and His ministry of the last three years, that He is going away to prepare a place (way) for them to follow Him. They don’t understand any of that yet, but the Lord knows that soon they would.
Leave it to Thomas to question the Lord. “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (Verse 5) Jesus could not have answered that question any more clearly. He said, “I AM THE WAY.”
He has been the only way to the Father ever since. This left no room for disagreement, argument or misunderstanding. Jesus is THE ONLY WAY. Why am I writing in all capital letters? Maybe it is because Jesus was leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind that this was, is and always will be God’s only plan for our redemption.
Imagine this picture. God created the world, created men and women in His own image, knew that they would disobey and choose their own way, knew that they would be lost and need to be redeemed, knew that His sacrifice on the cross would be the only way to purchase that redemption and then worked through history to make it all happen.
Now, imagine that the God of the ages said, “this is My one and only plan” and then humans would dare say, “well, I think there are lots of ways to God, lots of alternative plans.” Now, logically, which of those two viewpoints would seem the correct one?
I am thankful that the Father chose me. I am thankful that He allowed me to see His plan and choose it as the only correct path for my life. I am so thankful that Jesus’ sacrifice for me was sufficient to pay the price for my sins. That was the only plan that was ever going to work.
I understand how humans, fallen as we are, could think they could choose whatever path they thought was best. Adam and Eve demonstrated that fallacy quite well. But, no matter how much we think we know better than God, it never changes the fact that Jesus is the only way to the Father. Period.
I can give Thomas “a little bit of slack” in his lack of understanding. We have the advantage of seeing all this looking back on it. It still requires faith in what we have not seen. We are those whom Jesus said would not have seen yet still believe. (John 20:29)
Thomas, on the other hand, was living it right there, as was Philip. Imagine the man you had followed for the last three years now telling you, “if you have seen me, you have seen the Father..” (verse 9) The Scribes and Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus because they understood His words to be saying, “the Father and I are one.” They understood the words but did not believe them. Thomas (and the other disciples) did not understand what Jesus was saying but chose to believe them. We have been making one of those two decisions now for two thousand years.
Not only must we believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father, but we have also been called to tell everyone we know that vital truth. Without Jesus, we are all doomed to an eternity in Hell. How can we choose not to tell others?
“I’m sorry Muslim friend. Mohamed may have inspired you, but he will not get you to heaven.” “Change your ways Atheist neighbor. You may be sure it all ends when your life is over. But without Jesus, your pain will just be beginning when you die. And that pain will last forever.”
“Oh, please repent Jewish man or woman. The Messiah did come forth from your lineage as promised. But as long as you reject Him, there is no other way to God. He will redeem your nation some day soon and your nation will know Him then. But if you die without Jesus as your only way to the Father, you will suffer just as dire a judgment as any heathen.”
Jesus is the only way to the Father. No man comes to the Father except through Him. He is also all truth. Any other way is a lie! The devil loves to deceive many men and women into believing other ways are available. That is a lie. In Jesus lies all truth.
In Jesus also is LIFE. Without Him, we are doomed to death. Those who find Him and give their lives to Him discover real life…because it is eternal. See John 3:16. That life is ever lasting. The world remains blinded to that joyous, secure, loving and fruitful life that only comes in Jesus. They are blinded by counterfeits that the devil provides them until it is too late to realize that they have been deceived.
Oh sinner, come to Jesus. He is the only way. Oh, saint, live for Jesus. His way is the only path of righteousness, joy and peace. Oh disciple, tell everyone you know that Jesus is the only way. Rescue them, even as from a burning fire. Tell them! He is the only way, the only truth and the only life. No one comes to the Father except through Jesus Christ.
Questions to Ponder: Is it “fair” that God would dictate so narrow a path to Him as only through Jesus Christ? Does that type of question help us understand why some would reject the plan of salvation? To most, you will be the only Jesus they see. Do others see Jesus in you? Why does it seem like there is a hesitance to share the Gospel with everyone? Do we not often see our role as being used by the Lord to help “rescue the perishing?
Other Scriptures to consider: Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” John 7:13-14, “narrow is the gate…there are few who find it.” Hebrews 10:26 “…there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” Hebrews 10:12 “But this man, after He offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God.”
 
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