The Way, the Truth, and the Life

By Joshua Cooley

Less than twenty-four hours before His death, Jesus was in a room in Jerusalem with His disciples. He observed Passover with them (which Christians now recognize as the first Lord’s Supper) and washed their feet. He told them He would soon leave them. And once again, He predicted His impending arrest, trial, and crucifixion.

The disciples were visibly disturbed. So the Prince of Peace comforted them with a glimpse of heaven, I will “go away and prepare a place for you” (John 14:3).

When Thomas asked where Jesus was going and how they could follow Him there, Jesus answered with some of the most powerful, and provocative, words in Scripture: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (v.6).

Talk about exclusivity! No ifs, ands, or buts there. No vagueness, wiggle room, or gray areas. The only way we can come to God, Jesus says, is by placing our hope and trust in Him.

We live in a world of eight billion people with what feels like just as many ideas about God, faith, salvation, morality, and the afterlife. In fact, a 2012 study by the Pew Research Center found that 5.8 billion people (84 percent of the world’s total population of 6.9 billion in 2010) claimed some sort of religious affiliation, including the “Big Five” faith systems—Christianity (2.2 billion), Islam (1.6 billion), Hinduism (1 billion), Buddhism (500 million) and Judaism (14 million) as well as hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller folk religions and traditional beliefs.

But not everyone can be right. So where can the truth be found? Jesus answers the question emphatically: “I am the truth.”

This is not a popular message. The idea that one way leads to eternal life and all other paths lead to spiritual death doesn’t fly in many circles. In today’s era of extreme relativism, acceptance of all beliefs is much more acceptable.

“Live your truth.”

“You do you.”

“What you believe is right for you, and what I believe is right for me.”

“All spiritual roads lead to heaven.”

But how can all beliefs be right when they all claim drastically different ideas about God, faith, salvation, morality, and the afterlife? Can 1 + 1 = 2 and 3? Probably not.

To believe that we, as finite mortals, are the grand arbiters of all truth is the height of arrogance. Why, we can’t even make our own hearts beat, control what happens tomorrow, or stay on top of the laundry!

There is absolute truth, and it’s found exclusively in one person: the Lord Jesus Christ. How can we know this for sure? Because Jesus is the only person in history who died and rose again by God’s own power! The one who conquers sin, all forces of evil, and even death itself has pretty much cornered the market on truth, wouldn’t you say?

Jesus really is the way, the truth, and the life. Our only hope is in Him!