By Bryan Hill
Imagine with me for a moment years of traditional family gatherings at Thanksgiving. For as long as you can remember, Uncle Jimmy has always brought the turkey—it is so embedded in the family that no one else thinks or even dares to bring up the fact that others are capable of cooking a turkey. Until one year, Uncle Jimmy shows up with a pack of ribeye steaks instead of the traditional turkey. Now, some may argue that a ribeye is way better than a slice of turkey, but it completely goes against the traditional Thanksgiving meal! The family is now at a crossroads of going against years and years of both cultural and family traditions or stepping into the unknown.
This is just an example of the mindset that tradition can have on us. It can be so ingrained in us that anything outside of what we know to be true is an impossibility or complete absurdity. And this is exactly where we find the mindset of the Jewish leaders as Jesus describes Himself as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
In today’s reading, Jesus describes Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is God incarnate, meaning He is the exact imprint of the Father, God in the flesh, co-equal and co-existing. If Jesus is the exact imprint of the Father and we as believers are made in the image of God, we are made in the image of Jesus as well. When I read this passage, I reflect not only how Jesus is the only way to enter into an eternal relationship with God, but also how Jesus is the very embodiment of the truth and life found in the presence of God.
This climatic moment that we read in John is not only defining truth to those who are new to the faith, it is redefining what centuries of Jewish people believed to be true. To the Jewish people, truth was found in the law and keeping it according to traditions passed down from Moses and so forth. Something so much better than tradition, something meant to fulfill the very tradition they were trying to protect, was right before their very eyes.
Could anything be better?
God wants to use you and me as a part of His redemption plan. It is both humbling and empowering that God chooses to use you and me, made in His image, as doorholders for others to walk through as they enter a relationship with Jesus Christ––the way, truth, and life.
4 thoughts on "The Way, the Truth, and the Life"
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Nolan says:
I suppose you could say this about any passage or series of passages from Scripture, but I felt like there were a ton of insights and theological nuggets in these passages.
I treasure the Trinity theology and peace that Jesus describes in John, but this morning this portion really sticks with me:
“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
The content of this message is great, but I’m really attracted by the tone and the phrasing. Jesus sounds like such a warm, caring friend here. A trustworthy companion or parent. Come to my Father’s house, I’m preparing a place for you. There are undertones of “you matter” and “I want to be together”. This passage offers hope and affirmation. I love being part of God’s plan and it makes me want to tell others that they are too. There are “many rooms” — this is not a limited resource.
I also loved the passage shown from Hebrews. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus… let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Wow! Confidence and full assurance of faith. That sounds powerful. If I’m being honest, I feel this confidence sometimes but it often feels missing. I’m clinging to this passage today that we CAN feel “full assurance”.
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Rhonda J. says:
Nolan I love that you are leaving comments! I laugh often that men don’t converse and share like women do! I have tried to encourage my husband to read HRT and that he can start commenting to get the trend going for men since there are usually none! lol So I appreciate seeing you here!
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Thanks for the encouragement! Trying to be more intentional about it, too. I am encouraged when others comment and it helps me engage with/process the passage better!
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Zac Kellogg says:
It is hard to believe that God wants to use us to draw people to himself. Yet he continues to qualify the unqualified. What an honor to be a part of this bigger story!
The verse that always stands out to me in is the end of John 14:6, “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME.’”
How often do we try to reach the Father in other ways? How often do we try to take it upon ourselves, through our own efforts and works to get to the Father? To please Him with what WE are doing? It is my own prayer this morning that I would stop trying to impress God with my good attitude and works, and instead THANK God for the finished work in Jesus Christ.
Carry on HRT brothers!
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