John 14:6

How does one do this verse the justice it so deserves? The depth and fullness of it certainly cannot be comprehended by the wisdom and thoughts of the mind of mere man – particularly this mind! It is one of those deep utterances of our Lord which no thorough exposition can completely unfold or exhaust. Any enlightenment of it merely serves to do little more than scratch the surface of rich soil.

“No prophet, teacher, or apostle ever used such words as these. They are the language of one who knew that He was God.” Andreas Musculus

We discover first the three glorious Names which Jesus gives Himself – He is the Way, He is the Truth and He is the Life. To be sure, He is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. Entirely exclusive while all the while offering inclusivity: He offers the only Way to all; the only Truth to all; and the only Life to all. Let’s dig into these three a bit closer so that perhaps we may even get a little dirt under our fingernails!

• Jesus is the Way: No one may come to the Father but through Him. He is not only to be the path, the journey, the manner of life or action we are to take, He is also the only door through which anyone may enter into the presence of the Father. Faith in Jesus is the key to heaven – it is also the key to the fullness of life in the here and now - he that believes in the Lord is on the right road. Through His blood we may draw close with boldness and have access with confidence into God’s presence.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.” John 10:7-9 (NIV)

• Jesus is the Truth: When we search for Truth we need look no further than the Truth that is in Jesus. He is absolute Truth – ultimate Truth – true Truth. He is the whole substance of true religion which the mind of man requires - meeting and satisfying every desire of the human mind. Being Very God of Very God, He is boundless and measureless in the depth of the riches of His wisdom and knowledge. He is Truth, Reality and Fact. Truth is not relative – Truth is Jesus. We are to know Him, study Him, learn from Him and follow Him – His disciples are to bear His image. We grow in this process by studying and applying His Word to our lives and through effectual fervent prayer which, Scripture states, avails much.

2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Col 2:2-3 (NIV)

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Romans 11:33 (NIV)

• Jesus is the Life: Those that believe in Jesus not only have eternal life but also access to the abundant life in the here and now as they walk in the power of the Spirit. Christ is the root of all life and as the believer abides in Him - as the branch abides in the vine - they bring forth much fruit. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing of eternal value because those works always lack life.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)

10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)

Lastly, let us see how clearly our Lord states that He is the only means of entrance to the Father - shutting out all other ways of salvation. He stresses that contrary to what many might believe; salvation is not obtainable through any other means. Only one way exists, and it is through the purifying and redeeming blood of the Lord Jesus.

“It avails nothing that a man is clever, learned, highly gifted, amiable, charitable, kind-hearted, and zealous about some sort of religion. All this will not save his soul if he does not draw near to God by Christ’s atonement, and make use of God’s own Son as his Mediator and Saviour. God is so holy that all men are guilty and debtors in His sight. Sin is so sinful that no mortal man can make satisfaction for it. There must be a mediator, a ransom-payer, a redeemer, between ourselves and God, or else we can never be saved. There is only one door, one bridge, one ladder, between earth and heaven – the crucified Son of God. Whosoever will enter in by that door may be saved; but to him who refuses to use that door the Bible holds out no hope at all. Without shedding of blood there is no remission. Let us beware, if we love life, of supposing that mere earnestness will take a man to heaven, though he know nothing of Christ. The idea is a deadly and ruinous error. Sincerity will never wipe away our sins. It is not true that every man will be saved by his own religion, no matter what he believes, so long as he is diligent and sincere. We must not pretend to be wiser than God. Christ has said, and Christ will stand to it, ‘No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.’” John Charles Ryle