As someone who is directionally challenged, I am constantly grateful that I live in a day and age where we have GPSs at our fingertips. I am completely reliant on my GPS to get anywhere. Whenever I need to get to my desired destination, I always want to know, “What is the way?” In other words, “How do I get to where I want to be?” This question relates not only to places on this earth, but also to eternity. In other words, “What is the way to spend eternal life with Christ one day?” Jesus made the answer very clear during His earthly ministry in John 14: “I am the way…” (verse 6).
Jesus directly told His disciples the way to life with Him forever in John 14. This passage of Scripture took place shortly before Jesus’ death. As Jesus taught His disciples in some of His final moments with them, He offered encouragement, saying, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home…When everything is ready, I will come in and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going (verses 1-4). Jesus wanted His disciples to know they did not have to worry or have heavy hearts because one day He will bring them, and all His followers, to live with Him forever. Furthermore, Jesus explained that they knew the way to eternal life with God. Thomas, one of His disciples, replied to Jesus’ teaching very honestly. He said, “No, we don’t know, Lord…We have no idea where You are going, so how can we know the way?” (verse 5). Don’t miss the weight of Jesus’ reply: “I am the way…No one comes to the Father except through Me” (verse 7). How do we find the way to life and eternity with God forever? We find eternal life only through Jesus Christ.
How is Jesus the way? Jesus is the way because He took on our sin problem. Although He was sinless when He came to earth, Jesus lived a perfect life, died a criminal’s death on a cross, and rose from the grave three days later. In other words, He conquered sin, death, and the grave. The apostle Paul said this in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Jesus took on our sin and paid the price we owed: death. Then, He rose from the grave in victory, defeating sin and death. When we believe in Him and follow Him, He forgives us and restores our relationship with God, promising us eternal life with God forever. He is the only way because only He lived a sinless life and conquered sin and death. There is no other way to eternal life with God than through Jesus.
What a Savior we have, that He would willingly leave Heaven, come to earth and face all of the pain, suffering, and hardship that come from living on this earth, and die a torturous criminal’s death on a cross even though He was innocent, all so that He could conquer sin and death through His resurrection and offer salvation to all who believe in Him. No other love or sacrifice compares to what He has done for us. May we never take His love and sacrifice on our behalf for granted, nand may our lives reflect our gratitude for all He has done for us.
How can you show gratitude today for all He has done for you? Write out a prayer, recognizing and thanking Christ for all He has done for you. In your prayer, explain what your life was like before Christ and the difference He has made in your life since you began learning more about Him and following Him. Then, thank Him for being “the way” to eternity with God forever.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.
30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.
