The Way

Jesus stated, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6). This is quite a claim for Jesus to make. In my last post, we studied how Jesus claimed to be equal with God. In that light, maybe this is not such a remarkable claim. However, if we think about what He is saying here, it is that He is God, and He is the only way to Himself. Is that just too much? I think what He is really saying is that He is part of the Trinity and in that since He and God are the same. Also, as the second person of the Trinity, He is the one who has always been the face of God to the human race. He was the one who walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Gn 3:8), He is the one who appeared to Abraham (Gn 18:1), to the Israelites (Ex 24:10), to Joshua (Js 5:13-15), to Manoah (Jd 13:22), Samson’s father, and to others. He came to earth to pave the way for all to find their way to God and to restore the relationship He had with mankind before Adam and Eve sinned and brought sin to all (Ro 5:12).

Some claim this is being very narrow minded and exclusionary. However, is it really? It is only exclusionary if people are excluded from accepting, like a country club. Although the cost was high and no human could afford the payment, God made the payment Himself so that it could be offered to everyone (Jn 3:16). It is very accepting: free to all and all are invited. One only has to come as they are. There is no special condition, no specific act, no payment, no good deed, or requirement needed for one to come freely and accept the price that has already been paid. It only takes faith: a belief that Jesus Christ came, died for sin’s payment, and rose again conquering death. Then one’s ability to be with Christ forever is that their sins are covered with His blood. Simple? Yes, for us. However, the act itself took planning by God from the beginning of time and required Jesus to leave all the riches of heaven to come to earth in the form of a man. Not only that, but he also remains in the form of man for all eternity so He can identify with us forever. Now that is a God I want to follow. He is definitely worthy of being the God of Easter.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens