Do we show with our lives that Jesus is the way to God?

John 14:5-11

⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.

This is part of an extended time Jesus spends with his disciples – after this comes the betrayal and arrest.

Of course, the disciples didn’t know what was going to happen. Reading the whole of chapter 14 now, after we have the benefit of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can see that earlier in this chapter, when Jesus was talking about his Father’s house (where he was going), he meant heaven. However, Thomas is upfront and asks what others were probably thinking – he admits he doesn’t know what Jesus is talking about, let alone, how Thomas and the rest of the disciples will get there.

Jesus responds by stating that he is the way. Trust in Jesus, and you will have access to God.

Philip’s request shows that he has not yet understood the point of Jesus’ coming – i.e., to reveal the Father.

Often, we can be tempted to think that there are other ‘ways’ to God – e.g., if we do enough ‘good’ things, or if we were baptised, or if we have some sort of mystical experience. Jesus makes it clear that only He is the way to God. By trusting in Jesus, we have access to the creator of the universe. What a privilege.

Head: Are you tempted to think that you can earn your way into God’s favour?

Heart: Like  Jesus, are you letting God work in your life?

Hands: Who in your life, can you share Jesus with this week, so they too can know the way to God?

Prayer: Lord, thank you that in Jesus we see the way to you. We are sorry when we are often tempted to think we can get to you by works or some other way. Please help us to trust in Jesus and encourage other people to encounter Jesus as the only way to you.

A song to listen to: I am the way, The truth And the Life

Oliver Meehan- Creek Road Presbyterian Church- Carina