Articles
“"I Am The Way"”
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in 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.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:1-6
One reason people write off Christianity is because of the narrow claims it makes. For example, take Jesus’ claim above. In context, Jesus is headed toward the agony of crucifixion and is “troubled in heart” (12:27; 13:21). Yet on the eve of his execution, Jesus is the one comforting the “troubled” hearts of his friends (14:1a). But what did the disciples have to be troubled about? After all, they weren’t the ones rushing toward the pain, isolation and shame of the cross. They were troubled because they were confused and uncertain about what Jesus had been saying, namely, that he would be leaving them soon (13:33, 36). Therefore, Jesus comforted them by telling them to trust in him as they trust in God (14:1b)
There was no need to be troubled because his departure was actually for their benefit. True, he was going away, but it was to their advantage; he was going away to “prepare a place” for them so that he could return and gather them up to be with him forever (14:2-3). “My Father’s house” refers to heaven. In heaven there are many “rooms,” that is, there is plenty of space for all. Thomas was struggling to comprehend the meaning of Jesus’ words. He didn't even know where Jesus is going. Without knowing the destination, how could Jesus say that they know the way? But Jesus insisted they do know way because they knew him (14:6).
Notice three things about Jesus’ claim in John 14:6.
First, it’s an exclusive claim: Jesus is the only way to God. “No one comes to the Father except through me.” That’s exclusive language. He is not “a” way to God (one way among many other viable ways) but “the” way. This may offend our inclusive, pluralistic sensibilities which have been taught to respect all religions equally and to deny any religion that claims such exclusivity. This spiritual arrogance, it is thought, leads to extremism. Therefore, tolerance has become the highest virtue.
But each religion makes contradictory truth-claims which cannot be true simultaneously. Whenever a truth-claim is made, it automatically excludes its rivals. Even if a religion claimed that all paths lead to heaven then it would be asserting that those that claim only some paths lead to heaven or only one path leads to heaven are wrong. No matter how we phrase it, the very nature of a truth-claim excludes that which contradicts it. The better question is, who is Jesus to claim he is the exclusive way to God?
Next, it’s a personal claim: Jesus himself is the way to God. Jesus is not claiming to simply blaze a trail for others to come to God, nor is he claiming to simply know the way so as to point others to it. Rather, he himself is the way. No other religious leader, philosopher, sage or guru makes such an audacious claim. Yet Jesus is constantly turning our attention to himself as the answer to all our problems. Who does that?
The Bible teaches that Jesus entered the world supernaturally, accredited himself with unparalleled miracles, amazed crowds and baffled the wise with his teaching, was possessed of a perfect moral character, made claims befitting God himself, treated others with love and compassion, died for the purpose of redeeming humanity and was raised bodily from the dead to restore our relationship to God. Therefore, when Jesus speaks with such confident self-awareness of being the only way to God, he speaks with unique authority and heavenly credentials. Every other world religion, if you replaced its founder with someone else, would remain intact. But not so with Christianity because it is built upon him personally.
Finally, it’s a consequential claim: Jesus is the way to God for us. Exactly how is Jesus the way? All of this language about “the way” and “coming to the Father” assumes we are disconnected from God and that we need to be reconciled to him to be made whole. This is the core narrative of Scripture. God created a perfect world and human beings in his likeness but we have turned away from him and plunged into sin, ruin and death. There is something now fundamentally wrong with us. Jesus has come to redeem us from our sins and provide that bridge between ourselves and God. Therefore, Jesus’ claim is consequential. We are all made in God’s image but that image has been marred. We are, quite literally, “damaged goods” and the only one who can restore us is Christ.
