2. The Way, The Truth, and The Life John 14:4-6

3. Review Jesus has told His apostles that He will not be with them much longer –He had told them earlier He would be crucified –He told them they would not be able to come with Him, but could follow later After Peter asked for more information, Jesus revealed He was going to His Father –He would prepare a place for them –Then He would return for them

4. Finding the Way John 14:4-5 –Jesus concludes His remark by saying They know where He is going –Heaven, from His preceding statements They know the way –Thomas says he doesn’t understand Didn’t catch the meaning of Jesus going to His Father’s house And if you don’t know where, then you can’t know the way

5. I am... John 14:6 –Jesus’ answer to Thomas: I am the way, the truth, and the life No one comes to the Father except through Me –Again the answer to where He is going is “to the Father” –In addition, He says He is the way to the Father But exactly what did Jesus mean by saying He is the way, the truth, and the life?

6. The Way Jesus clearly said He is the ONLY way to the Father (Jn 14:6b) –Peter later said the same (Acts 4:12) –May seem too exclusive in our politically correct culture, but it is what Jesus said

7. How is Jesus the Way? By revealing the Father –Jn 14:7-9; 1:18; 12:44-45 By opening the way to draw near to the Father –Heb 10:19-20 By serving as our high priest –Heb 2:17-18; 4:14-16; 10:21-22 By interceding for us (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:24-25) –As our Advocate (1Jn 2:1) –As our only Mediator (1Tim 2:5) By virtue of His life on earth, His death on the cross, and now His service in heaven, Jesus is truly the only way to God!

8. The Truth Jesus also claimed to be “the truth” –But what is truth? The question posed by Pontius Pilate (Jn 18:37-38) Consider the meaning of the Greek words translated as "true" and "truth": (as defined in Vine’s) –True (alethes) - "unconcealed, manifest...actual, true to fact" –True (alethinos) - "denotes 'true' in the sense of 'real, ideal, genuine;'" –Truth (aletheia) »"objectively, signifying 'the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter' (Cremer)“ »"subjectively, 'truthfulness,' 'truth,' not merely verbal, but sincerity and integrity of character" When Jesus speaks of truth (Jn 14:6, 18:37), He uses aletheia objectively –Describes that which is reality, factual, and absolute, not relative

9. How is Jesus the Truth? He proclaimed that truth is real and knowable (Jn 8:31-32) –He proclaimed that truth can set one free from the bondage of sin (Jn 8:32-34) His word is the way to truth that frees one from sin (Jn 8:31, 34-36) He faithfully proclaimed His Father's Word, which is truth (Jn 17:14, 17) By abiding in Jesus' teachings, we can know the truth (the absolute reality) and the freedom it offers!

10. The Life Jesus is the life (Jn 14:6) –What kind of life does He have to offer? Jn 10:10 – abundant life Jn 11:25-26 – eternal life Jn 14:27 – peaceful life Jn 15:9-10 – loving life (Jn 13:34-35) Jn 15:11 – joyful life –How can we receive that life? Jn 3:3-5 – must be born again (Acts 2:38) Jn 15:10-14 – must obey to His commands

11. Conclusion Jesus is truly the way, the truth, and the life –The way to knowing and experience God as our Heavenly Father –The embodiment of truth that provides freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin –The source of life that is blessed now and lasts forever! Has Jesus become your way to God, your truth, and your life?