A Guide for Life
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Key Verse: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Selected Scripture: |
WE ALL AT ONE TIME OR another have been lost or needed direction, either spiritually or physically. When we get lost physically, we almost always stop to ask directions, that they might guide us to where it is that we want to go. When we get lost spiritually, or need direction, we also have to stop and allow ourselves to be directed. Where can we turn for guidance at those times, and who is the only one that is qualified to guide us at all times?
The disciples most likely were feeling lost spiritually after our Lord washed their feet, gave the sop to Judas, told them that they all would be offended, and told them that Peter would deny him three times. He hid his own sorrow, and comforted them, thus setting an example to all of his followers. They weren’t sure if Jesus was really the Messiah. They needed the assurance, and the Master proceeded to give them the best and strongest spiritual food and instruction that they were able to receive.
In our selected scripture, Jesus clearly gives the disciples the wonderful assurances that he is the way to the Father—the only way by which man may be saved. ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ The ‘breaking’ of Jesus’ body opened the narrow way to life and broke, or unsealed, the only access to the Truth. As we seek to proceed on that way, one thing emerges as being firmly fixed, that in his name rests the authority to secure the salvation of mankind—“There is none other name under heaven given, … whereby we must be saved.”—Acts 4:12
Jesus continues by reaffirming that he is the example by which man might come to a knowledge of his Father and Creator, referring to himself as the truth. Only through his inspired words, his instructions, his guidance, could there be any hope of coming into harmony with the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth.
As it was impossible for the Lord’s followers to actually see God, the only way in which they could see him was in the representative sense. Jesus fully and perfectly represented the Father. In seeing Jesus, they saw what was possible to be seen of the Divine character—its likeness and perfect image in the flesh.
Jesus also says that he is the life. Because of Adam’s disobedience, the entire race was under Divine sentence of death, and not one of them could come into life condition again, except through him.
Our Lord made clear that no man cometh unto the Father, but by him. We must be drawn of the Father first before we can come to Jesus, and then we must come to him before we can have access to the Father. “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44) Jesus gives us the necessary knowledge to come to God. God refuses to deal with those who will not accept of the sacrificial blood he has provided. “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matt. 5:45) He does not recognize any as his servants except those who have come to him in the appointed way. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”—John 10:1