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Scripture for the day: John 14:5-6 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Thought for the day: Now, don’t disparage poor old “doubting” Thomas. He was simply putting into words what all of the disciples almost certainly were thinking. In response, Jesus provides what is probably one of the most familiar verses in all His teachings; this bit of scripture sets the tone for all we do in the kingdom. But let's take a moment to put it in the proper context.
Jesus had just completed the Passover meal with His disciples. The Passover Seder was a joyous time of celebration commemorating the deliverance God had provided for the children of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. It was the same ceremony established with Moses on the night when the angel of death passed through the land of Egypt, taking the lives of all firstborn not protected by the sprinkling of blood on the doorposts of the houses. It was also a solemn time of great significance. In the midst of the celebration, following His example of washing the disciples’ feet, the Lord broke the news to them that one of their number would become a traitor that very night and betray Him to those who would take His life. The celebration that had once been joyous and uplifting was suddenly transformed into a time of deep sorrow and mourning. Worse for Peter was the assertion by Jesus Himself that he, Peter, would deny his Lord three times before the sun came up next day.
But look what happened next; Jesus, in His usual manner of showing the good that would come from tragedy, assured His despondent followers that they need not be afraid or troubled over the things that were about to happen. He, Jesus, was carrying out the will of the Father and would be glorified and provide a means by which all could become children of God. He was going to prepare a place for them and for all who would believe and, eventually, He would come back to get them.
And in this context, He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." He'd taught them for years that He had come from the Father to show them the way to a right relationship with Him. Now He was about to bring all His teachings to a climax through His death on the cross. They still didn't understand it all but these words of His must have bolstered their courage, at least for the moment. Here they were, privileged to stand in the presence of the One who would be the Messiah the people had hoped would appear for over 400 years. Here He was, assuring them of their place in His coming kingdom. What a thrill they must have experienced at that moment, even in the midst of their confusion as to how it was all to take place if He were to be betrayed and killed.
Hold on. He didn't come to show us the way; He is the Way. We don't get to heaven by following His footsteps; we get there through Him, through faith in the finished work of redemption that took place on the cross of Calvary. He didn't come to teach us about truth; He is the Truth. If you want to know the truth in a world that can’t even seem to distinguish between right and wrong. He didn't come to remind us of eternal life; He is the Life. Without Him there is only misery, strife and death. Sounds pretty exclusive, doesn't it? It is; without Him there is no way to the Father - period. But this statement of Jesus is also so inclusive that anyone who will believe is welcome to be a part of it all. That's the best news of all.
Now go take on your world. - Bill