“Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jesus saith to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life…”
John 14: 5-6
After three years of schooling, Jesus’ disciples still did not understand just what He came to do. His explanation, delivered even as events were unfolding, was misconstrued. It didn’t fit with the narrative the disciples imagined.
Christianity is not a single decision. It is a key that opens the door to a journey. The key to the door is truth. Like the Sadducees before them, Jesus’ disciples had their own version of the truth about God, life, and what followed it. Both groups were wrong and for the very same reason. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
The scriptures reveal the truth about God, His intentions, and the way in which He will bring His design to fruition. The scriptural picture of the suffering of the Messiah was in plain sight. The prophet Daniel even laid out a timetable. It was simply ignored. As is His call to “Come unto me”.
Faith begins with hearing, but not everyone has ears to hear. Faith then tests the power of God. Without testing, not only is there no hearing, but there is also no seeing. The deaf and blind wander along making up the truth as they go along.
Jesus said He is the Way. He is also the truth that points to that way. His example—His footsteps are a compass to keep followers on the right path. That people stray from perfection is to be expected. For them to ignore the stop, yield, and do not enter signs provided along the roadside opens travelers up to hazards as deadly as those on any busy street.
Jesus, then, is the Truth that opens the door to Himself as the Way. He is also the destination—the resultant Life produced by following the Truth along the Way. “Abide in me, and I in you,” is not a metaphor, it is a command. In Him is life and in His presence is fullness of joy. Apart from Him is outer darkness where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
“And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it…’” He that has ears, let him hear.
Maranatha
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