Day 2: Jesus is The Way-the ONLY WAY to Salvation

Jesus answered them, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me." 

John 14:6

Here's the background of this verse: Jesus is spending His last free moments with is trusted friends and disciples here on Earth.  He is trying to explain to them what is going to happen in only a few short hours.  However, they can't ever imagine the plan that has been set into motion.  I also believe that they weren't ready to understand the plan yet.  God would reveal the full completion of His plan to each disciple individually over the next 40 days.  Therefore, for each disciple in their own way learned and understood the Plan well enough to tell others and us through the Bible!! 

There are three powerful words that Jesus uses in this statement.  Jesus is saying He is the Way to His Father.  No one can have a relationship with God unless they go through Jesus first.  Maybe this is a statement you have heard and learned before.  Do you know why?  God is holy which means He cannot be near sin.  We are sinners (Romans 3:23), so basically God can't be near us.  That is why there were animal sacrifices in the Old Testament to make payment (death) to cover their sins.

"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" Hebrews 9:22. God set up His law, that everything needed to be cleansed in blood because someone or something needed to die as a result of sin.  Blood symbolizes the life that paid for the sin (Lev 17:11).  When Jesus died on the cross, He shed His blood for us and now we are clean and holy if we trust in that Payment.  So the Way to the Father is accepting that Jesus has cleansed you and offered you forgiveness. 

The other two words are also sooo wonderful to explore.  Jesus is also Truth because He is the Logos or Word! He is the human form of God's Word and teachings.  Since God cannot be near sin, He doesn't lie.  Since Jesus is God and divine, He also can't be near sin.  Which means He will never lie.  Jesus' words and teachings are just as true Today as they were the day He spoke them to His disciples.  Isn't that amazing!  The same words He used to explain everything to His friends, you can read in your bible!!

Lastly, to wrap up the other two,  Jesus is The Life, without Him we are destined to go to H-E-double hockey sticks (HELL).  He gave His life as a sacrifice because our sin deserves death (Romans 6:23), He paid that death so that we are not bound by these human, mortal lives but we could have eternal life with Him forever and ever!! 

Is Jesus the Truth on which you stand?  A famous hymn states all other ground is sinking sand... Have you found eternal life in Him?  These are questions that are invoked by these attributes or names of Jesus.  How can you praise Him today because He provided a Way when we couldn't?  Paul tells us over and over again in Romans that it was NOTHING we could do to make ourselves right with God, even if we kept the law perfectly, we can't be right with God because we inherited Adam's sin nature, ONLY Jesus can rescue us and adopt us into His family, an eternal family of believers. Does it take a burden off your shoulders to stop trying so hard and rest in His power?  Can you feel the peace that only He provides?   

With His Love,

A