Following the Way, Understanding the Truth, Living the Life

As Jesus neared the end of His life on earth, His disciples became more and more concerned that Jesus said He was going to leave them.  They had dropped so much to follow Him, and yet here they were coming to the end of their walk with Him, and He seemed to be saying that He was on His way out.  Jesus tried to reassure them,

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” – John 14

Um…we do?  If we did, why would you have to come and get us?  The disciples were becoming perplexed and concerned, could Jesus be this out of touch?  He had been so insightful so many times, how could He believe that they had any idea what He was talking about?

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” – John 14

This was the heart of the problem they were facing.  Jesus was telling them He was moving on.  He was transitioning to a new and better life and leaving them behind.  Jesus was going home and they were going to be alone.   What was He talking about?  Why couldn’t He take them with Him now or show them the way?  What were they supposed to do now?  How were they supposed to follow Him wherever it was that He was going?  Was this the end?  Had they given up everything to spend time with this man, and now He was going to desert them to head home to some enormous house that His father owned?  Where was this house?  How could they get there?  It was all pretty obtuse, and if Jesus had this kind of inheritance, why hadn’t they heard about it before?  What’s more, He seemed to believe that they already knew about it and knew how to get there!

But as was true so many times with Jesus, the answer surprised them, and took their thinking to a whole different level.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” – John 14

Whoa!  Jesus is the way.  Yeah!  They knew Jesus and would follow Him anywhere.  They just wished He would take them with Him now, instead of coming back for them.

Jesus is the truth.  Okay, this is getting a bit allegorical man, but I get it, I get it.  I mean, we followed you because you showed us meaning and purpose, intentional discipline and passionate vision.  I buy it, you embody what you say and what you stand for, you are the truth.

Jesus is the life.  Wow.  He has been. He currently is. I guess He is saying He always will be.  He has taught us to be “fishers of men”.  He has shared everything that He has with us, and demonstrated a new way to survive and thrive that we never knew before.  We have shared life with Him.  We have come to rely on Him, to trust Him, to believe in Him.  Our lives are wrapped up in His life, and His life has become our life.  I get it!

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  Jesus is the answer.  Jesus is the solution.  Jesus is the whole package.  We have been waiting for Jesus to provide the solution, to give us the answer, to deliver the goods, when He knew all along that He was it!  Jesus is both creating and providing the way home to every human life, sharing everything that He has with us at every level, from physical to mental to spiritual, from the heart to the head, from the lifeblood and strength to pursue something better to the vision and the coaching to get us there.  Jesus is providing a whole new paradigm, a whole new perspective, a whole new opportunity to receive life and receive it abundantly.

Jesus continued drawing them into this new understanding of who He was and what He was capable of doing in them, for them, and through them.  It was clear that He was struggling to communicate the full breadth of what He knew, and yet He pressed on, urgently, persistently, passionately opening up God’s plan, and just when they were getting worried that they weren’t up to the task, that Jesus was finally moving beyond their reach, Jesus reassured them,

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” – John 14

Okay, take us with you!

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Jesus is someone you can follow, someone you can believe, and someone who can give you a life beyond your biggest and best dreams.

When you follow His way, accept and understand His truth, and live the life that He is offering, you will discover that what seemed impossible becomes expected, what seemed beyond your reach becomes your every day existence, and what appeared too big, too challenging, and too hard becomes the foundation and the stuff of your success.

“Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” – John 14

When you find the way, nothing can stand in your path.

When you grasp the truth, nothing can hold you down for long.

When you receive the life, then salvation and eternity are yours.

Jesus’ followers were looking for consolation, for reassurance, and for confirmation that what Jesus had told them must happen and was about to happen, wouldn’t happen.  But instead Jesus cast a vision, issued a challenge, and called them to step up and accept the mission and the purpose to go out in strength and the power of His spirit to share the good news of salvation and the arrival of the kingdom of God.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Jesus is the way home, the true answer, and the abundant life.

So, if you find yourself lost, or broken, or sick, or failing, or defeated, or enslaved, or alone today.  If you aren’t sure who God is, where God is, or what God can do for you.  If you aren’t confident about how you stand with God today.  If you are ready for a change, then pray this prayer with me right now.

“Jesus, I’ve heard you are the way, the truth, and the life.  I know I have lost my way, am unsure of my truth, and want a change in my life.  I have done so many things that haven’t turned out right.  I have believed so many things that didn’t bring joy.  I have walked down so many dead ends and hard roads.  And so I am coming to you today to let you know that I am ready for a better life.  I am ready to experience your peace.  I am ready to walk in your footsteps.  I am ready to receive your answers.  I am ready to accept whatever you have to give me, because I want more.  I want more love.  I want more joy.  I want more fulfillment.  I want more compassion.  I want more insight.  I want more understanding.  I want more wisdom.  I want more strength.  I want more health.  I want more life.  I want more success.  I want more abundance.  I want more victory.  I am asking you for new life.  I am asking you for eternal life.  I am asking you to be my God, my savior, and my friend.  I’m ready for a meaningful and committed relationship with you.  And so, I’m letting go of my need to define my own way, my own truth, and my own life, and choosing to step out in faith into your way, your truth, and your life.  Come into my heart, my mind, my soul, my body — everything that is me — and shape me, mold me, define me, refine me, coach me, mentor me, lead me, guide me, and most of all walk with me every day of my life from now to eternity.  I’m yours.”

If you prayed that prayer, I believe you were born again.  So, get in a good, Bible based church and keep God first in every aspect of your life, because He is going to take you places beyond your biggest and best dreams.

“Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”