I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

By David J. Marsh

Several years ago, my co-worker, Hank, and I began to have conversations about faith. Hank is a gregarious fellow and conversations would often go a full hour behind the closed door of my office. Hank asked me questions about Jesus, faith, and the Bible. I did my best to field them. We covered a lot of ground and it appeared that God was drawing Hank to Himself.

One afternoon, Hank came into my office, closed the door and said he believed all of it—who God is, His pursuit of us, and His offer of life now and in eternity. But Hank admitted there was one concern holding him back. The claim that Jesus is the only way to God.

“Surely,” said Hank, “there are other paths to God.”

Hank was referring to the words spoken by Christ to His disciples in the last days before His death, recorded in John 14:6. Some reference Christ’s proclamation as the exclusivity claim, the great statement of Christianity as the one true faith. There’s nothing false in this perspective. However, there’s another way to look at this statement to help people like Hank understand God is pursuing them.

In John 1:1-4, we read this claim of Christ isn’t exclusive, it’s inclusive–God created all, everything in existence, through Jesus.

He then sent Jesus, His very Son, to walk among men. God offers rescue to all through and because of Jesus.

Christ is saying, there is no other way. No one else is coming for you. Don’t look any further, there’s not going to be another.

I AM God. I’m your man. I’m the man.

Several weeks went by before Hank and I had another opportunity to connect. One afternoon he walked into my office, shut the door, and sat down. Hank told me he now believed Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life. I asked him what got him over the hump. He couldn’t cite an incident, but said he just chose to believe. He was convinced. Clearly, the Holy Spirit had been at work in Hank’s mind and heart. God Himself did the convincing.

As we seek to live godly lives in the darkness of this world, let us continue to point to Jesus. He alone is the hope of mankind. Jesus came to earth as a man. He made the way, embodied the Truth, and offered the life for all mankind to join in fellowship with God. And He is still doing so.

Do you believe Jesus is the way, the Truth and the life? Journal what that means in your relationship with Jesus.

David J. Marsh is author of the novel The Confessions of Adam (Bold Vision Books, 2019) and the study guide A Conversation on Genesis 2-4 (Bold Vision Books, 2020). Visit him at www.davidjmarsh.com.

---