“The Way, The Truth, The Life”
There is only one way to God and eternal life –
through faith in Jesus Christ.
Key Verse: John 14:6 (NIV)
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Bible Passage: John 14:1-14 (NIV)
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you; I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus, answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not my just my own. Rather, it is the Father living in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son my bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.”
Lesson Thought
Contemporary society often expresses the view that we, Christians, are intolerant. The central truth of the gospel, that Jesus is the only way to God, is what most provokes this reaction. Many will say that such a position is not only intolerant of the beliefs of others, but is terribly arrogant of Christians. It would be easy for Christians to fall into the trap of feeling “guilty” for their supposed intolerance and arrogance. However, John McArthur clearly gives the Biblical perspective on this issue. He states that Christianity is not like any other religion. All other religions teach what men and women can do to make themselves right with God, whereas Christianity teaches what God did to make men and women right with Him. It is impossible for an individual to make himself or herself right with God by his or her own efforts or work. This is the fallacy of the world view that places Christianity on the same level with all other religions. Unlike what the world would like to believe, there are not many truths based on different human experiences. There is only one source of truth and that source is God. This same God declared that there is only one way to Him and only one way for mankind to be reconciled to him and that way is through His Son, Jesus Christ. Rest assured that your faith in Jesus Christ is The way and The truth and The life. You need not be reluctant to share that truth with everyone, because it comes from God, not from man. There is plenty of room for everyone in the house of God, but you must believe in His Son in order to enter. Don’t allow talk of intolerance and arrogance keep you from reaching out to others with the truth of the Gospel as Jesus commanded us to do.
Application: What does this lesson say to us today?
1) Have I allowed the contemporary world view to make me less willing to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel to those who don’t know this truth? If so, how will I change my attitude and behavior?
2) Am I ready to take Jesus at his word that, through faith in him, I can do what he did and even greater things?
Family Activities: putting the lesson into action
Have the family work individually on a maze puzzle. Once everyone is done, ask if they found many ways to get to the end. There were many choices that could have been made along the way and many paths that could have been taken, but in the end there was only one way to the end of the maze. The same truth applies to God.
Suggestions for further study
1 John 3:16-20
Matthew 11:25-30
Psalm 62:5-8
Izzy Colon
