This is the central verse of the passage.
Jesus does not say, “I know the way.”
He says, “I am the way.”
He does not say, “I teach the truth.”
He says, “I am the truth.”
He does not say, “I can show you life.”
He says, “I am the life.”
The word “the” is important. Jesus is not one way among many ways. He is the way. He is not one truth among many truths. He is the truth. He is not one life among many spiritual options. He is the life.
I. Jesus Is The Way
Jesus is the way back to God.
Man was created for fellowship with God. In Genesis, God made man distinct from the animals. Man was made a living soul, created in the image of God, given purpose, dominion, and fellowship with his Creator.
But sin caused man to lose his way.
Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.”
Sin is not merely bad behaviour. Sin is wandering from God. Sin separates man from the One he was created to know.
Jesus says, “I am the way.” That means the way back to God is not religion, morality, church membership, baptism, good works, sincerity, or family heritage. The way back to God is Christ Himself.
Matthew 7:21-23 reminds us that not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord,” truly knows Him. The issue is not religious activity but a real relationship with Christ.
John 6:40 explains the Father’s will clearly: “that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.”
So the way to the Father is to come to the Son.
II. Jesus Is The Truth
Jesus is not simply a speaker of truth. He is Truth in person.
Truth is not based on feelings, opinions, culture, background, or personal experience. Truth is reality as God defines it. If Jesus is the Truth, then all that contradicts Him is error.
John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
There is a strong connection between Christ the living Word and Scripture the written Word. Jesus reveals God perfectly, and the Bible reveals truth faithfully.
The world often rejects truth because truth confronts sin. Romans 1 teaches that man suppresses the truth and turns God’s truth into a lie. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns that people will turn away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables.
But truth is not bondage. Truth brings freedom.
John 8:32 says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Truth tells us the truth about our sin:
Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Truth tells us the truth about salvation:
John 3:16 declares that God gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Truth does not flatter man. Truth saves man by pointing him to Christ.
III. Jesus Is The Life
Jesus is the source of life, the giver of life, and the sustainer of life.
John 11:25 says, “I am the resurrection, and the life.”
Physical life is precious because God is the giver of life. But John 14:6 speaks especially of spiritual and eternal life. A person may be physically alive and yet spiritually dead.
Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
1 Timothy 5:6 says, “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.”
That is a sobering truth. A person can have a home, job, money, friends, hobbies, and pleasures, and still be dead toward God.
Jesus says, “I am the life.”
Life begins with Christ. Eternal life is not merely living forever. Eternal life is knowing God through Jesus Christ.
John 17:3 says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
To have Christ is to have life.
1 John 5:12 says, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
This is the central verse of the passage.
Jesus does not say, “I know the way.”
He says, “I am the way.”
He does not say, “I teach the truth.”
He says, “I am the truth.”
He does not say, “I can show you life.”
He says, “I am the life.”
The word “the” is important. Jesus is not one way among many ways. He is the way. He is not one truth among many truths. He is the truth. He is not one life among many spiritual options. He is the life.
I. Jesus Is The Way
Jesus is the way back to God.
Man was created for fellowship with God. In Genesis, God made man distinct from the animals. Man was made a living soul, created in the image of God, given purpose, dominion, and fellowship with his Creator.
But sin caused man to lose his way.
Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.”
Sin is not merely bad behaviour. Sin is wandering from God. Sin separates man from the One he was created to know.
Jesus says, “I am the way.” That means the way back to God is not religion, morality, church membership, baptism, good works, sincerity, or family heritage. The way back to God is Christ Himself.
Matthew 7:21-23 reminds us that not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord,” truly knows Him. The issue is not religious activity but a real relationship with Christ.
John 6:40 explains the Father’s will clearly: “that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life.”
So the way to the Father is to come to the Son.
II. Jesus Is The Truth
Jesus is not simply a speaker of truth. He is Truth in person.
Truth is not based on feelings, opinions, culture, background, or personal experience. Truth is reality as God defines it. If Jesus is the Truth, then all that contradicts Him is error.
John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
There is a strong connection between Christ the living Word and Scripture the written Word. Jesus reveals God perfectly, and the Bible reveals truth faithfully.
The world often rejects truth because truth confronts sin. Romans 1 teaches that man suppresses the truth and turns God’s truth into a lie. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns that people will turn away their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables.
But truth is not bondage. Truth brings freedom.
John 8:32 says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Truth tells us the truth about our sin:
Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Truth tells us the truth about salvation:
John 3:16 declares that God gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Truth does not flatter man. Truth saves man by pointing him to Christ.
III. Jesus Is The Life
Jesus is the source of life, the giver of life, and the sustainer of life.
John 11:25 says, “I am the resurrection, and the life.”
Physical life is precious because God is the giver of life. But John 14:6 speaks especially of spiritual and eternal life. A person may be physically alive and yet spiritually dead.
Ephesians 2:1 says, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.”
1 Timothy 5:6 says, “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.”
That is a sobering truth. A person can have a home, job, money, friends, hobbies, and pleasures, and still be dead toward God.
Jesus says, “I am the life.”
Life begins with Christ. Eternal life is not merely living forever. Eternal life is knowing God through Jesus Christ.
John 17:3 says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
To have Christ is to have life.
1 John 5:12 says, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”