[Announcer] (0:00 - 0:19) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.
Our topic is John 14:6: "How is Jesus 'The Way'?" Here's Rick and Julie.
[Rick] (0:21 - 0:28) Welcome, everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Julie, a longtime contributor.
Julie, what's our theme scripture for this episode?
[Julie] (0:29 - 0:37) John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me."
[Rick] (0:37 - 1:21) On the night before his crucifixion--and just hours before he would begin a night of unjust treatment that would lead to humiliation, beatings and an eventual crucifixion--Jesus invested unhurried and precious hours with his disciples. His aim was to comfort them, as what they were about to witness would shake them all to their very core. Jesus was assuring them of his care for them and his profound loyalty to his Father, as this loyalty would ultimately bring redemption to them and to the whole world.
Jesus' simple statement of being "the way, and the truth, and the life" would be a key to open up their understanding of what their lives would need to look like.
[Julie] (1:21 - 1:41) We're going to explore these descriptions in three separate episodes so we can really dig into what Jesus meant. Grasping how Jesus is "the way" in John 13 will help us understand and apply Jesus as "the truth" in John 14, and then teach us how to appreciate him as "the life" in John 15. It's all laid out for us.
[Rick] (1:42 - 2:10) No accident, because that's the way Jesus put things to be discovered after they were said initially. Let's go to the immediate context here. The immediate context of this phrase, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life..."
Judas had just left the Upper Room, having been revealed as the betrayer. Jesus describes "the way" even before he labels it as "the way." Let's begin with John 13:31-32:
[Julie] (2:10 - 2:42) "Therefore when he (Judas) had gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him (Jesus); if God is glorified in him (Jesus), God will also glorify him (Jesus) in Himself (God), and will glorify him immediately." Okay, Rick, so that's kind of weird.
Judas leaves to sell the location of Jesus to the enemy, which will in turn get Jesus killed, and yet here he's talking about his own glory and the glory of God. What's glorious about this?
[Rick] (2:42 - 4:01) That's a really good question, because it seems exactly the opposite. The glory or the honor spoken of here begins to show us what Jesus' ultimate mission was, and that's the point. Jesus is expressing his ultimate mission in the context of this difficulty.
Judas' betrayal set in motion Jesus' persecution and death. This sacrificial death would bring God's glory. We might look at this and say, Wait a minute! Judas is off to betray him!
There's tragedy lurking! Jesus sees this as, Judas is off to betray me. This is heartbreaking, but this is the opportunity for God's glory. That's what we need to see.
There's always opportunity in the present tragedy if we see things through the eyes of Jesus. At this point, we've got to ask ourselves where was Jesus going here? He was going to travel a road of humiliation and crucifixion.
That's very, very obvious by what we've already talked about. Now, here's the thing; he framed the pain and suffering before him as God being honored in him.
This was the opportunity, this grand opportunity for God to be honored. Where was Jesus going? He was going to honor God!
[Julie] (4:02 - 4:09) In the big picture, this is a path with a glorious destination even though the path itself sounds pretty dismal.
[Rick] (4:10 - 4:33) Yes, absolutely. There's a lot to learn here in terms of Jesus being "the way" when we take that as the initial steps here. Next, Jesus expressed one of the challenges that his followers would face.
You see how he expresses God's glory in the face of his challenge. Now he expresses a challenge for his followers. Let's look at John 13:33-35:
[Julie] (4:33 - 4:56) "Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, Where I am going, you cannot come." Well now that's an odd statement too, because if he's saying you can't go where I'm going--I'm the way, but follow me anyway, it sounds like he's setting them up to react so that he can respond and teach them.
[Rick] (4:56 - 5:14) This is a big proclamation! They are going to be separated. He just told them, "Where I am going, you cannot come."
Jesus was going to honor God, as we already discussed, and they couldn't go with him to honor God. What happens? Well, now comes their instructions.
Now come their learning tools. Let's continue with John 13:34-35:
[Julie] (5:15 - 5:28) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
[Rick] (5:29 - 6:25) What you have is Jesus is saying, where I'm going you can't come, but here's what you need to do, because they needed to learn the basics before they could go through the big stuff. This is important. Your command is to love one another.
My command is to glorify God through being persecuted. Different paths at this moment, but this was all part of following Jesus as "the way." If Jesus is "the way," where were Jesus' disciples going?
Because he's the one who's bringing them there. Even though they'd be separated from him, they were given a new commandment to follow. Jesus' disciples needed to learn to be like him.
They didn't know that yet, but he's putting everything in place. They needed to learn to be like him, and he's going to continue with helping them understand. Next, Jesus would explain the harsh truth of their present experiences.
Let's continue with John 13:36-38:
[Julie] (6:26 - 6:52) "Simon Peter said to him, Lord, where are you going? Jesus answered, Where I go you cannot follow me now; but you will follow me later. Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you right now?
I will lay down my life for you. Jesus answered, Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny me three times."
[Rick] (6:52 - 8:10) Let's think about this. Jesus had just told them, you can't follow me. Here are your instructions.
Peter basically says, Okay, wait, where are you going? This is Peter being Peter. There's goodness in here.
There's this real strong connection and love. Where are you going? Jesus says, you can't follow me now, but you will later.
He's like, wait, wait, wait, wait... why can't I follow you now? Here's the thing;
Simon Peter needed to learn to "love one another." That's why he wasn't in a position. He needed to follow the instructions so he could follow later.
When you look at this, you see his anxiousness--and sometimes we get anxious. We want to run ahead to the third or fourth quarter when we're still at the beginning of the first. That's Simon Peter in a nutshell.
Jesus is teaching him, go slowly. You're going to have tough experiences, but they're going to teach you exactly what you need to know and to learn. "Love one another...as I have loved you."
That's the place where they would begin. Where was Jesus going? How is he "the way" for us to follow? We're beginning to develop this by what he is saying just in the Upper Room, just in these few sentences.
Jesus was walking the road of voluntary self-sacrifice, and he was teaching his disciples to follow him on that road of self-sacrifice, but first things first.
[Julie] (8:11 - 8:25) How do I follow Jesus as "the way?" The answer is right here in John 13; love others as he's loved you.
This is the path he paved, and that's the proof that we're walking on the right path. That's for us, too.
[Rick] (8:26 - 8:59) That's the beginning. We're going to see that Jesus piles several other things on top. It's not just, okay, I love others.
I'm good. I'm following Jesus. No, that's wonderful.
What a way to start! That's where Jesus is placing them at the beginning. Let's move forward.
Jesus would continue to show them "the way" in John 14. Now, John 14:1-2 are the very next verses in this monologue that Jesus is speaking here. There's no break.
These are the next things that Jesus says:
[Julie] (9:00 - 9:12) "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you."
[Rick] (9:13 - 9:51) Now he's getting specific. There are places that Jesus is preparing for them; there is a destination he's going to.
Up to this point, he's been a little mysterious because he's placing the lessons in place. He's putting all of the pieces there so they can understand. When we ask the question, where was Jesus going?
His faithfulness enabled him to prepare their new heavenly home. This is beyond their expectation, beyond their understanding. This is something they could not comprehend.
Listen to what Jesus says to them in John 14:3-6:
[Julie] (9:51 - 10:48) "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going. Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going,
how do we know the way? (here's our theme text) Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life;
no one comes to the Father but through me." The Greek word here for the word "way" in English is "hodos," and it's got a great meaning. It means three different things: a road or path--
the physical route that one travels. It can mean a journey or progress; the act of moving towards the destination. It's also a manner of life; a metaphor for your conduct, decisions, and direction.
When Jesus says, I am "the way," he's not just saying he knows the route--he is the road, he's the journey and he is the destination.
[Rick] (10:49 - 12:08) It's comprehensive. What he's doing as he continues to teach them this night before his crucifixion, is how he is "the way." We'll see how he teaches them how he is "the truth" and "the life" also in this same evening.
Right now, we're focusing on "the way." He's looking at "the way" to this place where we're dwelling with him, with God.
That is beyond our comprehension. How is Jesus "the way" for his disciples? Let's pull this together.
His disciples had already been shown "the way," but they didn't know it yet. Lord, if we don't know "the way," how can we get there? No, no.
"I AM the way." Here's what you need to comprehend. The path to follow, therefore, is one that we have to apply in terms of attentiveness and discipline and follow-through regarding Jesus' teachings.
That's "the way" that we are to go. Follow in Jesus' footsteps and arrive at his destination! It sounds so simple!
As a matter of fact, it almost sounds too simple, because there's much more to it. It's so simple, and yet sometimes we want to rewrite the route. We want to kind of close it off there.
Okay, good. I've got it. Going to heaven.
I'm just going to heaven. That's not what's going to happen here, because there's got to be a lot more in process.
[Julie] (12:09 - 12:17) Yeah, it's more than just a checklist. I'm going to do this, this, this, and then I follow him. What does following Jesus as "the way" look like in practical terms?
What does that mean for us?
[Rick] (12:18 - 12:33) Let's get down to understanding Jesus as "the way." First, Jesus himself told us that the Father only draws us to Himself, to God, through Jesus. We know that from Jesus' own words in John 6:43-45:
[Julie] (12:34 - 13:36) "Jesus answered and said to them...No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets (then he quotes from Isaiah 54:13), AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to me."
These are really important texts when you dig in. First, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 54:13: "...and they shall be taught of God." This shows that divine teaching was at the heart of Israel's hope.
Whoever hears God's instructions would be drawn to Jesus as their source of life. This drawing process of God means recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. But it doesn't stop there; second, it describes an exclusive access. Jesus doesn't say he's "a" way;
He says he's "the" way (he hodos). In Greek, the definite article for "the" (he) emphasizes exclusivity. Jesus is the ONLY path to the Father, not just one among many.
[Rick] (13:37 - 13:45) That's a really important point. He is the only path. How do we know that?
Because that's what he said.
[Julie] (13:45 - 13:54) That's right. But of course, this leads to the obvious question, what about those who aren't following on this path, either by choice or by their circumstances? Are they doomed?
[Rick] (13:54 - 14:45) The answer is no! Absolutely not. They're just not called to this path. That's the reason Jesus died.
"As in Adam all die, so all in Christ are made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22) The bigger picture takes care of the "everyone else," but the drawing of those few who would follow Jesus are compelled to follow through on these very difficult tasks of walking in his footsteps. The world will be asked to do that in a sacrificial way later when the kingdom comes, and we'll expand on that a little bit.
The first point here is you must be drawn to walk "the way," to follow Jesus. Having been drawn to God, Jesus now in another scripture will illustrate that his followers are protected through him. This is a beautiful verse, very simple but very beautiful.
John 10:7-9:
[Julie] (14:46 - 15:02) "So Jesus said to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door;
if anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."
[Rick] (15:02 - 15:28) Jesus is "the door" for the sheep as well as "the shepherd" for the sheep. He is saying, I'm the way to get in and out AND I am the one who guides and protects. When we ask the question, how is Jesus "the way" for his disciples? The entrance into God's protected flock is ONLY through Jesus.
I want to emphasize the word "protected" because that's what Jesus promised.
[Julie] (15:29 - 16:16) I love this. Jesus is "the door," he's "the shepherd," he's--later on--he's "the vine," he's "the way, the truth, the life." There's this long list of metaphors used to describe Jesus. Each picture reveals a different part of his character and his mission--kind of helps us bridge that gap between the absolutely unknowable to the familiar.
Metaphors make it personal. I'm wondering, how can Jesus be both a door and a shepherd? Two verses later, when it describes him as "the shepherd," we see that in this week's CQ Rewind Show Notes, we have a drawing of an ancient sheepfold.
It's a pen of protection for the sheep, made from stone usually. Sheep resting safely inside, and a shepherd sitting calmly in the doorway. He prevents the sheep from going in and out when they're not supposed to, and he prevents enemies from going in. That's how he can be both.
[Rick] (16:17 - 16:41) When you think about it, and you think of a physical shepherd protecting physical sheep, that's one thing, and it's very important. But think about it as Jesus protecting the lives of all of his followers. That's another thing on a whole different level.
We've got the being drawn, and now we've got protected. Next, how did Jesus further describe "the way" that we are to follow? Let's look at Matthew 7:13-14:
[Julie] (16:42 - 17:08) "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few that find it." Because "the way"--and that's "he hodos" again-- because this way is narrow, it demands intentional, wholehearted focus and commitment.
To use a sports analogy, "you can't take your eye off the ball."
[Rick] (17:08 - 18:24) Exactly. The gate is small, "the way" is narrow. It's not easy, that's the message.
It's not, hey, I'm saved, life is great. It's, hey, I am saved, now I must follow through that small gate and into that narrow way. When we ask the question, "How is Jesus 'the way' for his disciples?" Here's the answer:
Jesus himself walked a difficult road, as ALL he did was to glorify his Father, every single thing, and the difficulties brought glory to God in a grand way. You look at that and say, that doesn't make sense... but in the big picture it does, because it was through sacrifice and giving and submitting that God's plan would unfold. We see all of that happening.
He is the pattern for what a Christian life should look like. Narrow way, small gate, that's where we have to go. Now we've got this sense of having to be sure-footed.
Okay, we were drawn, we were protected, now on this narrow, difficult way, we have to be sure-footed in following in his footsteps. Next, Jesus as "the way" showed us how to stand against the tide of sin and darkness. Let's look at Matthew 10:24-25; 28-31.
[Julie] (18:25 - 19:19) Here Jesus is preparing his disciples for being misjudged and rejected: "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. ...If they called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!"
I'm going to stop there for a second. Beelzebul (sometimes we hear it as Beelzebub) was originally a Philistine deity, but by Jesus' time it became a nickname for Satan. Jesus' opponents used it to accuse him of casting out demons by demonic power.
Jesus is saying, if the master's being slandered by being called demonic because he's Beelzebul, then his followers should expect the same or worse. Continuing with Matthew 10:28: 28: "...Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him (God) who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." That Greek word "hell" here is "gehenna," meaning "destruction."
[Rick] (19:20 - 20:03) We've got this sense of the only one you need to have reverent fear for is God Almighty, because nobody else can take away your life and your future life. Nobody else can take away the potential of God-honoring life except for the Father Himself. He's saying, Look, they may persecute you, they may classify you as demonic, they may take your life--
don't worry about that! Don't worry about that. Follow me, follow who I am, follow what I do, follow what I say, and you are now in God's hands.
That's the message here. Next in these verses, Jesus moves on to describe the care that God gives to those who follow Jesus.
[Julie] (20:04 - 20:17) Matthew 10:29-31: "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."
[Rick] (20:18 - 21:17) You go from this being called demonic, to them possibly taking your life, to Jesus saying, are you not more valuable to God than two little birds? Then he says "the very hairs of your head are numbered." That's amazing!
Back up, sit down, take a breath, and observe that. What Jesus is saying is, by following me as "the way," God knows YOU. He knows all of you and will care for you in the best ways possible. When we look at these verses and ask the question, "How is Jesus 'the way' for his disciples?"
Jesus taught us in word and deed to stand for that which is godly and not fear the persecution that comes. Inevitably it comes. Following his example brings God's clear protection.
Jesus protects us by being "the shepherd," but this elevates it to even higher, and you have God Almighty's protection as well.
[Julie] (21:18 - 21:31) I visually feel like the stress is a mighty ocean, and we have this anchor. Jesus equips us to face persecution--no matter what that looks like--without fear, because we're anchored in the Father's care.
[Rick] (21:31 - 22:22) Absolutely. What do we have? What does following Jesus as "the way" look like in practical terms?
Up to this point, we're drawn by God through Jesus. We are protected by Jesus. We need to be sure-footed on this very difficult path, and then we need to be tested along the way with God's protection looking over us.
Up to this point, we have looked at describing "the way" only through the words of Jesus, only through what he had taught. Now let's go to other scriptures and look at what some of the other apostles taught us about "the way," because Jesus had been glorified. He has proven the value of a sacrificing, God-honoring life here and now.
Let's look at Romans 8:18-21, and expand what following Jesus as "the way" looks like:
[Julie] (22:22 - 23:09) "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
Let's go back over that. This clearly shows that there're two groups. One, we have the "sons of God."
Those are the faithful followers of Christ, the true church. There's also this second group, the "creation." That's mankind in general, the "everybody else." It's saying the "creation" is waiting for the "sons of God."
[Rick] (23:09 - 24:20) Those "sons of God" need to go through the sufferings of this present time. They need to be tested. It's like a soldier going to boot camp.
My son is in the Coast Guard, and before he got in, they went to boot camp. I remember him calling me from boot camp on the little tiny occasions they'd allow you to make a quick little phone call, and just kind of sharing the experience. It was grueling.
It was overwhelming. The point was to harden them as those who would be given the responsibility of protecting others. That's what Jesus is guiding us through because that's what he did.
We are asked to do what he did except on a very, very, very different level than he did, because certainly we cannot come ever, ever close to his experiences. "How is Jesus 'the way' for his disciples?" Jesus freed us from the grip of Adam's sin.
You had mentioned that in your comments. We, in turn, are called upon to play a role in the future freeing of the rest of the world from the same sorrowful existence. We go through it first so he can build it later.
Our trials don't go away. They are part of "the way."
[Julie] (24:21 - 24:35) This answers my question: Is everyone else doomed? No, because they're brought here waiting for those who are currently on "the way" to do what they do--to be with Jesus--and then they become part of this in the kingdom as well.
[Rick] (24:35 - 25:06) Absolutely. There is so much to this. When Jesus says, "I am the way" sometimes we look at that and we think, well, what does that mean?
It is powerful, it is profound, and it's deep. One other scripture that we want to look at before we begin to wrap this up. Every aspect of Jesus' life is ever worthy of our focused attention.
His life IS "the way!" We've said that again and again and again. Hebrews 12:1-3 really nails this down for us:
[Julie] (25:06 - 25:31) "...let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him who has endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
[Rick] (25:32 - 26:46) These verses have so much in them. "Fixing our eyes on Jesus." He's "the author and perfecter" of our faith.
I mean, "How is Jesus 'the way' for his disciples?" Jesus wrote the book of our daily walk in faith. It says he's the author and finisher of our faith.
Every aspect of our lives can have a clear focus and direction if we would just meditate on him, "consider him who endured such hostility by sinners against himself, so you will not grow weary and lose heart." We need to draw strength from him as we walk in his footsteps on this narrow way, because Jesus is "the way," and that is what we're called to do in following him. One last scripture, Julie, we want to look at.
In his "prison letter" to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul sums up our privilege to follow Jesus as "the way." Now remember, Paul is sitting in a prison cell. He can't go out and preach anymore.
He is limited. He is dramatically limited in his life, and it's very discouraging to essentially have his wings clipped and be stuck in this prison cell. Here's what he's writing in Philippians 1:19-21:
[Julie] (26:47 - 27:13) "...for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
[Rick] (27:13 - 27:33) The Apostle is writing it's his "expectation and hope" that he is going to continue with boldness, even if he can't be out there in front of everybody--whether it be by life or death. His boldness to follow in Jesus' footsteps was the most important thing.
To live is Christ, that's "the way." And to die, that's gain, because that's what Jesus did.
[Julie] (27:33 - 28:03) That goes back to the same glory at the very beginning, the same hope that Jesus had to glorify the Father, even if he died. It's a simple concept, this "the way," but it's really profound in application when you look at it. Jesus is "the way" because he not only shows us the destination, but he's the road, he's the gate, he's the guide, he's the vehicle by which we are drawn into eternal life and empowered to live it here and now in the way he told us to.
Love, love, love.
[Rick] (28:04 - 29:08) Again, love, love, love, that's where we begin, and that's what we have to work on. Let's get it straight. We're not going to figure that out in ten minutes and then be able to move on to other things.
That needs to be renewed again and again, as every other aspect of our Christian lives need to be renewed. Folks, the simplicity of this message of Jesus is that when he says, "I am the way" he's saying, you don't have to look all kinds of places. Look to me, follow my example, follow my teachings, follow my words, follow my motivation and what I came to do, and you can be part of what we know scripturally as the body of Christ.
That is following "the way." And there is the beauty of the privilege of being a disciple of Christ. Think about it.
We love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com. Next week, "John 14:6 - How is Jesus 'The Truth'?"
Final Notes: copyright @2025 Christian Questions. In addition to this transcript, we provide comprehensive CQ Rewind Show Notes for every episode. They include every scripture quoted during the podcast, as well as graphics, illustrations and bonus material. Click the "CQ Rewind Show Notes" button near the audio player or sign up to receive these weekly at ChristianQuestions.com. This transcript was created using artificial intelligence. While we believe it to be accurate, we apologize for any errors that may exist.