What Does Jesus Mean When He Says “I am the Way the Truth and the Life” in the Bible?
Bible Study
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By Linda Lyle, Crosswalk.com
Have you ever lost your way, maybe on a road trip, hiking, or just trying to find your car in the parking lot? When Jesus told the disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” he was giving them what we all need when we’re lost: a fixed point by which to navigate. When you are lost physically, mentally, or spiritually, you need something to help center yourself before determining which path to take.
The disciples’ lives were about to be upended, and Jesus knew that they needed a compass to help them navigate the days to come. The same compass helps Christians today navigate when they get off track.
When Does Jesus Say “I am the Way the Truth and the Life”?
When the disciples sat down to observe the Passover with Jesus, they had no idea that it would literally be the Last Supper. When Jesus told them about his death, resurrection, and ascension, they had no idea what he was talking about. So, Thomas asked how they could come to him when they didn’t know where he was going.
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6)
This isn’t the first time Jesus has used the phrase “I am” to describe himself. It is the sixth of seven “I am” statements in the Book of John. For a list of all seven phrases, read this article by Jessica Brodie.
For now, let’s consider why Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Why Does Jesus Say “I am the Way the Truth and the Life”?
In his last few hours with the disciples, Jesus was trying to convey as much as he could about who He was and why He came, even if they didn’t understand it until after his resurrection. In the article “Why Did Jesus Say, ‘I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life?’” by Mary Oelerich-Meyer, the author discusses how Jesus was trying to emphasize that He had to return to the Father so that He could make a way for them to follow.
Another article by Christianity.com staff takes a different approach, emphasizing the context around the statement to show why it is central to Christian theology. Jesus is the only means of salvation, the embodiment of the truth, and the source of eternal life.
Both articles point to Jesus laying out His identity and mission to the disciples, which the Holy Spirit would call to their minds after His ascension. We could argue that the disciples were a little dense or clueless because they had been with Jesus all this time and still didn’t understand. Yet, the same is true today. Some have followed Jesus all their lives and still can’t wrap their heads around all that is Jesus.
John even said, “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen” (John 21:25). It is hard to understand the complexity of the Trinity on this side of Heaven. Still, we should always seek to learn more about Jesus daily, so let’s look at each phrase and break down what each one says about who Jesus is.
What Does “I am the Way the Truth and the Life” Say about Jesus’ Divinity?
The phrase ���I Am” was first used as God's name in Exodus 3:14: And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” When Jesus described himself in the seven “I am” statements, He identified himself as God.
In the first part of the verse, Jesus says, “I am the Way.” At the end of the verse, he also says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus is the way of salvation and reconciliation with God because his death and resurrection paid the debt of sin. John 3:16 tells us, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Only Christ could bridge the gap because he only lived a sinless life and sacrificed himself for our sins. It is because of this idea that early Christianity was called The Way.
Jesus is also the Truth. He is the physical embodiment of God’s truth and divine revelation given throughout the scriptures. Randy Alcorn writes in his article “How is Jesus Truth?” about four ways that Jesus is the Truth:
- God is the source of all truth.
- Jesus shared the truth of God in all His teachings.
- Jesus was both God and Man; therefore, He was the Truth.
- In his role as savior, he was the revelation of God’s truth and love.
In John 8:32, Jesus also says, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The Truth was Jesus, and knowing him as Lord and Savior frees us from the power of sin.
Jesus is the Life. John 1:3-4 it says, “All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” Jesus was there at creation, and God is also the creator. Colossians 1:16 confirms this: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.” Life started with him, and eternal life is available because of his sacrificial work on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.
How Did Jesus Prove He Was the Way the Truth and the Life?
Jesus came to fulfill the scriptures. In John 5:39, Jesus said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” Jesus fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies (approximately 47 in total) about the coming Messiah. Some examples of prophecies fulfilled are:
- Isaiah 7:14 prophesied a virgin birth, and Matthew 1:18, Matthew 24-25 details the virgin Mary giving birth.
- Jeremiah 23:5 prophesied he would be of the House of David, and Luke 3 traces Jesus’ genealogy back to David.
- Isaiah 53:4-11 describes the suffering servant, fulfilled in Matthew 27.
Jesus even prophesied about how he would die and be resurrected (in John 14). On the first Easter Sunday, Jesus arose from the dead, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and his own prophecy. He also said that when he ascended to the Father's right hand, he would send the Holy Ghost to live in us. In Acts 2:1-13, we know that the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.
Because Jesus' prophecies were fulfilled, we can trust that all the things Jesus told the disciples about going to prepare a place for us in Heaven are true. Everything he said came to pass. He made a way of salvation for us as the sacrificial lamb. He became the Truth so that we could be free from sin. He died and rose again so that we might have eternal life.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is all we will ever need and more than we ever asked for. He is what he says he is, and we can trust him to do what he says he will do. Whenever we feel lost, we can always look to him and find our way home.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/timwildsmith
Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
"Be Still and Know that I Am God"
"Pray Without Ceasing"
"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"
"All Things Work Together for Good"
"Do Not Fear"
