I AM THE WAY
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 [NIV]
As we enter the start of the 2013 Christmas season and the events that surround the birthday celebration of our Lord and Savior, our attention is drawn to the baby Jesus. Few realized that those events some 2000 years ago in a small village in Judea would change face of the world forever. Jesus, born to a virgin teenage woman but fathered by the Holy Spirit, was both fully man and fully God. Into our sinful world, Jesus was born as an innocent baby, who in time grew into manhood. Fully man and fully God, He lived a sinless life. Yet, He died a sinner’s death on a Roman cross at the age of 33. During His ministry, Jesus told His followers then and He tells us today how He has planned a future for all who choose to believe in Him as God’s One and Only Son. Look again at these comforting words of Jesus from John’s Gospel from the New Living Translation:
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.†“No, we don’t know, Lord,†Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?†Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.†John 14:1-6 [NLT]
Today, we face unpredictable times. The economy, political turmoil, wars, and threats on all sides, Satan is having a field day! The Bible tells us of a hope of a better today and of a brighter tomorrow. That hope has been with us for some 2000 years, yet in many ways, we are now just rediscovering it anew. That hope is in the person of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the passage above, Jesus lays it out very plainly that the pathway or way to the Father is through Jesus Himself and no one else. He states "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." In today’s world, it is reassuring to know that Jesus has charted a simple pathway of hope and security for us all...I am the way. I like how the New Living Translation states part of this passage...When everything is ready, I will come and get you.
How comforting to know that the God of heaven and earth is making ready our lodging place where we will spend eternity in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. How awesome are these promises!
In the early first century church, Christ’s followers were not known as Christians but became known as ‘the Way’. One of the earliest references to those followers is found in the book of Acts...
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2 [NIV]
This term, the Way, is interesting but it is truly self-explanatory. In John 14:6, Jesus clearly points out to us that He is the only pathway or way to God. Thus the name ‘the Way’. All other religions offer no such pathway to their god. The Way is also selective as we see in the following scripture. Jesus is speaking:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 [NIV]
Yes, only a few find it. There is only two roads or pathways in this life, two possible roads for mankind to travel...and only Jesus has the Way of Life Eternal. The other ‘way’ is into eternal damnation or destruction and many will follow it for wide is its pathway. There is no third option!
With the Christmas season fast approaching, let us celebrate the birthday of the our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For those who are straddling the fence about becoming a Christian, the clock is ticking. They need to make the most important decision of their lives...will it be the Way of the Cross or will it be the way of eternal damnation? So with Christmas and the new year on the horizon, let us choose to align our walk and our lives solidly anchored in Jesus Christ. With Christ as your anchor, relationships will heal and reconciliation of families will occur. For those of you who have already accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, this is a good time for re-commitment and renewal.
May our God bless each of you as you make this the most important decision of your life. Your eternal destination depends on it. And remember what Jesus Christ said: I am the way...
Standing firm until parted by death,
Ben in Texas
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 [NIV]
As we enter the start of the 2013 Christmas season and the events that surround the birthday celebration of our Lord and Savior, our attention is drawn to the baby Jesus. Few realized that those events some 2000 years ago in a small village in Judea would change face of the world forever. Jesus, born to a virgin teenage woman but fathered by the Holy Spirit, was both fully man and fully God. Into our sinful world, Jesus was born as an innocent baby, who in time grew into manhood. Fully man and fully God, He lived a sinless life. Yet, He died a sinner’s death on a Roman cross at the age of 33. During His ministry, Jesus told His followers then and He tells us today how He has planned a future for all who choose to believe in Him as God’s One and Only Son. Look again at these comforting words of Jesus from John’s Gospel from the New Living Translation:
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.†“No, we don’t know, Lord,†Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?†Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.†John 14:1-6 [NLT]
Today, we face unpredictable times. The economy, political turmoil, wars, and threats on all sides, Satan is having a field day! The Bible tells us of a hope of a better today and of a brighter tomorrow. That hope has been with us for some 2000 years, yet in many ways, we are now just rediscovering it anew. That hope is in the person of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In the passage above, Jesus lays it out very plainly that the pathway or way to the Father is through Jesus Himself and no one else. He states "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." In today’s world, it is reassuring to know that Jesus has charted a simple pathway of hope and security for us all...I am the way. I like how the New Living Translation states part of this passage...When everything is ready, I will come and get you.
How comforting to know that the God of heaven and earth is making ready our lodging place where we will spend eternity in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. How awesome are these promises!
In the early first century church, Christ’s followers were not known as Christians but became known as ‘the Way’. One of the earliest references to those followers is found in the book of Acts...
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2 [NIV]
This term, the Way, is interesting but it is truly self-explanatory. In John 14:6, Jesus clearly points out to us that He is the only pathway or way to God. Thus the name ‘the Way’. All other religions offer no such pathway to their god. The Way is also selective as we see in the following scripture. Jesus is speaking:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 [NIV]
Yes, only a few find it. There is only two roads or pathways in this life, two possible roads for mankind to travel...and only Jesus has the Way of Life Eternal. The other ‘way’ is into eternal damnation or destruction and many will follow it for wide is its pathway. There is no third option!
With the Christmas season fast approaching, let us celebrate the birthday of the our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For those who are straddling the fence about becoming a Christian, the clock is ticking. They need to make the most important decision of their lives...will it be the Way of the Cross or will it be the way of eternal damnation? So with Christmas and the new year on the horizon, let us choose to align our walk and our lives solidly anchored in Jesus Christ. With Christ as your anchor, relationships will heal and reconciliation of families will occur. For those of you who have already accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, this is a good time for re-commitment and renewal.
May our God bless each of you as you make this the most important decision of your life. Your eternal destination depends on it. And remember what Jesus Christ said: I am the way...
Standing firm until parted by death,
Ben in Texas
Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
