'I am the Way'

The Gospel of John contains seven statements where Jesus proclaims, “I am.” By describing Himself as the “I am” he was proclaiming Himself to be God. “I am” first appears in the Bible in Exodus 3:14. God tells Moses, “say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.” Each of the seven “I am” statements provides insights into the character of our God and Savior.

In John 14:5 Jesus states, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” He reassures His disciples with these words because He was about to be crucified. Further, He knew He would be leaving them after His resurrection in order to prepare a place for them (John 14:2-3). Thomas asked how they would know the way to where Jesus was going. Jesus answered, “I am the way.”

The Hebrew word that refers to Jewish law is halakhah. Halakhah means ‘go’ or ‘walk.’ It is the “way” a Jew is to behave. Moses told the people that God would make them, “a holy people to Himself, if you keep the commandments of Yehovah your God and walk in His ways” (Deuteronomy 28:9). The prophet Hosea taught, “The ways of Yehovah are right, and the righteous will walk in them” (14:9)

God’s Word leads believers in the “way”: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). God encourages His people, “do not turn aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right or to the left” (Deuteronomy 28:14). Unfortunately, God’s instructions became a list of “dos and don’ts” that the people thought would merit favor with God.

Yehovah sent His son as the living representation of His Word to correct the misunderstanding about walking in His “way.” “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Even Jesus’ detractors recognized his integrity and the correctness of His teaching: “we know that You are truthful and … teach the way of God in truth” (Mark 12:14). Jesus taught, “the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and … the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Jesus states he is “THE way” not just one of many means for salvation. Scripture admonishes us that there is “one Lord, one faith” (Ephesians 4:5). Further, “there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12)

Our calling is to reach the world with the good news of Jesus being “the way.” “He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). Follow “the way” and share “the way” daily.