Relevant Verses: John 14:1–6
Theme: Jesus, the Only Way
Leading Question: How do we know the way to God?
In postmodern times, one of the most important discussions in Christianity is whether salvation, or soteriology (soteria in Greek means “salvation”), is particular or universal. Is salvation only through Christ? If there are other ways to reach up to the Father, then why did the Son have to come and die? Interestingly, the Gospel of John is the most important source for this very question about Christian particularity or universalism. In John 14:6, we read that no one can come to the Father except through Jesus. Nonetheless, at the beginning of the Gospel we read that the Light that enlightens everyone was entering the world (1:9), calling everybody to respond to salvation through faith, whether or not one knows Jesus’ story. How can the Light of Christ be accessible to everyone and “darkness has not overcome the light” (1:5) while Jesus remains the only way to the Father? Again, we have a riddle on our hands.
On one hand,
The true Light that enlightens everyone is Jesus (1:9), suggesting universal access to God’s saving work; and Jesus has many sheep that are “not of this fold” (10:16)
And yet,
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, without whom no one comes to the Father (14:6); believing in him affords eternal life (3:16; 20:31).
To understand both of these claims we should ask why both of these claims are made.
Question: What is actually claimed when it is says that all who come to God do so through Jesus?
Question: In what way do all have access to the illuminating activity of the eternal Christ?
Question: Is the first claim prescriptive (“all people must…”) or descriptive “(this is how it happens for everyone…”)?
Consider this: If the sole hope for humanity is God’s redemptive initiative, which Jesus Christ—the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Light—was and is eschatologically, “the difference is not that of one religion over another religion, but one of revelation over religion. Might the issue pivot on the insufficiency of human initiative, which religion represents, and the all-sufficinecy of the divine initiative, which Jesus embodies?” (Paul N. Anderson, The Riddles of the Fourth Gospel, p. 35; emphasis mine).
Read: John 14:1–6
Question: How does Jesus’ “I AM the way, the truth, and the life” statement answer Thomas’ question?
John 14 contains Jesus’ words about his impending departure. Jesus comforts his diciples and promises that he is going to make rooms for them in the house of the Father. He asks for their trust in him, “Believe in God, and believe in me.” The “dwelling places” he promises are only meaningful when they are considered as being in the intimate presence of God, or ‘at the bosom of the Father’, for the word is again the verb “to abide.” However, like the majority of the characters in John’s Gospel, Thomas interprets Jesus’ promise about dwelling places literally. “Jesus, where are you going? We need a map, a chart, or something that will direct us to the correct place.” In this way, the Farewell Discourse is identical to the other dialogues and discourses in the Gospel. There is always a shift from misunderstanding to knowledge of who Jesus is revealing himself to be. But here, the stakes appear higher. For every time Jesus’ words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” are removed from the conversation between Jesus and Thomas, and from Jesus’ final alone time with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion, this particular “I AM” has been turned into a statement of evidence and proof for one’s salvation. Every time this specific “I AM” is romeved it is also misappropriated. When that happens, this “I AM” statement contradicts every other “I AM” statement in the Gospel of John. “I AM the way, the truth, and the life” ends up symbolizing God’s judgment and exclusion. “No one comes to the Father except through me” —instead of being a promise—turns into an exclusionary declaration.
Question: What difference does this make for the Gospel if it is understood as a promise instead of a statement of exclusion?
