The Way to Life
Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He wants to teach us how our personal relationship and the patterns of our life with empower us to experience the fullness of the Kingdom of God.
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy...Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you."
Exodus 31:13-15
What does the word Sabbath mean to you and why is it so important in deepening our relationship with God? The Hebrew word is Shabbat and it means to case, to stop, to rest. It is choosing to stop striving or producing so that one can enter God's rest. This is pattern that God modeled in the Creation of the World and can profoundly change how we understand the connection between building margin and trusting our Maker.
Holding fast to the Sabbath is hard for us. Is it hard for you? What does it say about our hearts if we cannot rest or if we have no margin in our lives? What does it say about who has authority in our lives and what is most important to us? Jesus said that man was not made for the Sabbath, but Sabbath for man. What does that mean to you?
“You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not worship any god other than me. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it"
Psalms 81:8-12
What does it mean to have a foreign god? David is contrasting the faithful God who has entered into covenant with us and anything that we worship. We might not bow down to Golden Calves, but everyone has idols in their lives that they worship. The word worship means adore, bow down to, show honor, bow our knees to honor.
What are the most common idols in our culture? Success, money, self-image, comfort, relationships, career, addictions, technology, control, and fear. Fear and addictions might be flagrantly bad, but the rest hold equal sway over our hearts. Jesus says He is the truth or the revelation. Ask Him to reveal anything in your hearts that is impacting your full devotion to Him.
“Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread."
Proverbs 30:5, 8, 15-16, 25
What do you desire today? Our culture teaches us the pattern of endlessly craving more. More money, more stuff, more friends, more, more, more. Wisdom teaches us gratitude and contentment for the day. Jesus says He is the Way. The model for living and the pathway to experience heaven on our way to heaven.
Consider the words He shared about worry and wanting more. He says the Lord your God will provide for you more than the lilies in the fields and the birds in the air. Jesus wants to teach us to trust and give thanks for He is the Bread of Life. What would happen if you choose to pursue more time with Jesus rather than more of the common cultural desires?
“I will winnow them with a winnowing fork at the city gates of the land..if you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman."
Jeremiah 15:7, 11, 16, 19
Not everyone will follow the Way. There will be a winnowing fork that separates those who choose to follow Jesus and those who do not. God's desire is that everyone would choose the Life. He promises for all who repent that He will restore them and use them in service of helping others.
How has Jesus changed your life? What happened when you turned to Him? Will you be His spokesman and share with others what He has done for you?
“My Father’s house has many rooms...You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these...I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it...he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever"
John 14:2, 4-6, 12-17
There is so much meaning to the simple phrase The Way, The Truth, and the Life. The Way is Hodos. It means the path, the pattern, the direction, the way that leads to a destination, the style in which you follow, the model. The Way led to God, to the Truth. Jesus said He is not showing the Way, but that He is the Way. You have direct access to the path home to Heaven and Heavenly living through your personal relationship with Him.
The Truth is Alethia. It means unveiled reality, absolute, the revelation of God, the truth that was more than facts, but a person. Jesus was saying He is the revelation of God. He is the trustworthy and faithful one. He is the full embodiment of God made man so that man could know God.
The Life is Zoe. Zoe is not to be confused with Bios which is physical life or psuche which is emotional or mental living. Zoe is eternal life that is divine in nature. It is the highest form of life that includes both quality and duration. It is the resurrected life that has overcome death, is free from the weight of sin, full of power and purpose and God's presence at every moment. It is the life that Jesus promises when He promises abundant life in John 10:10 and it is all found in relationship with Him.
We all need help along the way, fall into traps of listening to the false, and can be beat up by life on this side of heaven. Jesus came to give us a hand. To reach out and grab hold of us where we are and lead us to the way everlasting. He is not in a hurry and not going to judge your past.
He simply invites us to come. Come follow Him trusting Him with your heart along the Way, hearing His voice speak Truth, and learning to unlock the Life that He made for you to live today. There is always more to Life that can be found in deepening your personal relationship and patters centered in Him.