"The Way, the Truth, and the Life"

To a world confused about which way to go, Jesus says, "I am the way"; to a world divided by conflicting opinions, Jesus says, "I am the truth": to a world perplexed by what happens after death, Jesus says, "I am the life" (John 14:6).

Jesus is "the life" in various ways. He is "that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to" the apostles (1 John 1:2). Through Jesus God "made the world" (Hebrews 1:2). "All things were made through Him. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" (John 1:4-5).

Since "all things were created through Him" (Colossians 1:6), Jesus is the giver of life. He is also the giver of life in that he maintains the creation. In Him, "all things consist" (Col. 1:17). Jesus upholds "all things by the word of His power" (Heb. 1:3). He is both the source and the sustainer of life. We walk upon His earth and breathe His air.

Does Jesus want us to be happy here? Oc course He does. Why else would He define what true blessedness is (Matt. 5:3-12)? Through studying and following the teachings of Jesus and the Postles, we human beings may experience the happiest, most qualitative life possible. Jesus came to give exactly that kind of fulfillment: "I have come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

Now He who desires the best life for us now also wants something more for us—eternal life. However, sin in the Garden of Eden caused God to remove us from the Tree of Life. But it shall be restored in heaven; John records a vision of it (Revelation 22:1-4). Can Jesus grant eternal life?

God "has given Him authority to execute judgment" (John 5:27). He will have the power to save eternally those who belong to Him. Consider the conversation Jesus had with Martha, the sister of Lasarus. Jesus affirms to her, "Your brother shall rise again" (John 11:23). She believed he would be resurrected the last day. Perhaps she had earlier heard Jesus say, "Everyone who sees the Son and believed in Him may have everlasting life, and I will raise Him up at the last day" (John 6:40).

But Jesus wanted to demonstrate His power over death before the last day; He boldly says to Martha: "I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25). Shortly thereafter He restored Lazarus' life to him, thus showing His ability to resurrect all of us.

Eternal life is part of the context of John 14:1-6. Jesus mentions going to prepare a place for the disciples, then promises to "come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also" (v.3). Therefore, the "life" He in verse 6 involves His power to resurrect and bestow eternal life. He adds that "no one comes to the Father except through Me." Non-Christian religions may provide a path that is better than atheism, but they are not "the way" (concluded on page 4).