(Read John 14)
Since I was a kid, I have loved the way ratchets worked. They could turn things quickly with a minimum amount of adjustment. Ratchets don’t bang up the edges of nuts or bolts, they fit perfectly to the desired size and tighten or loosen. One key consideration is that to tighten, a ratchet has to be set in the proper direction. While set properly, it will only tighten; by pulling the handle the opposite way, it spins endlessly. When a light switch is turned “on,” it closes the electrical circuit, allowing electricity to flow and light a fixture. When switched off, the current is open, breaking the circuit and preventing electrical flow to a light bulb. A light switch is a binary function, either on or off, with no in-between.
Years ago, when our son lived with us, he asked me to start his car on a cold morning and tossed me his keys. I couldn’t get in. Since it was freezing outside, we assumed the lock was frozen. We tried both doors, but neither would open. Our next thought was that his keys had somehow been damaged. What never occurred to us was that we might be using the wrong keys. He had accidentally grabbed a similar set from the basket near the door. Some things in life only work one way. Modern thinking doesn’t always like to acknowledge this, but sometimes, there are things beyond our control that can’t be ignored.
Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true.
Psalm 119:142
The Hebrew word for ‘true’ in this verse, ʾemet, means reliable, trustworthy, and unchanging. The Psalmist wasn’t suggesting that God’s righteousness is usually right or right only in certain circumstances. Instead, His righteousness is factually accurate, firm, reliable, and eternal—it is solid ground.
In a world of constant change and uncertainty, the Psalmist found comfort in God’s unchanging nature and His Word. This verse provides a sense of stability, knowing God’s law is true. It is essential to understand that the Psalmist wrote this verse in a time just as chaotic as today. The words were a source of comfort then and still are today.
Not too long ago, I learned that the Bible was not divided initially into organized chapters and verses, nor did it include footnotes, commentary, or cross-references. These divisions were added later for readability and reference. Often, chapters were structured based on narrative breaks rather than the writers’ original intent. The Gospel of John is a perfect example of this.
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
John 13:36-38
At their Passover meal, Jesus had just announced that one of them was a traitor. He warned Peter that he would deny Him three times, and worse than all of this was the shocking news—Jesus was leaving them. Why couldn’t they go with Him?
Jesus knows the human heart and our tendency to forget, but I imagine He was thinking, Really? After three years together, you still don’t understand?
This discussion in the upper room wasn’t a public discourse but an intimate conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Much of their misunderstanding stemmed from how the human mind processes information. When we hear something problematic, our natural reaction is often that there has to be another way. Peter was an expert at this kind of thinking. Driven by his deep love for Jesus, he couldn’t grasp the idea of Jesus leaving. His question was, “Lord, where are You going” revealed his struggle to understand the necessity of Jesus’ suffering. Peter’s perception of following Jesus was tied to an earthly, physical journey rather than the spiritual reality of what Jesus was about to accomplish.
Though sincere, Peter’s bold declaration that he would lay down his life for Jesus was rooted in self-confidence rather than proper understanding. It showed not only his devotion but also the human tendency to overestimate our strength.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 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?”
John 14:1-5
Chapter 14 likely took place at the same time, in the same room, and with the same people as Chapter 13, but the tone is dramatically different. The disciples were disillusioned and shaken by what Jesus had just revealed.
First, they learned He was leaving to prepare a place for them—but without giving them a clear map of how to find Him. Once again, they doubted. Sensing their anxiety and fear, Jesus responded even more directly, offering reassurance. His words were not just a lesson but a call to trust—especially in times of uncertainty—so they could find true peace in Him.
Jesus’ words, “Believe in God; believe also in me,” set the stage for His sixth “I AM” statement. In this moment, He equated belief in Himself with belief in God, revealing a profound truth to His closest followers. He was no longer just a teacher or prophet—He was, and is, one with the Father. Jesus intended for His disciples to grasp the spiritual path to the Father. But Thomas, always the inquisitive one, asked, “Lord, we don’t know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”
In ancient Greek society, in Asia, and even in many civilizations today, philosophies often embrace the idea that there are ‘many ways to God.’ The common belief is that good people go to Heaven, while everyone else goes to Hell. If that were true, then the path to God would be relative—determined by each society’s cultural or moral standards. While Jesus’ disciples believed in the one true God—the God of Israel and Jacob—they still relied on their own understanding, following their own way rather than recognizing the Savior who had taught, loved, and lived among them for three years.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
To me, this is one of the most convicting and reassuring of Jesus’ “I AM” statements. We could spend an entire devotional just examining the use of pronouns, but in the Greek, the pronoun used in John’s Gospel is ‘ἐμοῦ’ (emou), which translates to ‘me,’ ‘my,’ or ‘mine.’ With this translation, there is no ambiguity about the way to God—Jesus defined Himself as absolute truth, the truth of God incarnate.
This “I AM” statement closely connects with His declaration: “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, ‘I am.’“
“There is one way to the Father’s heart,” a friend told me. “And His word is the truth that sets you free from the slavery of sin.” Pastor Steve Smothermon wrote, “Without Jesus, there is no relationship with God.”
“I am the way” signifies that Jesus is the only path to God, not one among many. The word “way” implies a journey—the process of coming to God—where Jesus is both the guide and the means of access. Jesus is the embodiment of truth—His words, actions, and very being reveal God’s absolute, unchanging nature and reality. “The life” in Jesus is the source of eternal life, a spiritual and abundant life in communion with God that transcends death.
“No one comes to the Father except through me” is an exclusive claim that sets Jesus apart from all other religious figures. It emphasizes that salvation and access to God are found only through faith in Jesus Christ. Some argue that this statement is culturally ethnocentric or biased, but they miss the point.
Yes, many belief systems propose different paths to god(s), often shaped by local interpretations. But why should unbelievers be upset by Jesus’ claim? He is not just a way—He is the way to our God, the God who loves us so much that He died for us. Unlike man-made religions, God doesn’t wait for us to sacrifice to Him. He won’t abandon us if we do 99 things right and one thing wrong. He died for us precisely because we cannot save ourselves.
Many people miss the point by misunderstanding Jesus’ words as exclusionary. His claim is one of exclusivity, not exclusion. He is the only way, but the invitation is open to everyone.
At the outset of World War II, thousands of Allied troops were trapped at Dunkirk in western France, cornered against the sea by advancing Nazi forces. In desperation, the British army transmitted a brief but profound three-word message to their high command: ‘But if not.’
Immediately, the British people sprang into action. Hundreds of boats, from fishing vessels to large ships, answered the call. In what became known as the ‘Miracle of Dunkirk,’ approximately 338,000 British, French, and other Allied troops were rescued.
‘But if not’ is a powerful reminder that true faith is not rooted in self-reliance but in complete dependence on God’s grace through Jesus Christ — the way, the truth, and the life.
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But if not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
Life Applications:
- Finding Direction and Purpose: In a world filled with conflicting ideologies and choices, Jesus provides a clear and reliable path. Seek guidance through prayer and studying God’s word.
- Cultivate a relationship with Jesus through prayer, worship, and service to others. Find joy in serving others.
- Focus on eternal values rather than temporary pleasures. In everything you do, at work, home, or church, invest in relationships and acts of service that have lasting significance.