Is Jesus The Only Way? Part 2: One Way

Background Passage: John 3:16-18; 14:5-11; 1Timothy 2:3-7
Today’s Focal Passage: John 14:6-11

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 "If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him." 8 "Lord," said Philip, "show us the Father, and that's enough for us." 9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

Exclusive Rights

In John 14, Jesus asked his disciples to trust in Him. He explained that there was room in heaven for them and promised He was going to prepare a place for them. Jesus told them in verse 4 that they knew the way to the place he is going. To which Thomas responds, “Lord, we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus’ famous response is the source of one of the greatest arguments surrounding religion today. The claim that there is just one way tends anger in the champions of “tolerance.” How can Christians be so arrogant to propose the exclusivity of their way to the subsequent exclusion of all other world religions, systems and dogmas?

The answer is simple: because Christ said it! What kind of followers would we be if we didn’t take these words from Jesus seriously? Christ offers Himself as a way for all people to know God our Father. The way is belief. Jesus said, “If you know Me, you will also know My Father.” Other world religions contain lists (sometimes lengthy ones) of things adherents must do to achieve eternal life. If anything, those lists are built to exclude. Following Christ then becomes the only way that’s open to anyone, anywhere, regardless of who you are, what you’ve done or even will do. The next time someone remarks to you how exclusive our relationship with Christ is, make sure you point out that it’s the most inclusive relationship around. Tell them that Christ is for everyone and offer them the chance to know Him too.

o Who can you share that news with today?