John 14:5-7
By Opeyemi Ojekunle
The Word
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Exegesis
The disciples assumed Jesus was talking about an earthly kingdom in John 14:4, but they were ignorant and probably confused. Thomas became a mouth-piece for the disciples and said to Jesus, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus’ response shows that the place He was talking about is not a temporal or physical place but being allowed in the presence of the Father, and He (the Son) is the only way.
Jesus’ choice of word is unmistakable, He said He is “the” way and not “a” way; If he had said “a way”, that would mean, there are a number of ways to the Father besides Jesus, but “The” is a definite word, meaning the way to the Father is either Jesus or no way! Jesus being the way to the Father leads us to the truth and eternal life.
In verse 7, Jesus pointed out that the disciples have not had a full and in-depth knowledge of his character and purpose because they still held on to their Jewish notions respecting a temporal Messiah, who would not have to die and be raised from the dead.
A knowledge of the character and work of Christ is synonymous to the knowledge of the counsels and plans of God.
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creationColossians 1:15
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.Hebrews 1:3
Application
You might be thinking about “the only way” being too restrictive, leaving you with no choice. Yet, considering that as humans living in the flesh and full of rebellion, without Jesus, we are doomed for destruction. That God gave us a way at all, is evidence of God’s grace and love for us.
Jesus holds the way open for us today, you can begin a relationship with the Father by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. We have an advantage that the disciples didn’t have during the Passover meal. This is the person of the Holy Spirit, who helps us to understand this incredible truth.