Jesus knew his time on earth was coming to an end. Beginning in John 13:30 one of the last conversations between Jesus and his disciples is recorded. Jesus was preparing for both his death and his resurrection that would follow. He knew that having given up his perfect human life, God would not only resurrect him, but that he would be glorified to a new state of being. He also knew his disciples would not understand this, so he worded his discussion as he was “going away” (John 13:33, John 14:1-4).
The completion of Jesus’ sacrifice of his perfect human life was a major turning point in God’s plan for mankind. Salvation was now available to all mankind. Because he wanted to stress the importance of his upcoming sacrifice to the apostles, Jesus made the statement, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Although they likely did not understand these words at the time, they would come to understand their full meaning after Jesus’ death.
The way: Jesus himself explained his meaning of this phrase in the second half of John 14:6, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Belief in Jesus’ sacrifice is the sole means of pleasing God. Years later, the Apostle Paul would describe this singular way to God in 1 Timothy 2:3-5. Here, Paul refers to Jesus as a “mediator” between God and man. A mediator is one who negotiates an acceptable relationship between two parties. Mankind, being imperfect and sinful, cannot hope to please God on their own. Jesus’ mediation provides mankind with a way to approach God. This is why we are to pray “in Jesus’ name” as a means to make our prayers acceptable to God (John 16:23-24).
The Apostle Paul compares the belief in Jesus as the means to one’s salvation to the foundation of a building (1 Corinthians 3:9-10). Just as a foundation supports the structure built on it, our futures and hopes for life are all built on Jesus’ sacrifice. No other belief, behavior or action that is not “built” on this foundation will allow one to please God.
The Apostle Peter explained this concept to the religious leadership of his time in Acts 4:10-12, where he emphatically states that “neither is there salvation in any other [than Jesus]: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The Jewish Law taught by the religious leadership for generations had been the means by which a relationship with God could be obtained. Jesus’ sacrifice brought an end to the Law, replacing it as the only way to please God. Whether in their present lives or in the future after their resurrection in God’s kingdom, each person will need to understand and accept Jesus’ sacrifice as the way of obtaining lasting salvation from death.
The truth: Jesus told his disciples that after his death, God would send a “comforter” that would “teach them all things” (John 14:26). The comforter is the holy spirit, or power and influence of God. The holy spirit is necessary to understand the truth of God’s plan. This understanding is promised to those who accept Jesus’ sacrifice as their means to salvation, and who dedicate their lives to following his example of serving God (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). In John 16:7-15, Jesus makes it clear that God would grant His holy spirit to his disciples after Jesus left them (verse 13), and that through this power, they would come to understand many things (verses 13, 15). At the time, the apostles did not understand Jesus’ words or the sacrifice he was about to make (verse 12 and 17).
Acts chapter 2 records how the apostles received the promised holy spirit after Jesus’ death, just as Jesus had taught them. Soon after, the Apostle Peter delivers a powerful speech to the religious leadership in which he affirms that a belief in Jesus is the only acceptable course to God (Acts 4:10-12). Through their belief in Jesus, the apostles were granted an insight, through the holy spirit, into the truth of God’s plan they did not have only a short time earlier. Although the receipt of the holy spirit today is not as outwardly dramatic as recorded in Acts chapter 2, nevertheless, belief in Jesus is still necessary for one to receive it. Thus, Jesus is necessary to understanding the truth of God’s plan (1 Timothy 2:3-5).
The life: Adam, the first man, disobeyed God’s commandment and was sentenced to death (Genesis 3:17-19). This sentence of death was passed down through the generations to every person throughout history. It is the reason why people continue to die today. Through the sacrifice of his perfect life, Jesus paid a “ransom price” for mankind (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Jesus’ sacrifice balances the scales of God’s justice that were thrown off by Adam’s sin. The Apostle Paul summarizes this concept in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22. In verse 21, Paul describes how Jesus’ sacrifice enables the resurrection of the dead. Verse 22 adds emphasis to the thought, plainly stressing that Jesus is the mechanism that “all [shall] be made alive.”
John 3:14-16 states a similar thought, with one further addition. Verse 16 teaches that belief in Jesus’ sacrifice is necessary for gaining eternal life. Many of mankind lived before Jesus’ time. Many since Jesus’ time have not had the opportunity to know him (or God, either). Still others have known of Jesus but have not believed in him or in the power of his sacrifice. During the future time of God’s kingdom, when all are resurrected from the sleep of death, the truth of God’s plan and Jesus’ sacrifice will be made known to all. All will thus have every opportunity to accept Jesus, and in so doing please God and obtain the reward of everlasting life. In these ways, Jesus represents life.
In one simple sentence, Jesus conveyed three powerful and harmonious lessons about the importance of his sacrifice in his Father’s plan. Today, with the benefit of time and the Holy Spirit, we are blessed to be able to look at each of these three lessons and more fully appreciate the depth of meaning that Jesus’ sacrifice has not only to us, but to all mankind.
Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #887: “How is Jesus “The Way”? (Part I)”
Defining Jesus’ role in God’s plan and in our lives
Episode #891: “How is Jesus “The Truth”? (Part II)”
Defining Jesus as the Truth and centerpiece of God’s plan
Episode #896: “How is Jesus “The Life”? (Part III)”
Defining what living in Jesus means daily