The purpose of these pages is to engage in some group study focussing specifically on the mid-week period of Tuesday to Thursday. We will post some scripture verses, and a few thoughts before throwing the conversation over to you. This is not a teaching session, use the prompts (and Google) to explore scripture and share relevant verses. Log in to the conversation as often or as infrequently as you like and if you wish to join in put your thoughts in the comments box at the bottom of the page.
The right frame of mind
Before you start to dive into this week’s bible study, take a few moments to calm your spirit. Get comfortable with your beverage of choice, your Bible and something to write with. Pray that God would give you the time to study and put to one side the concerns of the day. Breathe deeply for a few seconds and focus on who Jesus said he was….
I am the Way the Truth and the Life
Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ 6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.
Once again we are looking at one of the ‘I am’ statements of Jesus mentioned in John’s Gospel. Here is the fourth in the series.
- “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life.
- “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) To a world lost in darkness, Christ offers Himself as a guide.
- “I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7,9) Jesus protects His followers as shepherds protect their flocks from predators.
- “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) Death is not the final word for those in Christ.
- “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14) Jesus is committed to caring and watching over those who are His.
- “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the source of all truth and knowledge about God.
- “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5) By attached ourselves to Christ, we enable His life to flow in and through us. Then we cannot help but bear fruit that will honour the Father.
Borrowed from the TNBibles website
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The Way
A direction, a journey, a method of achieving something – the way. Thomas’ question suggests that in this case we are talking about a direction or journey, but Jesus’ answer would indicate that it is all three. A direction, a journey with Him and the method of getting there.
The statement made in this passage needs to be put in Context (the way to what?) John 14, Rom3:23,
Romans 5:2 describes going through Christ by faith – Door analogy?
The Truth
The dictionary seems to struggle a little defining truth, with 11 different (but similar) definitions. My favourite was…
‘ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience:’
That is to say, Jesus is reliable and unchanging regardless of our belief or perspective. “Just because you think something, don’t make it so….” Truth stands outside that; there’s no such thing as ‘my truth’! It is unchangeable, regardless of what we think or believe. He (the truth) is a solid rock on which we can rely. A rock on which we can build our belief system. Aside: if this stands for Jesus, it also stands for the Scriptures – John 1
29 “And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind” (1 Samuel 15:29).
See also… Heb 13:8, James 1:17, Psa 100:5, John 18:37,
The scriptures are very clear that the word of God is eternal and will never change. Matt 24:35 – Something to build our world-view (to use a popular phrase) on.
This last verse shows Jesus as directing people to the truth at the same time as being truth incarnate. Go back to the parallel with John 1 – The Word.
The Life
If Jesus is the way, he is also the light to illuminate the way Psalm 119:105. Passages like the Vine Jn15, and Psa 139 show us what ‘the life’ entails… We are to walk closely on the path shown to us, in faith and in fear of the Lord and we will receive mercy and be lifted up, fed and helped. Look at the Magnificat in Luke 1. In the psalms, the writer talks about…
I have always pictured this as Jesus preparing situations for us to walk into, and walking through them with His hand on our shoulder, and then staying behind to clear up our mess.
You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
I have always pictured this as Jesus preparing situations for us to walk into, and walking through them with His hand on our shoulder, and then staying behind to clear up our mess.