In the Gospel of John (14:1-12), the Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure. This is His farewell discourse calling His disciples to total faith, confidence and trust in Him. He said that in His Father’s house there are many dwelling places and He is going to prepare a place for them so that they are always with Him. Thomas asked Him, “Master, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus declares solemnly, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The I am sayings in the gospel of John point to the name of God revealed to Moses in the burning bush. I am who I am! (Exodus 3:14) Jesus uses the name of God for Himself because He speaks and acts in the very person of the one true God. He is the perfect manifestation of the invisible God. He is the sign par excellence of God’s love. He is God present among us. I am the way. Jesus does not simply point us to the Father but He himself is the pathway. He is the way in person. We go through Him to find the total reality of God. He is the unique means of salvation because He died for us. He said, “There is no greater love than this: laying down one’s life for one’s friends!” (John 15:13) His way is total self-giving love, loving to the end and giving all. The Cross is His supreme act of self-giving. I am the truth. The truth sets us free. Jesus is the truth in the flesh, the Wisdom incarnate, the Word of God. He leaves us in the hands of the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit who is the fullness of truth. He is the opposite of the devil because there is no truth in the devil. The devil is the prince of lies and deceit. Truth therefore is that complete integrity and harmony. I am the life. For the Jewish people, the Torah was the book of life instructing them in life giving faith and practice. Now Jesus becomes the life giver, the giver of abundant life. He is the communicator of divine life and He calls us to participate in the life of God because we are children of the Father. Those who believe in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. Therefore, the Church continues the work of Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life. The Church is the physical presence of Christ in our tormented world today. We are called to follow the way of Jesus which is His total self-giving love. His love is for all. We are called to embrace His truth because His Word will remain. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We are called to imitate His selflessness so that we become fully alive and totally free. When we do that we bring harmony, peace, order and transformation into the world.
I AM THE WAY AND TRUTH AND THE LIFE
