The Way, the Truth, and the Life

Musicians Stuart Townend and Keith Getty wrote the powerful worship song, “In Christ Alone.” The final verse proclaims:

“No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from his hand.
Till he returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.”

There is no other way to the Father than through Christ alone! Jesus made this very clear in today’s reading: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (v. 6). The title Way draws on the common biblical metaphor of a path. Jesus also said: “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life” (Matt. 7:14). Early Christianity was actually called “the Way” (Acts 9:2). And for us, there is no way to God other than Christ, even while our culture frowns on such exclusive claims.

There is also no other Truth, certainly not “personal truth” or “truth for me” that has become pervasive in our world. John uses the Greek word for “truth” 25 times in his Gospel, always connecting it to Jesus. Sometimes we think Satan has lesser or weaker truths, but the fact is that he has no truth at all—he is the “father of lies” (John 8:44).

Finally, as we’ve seen already this month, there is no other source of Life. In our culture, Jesus’ assertion sounds alarming, but He actually communicated this “I am” statement to offer comfort (v. 1). That’s one reason He put things in relational terms. “The way and the truth and the life” are all about knowing Jesus (vv. 7–10).

Pray with Us

May our worship at today’s church services be filled with gospel truth because it is a witness to the power and beauty of our union with Christ. Praise Him today as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

BY Brad Baurain

Dr. Bradley Baurain is Associate Professor and Program Head of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute. Bradley has the unique privilege of holding a degree from four different universities (including Moody). He has just published his first book, On Waiting Well. Bradley taught in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Canada. Bradley and his wife, Julia, have four children and reside in Northwest Indiana.