Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one can come to the Father except through me…” John 14:6
Jesus said these words.
Jesus is the Way.
Jesus s the Truth.
Jesus is the Life.
Jesus Christ is the way and not an ethic derived from His teaching.
Jesus Christ is the Truth and not a doctrine about Him.
God’s Truth and God’s Way are embodied in a living, breathing person – JESUS.
There is a billboard in Oklahoma, USA that reads,
“Eternity is hell without Jesus”
But in truth, every and any place is hell without Jesus.
The most beautiful palace on earth would be hell without Jesus.
The best experience would be hell without Jesus.
And even “church” is hell without Jesus.
There is no hope in this life or in this world apart from Jesus.
The Lord Jesus Christ – and not any other theory, philosophy or belief – is at the heart of Christianity.
Paul exhorted us to put on the “mind of Christ” Philippians 2:5.
The Greek word for mind has nothing to do with cognitive skill or intellectual brainpower.
It doesn’t mean to possess the knowledge of Christ or the intellectual comprehension of Christ.
Putting on the “mind of Christ” means the relational knowing of Christ.
Jesus cannot be separated from His teachings.
Aristotle said to his disciples, “Follow my teachings.”
Socrates likewise said to his disciples, “Follow my teachings.
Buddha said to his disciples, “Follow my meditations.”
Confucius said to his disciples, “Follow my sayings.”
Muhammad said to his disciples, “Follow my noble pillars.”
But Jesus says to His disciples, "Follow Me."
In all the religions and philosophies of the world, a follower can follow the teachings of its founder without having a relationship with that founder.
But not so with Jesus Christ.
Jesus wants a relationship with you,
To live in and
With you
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20
This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. Col 1:26
I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. Col 2:2
Jesus is not just one way, a better way, a pleasant way on a good day.
He is the WAY.
Jesus is not just one truth, a higher truth, or a more personal truth.
He is the TRUTH.
Jesus is not just another life, a nicer life, a more abundant life.
He is the LIFE of God Himself.
“Without the Way, there is no going,
Without the Truth, there is no knowing,
Without the Life there is no living.” Thomas a Kempis
We sing a song that draws together these words and Jesus' words:
I am the way the truth and the life
That's what Jesus said
I am the way the truth and the life
That's what Jesus said
Without the way there is no going
Without the truth there is no knowing
Without the life there is no living
I am the way the truth and the life
That's what Jesus said
Following Jesus
- Doesn’t mean, trying to create a theological system to analyse, explain and contain Him
- Doesn’t mean, trying to obey His teachings by the power of our own volition.
When you say yes to Jesus,
you are saying yes to a person.
In vowing to be a follower of Jesus;
you pledge your allegiance
not to the vows but
to the person of Jesus.
You pledge your allegiance to journey together with Him.
Christianity
Is not an allegiance to a complex doctrinal or ethical system.
It is a passionate love for a way of living in the world that is rooted in living by Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Paul wrote;
For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 1 Cor 2:2
What do you seek?
Do you seek righteousness?
Jesus Christ is righteousness and sanctification
"God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin." 1 Cor 1:30
Do you seek wisdom?
His name is Jesus.
"But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor 1:24
"God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin." 1 Cor 1:30
Do you desire peace?
Jesus Christ is Peace.
"For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us." Eph 2:14
Do you want truth?
Jesus is the Truth
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one can come to the Father except through me…” John 14:6
Do you seek the power of God?
Jesus Christ is the power of God
"But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor 1:24
Jesus Christ is the embodiment of all that God desires to give His children – both His teachings and His virtues.
Wisdom, peace, truth, righteousness, beauty, grace, mercy, love, kindness, patience and goodness are words that were created to describe aspects of Him.
May we stop seeking ‘things’.
May we grasp hold of the ‘real-thing’ – JESUS
Based on "Jesus Manifesto" by Frank Viola and Leonard Sweet
This weeks YouTube link with songs for worship is available here
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHnJn7EgQjAw0InWBXcqmkM-EL-ecrvRi
Have a blessed week
Jacquey
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