It’s easy for Christians to fall into a rut: Church is a thing you do, prayer is a box to check, and faith seems far from “the real world.” This fall we let Jesus himself confront our ruts. “Do you believe this?” he asks (Jn. 11:26).
To believe in Jesus is to experience him. It’s more than logic, argument, and doctrine. It is intimate knowledge of God himself. This fall, let Jesus himself speak to you in his seven “I AM” statements in the gospel of John. How is he changing you? What response is he inspiring in you? To believe in him changes everything.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ponder:
Ponder the I AM statement: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Consider how Jesus said “way,” singular. Ponder how our society is pluralistic – many ways. What do you think when you hear Jesus’ exclusive claim?
Word
John 14:6
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
Meditation: This is the Way by Julianna Shults
A few years ago I fell in love with the TV show The Mandalorian. I am a total Star Wars nerd, and the show is a great expansion of the universe. Based around Boba Fett from the movies, the Mandalorians are bounty hunters with a strong, religion-like code who have been killed or spread around the galaxy.
In the show there is one repeated line that sticks in my brain. When the Mandalorians would discuss the difficult, even life-threatening things, they needed to do to adhere to their code, they would say, “This is the way.” In some cases this phrase was repeated back as a way of agreeing and sharing the path forward. I love the drama and how this single line helps you to understand the characters. But through the episodes it also highlights the problem with finding “the way” though created belief systems.
It might be easy to draw parallels to Christianity. We too have practices and even sacrifices we make for our faith. Yet, there is one tremendous difference.
“The way” in other belief systems centers in human writings, community, structure and practice.
“The way” in Christianity centers on the person of Jesus.
We know the way through Jesus, who tells us we can know God the Father, the creator and sustainer of all things, through Him. Jesus was there from the very beginning, directing God’s people. In love He comes down, both human and divine, to live a perfect life, die, and rise so we can have salvation. We can trust the way of Jesus because we know Him and what He has done for us.
When the way is created by broken people, it will always fail. There will be disagreement, abuse, and struggle. Even with the best of intentions, we will find that our way often leaves us setting the wrong priorities and forming our identity around things that will not last. Even our titular Mandalorian finds that the code he so stringently wants to adhere to doesn’t always point him the right direction. We can call it the way, but it’s not.
Only Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. Following in His way, we know that we can be confident in our salvation. We are forgiven Children of God, even when we fail to follow God’s way. In Jesus we find forgiveness, grace, and eternal life. May we, through faith, never be distracted by other ways, but instead know Jesus is the way all our days.
Dear Jesus, there are so many man-made paths claiming to be the way. Some even seem noble and trustworthy. Remind us today and always that you alone are the way, the truth and the life. Help us center on you alone as we walk through life. In Your Name, Amen.
Prayer
Jesus, you said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” In a world of competing ways, show me the narrow path that leads to you. I have tried paths that lead to nowhere. You alone are truth and life. Draw me close to you. Amen.
Benediction
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (I Tim. 1:17)