Getting To The Father!

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 NLT).

One would think that after being with Jesus for a while, the disciples would know Jesus rather well.

When Thomas responded to Jesus by telling Him know they didn't know where He was going so they couldn't know the way, Jesus let him have it. And then went on to let them know, if they had truly known Him, they would have known the Father. But then, He let know--because you have seen me, you have seen the Father. Awesome!

There are a number of concepts one could conclude from this passage of scripture.

The first is in understanding the sixth verse.  Jesus is the way to receiving salvation. There is no one else by whom man can be saved. He is the only way one can reconcile a relationship with God, after repenting and accepting the work on the cross.

He is the truth--and He said in other places that He does not speak for Himself, but only what the Father says to Him. In other words, He didn't change anything the Father said "before He appeared" on the earth, but explained and demonstrated what the Father meant for us to understand.

He is the life--without Him--there is nothing that we have to bring us joy so we might have life and that more abundantly. There is no "living" without Him.

And for all who think they will have access to the Father without Jesus, He lets us know--not so. "No one can come to the Father except through me." So, if we're not willing to accept the Son, we can forget about pleasing God and entering into heaven--it's not going to happen.

Now, granted there are many who will not believe this, but let me take expand on this thought for a moment. With all of the "religious material" ever written, which was recorded first? We know that the writer of the Koran read the Old Testament writings and then proceeded in writing the Koran--this is documented by the similarities in the Koran. We know that other denominations read and changed some of significant words in order to establish a new religion. The point I'm making here is that--none of the written material is going to get us anywhere--"it is having a relationship with God and hearing Him for ourselves" that will make a difference in our lives.

Once we "know Him" we'll know how to use "the written Word" as a foundation and confirmation for what we hear Him say. God is Love and He would not encourage anyone to "hate" a person or people, but to "hate" sin only. That's a loving God--like loving parents who only want the best for their children. Until we see God in this manner, we may never be in a position to receive all He has in store for us.

Jesus is--the way, the truth, and the life--we should exemplify so all will know--how to get to The Father!