He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."

Have you read John 14 recently? If you are feeling hopeless or discouraged (maybe about what’s happening in your own life, or maybe just by observing the darkness and death in the world around you), I would encourage you to read this chapter. It’s the account of a very reassuring and hope-giving conversation that Jesus had with his 11 disciples (minus Judas Iscariot) right after He told them that He would soon be leaving them to go to place where they could not follow (at least not at that time).

Jesus knows these guys are troubled at the news that He is leaving them soon, so He tells them, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)

It’s significant that Jesus told the disciples, “…you know the way to where I am going.” It’s pretty clear from the passage that they didn’t think they knew the way to wherever Jesus was going. Thomas, probably expressing the thoughts of the other disciples too, answered Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (v. 5)

What was Jesus’ response to that? He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (v. 6) Basically, Jesus was telling the disciples that because they knew Him, they knew the way to the Father, to whom He was going. He then went on to say, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (v. 9)

The implications of this conversation are amazing! I know Jesus. What does that mean for me? It means I know the Father. It means I have seen the Father. It means I know the way to the Father. It means I have the truth. It means I have life. I know Jesus, and through Him I know the Father…and I have His promise that I will be with Him.

Dwelling on what it means to know and love Jesus (and to be known and loved by Him!) is the only way to keep hope, and peace, in the midst of a sin-filled world. I hope that you have this same joy in knowing Him.

But this also makes me think about people who have no Bible yet in their language. I can open the Bible in my language and read about who Jesus is, being reminded of everything I have in Him. But what about the people who can’t read, and don’t have any Bible in their language to read even if they knew how to read? Please keep praying with us for the people who don’t yet know Jesus, and for the Bible to be translated into many more languages so that people can know who Jesus is and trust Him as they read His words, finding true hope and life in Him.